Title of Invention | METHOD OF OPERATING RATE-OF-ROTATION SENSOR |
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Abstract | The invention discloses a method for operating a sensor (1), particularly, a yaw rate sensor, which is housed inside a housing (10). In order to detect the dangerous influence of mechanical vibrations upon the output measured value of the sensor (1), the vibrations are sensed at the location of the sensor (1), and the sensor (1) or an electronic device (3) interacting with the sensor (1) is switched off so long as the vibrations exceed an established intensity. The method can be used, in particular, in a driving dynamics control (FDR) of a road vehicle. |
Full Text | BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such sensors, especially rate-of-rotation sensors, can be expediently installed in a housing together with an associated evaluating electronic unit. For this purpose, the sensors can be mounted together with the other electronics on the same printed-circuit board, or can be provided with their own printed-circuit board (baby board). Rate-of-rotation sensors are used, for example, in systems for electronic stability control (ESC), adaptive cruise control (ACC) and roll stability control (RSC). A rate-of-rotation sensor detects rotation around the vertical axis of the vehicle. For this purpose, an oscillating element such as a tuning fork or oscillating body of some other construction is disposed inside the sensor. This is excited to vibration and it measures a deflection caused by coriolis force during rotation around a vertical axis. Known rate-of-rotation sensors (International Patent WO 03/067190 A1, German Patent 10215853 A1, German Patent 44973 C3) are usually manufactured as micromechanical components and are therefore sensitive to shaking and other mechanical vibrations. Such perturbations can cause false readings and even destruction of the sensor. The said false readings are to be regarded as particularly critical for the aforementioned applications in motor vehicles, since thereby false control signals can be generated and thus danger to the vehicle and operator can result. The control signals then do not correspond to the true vehicle behavior. Furthermore, the control system is not always capable of distinguishing mem from the actual rate of rotation. As a remedy, German Patent 10022968 Al discloses a special cushioning and damping design of the printed-circuit board on which the sensor is mounted. However, this means that the electronics are considerably more expensive. Furthermore, it is technologically difficult to maintain control over such damping devices, since the cushioning and damping effects can vary with time as a result of aging. As has been found in tests, it is particularly vibrations of a certain frequency range, namely such between 300 and 450 Hz, that are responsible for impaired output signals of rate-of-rotation sensors. At and above a certain level of vibration, these may lead to DC offset drift of the output signal. Also conceivable, of course, is the use of particularly high-quality rate-of-rotation sensors that are insensitive to vibrations and impacts. Because of the high price of such sensors, however, the use thereof as mass-produced components in motor vehicles is impractical. OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to avoid defective output signals of rate-of-rotation sensors and to prevent any harmful effect of such defective signals on electronic stability control or other vehicle systems. Accordingly the present invention provides a method for operating a sensor, especially a rate-of-rotation sensor, which is installed on a printed-circuit board in a housing, characterized in that mechanical vibrations at the location of the sensor are measured and the sensor and/or an electronic unit cooperating with the sensor is/are deactivated for as long as the vibrations exceed a defined intensity and/or occur within a defined frequency band. By means of the inventive method there can be used rate-of-rotation sensors mat are considerably more cost-effective than heretofore. Consequently there is achieved a noteworthy reduction in costs of the ESC system. This is possible even when the cost increase due to the additional acceleration sensors is taken into consideration. Furthermore, there is no longer any need for complex measures to damp vibrations of the printed-circuit board, and more cost-effective materials, such as plastic, can be used for the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of a drawing. The single Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic unit that is installed in a housing and that contains a rate-of-rotation sensor in addition to other components. Fig. 1 shows a printed-circuit board (7), to which there are soldered several electronic components (1, 3, 4, 5, 6). Printed-circuit board (7) is fixed inside an electronics housing (10) by means of holding members (8, 9). As an example, electronics housing (10) can contain an electronic stability control (ESC) system and be disposed on board a motor vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Printed-circuit board (7) is provided with an electronic unit (3), which among other tasks receives and evaluates the output signals of a sensor (1), especially of a rate-of-rotation sensor. This component (3) (the electronic unit) is also representative of further electronic components of the electronic stability control system that are not indicated individually. To execute the inventive method, one or more, and in the present case three acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) are disposed in the immediate proximity of rate-of-rotation sensor (1). Advantageously, these acceleration sensors are chosen such that they can measure different vibrational bandwidths or frequencies and/or have different measuring directions. For the purpose of reliably recording all vibrations that occur, there are advantageously used three acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) set up for measurement in three different spatial axes. Sensor (1) (rate-of-rotation sensor) can also be mounted together with acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) on a special printed-circuit board or baby board (not illustrated). This has the advantage that the