Method and apparatus to test an accelerometer

摘要

A technique includes using an accelerometer to provide an output signal indicative of an acceleration experienced by a movable mass of a sensor of the accelerometer. The technique includes testing the accelerometer, and the testing includes using a closed loop including the sensor to provide the output signal of the accelerometer; injecting a test signal into the loop between an output terminal of the sensor and an output terminal of the accelerometer; and indicating a performance of the accelerometer based on a response of the accelerometer to the injection of the test signal.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
using an accelerometer to provide an output signal indicative of an acceleration experienced by a movable mass of a sensor of the accelerometer at an output terminal of the accelerometer, the sensor having an open loop property exhibited by the sensor between an input terminal of the sensor and an output terminal of the sensor when the sensor is placed in an open loop; and testing the accelerometer, the testing comprising:
using a closed loop to provide the output signal of the accelerometer, wherein the closed loop comprises the sensor and is adapted to provide a feedback signal to the sensor to cause the sensor to adjust a restoring force applied to the movable mass;injecting a test signal into the closed loop between the output terminal of the sensor and the output terminal of the accelerometer; anddetermining the open loop property of the sensor based on a response of the accelerometer to the injecting of the test signal into the closed loop.