Transducer for an electromotively driven power steering system
First Claim
1. A transducer for an electromotively driven automotive vehicle power steering system comprising:
- a steering housing;
a travel generator disposed within said housing and including a sleeve carried on a rotor coaxially to a torsion bar, said sleeve axially displaceable in response to operator applied steering torque, wherein said transducer is fitted into an opening of the steering housing, is retained therein by quick-connect means, and includes at least one semiconductor sensor element on a surface thereof that is directed to the interior of the steering housing towards the sleeve, while an outwardly directed side of the transducer is provided with interface means for interconnecting the semiconductor sensor element to an electronic control circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transducer for an electromotively driven automotive vehicle power steering system is substantially composed of a compact sensor carrier (6) which can be plugged into a corresponding opening of a steering housing (1). Semiconductor sensor elements (S1, S2) are arranged on the side of the sensor carrier (6) projecting into the interior of the steering housing (1). Outwardly, the sensor carrier (6) ends in plug contacts (12) serving to supply the sensor signals via a corresponding counter-plug to the analyzing electronics. The compact transducer which is retained in the steering housing (1) e.g. by means of steel stop springs (13) is apt for measuring the steering angle, the steering velocity and steering acceleration as well as for measuring the steering torque.
11 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A transducer for an electromotively driven automotive vehicle power steering system comprising:
- a steering housing;
a travel generator disposed within said housing and including a sleeve carried on a rotor coaxially to a torsion bar, said sleeve axially displaceable in response to operator applied steering torque, wherein said transducer is fitted into an opening of the steering housing, is retained therein by quick-connect means, and includes at least one semiconductor sensor element on a surface thereof that is directed to the interior of the steering housing towards the sleeve, while an outwardly directed side of the transducer is provided with interface means for interconnecting the semiconductor sensor element to an electronic control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- a steering housing;
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11. A transducer for an electromotively driven automotive vehicle power steering system including an input shaft for receiving operator applied torque, an output shaft disposed generally coaxially with said input shaft and adapted for operatively engaging a load, a flag member operatively coupled between said shafts for selective positioning in resonse to relative rotational displacement of said shafts and a housing operative to retain said shafts in an axially fixed relationship, said transducer comprising:
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a body member supportively received within an opening defined by said housing; a plate member carried by said body member radially intermediate said body member and said flag member and in general registry therewith; externally accessible electrical interface means; at least one sensor element carried by said plate member in radially outwardly spaced proximity of said flag member and electrically in-circuit with said interface means whereby the positioning of said flag member takes place at least in part within a sensing region of said sensor, which, in turn, generates an output signal in response thereto; quick connect means carried by said body member for retentive engagement with said housing; and externally accessble adjustment means operative to selectivity radially reposition said plate member and sensor element for precise alignment with said flag member.
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12. A transducer for an electromotively driven automotive vehicle power steering system including an input shaft for receiving operator applied torque, an output shaft disposed generally coaxially with said input shaft and adapted for operatively engaging a load, a flag member operatively coupled between said shafts for selective positioning in response to relative rotational displacement of said shafts and a housing operative to retain said shafts in an axially fixed relationship, said transducer comprising:
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a body supportively received within an opening defined by said housing in general registry with said flag member; externally accessible electrical interface means; and
at least one sensor element carried by said body in radially outwardly spaced promixity of said flag member and electrically in-circuit with said interface means whereby the positioning of said member takes place at lest in part within a sensing region of said sensor, which, in turn, generates an output signal in response thereto; andquick connect means carried by said body for retentive engagement with said housing.
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Specification