rate-of-rotation sensor can be prefabricated together with the acceleration sensors as a single module. In an expedient embodiment, housing (10) and/or printed-circuit board (7) can additionally be constructed such that they are disposed far from critical mechanical sensor excitations or vibrations. Rate-of-rotation sensor (1) is then advantageously placed at a position located far from the maximum vibrational amplitudes. Such a suitable position can be determined by tests, for example. In another expedient embodiment, holding members (8, 9) for printed-circuit board (7) can be additionally designed to damp vibrations. By this feature, the harmful vibrations transmitted to rate-of-rotation sensor (1) are further reduced. Housing (10) and/or printed-circuit board (7) can also be mechanically designed such that external vibrational excitation leads to only small, narrowly confined resonance ranges. Measures in this regard are known to the person skilled in the art. The rate-of-rotation sensor is then placed at a position where no resonance range occurs. This can be determined by tests. The vibrations measured or detected by acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) in the manner according to the invention are evaluated in electronic unit (3). Should these vibrations exceed a defined intensity and occur within a certain, critical frequency band, which in the present case ranges approximately from 300 to 450 Hz, electronic unit (3) initiates appropriate actions, such as deactivating downstream functions, to ensure that impaired output signals cannot be transmitted further and thus lead to erroneous vehicle reactions. By means of the invention, there is achieved a considerable improvement in the safety level of ESC or other systems, accompanied at the same time by a cost reduction. WE CLAIM: 1. A method for operating a sensor (1), especially a rate-of-rotation sensor, which is installed on a printed-circuit board (7) in a housing (10), characterized in that mechanical vibrations at the location of the sensor (1) are measured and the sensor (1) and/or an electronic unit (3) cooperating with the sensor (1) is/are deactivated for as long as the vibrations exceed a defined intensity and/or occur within a defined frequency band. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical vibrations are measured by means of one or more acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6). 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) are disposed in the immediate proximity of the sensor (1). 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 to 3, wherein the acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) have different bandwidths and/or measuring directions. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bandwidth of the acceleration sensors (4, 5, 6) ranges between 300 and 450 Hz. 6. A method as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing (10) and/or the printed-circuit board (7) is/are additionally constructed mechanically such that they form only a minimum number of narrowly confined resonance ranges during vibrational excitation. 7. A method as claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 6, wherein the printed-circuit board (7) is mounted in vibration-damping manner in holding members (8, 9). ABSTRACT Method of Operating Rate of Rotation Sensor The invention discloses a method for operating a sensor (1), particularly, a yaw rate sensor, which is housed inside a housing (10). In order to detect the dangerous influence of mechanical vibrations upon the output measured value of the sensor (1), the vibrations are sensed at the location of the sensor (1), and the sensor (1) or an electronic device (3) interacting with the sensor (1) is switched off so long as the vibrations exceed an established intensity. The method can be used, in particular, in a driving dynamics control (FDR) of a road vehicle. |
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02886-kolnp-2006 correspondence others.pdf
02886-kolnp-2006 description (complete).pdf
02886-kolnp-2006 international publication.pdf
02886-kolnp-2006 international search report.pdf
02886-kolnp-2006 pct others.pdf
02886-kolnp-2006 priority document.pdf
02886-kolnp-2006-correspondence others-1.1.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(06-02-2013)-ANNEXURE TO FORM-3.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(06-02-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(06-02-2013)-ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(08-11-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-ABSTRACT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-AMANDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-CLAIMS.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-DRAWINGS.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-FORM-1.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-FORM-2.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-OTHERS.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-PA.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-(27-08-2013)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-ASSIGNMENT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18-1.1..pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 3.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 5.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-LETTER PATENT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT & OTHERS.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf
2886-KOLNP-2006-TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf
Patent Number | 259052 | |||||||||
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Indian Patent Application Number | 2886/KOLNP/2006 | |||||||||
PG Journal Number | 09/2014 | |||||||||
Publication Date | 28-Feb-2014 | |||||||||
Grant Date | 24-Feb-2014 | |||||||||
Date of Filing | 06-Oct-2006 | |||||||||
Name of Patentee | WABCO GMBH & CO.OHG | |||||||||
Applicant Address | AM LINDENER HAFEN 21,30453 HANNOVER | |||||||||
Inventors:
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PCT International Classification Number | B60T8/88; G01C19/56 | |||||||||
PCT International Application Number | PCT/EP2005/000727 | |||||||||
PCT International Filing date | 2005-01-26 | |||||||||
PCT Conventions:
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