Sensor arrangement and method for using same

• US 7,954,995 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Elder, Ronald, Gonzales, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jagan; Mirellys
• Application Number:
  US12/632,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20100080263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/176, 374/163, 374/183, 374/187, 374/117, 340/584, 340/539, 324/260
• US Class Current: 374/176
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2215/00 Details concerning sensor power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/30 using a wired architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A sensor arrangement includes, in some embodiments, a magnetostrictive element configured to output magnetic signals in response to a magnetic field. A sensor is configured to sense a value of a property of a selected object, and to provide an electrical resistance that varies in response to variations in the sensed value. The sensor cooperates with the magnetostrictive element to vary the frequency of the signals output by the magnetostrictive element based on variations of the electrical resistance provided by the sensor. A transmitter provides an alternating magnetic field to the magnetostrictive element, and a receiver picks up the magnetic signals generated by the magnetostrictive element. The frequency of the signals received is correlated with the sensor resistance, and the resistance is correlated to a value of the property sensed.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement for determining a value of at least one property of a battery on a vehicle, the sensor arrangement comprising:

a magnetostrictive element configured to output magnetic signals in response to an alternating magnetic field; and

a thermistor configured to sense a temperature of the battery and to provide an electrical resistance that varies in response to variations in the sensed temperature, the thermistor cooperating with the magnetostrictive element to vary the frequency of the signals output by the magnetostrictive element based on variations of the electrical resistance provided by the thermistor.

2. The sensor arrangement of claim 1, further comprising a control module configured to send a pulse width modulated signal to induce vibration in the magnetostrictive element.

3. The sensor arrangement of claim 1, wherein the magnetostrictive element comprises a coil of material deformable in the presence of a magnetic field.

4. The sensor arrangement of claim 1, the battery including a plurality of battery modules, the sensor arrangement further comprising:

a control module configured to output a magnetic field,

a plurality of the magnetostrictive elements, each being associated with a respective one of the battery modules and configured to output magnetic signals in response to the magnetic field generated by the control module; and

a plurality of the first sensors, each of the first sensors being configured to sense the temperature of a respective one of the battery modules and to provide an electrical resistance that varies in response to variations in the sensed temperature, each of the first sensors cooperating with a respective one of the magnetostrictive elements to vary the frequency of the signals output by the respective magnetostrictive element based on variations of the electrical resistance provided by the respective first sensor.

5. The sensor arrangement of claim 4, further comprising:

a plurality of identification circuits, each of the identification circuits cooperating with a respective one of the magnetostrictive elements to provide a different electrical resistance for each respective magnetostrictive element, thereby facilitating identification of each of the magnetostrictive elements; and

control circuitry operable to respectively enable and disable each of the first sensors to inhibit the effect of the first sensors on the signals output by the respective magnetostrictive element.

6. The sensor arrangement of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of second sensors, each being configured to sense a value of a second property of a respective one of the battery modules, and to provide an electrical resistance based on the value it senses, each of the second sensors cooperating with a respective one of the magnetostrictive elements such that the frequency of the signals output by the respective magnetostrictive elements is affected by the electrical resistance provided by the respective second sensor.

7. The sensor arrangement of claim 6, wherein the control circuitry is further operable to respectively enable and disable each of the second sensors to inhibit the effect of the second sensors on the output signals of the respective magnetostrictive element, thereby allowing independent determination of the effect of a respective first sensor and the effect of a respective second sensor on the signals output by a respective one of the magnetostrictive elements.

8. The sensor arrangement of claim 7, wherein each of the second sensors includes a voltage sensor.

9. The sensor arrangement of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is configured to disable each of the first and second sensors when the vehicle is in a key-on condition, thereby allowing each of the battery modules to be identified, and thereafter, while the vehicle is operating, the control circuitry is configured to alternately:

enable at least one of the first sensors and disable at least one respective second sensor, and enable at least one second sensor and disable at least one respective first sensor, thereby allowing independent determination of the temperature and voltage of each of the battery modules.

10. The sensor arrangement of claim 7, wherein the control circuitry is integrated into each of the identification circuits.

11. A sensor arrangement for determining a value of at least one property of a selected object, the sensor arrangement comprising:

a passive transducer configured to output mechanical oscillations at a frequency in response to a magnetic field, the mechanical oscillations generating corresponding magnetic output signals; and

a first sensor configured to sense a value of a first property of the selected object and to provide an electrical resistance based on the sensed value, the first sensor cooperating with the transducer such that the frequency of the output signals generated by the transducer is at least in part dictated by the electrical resistance provided by the first sensor.

12. The sensor arrangement of claim 11, wherein the passive transducer comprises a magnetostrictive element.

13. The sensor arrangement of claim 11, wherein the passive transducer comprises a magnetostrictive element at least partially shaped as a coil of material deformable in the presence of a magnetic field.

14. The sensor arrangement of claim 11, further comprising a second sensor configured to sense a value of a second property of the selected object and to provide an electrical resistance based on the value it senses, the second sensor cooperating with the passive transducer such that the frequency of the output signals generated by the transducer is affected by the electrical resistance provided by the second sensor.

15. The sensor arrangement of claim 14, further comprising control circuitry operable to enable and disable the first and second sensors to inhibit the effect of the disabled sensor on the output signals generated by the passive transducer, thereby allowing independent determination of the effect of the first and second sensors on the output of the passive transducer.

16. The sensor arrangement of claim 14, further comprising:

a plurality of the passive transducers;

a plurality of the first and second sensors, each pair of first and second sensors being associated with a respective one of the passive transducers; and

a plurality of identification circuits, each of the identification circuits being operable to enable and disable a respective one of the first sensors to inhibit the effect of the first sensors on the signals output by the respective passive transducer, each of the identification circuits cooperating with a respective one of the passive transducers to provide a different electrical resistance for each respective passive transducer, thereby facilitating identification of each of the passive transducers.

17. A method for determining a value of at least one property of at least one selected object using a sensor arrangement including a passive transducer and a first sensor, the passive transducer being configured to output mechanical oscillations at a frequency in response to a magnetic field, the mechanical oscillations generating corresponding magnetic output signals, the first sensor being configured to sense a value of a first property of the selected object and to provide an electrical resistance based on the sensed value, the first sensor cooperating with the passive transducer such that the frequency of the output signals generated by the passive transducer is at least in part dictated by the electrical resistance provided by the first sensor, the method comprising:

sensing a value of a first property of the selected object;

ringing the passive transducer with a magnetic field, thereby generating a ring back output signal from the passive transducer;

receiving the output signal generated by the passive transducer; and

determining the sensed value of the first property using the output signal received, including correlating the frequency of the output signal received with the resistance of the first sensor, and correlating the resistance of the first sensor with the sensed value.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of ringing the passive transducer with a magnetic field comprises sending a pulse width modulated signal to the passive transducer.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the passive transducer is rung with a magnetic field having a frequency of about 58 kilohertz.