DE102004028129B4 - Method for evaluating a rotation rate signal of a multifunction rotation rate sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

method for evaluating a rotation rate signal of a multi-function rotation rate sensor 1, characterized in that the rotation rate signal of the sensor element 1.0, which refers to a rotation axis, divided into two sub-signals will and two amplifiers 1.1, 1.2 is fed and the amplifiers the rotation rate signal such process the sensor output signals 1.1.1, 1.2.1 to requirements nachchgeschalteter applications 2, 3 are adjusted, the Signal of the first amplifier a first application 2 containing a first acquisition and / or presentation dynamic range has, and the signal of the second amplifier one second application 3, the second acquisition and / or presentation dynamic range has, with the acquisition and / or presentation dynamic ranges differentiate by at least a factor of two.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for evaluating a rotation rate signal a multifunction yaw rate sensor. The inventive method for evaluating a rotation rate signal of a multi-function rotation rate sensor is particularly suitable for Automotive applications / automotive assistance systems, in these below the individual applications different Inputs / input areas required are.

to Improvement of comfort and safety in traffic are becoming increasingly assistance systems and / or occupant safety systems used in vehicles to the vehicle user a possible to ensure comfortable and safe traveling / driving.

A Improvement of the protective effect is thereby in particular achieved by the already known occupant protection systems, such as Airbag and Gurtstrammereinrichtungen for protection against crash events, reinforced with so-called rollover systems or rollover protection functions, for protection against accidents with rollover events, be supplemented. Meanwhile, the so-called ESP assistants are taking over Prevention of spin processes, significantly increased market share. Regarding the comfort area become the driver supportive Assistance systems for it used so that as possible balanced ride guaranteed is by, for example, road bumps already means be compensated for the chassis, so that by the road bumps generated rolling and pitching operations, by the driver in the passenger compartment can hardly be perceived any more.

Out this cited Establish, takes the number for it required sensors in the vehicle more and more, which on the one hand associated with cost as well as space or installation space requirements.

It are already numerous systems known in these means Use of synergy is attempted, the number of for the different Applications required sensors in a limited scope to keep up with the preceding ones To be able to avoid problems.

From the DE 101 46 808 A1 is an optical system for a motor vehicle known by means of this in a simple manner and at low cost, based on the evaluation of objects located in the observation area, a variety of applications can be realized. Examples include applications such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop & Go function, early pre-crash warning, parking assistance, parking space measurement and blind spot monitoring.

From the DE 100 25 258 A1 an optical system is also known, by means of which a determination of the distance between a reference point and at least one located in the observation area target object with high accuracy is possible in a simple manner and at low cost to implement corresponding driver assistance systems can. Examples of application examples are an early impact warning (precrash warning), blind spot detection, lateral guidance (lateral control support), a stop & go function, a parking space measurement by the optical system arranged in the side region of the vehicle System, a tilt angle measurement, as well as a detection of the road condition or road condition.

From the DE 101 07 215 A1 a method and a device for control and evaluation is known, to avoid the use of any number of sensors due to the limited space and the necessary wiring, the sensor signals received by a sensor device are used multiple times for several parallel tasks.

From the DE 101 07 550 A1 is a motor vehicle control system with direction-dependent sensor device known, which is designed as a so-called sensor cluster in which there are several different sensors for several fixed measuring axes.

From the Scriptures DE 100 60 091 B4 For example, a micromechanical inertial sensor is known which has a gimbal structure comprising two coupled vibrating elements, an excitation unit for vibrating the gimbal structure about a first axis of oscillation, means for detecting a deflection of the gimbal structure about a second axis of oscillation , which is directed perpendicular to the first axis of oscillation, and an additional plate and means for detecting the deflection of the plate, wherein the gimbal structure and the plate are structured out of a single wafer. According to the invention, this micromechanical inertial sensor is characterized in that the additional plate is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation (P2) and by an acceleration perpendicular to the axis of rotation (P2) is deflected, and at least one additional mass element is attached to the plate, wherein the common center of gravity of plate and additional mass element relative to the axis of rotation (P2) of the plate is offset in the direction of the wafer plane.

From the Scriptures DE 195 19 488 A1 a rotation rate sensor with two acceleration sensors is known, wherein the rotation rate sensor has a vibration mass, on which two acceleration sensors are arranged. The two acceleration sensors are in this case constructed so that they detect forces that are perpendicular to each other. The oscillating mass is thereby set into oscillation via drive means and a rotation of the rotation rate sensor about two mutually perpendicular axes of rotation is detected with the aid of the acceleration sensors, in which way the Coriolis forces of a plane are determined.

From the Scriptures DE 101 34 620 A1 a multi-axial inertial sensor system and a method for its production is known. The multiaxial inertial sensor system, in particular yaw rate and acceleration sensor system for driving dynamics control in motor vehicles, according to the invention is characterized in that a plurality, each of the sensor axes (x, y, z) associated sensor chips on wafer level on a plurality of each aligned according to a sensor axis or alignable rigid circuit substrates fixed and electrically contacted therewith and the circuit substrates are interconnected mechanically and electrically by means of flexible or rigid connection structures.

From the Scriptures DE 197 19 780 A1 an acceleration detection device having a rate-of-rotation rotational rate sensor which is mounted on a substrate and having an oscillating structure comprising at least one deflectable seismic mass, and an acceleration sensor detecting a linear acceleration having at least one further seismic mass deflectably suspended from flexures; wherein the seismic masses of the two sensors are deflected independently of each other.

Alles these disclosed documents, or the solutions disclosed therein, in these attempts, the sensors or the sensor output signals because of synergy effects for However, to use multiple applications simultaneously, have certain Disadvantages based on it or can be seen that in these disclosures partly by means of Clustering the individual sensors must be arranged several times, provided the individual downstream applications have different properties (Dynamic resolution range or dynamic representation range) of this require it. For this Basically it is with the so-called sensor clusters quite a Of course, that Also several similar costly sensors with the same Operating principle and different properties (dynamic resolution range or Dynamic representation area) in one and the same sensor cluster be arranged to meet the requirements of the individual application requirements fulfill can.

Furthermore, from the Scriptures EP 1 096 226 A2 , which is considered to be the closest prior art, a rotational speed and acceleration sensor comprising a sensor unit for collectively detecting an angular velocity and an acceleration, and a unit for outputting an angular velocity / acceleration signal mixing signal, to output an angular velocity / acceleration signal mixing signal composed of an angular velocity component in accordance with the degree of angular velocity and an accelerating component in accordance with the amount of acceleration and detected by the sensor unit. Further, the sensor of the present invention comprises a signal separating unit for extracting the angular velocity component and the accelerating component from the angular velocity / acceleration mixture to output them as an angular velocity signal and an acceleration.

As with the aforementioned / cited documents, with the disclosed solution of the font EP 1 096 226 A2 does not achieve the goal that with a minimum of sensors, or a minimum of the actual physical sensor elements, a rotation rate sensor with different properties (dynamic resolution range or dynamic representation range) is made possible, so that by means of this rotation rate sensor and applications can be realized in these the required input signal quantities differ by more than a factor of two.

The Object of the present invention is therefore, by simple means and methods to create a sensor property for using a minimum of sensors, or a minimum of the actual physical Sensor elements, a rotation rate sensor with different properties (Dynamic resolution range or dynamic presentation area) allows is, so by means of this a rotation rate sensor also applications can be realized these are the required input signal quantities, themselves to differentiate by more than a factor of two.

This object is achieved by a method for evaluating a rotation rate signal of a Multifunk tion yaw rate sensor with the features of claim 1 solved. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, wherein combinations and developments of individual features are conceivable with each other.

One essential idea of the invention is thus to meet the requirements the individual applications with different required input signal sizes, with only a single aligned in the appropriate direction of action Sensor element can meet, without some compromises in the signal quality, as a result of an unmatched dynamic-resolution range or dynamic-representation range between the sensor and the corresponding application arise or have to be accepted that already a sensor-internal corresponding to the respective application individual sensor output adjustment is made, wherein the output signals / output signal information optionally at two different outputs made available to make it possible Being that with only one physical sensor element, the requirements the different applications with different Input size requirements can do justice.

Around to realize this sensor property, it is necessary in that the sensor signals of the one physical sensor unit are such be prepared in terms of impedance and amplitude, that the sensor output signals to the requirements of the contemplated downstream application in terms of dynamic resolution range or dynamic presentation area be adapted to the input dynamic range, thus ensuring can be that no signal quality losses as a result of not successive coordinated dynamic ranges arise.

In Advantageously, features the sensor optional over a programmability of at least one output signal, so that the selection of the rotation rate sensor according to the main application, such as a rollover application with 250 degrees / second, and the desired synergy effect of the sensor for one Further application can be optimally ensured by the at least one further output signal corresponding to the interests the further application, such as a chassis control or vehicle dynamics control with 40 degrees / second, optimally adapted can be.

Next of the cited Programmability for defining the dynamic range of resolution or Dynamic display area, is optionally also a realization the multifunction rotation rate sensor possible, in this case the multifunction rotation rate sensor, in terms of the detection dynamic range and / or display dynamic range, via a has self-adjusting adaptation characteristic to the corresponding application. On the one hand, this can be done by the multifunction rotation rate sensor on the basis of the downstream application, for example in the initialization phase of the whole system, this independently recognizes which type of application it is or based on the detected signals in the field, for example, on the basis of typical repetitive occurring signal amplitudes, this independently detects what kind of application it is.

Under The term input dynamic range, for example, is the simplest Case, the measuring range of an A / D converter input (0 volts-5 volts), or the use of the depth of a digital protocol, the respective Application to understand.

Under the term dynamic resolution range or dynamic representation range, are the properties or the to understand specific data of the rotation rate sensor, which accordingly must be mapped to the respective output. As an explanatory An example is a rotation rate sensor with a measuring range mentioned by 250 degrees / second, at this the output at a corresponding 250 degrees rotation (per second) of the sensor, according to its maximum to be displayed Output dynamic range for representation (illustration) of the sensor measurement signal controls / uses. Depending on the sensor output signal, this may be an analogue Size or to a digital transmission protocol an interface, with a corresponding depth of the interface protocol, act.

