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US 11,953,348 B2Granted
Non-contact sensor assembly and method of sensing using the same
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorsMichael Z. Creech, Perry M. Paielli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network including a sensory assembly having a first wire coil coupled to a stationary component, and a spaced apart second wire coil coupled to a movable component. An interstice is formed between the wire coils. The stationary first wire coil is employed in a primary electrical circuit and the movable second wire coil is employed in a second electrical circuit. A magnet flux field permits at least a portion of an electrical current varied as a function of a parameter of the movable component to be transmitted between the electrical circuits.
Claims19
An axle assembly, comprising:
- a housing of the axle assembly, wherein a differential assembly is supported within the housing of the axle assembly;
- a movable component at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the movable component is a differential case;
- and a sensor assembly configured to sense a parameter of the differential case of the axle assembly, the sensor assembly including:
- a stationary first wire coil disposed within the housing and coupled to an electromagnetic coil of the differential assembly, the stationary first wire coil in electrical communication with a first electrical circuit;
- and a second wire coil disposed within the housing and coupled to the differential case for rotation therewith, the second wire coil in electrical communication with a second electrical circuit including a sensing device for measuring the parameter of the differential case of the axle assembly, wherein the second wire coil is disposed adjacent the stationary first wire coil generating a magnetic field therebetween, and wherein the magnetic field facilitates transmission of an electrical current varied as a function of the parameter of the differential case of the axle assembly from the second electrical circuit to the first electrical circuit.
2 more elements
A method of sensing, comprising the steps of:
- providing an axle assembly including a sensor assembly configured to sense a parameter of a movable component of the axle assembly, wherein the movable component is a differential case, wherein the axle assembly includes a differential assembly, and wherein the differential assembly is supported within a housing of the axle assembly, wherein the sensor assembly includes a first wire coil disposed within the housing and a second wire coil that is spaced apart from the first wire coil and disposed within the housing, wherein the first wire coil is in electrical communication with a first electrical circuit including a signal device coupled to the housing, and wherein the second wire coil is in electrical communication with a second electrical circuit including a sensing device for measuring the parameter of the differential case;
- generating a magnetic field between the first wire coil and the second wire coil;
- transmitting a further electrical current from the first electrical circuit to the second electrical circuit using the magnetic field;
- measuring the parameter of the movable component utilizing the sensing device of the second electrical circuit;
- transmitting an electrical current varied as a function of the parameter of the differential case from the second electrical circuit to the first electrical circuit using the magnetic field;
- and
- generating an output signal indicative of the parameter of the differential case using the signal device of the first electrical circuit.
4 more elements
A network, comprising:
- a first electrical circuit including a power source and a signal device, wherein the signal device generates an output signal indicative of a parameter of a movable component, wherein the movable component is a differential case;
- a second electrical circuit including a sensing device, wherein the sensing device measures the parameter of the differential case and generates a corresponding sensor signal;
- and
- a sensor assembly, including:
- a first wire coil in electrical communication with the first electrical circuit, wherein the first wire coil is disposed within and coupled to a housing of an axle assembly, and wherein the axle assembly includes a differential assembly comprising the differential case, and wherein the differential assembly is supported within the housing of the axle assembly;
- and
- a second wire coil in electrical communication with the second electrical circuit, wherein the second wire coil is spaced apart from the first wire coil generating a magnetic field therebetween to facilitate a transmission of an electrical current varied as a function of the parameter of the differential case from the second electrical circuit to the first electrical circuit;
- wherein the second electrical circuit further includes at least one of an amplifier for increasing a magnitude of the corresponding sensor signal generated by the sensing device and a conditioning circuit for receiving and conditioning the corresponding sensor signal generated by the sensing device, and wherein the corresponding sensor signal is used to vary the electrical current transmitted from the first electrical circuit to the second electrical circuit.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.