NON-CONTACT SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLACEMENT DETERMINATION

• US 20100207613A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Klode, Harald, Erickson, Staffan, Cahill, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,207,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.250
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2013 by a movable ferromagnetic element, e.g. a core G01D5/2033 takes precedence

Abstract

A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element and a rotary member disposed proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element. The rotary member may be configured to be rotated about an axis Y by a shaft configured to pass through the rotary member along the axis Y at a value X. The non-contact sensor system further comprises a second sensor element disposed on the rotary member proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element may be operatively coupled to facilitate sensing the value X.

Claims

1. A non-contact sensor system, comprising:

a first sensor element;

a rotary member disposed proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element, wherein the rotary member is configured to be rotated about an axis Y by a shaft configured to pass through the rotary member along the axis Y at a value X; and

a second sensor element disposed on the rotary member proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing the value X.

2. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the rotary member is configured to interface with a wear pin, and wherein the wear pin comprises a channel configured to facilitate rotation of the rotary member about the axis Y in response to the wear pin moving through the rotary member along the axis Y.

3. The non-contact sensor system of claim 2, wherein the value X includes a wear distance configured to indicate a degree of wear of a break pad in a brake system.

4. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises an integrated circuit.

5. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are inductively coupled to facilitate sensing the value X.

6. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element includes an electrical circuit, and wherein the first sensor element is configured to induce a current in the second sensor element in response to a current in the electrical circuit.

7. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor element is configured to induce a current in the first sensor element in response to the first sensor element inducing a current in the second sensor element.

8. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the value X is determined in response to the second sensor element inducing a current in the first sensor element.

9. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein first sensor element and the second sensor element are coupled in a capacitive manner to facilitate sensing the value X.

10. The non-contact sensor system of claim 3, wherein the wear pin is attached to a pressure plate that is configured to facilitate use of the brake pad.

11. The non-contact sensor system of claim 10, wherein the brake pad includes a plurality of brake pads.

12. The non-contact sensor system of claim 10, wherein the wear pin passes through a brake housing.

13. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein first sensor element is positioned normal to the axis Y, and wherein the value X is configured to be determined in response to a distance traveled by the second sensor about the axis Y.

14. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact sensor system is configured to measure a distance traveled by a pedal, and wherein the value X includes the distance traveled by the pedal.

15. The non-contact sensor system of claim 14, further comprising a piston disposed within a chamber, wherein the piston is configured to facilitate determining the distance traveled by the pedal.

16. The non-contact sensor system of claim 15, wherein the rotary member is disposed within the chamber, wherein the first sensor element is disposed in the chamber and proximate to the rotary member, and wherein the first sensor is positioned substantially parallel to the rotary member.

17. A control unit for a non-contact sensor system, comprising:

a signal generator configured to produce a current in a first sensor element, wherein the first sensor element is operatively coupled to a second sensor element without physically contacting the second sensor element; and

a calculator configured to determine a value X in response to a determination of a value Z associated with a rotary member disposed proximate the first sensor element, wherein the rotary member is configured to be rotated about an axis Y by a shaft configured to pass through the rotary member along the axis Y at the value X, wherein the value Z is associated with the rotation of the rotary member about the axis Y.

18. The control unit of claim 17, wherein the value Z includes a rotational distance of the second sensor element about the axis Y, and wherein the value X includes a linear distance traveled by a wear pin associated with a brake wear sensor.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to generate a signal that causes a first current to flow in an electrical circuit in a first sensor element, wherein a first electromagnetic field is generated in response to the signal, and wherein the first sensor element is disposed proximate a second sensor element without physically contacting the second sensor element;

instructions to sense a second electromagnetic field in a sensing circuit in the first sensor element, wherein the second electromagnetic field is generated in response to a second current flowing through a resonant circuit on the second sensor element, wherein the second current is generated in response to the first electromagnetic field, and wherein the second sensor element is disposed on a rotary member that is configured to be rotated about an axis Y by a shaft configured to pass through the rotary member along the axis Y at a value X; and

instructions to determine the value X in response to the second electromagnetic field and in response to a value Z associated with the rotation of the rotary member about the axis Y.

20. A method comprising:

generating a signal that causes a first current to flow in an electrical circuit in a first sensor element, wherein a first electromagnetic field is generated in response to the signal, and wherein the first sensor element is disposed proximate a second sensor element without physically contacting the second sensor element;

sensing a second electromagnetic field in a sensing circuit in the first sensor element, wherein the second electromagnetic field is generated in response to a second current flowing through a resonant circuit on the second sensor element, wherein the second current is generated in response to the first electromagnetic field, and wherein the second sensor element is disposed on a rotary member that is rotated about an axis Y by a shaft passing through the rotary member along the axis Y at a value X; and

determining the value X in response to the second electromagnetic field and in response to a value Z associated with the rotation of the rotary member about the axis Y.