Speed sensor for a power sensor module
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorGary O'Brien
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power sensor module suitable for automotive and other high volume applications combines speed sensing and torque sensing operations into a single unit. A magnetic speed sensor is utilized for speed sensing. A power measurement can be derived from torque and speed. Combining torque sensing and speed sensing within a single module instead of using separate modules for each allows for reducing redundancies and lowering cost.
Claims19
A power sensor module, adapted for use with a rotating shaft, comprising:
- a housing and a torque sensor disposed within the housing and mounted on the rotating element, wherein the torque sensor produces a torque sensor signal based on the amount of torque applied to the rotating element;
- a rotating circuit inside the housing and connected to the rotating element such that the rotating circuit obtains the torque sensor signal and produces a transmitted torque signal;
- a stationary circuit that receives the transmitted torque signal and produces a torque signal;
- a target inside the housing and mounted on said rotating circuit;
- and
- a magnetic speed sensor inside the housing, wherein said target and said magnetic speed sensor are adapted and arranged such that the speed sensor can convert changes in a magnetic flux caused by rotation of the target into a speed signal.
A power sensor module adapted for use with a rotating element incorporating:
- a housing;
- a torque sensor inside the housing and mounted on the rotating element wherein the torque sensor produces a torque sensor signal based on the amount of torque applied to the rotating element;
- a rotating circuit inside the housing and connected to the rotating element such that the rotating circuit obtains the torque sensor signal and produces a transmitted torque signal;
- a stationary circuit that receives the transmitted torque signal and produces a torque signal;
- a target inside the housing and mounted on the same substrate as the rotating circuit;
- a magnetic speed sensor inside the housing and mounted to said stationary circuit;
- wherein said target and said magnetic speed sensor are adapted and arranged such that the speed sensor can convert changes in a magnetic flux caused by rotation of the target into a speed signal.
A method of producing a speed signal indicating the speed of a rotating element and simultaneously producing a torque output signal indicating the torque placed on the rotating element, said method comprising the steps of:
- rotating an element together with a circuit and a torque sensor mounted on said element, said circuit having a target mounted thereon and said torque sensor generating a torque sensing signal based on the amount of torque applied to the rotating element,
- passing said torque sensing signal to said rotating circuit,
- transmitting said torque sensing signal from said rotating circuit,
- producing a torque output signal from said transmitted torque sensing signal,
- generating a magnetic flux at or adjacent said target,
- sensing changes in magnetic flux caused by rotation or said target, and
- converting said changes in magnetic flux into a speed signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.