Method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and sensor arrangement

US7895893B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VDO Automotive AG · DE

Inventors

• Raphael Mayer-Wegelin · Friedrichsdorf, DE
• Heinz-Werner Morell · Kaiserslautern, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 30, 2006
• Grant date: Mar 1, 2011
• Expiry date: Nov 12, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C19/5649
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and to a sensor arrangement comprising such a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and is part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. In accordance with the invention, once a sensor arrangement comprising the vibrating gyroscope is switched on, an initial value for the natural frequency is calculated from a previously measured value of the natural frequency stored in a memory and parameters that effect a modification of the natural frequency since start of the measurement, and the excitation signal is fed to the vibrating gyroscope with the calculated initial value of the frequency.