Method for detecting contamination of measuring device of electronic system with fluid and / or particles, and electronic system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (M) for detecting contamination of a measuring device (2) of an electronic system (1) by a fluid and / or particles, in particular for detecting contamination of a pneumatic pressure sensor of an entertainment electronic device with a vibrating mechanism, and to an electronic system. The method (M) is provided with the following steps: generating (M1) a mechanical stimulus for accelerating the measuring device (2); determining (M2) a signal response of the measuring device (2) as a response to the mechanical stimulus; and comparing (M3) the signal response with a predetermined reference response (REF) with respect to the stimulus, the possible contamination (KO) of the measuring device (2) causing the signal response to deviate from the reference response (REF).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for identifying that a measuring device of an electronic system is contaminated by fluid and / or particles, in particular to a method for identifying that a pneumatic pressure sensor of an entertainment electronic device with a vibration mechanism is contaminated by fluid and / or particles. The present invention also relates to an electronic system configured to perform such a method. Background Art

[0002] In pressure measurement, a force usually acts on the surface of an elastic deformable body, wherein a signal is generated as a function of the deformation of the deformable body, which signal is a measure of the applied pressure. For example, in a capacitive pressure sensor, a deflection of the deformable body causes a displacement of a movable electrode of a capacitor relative to a fixed counter-electrode, which causes a measurable capacitance change. In particular, planar deformable bodies such as membranes, plates or disks are provided for capacitive pressure sensors, wherein the movable electrode is applied to the planar deformable body as a coating and is arranged parallel to the counter-electrode at a distance.

[0003] Various consumer / entertainment electronic products, in particular portable ones, contain both a pneumatic pressure sensor and a device for generating vibrations. The pressure sensor measures the pressure, while the device for generating vibrations causes the product or its parts to vibrate mechanically. A disadvantage here is that the pressure sensor can acquire distorted measured values ​​due to soiling or contamination. As a result, the product in which the pressure sensor is integrated can no longer be used satisfactorily or cannot be used at all. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention provides a method for detecting contamination of a measuring device of an electronic system by fluids and / or particles having the features of claim 1 and an electronic system having the features of claim 9 .

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for identifying that a measuring device of an electronic system is contaminated by fluids and / or particles is provided. The method comprises the following steps: generating a mechanical stimulus for accelerating the measuring device, and determining a signal response of the measuring device as a reaction to the mechanical stimulus. In addition, the method comprises the step of comparing the signal response with a predetermined reference response associated with the stimulus, wherein a possible contamination of the measuring device may result in a deviation of the signal response from the reference response. The method is particularly intended for identifying that a pneumatic pressure sensor of an entertainment electronic device with a vibrating mechanism is contaminated by fluids and / or particles.

[0006] According to a second aspect of the present invention, an electronic system is provided. The electronic system is configured to perform the method according to the first aspect of the present invention. The electronic system comprises a measuring device and a vibration mechanism for generating a mechanical stimulus to accelerate the measuring device.

[0007] The invention is based on the idea that the contamination of the measuring device or sensor by additional (parasitic) mass or inertia changes the influence of acceleration (e.g. gravity) on the measuring device or sensor element. Mechanical stimulation can cause a large number of acceleration pulses or oscillations. Pressure is physically defined as the vertical force acting on a surface per unit area. Usually, for example in pneumatic pressure sensors, the force influence on a constant, defined reference surface or membrane is mostly detected.

[0008] When the reference surface or the membrane is contaminated by fluid and / or particles, additional force influences occur due to their inertia and the influence of gravity or the general acceleration, which lead to errors in the measured pressure signal. This means that the contamination changes the state of the measuring device and / or the electronic system or the sensor / system state and has an attenuating or amplifying influence on the signal response or the signal characteristics or the noise characteristics of the sensor during acceleration stimulation due to the additional mass.

[0009] A change (especially a significant change) in the signal response or the signal characteristic during the influence of the stimulus compared to an initial state (i.e. a predetermined signal response or noise characteristic reference) indicates a change in the system state and may allow identification of contamination of the measuring device or the sensor element. The comparison of the signal characteristic with the actually determined signal characteristic and noise characteristic reference may refer to any feature of the signal during the stimulus. The specific form of the stimulus is not specified.