Further Advantages and applications The present invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the embodiment shown in the figures / occupant protection arrangement.

In the description, in the claims, in the abstract and in the accompanying drawings the in the list below the reference numbers used terms and associated reference numerals used.

The invention will now be described below with reference to an embodiment with the aid of 1 to 3 explained in more detail. Hereinafter, for functionally identical and / or identical elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals.

It demonstrate

1 to 3 : A representation of the multi rotational speed sensor with two downstream applications, each with differentiating outputs.

1 shows a representation of the multi-function yaw rate sensor ( 1 ) with two downstream applications ( 2 . 3 ).

The multifunction yaw rate sensor ( 1 ) contains in the simplest case, as shown, that actual physical sensor element ( 1.0 ), whose output signals are two amplifiers ( 1.1 . 1.2 ) are supplied for impedance and amplitude adjustment. The first amplifier ( 1.1 ) prepares the signal of the physical sensor element ( 1.0 ) such that for an application ( 2 ), such as a rollover protection device, which typically has a sensor dynamics of 250 degrees / second ( 1.1.1 ), ideally can be evaluated or processed. The second amplifier ( 1.2 ) prepares the signal of the physical sensor element ( 1.0 ) such that for an application ( 3 ), such as a chassis control or vehicle dynamics control, which typically has a sensor dynamics of 40 degrees / second ( 1.2.1 ), ideally can be evaluated or processed.

Advantageously, the sensor ( 1 ) optionally via a programmability ( 1.2.0 ) of at least one output signal ( 1.2.1 ), so that the selection of the rotation rate sensor according to the main application ( 2 ), such as a rollover application at 250 degrees / second, and the desired synergy effect of the sensor ( 1 ) can be optimally ensured for a further application by the at least one further output signal ( 1.2.1 ) according to the needs of the further application ( 3 ), such as a chassis control or vehicle dynamics control with 40 degrees / second, or deviating requirements, can be optimally adapted.

The two output variables, in this example, are analog output variables which correspond to the corresponding applications ( 2 . 3 ) to which A / D converter inputs are supplied.

2 shows a representation of the multi-function yaw rate sensor ( 1 ) with two downstream applications ( 2 . 3 ).

Deviating from 1 , here are the output signals of the two amplifier stages ( 1.1 . 1.2 ) an interface / interface ( 1.3 ), by means of this / r the sensor signals already in the multi-function yaw rate sensor ( 1 ) are converted to a digital data protocol in order to use the two outputs as an output signal ( 1.1.1 . 1.2.1 ) the downstream applications ( 2 . 3 ) to be supplied.

3 shows a representation of the multi-function yaw rate sensor ( 1 ) with two downstream applications ( 2 . 3 ).

Deviating from 1 and 2 , here are the output signals of the two amplifier stages ( 1.1 . 1.2 ) an interface / interface ( 1.3 ), by means of this / r the sensor signals already in the multi-function yaw rate sensor ( 1 ) are converted to a common digital data protocol in order to use the output as output signal ( 1.x.1 ) the downstream applications ( 2 . 3 ) to be supplied.

1

Multifunction angular rate sensor

1.0

physical sensor element

1.1

Amplifier to Output adjustment

1.1.1

output 1

1.x.1

digital Output (with at least 2 processed output signals)

1.2

Amplifier to Output adjustment

1.2.0

Gain adjustment / programming capability

1.2.1

output 1

1.3

Interface / Interface

2

application 1

3

application 2

Claims (11)

Method for evaluating a rotation rate signal of a multifunction rotation rate sensor 1 , characterized in that the rotation rate signal of the sensor element 1.0 , which refers to a rotation axis, is divided into two sub-signals and two amplifiers 1.1 . 1.2 is supplied and the amplifiers process the rotation rate signal such that the sensor output signals 1.1.1 . 1.2.1 to requirements of downstream applications 2 . 3 be adapted, wherein the signal of the first amplifier of a first application 2 having a first detection and / or presentation dynamic range, and the signal of the second amplifier of a second application 3 having a second detection and / or presentation dynamic range, wherein the detection and / or presentation dynamic ranges differ by at least a factor of two. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least two output signals provided 1.1.1 . 1.2.1 be provided on at least two physical outputs. A method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the at least two bereitge set output signals 1.1.1 . 1.2.1 be provided in analog form. A method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the at least two provided output signals 1.x.1 . 1.2.1 an interface 1.3 which are supplied in digital form to the applications 2 . 3 provides. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least two output signals provided 1.1.1 . 1.2.1 an interface 1.3 be supplied, which this as a data packet 1.x.1 the applications 2 . 3 provides. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the amplifier 1.1 . 1.2 a programming unit 1.2.0 includes. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the programming unit 1.2.0 performs an adaptation to the corresponding application. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the programming unit 1.2.0 has adapted to the appropriate application self-adjusting adjustment characteristic. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized that in the first application 2 is a rollover protection device is. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the second application 3 is a driving stabilization device is. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized that the second application 3 is an assistance device for driving comfort increase is.