Abstract: A capacitive sensor. The capacitive sensor includes: a MEMS element including a capacitive Wheatstone bridge circuit; and an ASIC element, wherein the ASIC element is designed to ascertain a measured value of at least one reference capacitance of the capacitive Wheatstone bridge circuit, wherein actuation signals for ascertaining the reference capacitance are applicable to a respective supply line of the capacitive Wheatstone bridge circuit, wherein the ASIC element is designed to read and evaluate the measured values of the reference capacitances, wherein a resistance value of at least one short-circuit resistance of the capacitive sensor is ascertainable from the values of the reference capacitances.

Abstract: A system and to a method for synchronizing the system by means of read command transactions. The method includes receiving, in a second subsystem of the system, a plurality of read command transactions via an interface between a first subsystem and the second subsystem of the system. The second subsystem is configured to synchronize the first subsystem and the second subsystem based on the plurality of read command transactions. This makes simple synchronization possible without the need for any hardware.

Abstract: An environmental sensor. The environmental sensor includes: a MEMS element; an ASIC element electrically connected to the MEMS element by means of at least two bonding wires. T ASIC element includes an evaluation circuit designed to ascertain and evaluate a parasitic capacitance between the at least two bonding wires connected to pads of the MEMS element, in order to detect a material deposit on the environmental sensor.

Abstract: A sensor device. The sensor device includes a sensor element, a processing unit, and a communication interface. The processing unit is configured to receive a desired sampling frequency and a desired measurement duration via the communication interface, and to determine a necessary distance in time between two consecutive measurements depending on the desired sampling frequency and the desired measurement duration, and to sample a measurement signal of the sensor element depending on the necessary distance in time between two consecutive measurements. A method for operating a sensor device is also described.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor element. The capacitive pressure sensor element includes a first measuring capacitor, which generates a first sensor signal in a first pressure range, and a second measuring capacitor, which is used as a reference capacitor in the first pressure range and which generates a second pressure-based sensor signal in the second pressure range. A pressure sensor system which has at least two of the pressure sensor elements, and methods for producing the pressure sensor the pressure sensor system are also described.

Abstract: A micromechanical pressure sensor element as well as a pressure sensing system comprising such a pressure sensor element, with which the pressure sensor element establishes an electrical contact in the event of a specified first pressure being applied. The pressure sensor element has a membrane that can be moved or deflected by an applied pressure. A first cavity into which the membrane can be deflected is provided below the membrane. Two contact elements are provided which come into contact with each other, in particular via a mechanical contact, on the basis of a first applied pressure being exceeded so that an electric contact is established. At least one first contact element, which is directly or indirectly connected to the membrane, and a second contact element, which is directly or indirectly connected to the cavity bottom, are provided.

Abstract: A method for assessing the state of a sensor. The sensor comprises a deflectable micromechanical sensor structure for detecting a physical input variable and converting the physical input variable into an electrical sensor signal. A medium surrounding the sensor acts on the micromechanical sensor structure. The micromechanical sensor structure is deflectable using an excitation signal. The method includes: generating an excitation signal using a driver unit; outputting the excitation signal to the micromechanical sensor structure; deflecting the micromechanical sensor structure using the excitation signal; detecting a response behavior of the micromechanical sensor structure in response to the excitation signal; comparing the response behavior to a reference behavior to determine a measure of deviation for the response behavior in relation to the reference behavior; and assessing, based on the measure of deviation, the state of the sensor with respect to the presence of a deposit.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a micromechanical sensor element including a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, which spans a cavity in a base material and includes a diaphragm electrode. A fixed counter electrode is situated inside the cavity and, with the diaphragm electrode, forms a first measuring capacitor for detecting a first measuring pressure. A reference capacitor is situated inside the cavity and includes a first and a second fixed reference electrode. The pressure sensor is operable in a first operating mode, in which the first measuring capacitor and the first reference capacitor are interconnected in a first bridge circuit. The pressure sensor is operable in a second operating mode, in which the diaphragm electrode, the counter electrode and the reference electrodes are interconnected in such a way that the diaphragm electrode, together with the at least one first reference electrode, forms a second measuring capacitor for detecting a second measuring pressure.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a micromechanical sensor element including a pressure-sensitive diaphragm, which spans a cavity in a base material and includes a diaphragm electrode. A fixed counter electrode is situated inside the cavity and, with the diaphragm electrode, forms a first measuring capacitor for detecting a first measuring pressure. A reference capacitor is situated inside the cavity and includes a first and a second fixed reference electrode. The pressure sensor is operable in a first operating mode, in which the first measuring capacitor and the first reference capacitor are interconnected in a first bridge circuit. The pressure sensor is operable in a second operating mode, in which the diaphragm electrode, the counter electrode and the reference electrodes are interconnected in such a way that the diaphragm electrode, together with the at least one first reference electrode, forms a second measuring capacitor for detecting a second measuring pressure.

Abstract: A sensor system including one sensor element for acquiring at least one measured variable, a circuit system for operating the sensor device and for generating sensor data based on the sensor signals, and a configuration data memory for configuration data. The sensor system is able to be alternatively operated in at least in an active mode, and in a sleep mode. The circuit system is configured in such a way that the memory content of the configuration data memory is independent of the respective operating mode of the sensor system, so that the stored configuration data are maintained in a sleep mode, and the sensor system is configured in such a way that the at least one part that is switched to a currentless state in the sleep mode is reconfigured on the basis of the stored configuration data when a change to an active mode is initiated.

Abstract: A sensor system including a detection unit, which is designed to detect at least one physical variable and to output corresponding measured values, and a communication interface, which includes a communication unit and is designed to output the detected measured values at least in a normal operating mode, and which is designed to receive a data signal, which includes a clock signal, the communication unit being designed to use the clock signal as the operating clock in an energy-saving operating mode. Furthermore, a corresponding method is described.

Abstract: A sensor system including one sensor element for acquiring at least one measured variable, a circuit system for operating the sensor device and for generating sensor data based on the sensor signals, and a configuration data memory for configuration data. The sensor system is able to be alternatively operated in at least in an active mode, and in a sleep mode. The circuit system is configured in such a way that the memory content of the configuration data memory is independent of the respective operating mode of the sensor system, so that the stored configuration data are maintained in a sleep mode, and the sensor system is configured in such a way that the at least one part that is switched to a currentless state in the sleep mode is reconfigured on the basis of the stored configuration data when a change to an active mode is initiated.

Abstract: A sensor system including a detection unit, which is designed to detect at least one physical variable and to output corresponding measured values, and a communication interface, which includes a communication unit and is designed to output the detected measured values at least in a normal operating mode, and which is designed to receive a data signal, which includes a clock signal, the communication unit being designed to use the clock signal as the operating clock in an energy-saving operating mode. Furthermore, a corresponding method is described.

Abstract: A method for reducing a light intensity of a projection device is provided which includes the following steps: projecting information in the form of a visual representation onto a total area; emitting a plurality of electromagnetic signals which are essentially imperceptible to an observer onto the total area, using the projection device; detecting objects situated in the light path between the projection device and the total area with the aid of the electromagnetic signals; and reducing the light intensity of the projection device as long as an object is detected in the light path.

Abstract: A device for projecting an image includes: a video signal device designed to provide a video signal that has a first image refresh rate; a mirror control device designed to control a micro-mirror device with a second image refresh rate adapted to at least one characteristic of the micro-mirror device and to the first image refresh rate; and a projection device designed to project the video signal provided by the video signal device with the first image refresh rate, using the micro-mirror device moved by the second image refresh rate.

Abstract: A method for adapting a line frequency of a digital data signal of a projection device includes: providing data about at least one mechanical natural frequency of a mirror device of the projection device and about a storage capacity of a line buffer of an image processing device; detecting a first image resolution of a video signal of a video source device with the aid of the image processing device; and computing a second image resolution having an adapted vertical resolution of the digital data signal based on the detected first image resolution of the video signal as a function of the at least one mechanical natural frequency of the mirror device and the storage capacity of the line buffer with the aid of the image processing device to adapt the line frequency of the digital data signal of the projection device.

Abstract: A device for projecting an image includes: a video signal device designed to provide a video signal that has a first image refresh rate; a mirror control device designed to control a micro-mirror device with a second image refresh rate adapted to at least one characteristic of the micro-mirror device and to the first image refresh rate; and a projection device designed to project the video signal provided by the video signal device with the first image refresh rate, using the micro-mirror device moved by the second image refresh rate.

Abstract: A method for reducing a light intensity of a projection device is provided which includes the following steps: projecting information in the form of a visual representation onto a total area; emitting a plurality of electromagnetic signals which are essentially imperceptible to an observer onto the total area, using the projection device; detecting objects situated in the light path between the projection device and the total area with the aid of the electromagnetic signals; and reducing the light intensity of the projection device as long as an object is detected in the light path.

Abstract: A method for reading out a light sensor control unit having the method steps: (a) reading out a light signal of the light sensor by the light sensor control unit and generating a data signal corresponding to the light signal, b) storing the generated data signal in a buffer memory unit of the light sensor control unit and, if a terminating condition is not fulfilled: continuing the method with method step a), if the terminating condition is fulfilled: continuing the method with c) reading out the data signals stored in the buffer memory unit of the light sensor control unit in a data block by a processor device.

Abstract: A laser projection device is described having a projection unit, which is designed to project an image and to generate an interrupt signal as a function of a distance of the projection unit from at least one object located in front of the projection unit in the projection direction, and having an application control unit, which is designed to control the projection unit as a function of the interrupt signal. A method is also described.