[0010] The advantage of the present invention is that in the electronic system according to the present invention, special technical (structural) elements for contamination detection of the pressure sensor can be omitted. According to the prior art, additional technical elements and / or functions for contamination detection are added to the pressure sensor. This is not necessary for the present invention.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention can also be used to initiate appropriate measures, such as recalibration, drying or cleaning of the electronic system, in order to eliminate or compensate for measurement errors. The invention thus makes it possible to improve the ability to take appropriate measures to prevent contamination from having an erroneous influence on the measuring device or to prevent the electronic system from using distorted measured values. The measuring device and the electronic system can thus be used more reliably.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments and refinements emerge from the further dependent claims and from the description with reference to the figures of the drawing.

[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the stimulus is generated by a vibration mechanism of the electronic system.

[0014] According to another embodiment of the invention, the stimulus is generated specifically for the execution of the method or during the use of the vibration mechanism in another application. The measuring device can be accelerated in a controlled manner by the specifically generated stimulus.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the signal response is compared according to signal parameters. In particular, the signal response is compared with a non-stimulation signal according to frequency-dependent amplitude, root mean square, frequency behavior and / or pressure accuracy.

[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a sensor of the electronic system (in particular an acceleration sensor) can verify the stimulus. The sensor is not the measuring device itself, but another sensor of the electronic system. In other words, the stimulus can be calibrated by the sensor. For example, the stimulus can be verified or calibrated by multiple sensors of the electronic system. At least one of the multiple sensors can be configured as an acceleration sensor.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the invention, the stimulation has a constant form or a variation of stimulation parameters. In particular, the stimulation has a variation of the frequency or the amplitude or a variation of the frequency and the amplitude.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined reference response originates from production data of the manufacturer or the user. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined reference response can also be proposed during the commissioning of the electronic system. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined reference response can also be continuously recalibrated.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, if changes over time are expected or detected and cannot be eliminated by other measures, a continuous recalibration of the predetermined reference response is required. The changes thus continuously change the noise characteristics of the measuring device or sensor.

[0020] For example, the signal response or pressure signal of the measuring device can be determined in the uncontaminated or original state. In this case, the pressure signal measured during the stimulation can be analyzed and its properties evaluated based on specific characteristics such as noise, pressure error or pressure accuracy. The predetermined signal response can be clearly confirmed by means of these characteristics.

[0021] According to a further development of the invention, the measuring device is designed as a pneumatic pressure sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 A schematic flow chart of a method for identifying that a measuring device of an electronic system is contaminated by fluid and / or particles according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 An alternative schematic flow chart of a method for detecting contamination of a measuring device of an electronic system by fluids and / or particles according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 Schematic illustration of an electronic system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] In the figures, unless otherwise indicated, identical reference numerals denote identical or functionally identical components. The numbering of the method steps is for the sake of clarity and does not generally imply any particular chronological order. In particular, a plurality of method steps may also be performed simultaneously. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will emerge from the following description, in which various exemplary embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic flow chart of a method M for detecting contamination of a measuring device 2 of an electronic system 1 by fluids and / or particles is shown by way of example.

[0029] The method M comprises the steps of generating M1, determining M2 and comparing M3.

[0030] When M1 is generated, a mechanical stimulus is generated for accelerating the measuring device 2. Here, the stimulus M1 is generated by the vibration mechanism 3 of the electronic system 1. In addition, the stimulus is also generated during the use of the vibration mechanism 3 in other applications. The stimulus can also be verified by an acceleration sensor of the electronic system 1. The acceleration sensor is not the measuring device 2 itself, but another sensor of the electronic system 1. In addition, the stimulus has a change in the stimulus parameters, in particular a change in the frequency and / or amplitude.

[0031] In the step of determining M2 , a signal response of the measuring device 2 as a reaction to a mechanical stimulus is determined.

