Micromechanical Sensor Integrating Yaw Rate and Acceleration Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in using a single micromechanical element to measure various physical variables such as rotational speed and acceleration effectively, requiring separate sensors for different measuring ranges and leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A micromechanical element with multiple individual sensor elements, including yaw rate and acceleration sensors with extended measuring ranges, integrated within a common housing, allowing for the measurement of different physical parameters like acceleration, speed, and yaw rate, and utilizing control electronics to process these values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate sensors are used to measure different physical variables (rotational speed, acceleration), then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor elements (first sensor element for rotational speed, second sensor element for acceleration) into a single micromechanical element with a common housing. This merging approach allows the device to measure different physical variables simultaneously while reducing overall device complexity and space requirements compared to using separate sensors for each measurement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The micromechanical element is designed as a universal sensor unit that can perform multiple measurement functions through its different sensor elements. The first sensor element measures rotational speed while the second sensor element measures acceleration, allowing a single device to serve multiple measurement purposes and improve adaptability without requiring separate specialized sensors for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate sensors are used to measure different physical variables, then measurement coverage is improved, but space and cost requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement coverageVSAvoidspace requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple sensor elements (first sensor element for rotational speed, second sensor element for acceleration) into a single micromechanical element with a common housing. This merging approach allows the device to measure different physical variables simultaneously while reducing overall device complexity and space requirements compared to using separate sensors for each measurement function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If separate sensors are used for different measuring ranges, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different sensor elements optimized for specific measurement ranges within the same micromechanical element. The first sensor element is configured for measuring rotational speed while the second sensor element is configured for measuring acceleration, allowing each sensor element to have specialized characteristics for its specific measurement function while maintaining overall device integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2773586B1Micromechanical element, component having a micromechanical element, and method for producing a component
Publication Date: 2021.03.24 CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG
  • EP2773586B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2773586B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2773586B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a micromechanical element (123a), to a component (100) having a micromechanical element (123a), and to a method for producing a component (100). The micromechanical element (123a) comprises a plurality of individual sensor elements (1'a, 2'a, 3'a, 23a), wherein a first physical measurement variable can be measured by means of a first individual sensor element (1'a, 2'a, 3'a, 23a) and a second physical measurement variable can be measured by means of a second individual sensor element (1'a, 2'a, 3'a, 23a).