Method and apparatus for detecting failure in vibrating sensors
US5652374A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P21/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A yaw sensor for automotive controls has a microstructure vibrating ring excited by a driving circuit. The driving circuit comprises an amplitude control loop which delivers voltage pulses at the resonant frequency of the ring. A compensation signal is derived from a comparison of a sensed vibration amplitude to a desired vibration amplitude. Failure of vibration is detected by comparing the compensation signal to a threshold which is higher than a normal compensation signal. Alternatively, vibration failure is detected by comparing the sensed vibration to a threshold lower than the desired vibration amplitude. Upon such failure, the yaw output signal is replaced by ground potential.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.