The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 27, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 02, 1993
Alvin V Florida, Antioch, CA (US);
Piyush K Gupta, Antioch, CA (US);
David F Macy, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
Harold D Morris, Orinda, CA (US);
New SD, Inc., Concord, CA (US);
Abstract
A rotation rate sensor which employs a built-in (i.e. internal) test circuit. The rotation rate sensor includes a piezoelectric structure. Deposited on the piezoelectric structure are at least two pickup high and two pickup low electrodes. A pickup circuit is coupled to the pickup high and pickup low electrodes. During a normal mode of operation, the piezoelectric structure is subject to a rotation about one of its axis. In response, the pickup circuit generates a rate signal which corresponds to the rotation rate of the piezoelectric structure. The test circuit is coupled to the pickup low electrodes. During a test mode of operation, the piezoelectric structure is also subject to a rotation about the axis. But, the test circuit generates at the same time a test signal which is provided to the pickup low electrodes and which corresponds to a pseudo rate of rotation. In response, the pickup circuit generates a rate signal which corresponds to the sum of the actual rate of rotation of the piezoelectric material plus the pseudo rate of rotation.