Electromechanical brake caliper assembly with integrated brake force sensor

A motor vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of electromechanical operable brake calipers, each brake caliper including
• a caliper cylinder having a proximal open end and a distal end defining a bottom, the distal end and the proximal end further defining a body axis,
• a loading ring disposed inside the caliper cylinder and movable in an axial direction parallel to the body axis, the loading ring able to receive a force Fa in operation of the brake caliper assembly,
• a sensing ring disposed inside the caliper cylinder between the loading ring and the bottom, wherein
• the sensing ring includes at least one bending element which can be deformed when the force Fa is applied thereto,
• the loading ring is designed to transfer the force Fa to the bending element of the sensing ring which can cause the at least one bending element to be deformed,
• the sensing ring further includes at least one measuring device for the detection of stretching and/or compressing deformations, and wherein
• the at least one measuring device is located at or attached to the at least one bending element of the sensing ring.

A method for measuring a force in an electromechanical operable brake caliper of a motor vehicle, the caliper including a caliper cylinder having a proximal open end and a distal end defining a bottom, the distal end and the proximal end further defining a body axis, a loading ring disposed inside the caliper cylinder and movable in an axial direction parallel to the body axis, the loading ring able to receive a force Fa in operation of the brake caliper assembly, a sensing ring disposed inside the caliper cylinder between the loading ring and the bottom, wherein the sensing ring includes at least one bending element which can be deformed when the force Fa is applied thereto, the loading ring is designed to transfer the force Fa to the bending element of the sensing ring which can cause the at least one bending element to be deformed, the sensing ring further includes at least one strain gauge for the detection of stretching and/or compressing deformations;

• and wherein the at least one strain gauge is located at or attached to the at least one bending element of the sensing ring, said method comprising:
• applying a force Fa to a loading ring;
• transferring this force Fa to the at least one bending element;
• measuring the deflection of the bending element when the force Fa is applied to the loading ring by the at least one strain gauge;
• connecting the at least one strain gauge to a Wheatstone bridge configuration to provide a signal output in terms of small voltage changes;
• and
• sending the signal output to a printed circuit board.