Method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and sensor arrangement

US8042395B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VDO Automotive AG · DE

Inventors

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

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 29, 2006
• Grant date: Oct 25, 2011
• Expiry date: May 1, 2028

Classification

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

Abstract

A method for operating a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and forms 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 is deriveable by filtering and amplification. Upon switching on a sensor arrangement that includes such a vibrating gyroscope, the frequency of the excitation signal is adjusted by exciting the vibrating gyroscope, before the excitation signal is fed, to oscillate freely, measuring the frequency of the free oscillation and feeding the excitation signal to the vibrating gyroscope with the measured frequency.