[0032] In the comparison M3, the signal response is compared with a predetermined reference response REF associated with the stimulus. Possible contamination of the measuring device 2 can lead to deviations of the signal response from the reference response REF. In this case, the signal response is compared M3 based on the frequency-dependent amplitude and / or the root mean square. For example, the predetermined reference response REF is provided during the commissioning of the electronic system 1.

[0033] Figure 2 An alternative schematic flow chart of a method M for detecting contamination KO of a measuring device 2 of an electronic system 1 with fluids and / or particles is illustrated by way of example. Specifically, a method M for detecting contamination of a pneumatic pressure sensor 2 of an entertainment electronic device 1 with a vibration mechanism 3 is illustrated by way of example. This means that the measuring device 2 is designed here, for example, as a pneumatic pressure sensor, and the electronic system 1 is designed as an entertainment electronic device.

[0034] Method M includes the steps of generating M1, determining M2 and comparing M3.

[0035] In generation M1, a mechanical stimulus is generated for accelerating the pneumatic pressure sensor 2. For example, the stimulus is generated specifically for carrying out method M. Furthermore, the stimulus can be verified or calibrated by a plurality of sensors of the entertainment electronic device 1. In this case, at least one of the plurality of sensors can be designed as an acceleration sensor. In this case, for example, the stimulus has a constant form.

[0036] determining a signal response of M2 pneumatic pressure sensor 2 as a reaction to the mechanical stimulus; and

[0037] The signal response is compared M3 with a predetermined reference response REF associated with the stimulus, wherein a possible contamination KO of the pneumatic pressure sensor 2 can lead to a deviation of the signal response from the reference response REF. In this case, the signal response can be compared with a non-stimulated signal in terms of pressure accuracy. For example, if a change over time is expected or detected, which cannot be eliminated by other measures and thus continuously changes the noise characteristics of the pressure sensor 2, then, for example, the predetermined reference response REF is continuously recalibrated.

[0038] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an electronic system 1 is shown.

[0039] The electronic system 1 is configured to execute Figure 1 or Figure 2 Method M. The electronic system 1 comprises a measuring device 2 and a vibration mechanism 3 for generating a mechanical stimulus to accelerate the measuring device 2 .

[0040] Although the invention has been explained above by way of example with the aid of exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto but can be modified in various ways. In particular, combinations of the exemplary embodiments described above are also conceivable.

Claims

1. A method (M) for detecting contamination of a measuring device (2) of an electronic system (1) by fluids and / or particles, in particular for detecting contamination of a pneumatic pressure sensor of an entertainment electronic device with a vibrating mechanism, comprising the following steps: generating (M1) a mechanical stimulus for accelerating the measuring device (2); determining (M2) a signal response of the measuring device (2) as a reaction to the mechanical stimulus; and comparing (M3) the signal response with a predetermined reference response (REF) associated with the stimulus, wherein Possible contamination (KO) of the measuring device (2) causes the signal response to deviate from the reference response (REF).

2. The method (M) according to claim 1, wherein: The stimulus is generated (M1) by a vibration mechanism (3) of the electronic system (1).

3. The method (M) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The stimulus is generated (M1) specifically for carrying out the method (M) or during use of the vibration mechanism (3) in other applications.

4. The method (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The signal response is compared with a non-stimulation signal according to signal parameters, in particular according to frequency-dependent amplitude, root mean square, frequency characteristics and / or pressure accuracy (M3).

5. The method (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The stimulus is detected by a sensor of the electronic system (1), in particular an acceleration sensor.

6. The method (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The stimulation may have a constant form or a variation of stimulation parameters, in particular a variation of frequency and / or amplitude.

7. The method (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The predetermined reference response (REF) originates from production data of the manufacturer or the user and is provided during commissioning of the electronic system (1) and / or is continuously recalibrated.

8. The method (M) according to claim 7, wherein: If changes over time are expected or detected and cannot be eliminated by other measures, the predetermined reference response (REF) is continuously recalibrated.

9. An electronic system (1) designed to carry out the method (M) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a measuring device (2); and A vibrating mechanism (3) for generating a mechanical stimulus to accelerate the measuring device (2).

10. The electronic system (1) according to claim 9, wherein: The measuring device (2) is configured as a pneumatic pressure sensor.

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