Force sensor, strain sensor and methods for measuring same
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorThomas A. Baudendistel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A force sensor, or a method, determines a force using at least a measured inductance in a coil wherein a quantum tunneling composite is located in a magnetic path created by the coil, is positioned in a load path of the force, and is under strain from the force. A strain sensor, or a method, determines a strain using at least a measured inductance in a coil wherein a quantum tunneling composite is located in a magnetic path created by the coil, is positioned in a load path of a force, and is under strain from the force.
Claims18
A force sensor comprising:
- a) a coil adapted to carry an electric current;
- b) a quantum tunneling composite electrically insulated from the coil, disposed in a magnetic path created by the coil when an alternating current is present in the coil, and disposable in a load path of a force to be under strain from the force;
- and
- c) an inductance measuring assembly operatively connected to the coil to measure an inductance in the coil when the alternating current is present in the coil and when the quantum tunneling composite is disposed in the load path of the force to be under strain from the force, wherein the force sensor determines the force using at least the measured inductance in the coil.
A method for measuring a force comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a coil assembly including a coil and a quantum tunneling composite, wherein the coil is adapted to carry an electric current, and wherein the quantum tunneling composite is electrically insulated from the coil and is disposed in a magnetic path created by the coil when an alternating current is present in the coil;
- b) disposing the coil assembly with the quantum tunneling composite in a load path of a force and under strain from the force;
- c) measuring an inductance in the coil when the alternating current is present in the coil and when the quantum tunneling composite is disposed in the load path of the force and under strain from the force;
- and
- d) determining the force using at least the measured inductance in the coil.
A strain sensor comprising:
- a) a coil adapted to carry an electric current;
- b) a quantum tunneling composite electrically insulated from the coil, disposed in a magnetic path created by the coil when an alternating current is present in the coil, and disposable in a load path of a force to be under strain from the force;
- and
- c) an inductance measuring assembly operatively connected to the coil to measure an inductance in the coil when the alternating current is present in the coil and when the quantum tunneling composite is disposed in the load path of the force to be under strain from the force, wherein the strain sensor determines the strain using at least the measured inductance in the coil.
A method for measuring a strain comprising the steps of:
- a) obtaining a coil assembly including a coil and a quantum tunneling composite, wherein the coil is adapted to carry an electric current, and wherein the quantum tunneling composite is electrically insulated from the coil and is disposed in a magnetic path created by the coil when an alternating current is present in the coil;
- b) disposing the coil assembly with the quantum tunneling composite in a load path of a force and under strain from the force;
- c) measuring an inductance in the coil when the alternating current is present in the coil and when the quantum tunneling composite is disposed in the load path of the force and under strain from the force;
- and
- d) determining the strain using at least the measured inductance in the coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.