Patent · US Active

Spread-spectrum MEMS self-test system and method

US9238580B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 11, 2013
Grant dateJan 19, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N35/00712
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A MEMS sensor includes a micro-electromechanical structure, a detection circuit, and a self-test circuit to test the health of the MEMS sensor during runtime operations. The self-test circuit is configured to inject into the micro-electromechanical structure a plurality of injected test signals that are broad-band frequency-varying frequency signals, which are based on spread spectrum based modulation. The injected test signals may a magnitude that is below an observable threshold of the sensor signal as well as a test-signal bandwidth that overlaps with a substantial portion of the sensor bandwidth, including the stimulus of interest.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.