Abstract: A sensor with continuous self test is provided. An exemplary inertial sensor may include one or more self test electrodes so that one or more test signals may be applied to the electrodes during normal operation of the sensor. Normal sensor output may be read and stored during normal operation, when self test signals are typically not applied to the sensor. The normal sensor output provides a baseline for comparison to a sensor offset error detection signal produced when a test signal may be applied to one self test electrode, and also to a sense error detection signal when a test signal may be applied to both self test electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor with continuous self test is provided. An exemplary inertial sensor may include one or more self test electrodes so that one or more test signals may be applied to the electrodes during normal operation of the sensor. Normal sensor output may be read and stored during normal operation, when self test signals are typically not applied to the sensor. The normal sensor output provides a baseline for comparison to a sensor offset error detection signal produced when a test signal may be applied to one self test electrode, and also to a sense error detection signal when a test signal may be applied to both self test electrodes.

Abstract: A sensor with continuous self test (101). An exemplary inertial sensor (106) may include one or more self test electrodes (208, 210) so that one or more test signals (402, 404) may be applied to the electrodes (208, 210) during normal operation of the sensor. Normal sensor output may be read and stored (316) during normal operation, when self test signals are typically not applied to the sensor. The normal sensor output provides a baseline for comparison to a sensor offset error detection signal (408) produced when a test signal may be applied to one self test electrode, and also to a sense error detection signal (406) produced when a test signal may be applied to both self test electrodes (208, 210).

Abstract: A sensor system (20) includes transducers (32, 34) each yielding an analog signal (37, 39) representing a parameter independently sensed by each of the transducers (32, 34). The signals (37, 39) are summed and the resulting transducer signal (46) is converted to a digital transducer signal (26) by a high resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) (48). Concurrently, one of the signals (37, 39) is subtracted from the other. The resulting difference signal (56) is converted to a digital difference signal (60) by a low resolution ADC (58). When the digital difference signal (60) is within a threshold window (78), a fault signal (28) indicates a normal condition (80) of the transducers (32, 34). When the signal (60) falls outside of the threshold window (78), a fault signal (28) indicates a fault condition (82) of the transducers. The transducer and fault signals (26, 28) are concurrently output from the sensor system (20).