Abstract: A method and system for testing a MEMS sensor element during operation of a MEMS sensor system in one embodiment includes a test signal generator configured to generate a broad frequency band test signal, and a verification signal substantially identical to the test signal, a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element operatively connected to the test signal generator for generating a sensor output in response to the test signal, a comparison component configured to generate an evaluation signal output based upon the verification signal and the test signal, and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the comparison component and configured to identify a mismatch between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the evaluation signal.

Abstract: A component having an acceleration sensor having at least one freely oscillatory mass, and a resonator having at least one resonating structure, in which the at least one freely oscillatory mass of the acceleration sensor and the at least one resonating structure of the resonator are disposed on and/or in one chip. A corresponding production method for a component is also described.

Abstract: Described is a fuel cell system wherein at least one fuel cell (8) is supplied with a compressed oxidation gas at least intermittently and/or at least partially, as well as a method for starting up a fuel cell system, said method comprising the following steps: a valve (6) connecting the at least one fuel cell (8) to a compressed gas source (1) supplying a compressed oxidation gas is opened; fuel is supplied to the at least one fuel cell (8); it is checked that the fuel cell system has reached an operating point at which sufficient power is generated for autonomous operation of the fuel cell system and for the consumers to be supplied; and a discrete or gradual switching is carried out from the supply of a compressed oxidation gas stored in the compressed gas storage source (1) to the ambient air supplied by a fan (5). The use of the fuel cell system in an emergency power supply is described.

Abstract: A yaw rate sensor includes a drive mass element which is situated above a surface of a substrate and is drivable to vibrate by a drive device along a first axis extending along the surface, having a detection mass element, which is deflectable under the influence of a Coriolis force along a second axis perpendicular to the surface, and having a detection device by which the deflection of the detection mass element along the second axis is detectable. Due to the arrangement of the second axis perpendicular to the surface, the yaw rate sensor may be integrated into a chip together with additional yaw rate sensors suitable for detection of rotations about axes of rotation in other directions.

Abstract: A micromechanical motion sensor is capable of detecting a deflection imparted to an oscillatably mounted bar spring element excited to a permanent periodic oscillation by an electrostatic oscillating drive to which a periodic drive voltage is applied. To compensate non-linearities of the resonance frequency response of the bar spring element, a sum of a normal drive voltage signal and a compensation drive signal may be applied to a comb drive. In an alternative embodiment, separate compensation comb drive units may be additionally provided to the comb drive units used for the oscillation drive and a compensation voltage signal may be applied to them to compensate for the non-linearity.

Abstract: A fuel cell system is described wherein at least one fuel cell is supplied at least intermittently with a gas mixture, particularly one made up of a compressed oxidation gas and ambient air, which is mixed in a Venturi nozzle, whereby the compressed gas can entrain ambient air at the Venturi nozzle and can guide it or guides it to the at least one fuel cell.

Abstract: A microstructured component having a layered construction may allow implementation of component structures having a layer thickness of more than 50 ?m, e.g., more than 100 ?m. Capping of the component structure may allow vacuum enclosure of the component structure with a hermetically sealed electrical connection. The layered construction of the microstructured component includes a carrier including at least one glass layer, e.g., a PYREX™ layer, a component structure, arranged in a silicon layer, which is bonded to the glass layer, and a cap, which is positioned over the component structure and is also bonded to the glass layer.

Abstract: A micromechanical rotation rate sensor has a seismic mass and driving devices which cause a driving vibration of the seismic mass in a first direction x. The rotation rate sensor has measuring devices which measure a deflection of the seismic mass in a second direction y, and generate a deflection signal. The deflection includes a measurement deflection caused by a Coriolis force and an interference deflection, the interference deflection being phase-shifted with respect to the measurement deflection by 90°. Compensation devices are provided at the seismic mass to reduce the interference deflection. Regulation devices are provided, to which the deflection signal is supplied as an input variable, which demodulate an interference deflection signal from the deflection signal, and which generate a compensation signal from the interference deflection signal, which is supplied to the compensation devices.

Abstract: A delta sigma modulator includes an oscillatory system having a natural frequency and an electronics and a control loop which acts upon the electronics from the oscillatory system and again upon the oscillatory system from the electronics. The control loop provides that a gain in the control loop demonstrates a peaking in a frequency range around the natural frequency of the oscillatory system.

Abstract: A rotation rate sensor having a substrate and a Coriolis element is proposed, the Coriolis element being situated above a surface of a substrate; the Coriolis element being able to be induced to vibrate in parallel to a first axis (X); an excursion of the Coriolis element being detectable, based on a Coriolis force in a second axis (Y), which is provided to be essentially perpendicular to the first axis (X); the first and second axes (X, Y) being provided parallel to the surface of the substrate, wherein force-conveying means are provided, the means being provided to convey a dynamic force effect between the substrate and the Coriolis element.

Abstract: A rotational rate sensor having a substrate and a Coriolis element is proposed, the Coriolis element being situated over a surface of a substrate; a driving arrangement being provided, by which the Coriolis element is induced to vibrations parallel to a first axis; a detection arrangement being provided, by which an excursion of the Coriolis elements is detectable on the basis of a Coriolis force in a second axis that is provided to be essentially perpendicular to the first axis; the first and second axis being parallel to the surface of the substrate; sensor elements that are designated to be at least partially movable with respect to the substrate being provided; a force-conveying arrangement being provided; the force-conveying arrangement being provided to convey a static force effect between the substrate and at least one of the sensor elements.

Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor having a resonant driving frequency and a resonant Coriolis frequency. In addition, the yaw-rate sensor has at least one operating voltage, of which the resonant Coriolis frequency is a function. The resonant Coriolis frequency is adjusted to the resonant driving frequency with the aid of an adjustment voltage. A change in the resonant Coriolis frequency as a result of a change in the operating voltage may be compensated for, in that a suitably changed adjusting voltage may be produced from a compensation circuit.

Abstract: The yaw rate sensor of the present invention has force-conveying means. The central idea of the invention is that the force action conveyed by this arrangement has a frequency such that the frequency of the conveyed force action is an integral multiple of the frequency of the oscillation of the drive element parallel to the X-axis.

Abstract: A micromechanical motion sensor is capable of detecting a deflection imparted to an oscillatably mounted bar spring element excited to a permanent periodic oscillation by an electrostatic oscillating drive to which a periodic drive voltage is applied. To compensate non-linearities of the resonance frequency response of the bar spring element, a sum of a normal drive voltage signal and a compensation drive signal may be applied to a comb drive. In an alternative embodiment, separate compensation comb drive units may be additionally provided to the comb drive units used for the oscillation drive and a compensation voltage signal may be applied to them to compensate for the non-linearity.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention creates a micromechanical rotational rate sensor having a first Coriolis mass element and a second Coriolis mass element which may be situated over a surface of a substrate. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have an activating device by which the first Coriolis mass element and the second Coriolis mass element are able to have vibrations activated along a first axis. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have a detection device by which deflections of the first Coriolis mass elements and of the second Coriolis element are able to be detected along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, on the basis of a correspondingly acting Coriolis force. The first axis and second axis may run parallel to the surface of the substrate. The detecting device may have a first detection mass device and a second detection mass device.

Abstract: A micromechanical rotation rate sensor has a seismic mass and driving devices which cause a driving vibration of the seismic mass in a first direction x. The rotation rate sensor has measuring devices which measure a deflection of the seismic mass in a second direction y, and generate a deflection signal. The deflection includes a measurement deflection caused by a Coriolis force and an interference deflection, the interference deflection being phase-shifted with respect to the measurement deflection by 90°. Compensation devices are provided at the seismic mass to reduce the interference deflection. Regulation devices are provided, to which the deflection signal is supplied as an input variable, which demodulate an interference deflection signal from the deflection signal, and which generate a compensation signal from the interference deflection signal, which is supplied to the compensation devices.

Abstract: A semiconductor component, in particular a micromechanical pressure sensor based on silicon, having a base layer, an at least largely self-supporting diaphragm and an overlayer situated on the diaphragm, the diaphragm and the base layer, at least from place to place, delimiting a void. Furthermore, at least from place to place, above the diaphragm a conducting region is provided in the overlayer which is electrically poorly conductive as compared to the conducting region, to which the surface of the diaphragm that faces the overlayer is able to be electrically contacted.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention creates a micromechanical rotational rate sensor having a first Coriolis mass element and a second Coriolis mass element which may be situated over a surface of a substrate. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have an activating device by which the first Coriolis mass element and the second Coriolis mass element are able to have vibrations activated along a first axis. An exemplary embodiment of a micromechanical rotational rate sensor may have a detection device by which deflections of the first Coriolis mass elements and of the second Coriolis element are able to be detected along a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, on the basis of a correspondingly acting Coriolis force. The first axis and second axis may run parallel to the surface of the substrate. The detecting device may have a first detection mass device and a second detection mass device.

Abstract: A yaw-rate sensor having a resonant driving frequency and a resonant Coriolis frequency. In addition, the yaw-rate sensor has at least one operating voltage, of which the resonant Coriolis frequency is a function. The resonant Coriolis frequency is adjusted to the resonant driving frequency with the aid of an adjustment voltage. A change in the resonant Coriolis frequency as a result of a change in the operating voltage may be compensated for, in that a suitably changed adjusting voltage may be produced from a compensation circuit.

Abstract: A rotation rate sensor having a substrate and a Coriolis element is proposed, the Coriolis element being situated above a surface of a substrate; the Coriolis element being able to be induced to vibrate in parallel to a first axis (X); an excursion of the Coriolis element being detectable, based on a Coriolis force in a second axis (Y), which is provided to be essentially perpendicular to the first axis (X); the first and second axes (X, Y) being provided parallel to the surface of the substrate, wherein force-conveying means are provided, the means being provided to convey a dynamic force effect between the substrate and the Coriolis element.