Patents by Inventor Raphael Mayer-Wegelin

Raphael Mayer-Wegelin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8042395
    Abstract: A method for operating a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and forms part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal is deriveable by filtering and amplification. Upon switching on a sensor arrangement that includes such a vibrating gyroscope, the frequency of the excitation signal is adjusted by exciting the vibrating gyroscope, before the excitation signal is fed, to oscillate freely, measuring the frequency of the free oscillation and feeding the excitation signal to the vibrating gyroscope with the measured frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell
  • Patent number: 7926347
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a sensor arrangement comprising a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and forms part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal is tapable from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal is derivable by filtering and amplification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell
  • Patent number: 7895893
    Abstract: A method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and to a sensor arrangement comprising such a vibrating gyroscope, wherein the vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and is part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. In accordance with the invention, once a sensor arrangement comprising the vibrating gyroscope is switched on, an initial value for the natural frequency is calculated from a previously measured value of the natural frequency stored in a memory and parameters that effect a modification of the natural frequency since start of the measurement, and the excitation signal is fed to the vibrating gyroscope with the calculated initial value of the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: VDO Automotive AG
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell
  • Publication number: 20090260435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring a sensor arrangement comprising a vibrating gyroscope. Said vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and is part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. The invention is characterized in that a first value of temperature change is calculated from the difference of the actual value of the natural frequency and a value of the natural frequency measured at a reference temperature during a comparison and stored in a memory, and the temperature coefficient of the natural frequency in relation to the measured temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell
  • Publication number: 20090151452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining a rate of rotation, in which, as a function of a primary actuating signal (E_PRIM), a sensor element (2), the natural frequency (FE) of which is linearly dependent on its temperature (T), is excited so as to perform a primary oscillation along a first axis (AXIS—1). A primary measurement signal (A_PRIM), which is representative of the primary oscillation, is determined. Also, a secondary measurement signal (A_SEC) is determined which is representative of a secondary oscillation of the sensor element (2) along a second axis (AXIS—2), which together with the first axis (AXIS—1) encloses an angle that is unequal to zero. The natural frequency (FE) of the sensor element (2) is determined. On the basis of the determined natural frequency (FE) only, at least one value is adjusted which affects the primary actuating signal (E_PRIM) and/or at least one other actuating signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell
  • Publication number: 20090114017
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and to a sensor arrangement comprising such a vibrating gyroscope. Said vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and is part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. The invention is characterized in that, once a sensor arrangement comprising the vibrating gyroscope is switched on, an initial value for the natural frequency is calculated from a previously measured value of the natural frequency stored in a memory and parameters that effect a modification of the natural frequency since start of the measurement, and the excitation signal is fed to the vibrating gyroscope with the calculated initial value of the frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell
  • Patent number: 7509830
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a rotation rate sensor comprising a vibration gyroscope that represents a band-pass filter and that is part of at least one control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises a digital and analog components and excites the vibration gyroscope to vibrate with its natural frequency by supplying it with an excitation signal. An output signal can be gathered from the vibration gyroscope from which the excitation signal and the rotation rate signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. Redundant analog components and at least one analog to digital converter are used to measure analog signals and read characteristic values within the digital components and compare the measured characteristic values with limiting values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell, Dietmar Schmid
  • Publication number: 20090031805
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a vibrating gyroscope and to a sensor arrangement comprising such a vibrating gyroscope. Said vibrating gyroscope is used as a resonator and is part of at least one control circuit that excites the vibration gyroscope by feeding an excitation signal with its natural frequency. An output signal can be tapped from the vibrating gyroscope from which the excitation signal can be derived by filtering and amplification. The invention is characterized in that, once the sensor arrangement is switched on, the frequency of the excitation signal is adjusted by exciting the vibrating gyroscope, before the excitation signal is fed, to oscillate freely, measuring the frequency of the free oscillation and feeding the excitation signal to the vibrating gyroscope with the measured frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Raphael Mayer-Wegelin, Heinz-Werner Morell