Piezoresistive torque sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automotive steering system comprising:
- a shaft linked to a set of road wheels, the shaft including a slot parallel to the axis of the shaft and located at a single peripheral location about the surface of the shaft;
a piezoresistive sensor positioned within and along the length of the slot and responsive as a cantilever beam to torque applied to the shaft and operative thereby to provide as output a signal indicative of the applied torque;
a controller in signal communication with the sensor and operative thereby to accept as input from the sensor the signal indicative of the torque applied to the shaft; and
a motor coupled to the shaft and in signal communication with the controller and operative thereby to accept as input from the controller a command to apply torque to the shaft.
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Abstract
An automotive steering system with a torque sensor is disclosed. The steering system comprises a shaft linked to a set of road wheels; a sensor connected to the shaft for sensing torque applied to the shaft and operative to provide as output a signal indicative of said torque; a controller in signal communication with the sensor and operative thereby to accept as input from the sensor the signal indicative of the torque applied to the shaft; and a motor coupled to the shaft and in signal communication with the controller and operative thereby to accept as input from the controller a command to apply torque to the shaft.
54 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automotive steering system comprising:
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a shaft linked to a set of road wheels, the shaft including a slot parallel to the axis of the shaft and located at a single peripheral location about the surface of the shaft; a piezoresistive sensor positioned within and along the length of the slot and responsive as a cantilever beam to torque applied to the shaft and operative thereby to provide as output a signal indicative of the applied torque; a controller in signal communication with the sensor and operative thereby to accept as input from the sensor the signal indicative of the torque applied to the shaft; and a motor coupled to the shaft and in signal communication with the controller and operative thereby to accept as input from the controller a command to apply torque to the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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16. An automotive torque sensor for sensing torque applied to a shaft, the sensor comprising:
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at least one piezosensitive element coupled to the shaft; and an amplifier in signal communication with the at least one piezosensitive element and operative thereby to provide as output a signal indicative of the applied torque applied to the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification