Rotation rate sensor

• US 8,561,465 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Classen, Johannes, Ohms, Torsten, Meisel, Daniel Christoph, Hauer, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): MacChiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Samir M
• Application Number:
  US12/587,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20100122576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 735/041.2, 735/033, 735/040.2, 735/140.2, 735/143.2
• US Class Current: 73/504.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/574 the devices having two sensing masses in anti-phase motion
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5747 each sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5755 the devices having a single sensing mass
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 19/5762 the sensing mass being connected to a driving mass, e.g. driving frames

Abstract

A rotation rate sensor includes: a mounting device; a first drive frame having a drive, which is designed to set the first drive frame into a first oscillatory motion along an axis of oscillation relative to the mounting device; a first stator electrode; a first actuator electrode coupled to the first drive frame in such a way that in a rotary motion of the rotation rate sensor due to a Coriolis force, the first actuator electrode being displaceable in a first deflection direction relative to the first stator electrode; and an evaluation device configured to determine a voltage applied between the first stator electrode and the first actuator electrode, and to specify information regarding the rotary motion of the rotation rate sensor while taking the determined voltage value into account.

Claims

1. A rotation rate sensor, comprising:

a mounting device;

a first drive frame having a drive, wherein the drive is configured to set the first drive frame into a first oscillatory motion along an axis of oscillation relative to the mounting device, the axis of oscillation being in non-parallel alignment with an inner surface framed by the first drive frame;

at least one first stator electrode;

at least one first actuator electrode coupled to the first drive frame in such a way that, in a rotary motion of the rotation rate sensor due to a Coriolis force, the at least one first actuator electrode is displaced in a first deflection direction relative to the at least one first stator electrode; and

an evaluation device configured to (a) determine a value of a voltage applied between the at least one first stator electrode and the at least one first actuator electrode, and (b) specify information regarding the rotary motion of the rotation rate sensor while taking the determined value of the voltage into account.

2. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the axis of oscillation is aligned at an angle of inclination of between 85°

to 90°

relative to the inner surface framed by the first drive frame.

3. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the drive includes at least one drive electrode mounted on the first drive frame, at least one counter electrode fixedly situated with respect to the mounting device, and a control device configured to apply a drive voltage between the at least one drive electrode and the at least one counter electrode.

4. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 3, wherein at least the first actuator electrode is mounted on a detection frame, and wherein the detection frame is connected to the first drive frame by at least one intermediate spring.

5. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 4, wherein the detection frame is connected to the mounting device by at least one internal spring.

6. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 4, wherein the first drive frame is framed by an outer drive frame, the outer drive frame being connected to the first drive frame by at least one additional intermediate spring, and wherein the drive is additionally configured to set the outer drive frame into the first oscillatory motion along the axis of oscillation.

7. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 3, wherein the rotation rate sensor includes multiple first actuator electrodes at least partially situated parallel to one another along a first longitudinal axis, and wherein the multiple first actuator electrodes form a first electrode grid.

8. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 3, further comprising:

at least one second stator electrode; and

at least one second actuator electrode coupled to the first drive frame in such a way that, in a further rotary motion of the rotation rate sensor due to an additional Coriolis force, the at least one second actuator electrode is displaced relative to the at least one second stator electrode in a second deflection direction different from the first deflection direction.

9. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 8, wherein the rotation rate sensor includes multiple second actuator electrodes at least partially situated parallel to one another along a second longitudinal axis, and wherein the multiple second actuator electrodes form a second electrode grid.

10. The rotation rate sensor as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a second drive frame configured to be set into a second oscillatory motion along the axis of oscillation with the aid of the drive, wherein the second oscillatory motion is in 180°

phase opposition to the first oscillatory motion;

at least one third stator electrode; and

at least one third actuator electrode coupled to the second drive frame in such a way that, in a rotary motion of the rotation rate sensor due to the Coriolis force, the at least one third actuator electrode is displaced in the first deflection direction relative to the at least one third stator electrode.