Sigma-delta modulator for operating sensors
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorDirk Hammerschmidt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sigma-delta modulator can be used for actuating a sensor element. The sigma delta modulator includes: a forward branch to which an input signal is fed at an input and which includes a loop filter, a quantizer and an output for providing an output signal. A feedback branch is configured to feed back the output signal of the forward branch at least temporarily to the input of the forward branch. A signal source is configured to generate a readout signal which corresponds to the voltage profile at the sensor element during a measuring process. A control unit is configured to generate a control signal dependent on which either the output signal of the forward branch or the readout signal of the signal source is fed back to the input of the forward branch.
Claims17
A sigma-delta modulator comprising:
- a forward branch to which an input signal is fed at an input and which comprises a loop filter, a quantizer and an output for providing an output signal;
- a signal source configured to generate a readout signal that corresponds to a voltage profile at a sensor element during a measuring process;
- a feedback branch comprising an electronic switch connected to receive said output signal and said readout signal, and configured to provide the output signal of the forward branch or the readout signal to the input of the input of the forward branch;
- and
- a control unit configured to generate a control signal that controls said electronic switch such that only one of the output signal of the forward branch or the readout signal of the signal source is provided to the input of the forward branch at the same time.
A sensor arrangement for measuring rotational speeds the sensor arrangement comprising:
- a gyroscopic sensor element for measuring rotational speeds with at least one micromechanical resonator;
- a sigma-delta modulator, which is configured to generate an output signal for exciting the micromechanical resonator, and which is configured to measure and provide a position signal representing the deflection of the micromechanical resonator;
- wherein the sigma-delta modulator comprises:
- a forward branch to which an input signal is fed at an input and which comprises a loop filter, a quantizer and an output for providing the output signal;
- a feedback branch configured to feed back the output signal of the forward branch at least temporarily to the input of the forward branch;
- a signal source configured to generate a readout signal which corresponds to a voltage profile at the sensor element during the measuring process;
- and
- a control unit configured to generate a control signal that controls whether the output signal of the forward branch or the readout signal of the signal source is fed back to the input of the forward branch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.