Wireless torque sensor

• US 7,307,517 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Andrews, Richard M., Shiffer, Stephen R., Cook, James D., Hintz, Fred W., Magee, Steven J., Liu, James Z T, Hasken, Randy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/199,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 340/426.24, 340/426.25, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/444, 340/505, 340/686.2, 340/686.3, 340/10.1, 340/870.28, 340/10.41, 731/172, 731/173, 737/79, 738/620.45, 814/67, 814/79
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/10 involving electric or magnetic means for indicating

Abstract

A torque sensing system generally includes a torque sensor comprising a torque sensing element configured upon a substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving wireless signals. A plurality of electronic controlling components for controlling the torque sensor, wherein the electronic controlling components are configured upon another substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving the wireless signals to and from the torque sensor, such that the torque sensor is located on a rotating member in order to generate signals indicative of a torque associated with the rotating member, and wherein the signals are wirelessly transmittable from the torque the via the antenna configured upon the substrate in association with the torque sensor.

Claims

1. A torque sensing system, comprising:

a torque sensor comprising a torque sensing element configured upon a substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving wireless signals; and

a plurality of electronic controlling components for controlling said torque sensor, wherein said plurality of electronic controlling components and an antenna are configured upon a single separate substrate for sending and receiving said wireless signals to and from said torque sensor, such that said torque sensor is located on a rotating member in order to generate signals indicative of a torque associated with said rotating member, wherein said signals are wirelessly transmittable from said torque sensor via said antenna configured upon said substrate in association with said torque sensor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said rotating member comprises a shaft.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an engine control unit for controlling an automotive engine, wherein said engine control unit is connected to an antenna that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from said torque sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a transmission control unit for controlling an automotive transmission, wherein said transmission control unit is connected to an antenna that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from said torque sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said torque sensor comprises an acoustic wave torque sensor.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said acoustic wave sensor comprises at least one of the following types of components;

a surface acoustic wave filter;

a surface acoustic wave resonator;

a surface acoustic wave delay line;

or

a bulk acoustic wave resonator.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said torque sensor comprises a magneto-elastic torque sensor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said magneto-elastic torque sensor measures a magnetic flux.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said magneto-elastic torque sensor measures a resonance frequency of said magneto-elastic torque sensor.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises a coupler or a capacitive coupling component.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises an inductive coupling.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises a linear antenna.

13. A torque sensing system, comprising:

a shaft associated with an automobile engine;

a torque sensor comprising a torque sensing element configured upon a substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving wireless signals;

a plurality of electronic controlling components for controlling said torque sensor, wherein said plurality of electronic controlling components and an antenna are configured upon another single separate substrate for sending and receiving said wireless signals to and from said torque sensor, such that said torque sensor is located on said shaft in order to generate signals indicative of a torque associated with said shaft, wherein said signals are wirelessly transmittable from said torque sensor via said antenna configured upon said substrate in association with said torque sensor;

an engine control unit for controlling said automotive engine, wherein said engine control unit is connected to an antenna that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from said torque sensor; and

a transmission control unit for controlling an automotive transmission associated with said automobile engine, wherein said transmission control unit is connected to an antenna that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from said torque sensor.

14. A torque sensing method, comprising:

providing a torque sensor comprising a torque sensing element configured upon a substrate in association with an antenna for sending and receiving wireless signals; and

controlling said torque sensor utilizing a plurality of electronic controlling components, wherein said plurality of electronic controlling components and an antenna are configured upon another single separate substrate for sending and receiving said wireless signals to and from said torque sensor, such that said torque sensor is located on a rotating member in order to generate signals indicative of a torque associated with said rotating member, wherein said signals are wirelessly transmittable from said torque sensor via said antenna configured upon said substrate in association with said torque sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising providing said rotating member as a shaft.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing an engine control unit for controlling an automotive engine, wherein said engine control unit is connected to an antenna that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from said torque sensor.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing a transmission control unit for controlling an automotive transmission, wherein said transmission control unit is connected to an antenna that receives a signal transmitted wirelessly from said torque sensor.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising configuring said torque sensor to comprise an acoustic wave torque sensor.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising configuring said acoustic wave sensor to comprise at least one of the following types of components;

a surface acoustic wave filter;

a surface acoustic wave resonator;

a surface acoustic wave delay line;

or

a bulk acoustic wave resonator.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising providing said torque sensor to comprise a magneto-elastic torque sensor.