Patent ID: 8461833

Claim:
A method for determining the sensitivity of a sensor having a substrate, an elastically suspended seismic mass movable relative to the substrate, and at least one first electrode system for deflecting the mass relative to the substrate along a measuring axis, and at least one second electrode system for deflecting the mass relative to the substrate along the measuring axis, the method comprising: a) applying a first deflection voltage to the first electrode system and applying a second deflection voltage to the second electrode system, and exerting a first electrostatic force on the mass by the first electrode system and exerting a second electrostatic force on the mass by the second electrode system, and exerting a restoring force on the mass as a result of the elasticity of the mass, and establishing a force equilibrium among the first electrostatic force, the second electrostatic force and the restoring force, and the mass assuming a deflection position characteristic of the force equilibrium, and measuring an output signal characteristic of the force equilibrium and of the deflection position; and b) computing the sensitivity of the sensor on the basis of the first deflection voltage and the second deflection voltage.