Rainer Willig

Micromachined Angular Rate Sensors for Automotive Applications

Micromachined angular rate sensors are key elements in several automotive systems, thus enabling highly sophisticated applications like rollover detection and mitigation, navigation systems, electronic stability program, and other future vehicle stabilizing and dynamics control systems. New automotive systems are demanding higher accuracy, better signal-to-noise ratio, higher robustness and insensitivity against external perturbations, better system availability and reliability, as well as easy application of the gyros. This paper is presenting the recent development, now the third generation, of micromachined angular rate sensors at Robert Bosch GmbH. Mass production was started in spring 2005. These surface micromachined gyroscopes exhibit outstanding performance compared to similar designs, especially in term of resolution, noise, and insensitivity against external perturbations

New surface micromachined angular rate sensor for vehicle stabilizing systems in automotive applications

Current developments in vehicle dynamics control systems and future advanced high performance vehicle stabilizing systems demand higher performance of the inertial signals of the vehicles dynamics, especially the angular rate signals: higher accuracy and better signal to noise ratio, high signal refresh rates, higher robustness and insensitivity against external interference, higher system availability and reliability, easier applicability (e.g. additional measuring axes). This paper presents a third generation angular rate sensor cluster MM3.x suitable for high volume production, meeting those demands. Design concepts of the core component - the new angular rate sensor module SMG - are unveiled, giving it outstanding functional performance compared to similar surface micromachined gyroscopes.

New Generation of Inertial Sensor Cluster for ESP- and Future Vehicle Stabilizing Systems in Automotive Applications

In 1995 Robert Bosch GmbH (RB) started the mass production of the first VDC-System (Vehicle Dynamics Control system) for vehicles, today called ESP (Electronic Stability Program). This ESP-System went beyond ABS and Traction Control Systems and offered consumers unsurpassed driving confidence and safety. The key part of this system was a first generation Yaw Rate Sensor DRS 50/100, based on a metal vibrating cylinder. The second generation DRS MM1, introduced in 1998, based on silicon micromachining and included an integrated linear acceleration sensor element. For new additional functions of ESP and of future high dynamic and high performance vehicle stabilizing systems, like Hill Hold Control (HHC) or Steer by Wire (SbW) BOSCH develops the third generation, a flexible and cost-effective Inertial Sensor Cluster with a modular concept for hard- and software, called DRS MM 3.x. Design, basic functions, modular concept, safety features and system requirements of the new Inertial Sensor Cluster DRS MM 3.x are presented.

Mikromechanische Sensoren für fahrdynamische Regelsysteme

Viele jungere Untersuchungen weltweit zeigen einen Ruckgang der Unfallzahlen um 35 bis 50 %, wenn ein ESP-System zur Ausstattung des Fahrzeugs gehort. Masgeblich fur die Erfassung des fahrdynamischen Fahrzeugzustandes ist die Messung der inertialen Grosen wie Beschleunigungen und Drehraten. Das neu entwickelte Sensor-Cluster DRS-MM3 von Bosch setzt nicht nur neue Masstabe bei Signalqualitat und Genauigkeit, sondern ist auch aufgrund des erweiterten Sicherheitskonzeptes bestens geeignet fur den Einsatz in systemubergreifenden Anwendungen mit unterschiedlichen Anforderungen.

Micromechanical sensors for vehicle dynamics control systems

Many worldwide studies in the last years showed an effectiveness in accident reduction of 35 % to 50 % due to the system called ESP. The measurement of inertial signals like acceleration and angular velocity is essential in order to determine the status of the vehicle. The newly developed Sensor Cluster DRS-MM3 not only sets the benchmark for signal accuracy and quality, but due to its increased safety concept it is best suited for cross-system applications with diverse requirements.