Sensor for recognizing a position when starting an internal combustion engine

• US 8,109,136 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Moessner, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirkland, III, Freddie
• Application Number:
  US11/921,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20090301179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,118 Days
• Field of Search: 731/142.6
• US Class Current: 73/114.26
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/009 using means for generating position or synchronisation signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

In order to acquire the angular position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in particular a crankshaft or a camshaft, a shaft angle sensor and a shaft angle sensor system are proposed. The shaft angle sensor has a magnetic transducer element and a magnetic sensor element. Either the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element is capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft. The magnetic sensor element produces at least one angle signal that is transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device.

Claims

1. A shaft angle sensor for acquiring an angular position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the shaft being one of a crankshaft or a camshaft, the sensor comprising:

a magnetic transducer element; and

a magnetic sensor element, one of the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element being capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft, the magnetic sensor element producing at least one angle signal,

wherein;

the at least one angle signal is capable of being transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device, and

the other of the magnetic sensor element and the magnetic transducer element that is not provided for connection to the shaft is connected to a self-orienting pendulum device, the self-orienting pendulum device being mounted so as to be capable of rotation about an axle parallel to a shaft axis.

2. The shaft angle sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the self-orienting pendulum device has a pendulum bob, the pendulum bob including the transmitter device.

3. The shaft angle sensor as recited in claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor element includes at least one of a Hall sensor, a GMR sensor, and an AMR sensor.

4. A shaft angle sensor for acquiring an angular position of a shaft of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, the shaft being one of a crankshaft or a camshaft, the sensor comprising:

a magnetic transducer element;

a magnetic sensor element, one of the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element being capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft, the magnetic sensor element producing at least one angle signal,

wherein the at least one angle signal is capable of being transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device; and

an induction device, an electrical energy being produced by the induction device through a relative movement of a self-orienting pendulum device relative to a housing, and this electrical energy being stored in an electrical energy storage device.

5. The shaft angle sensor as recited in claim 4, wherein the magnetic sensor element includes at least one of a Hall sensor, a GMR sensor, and an AMR sensor.

6. A shaft angle sensor system, comprising:

a shaft angle sensor;

a magnetic transducer element;

a magnetic sensor element, one of the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element being capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft, the magnetic sensor element producing at least one angle signal,

wherein the at least one angle signal is capable of being transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device;

at least one base station; and

a standstill recognition system, the standstill recognition system recognizing a standstill of the internal combustion engine, and the shaft angle sensor being fashioned so as to transmit the at least one angle signal from the shaft angle sensor to the base station when a standstill is recognized,

wherein the shaft angle sensor is fashioned so as to transmit the at least one angle signal to the base station only when a standstill is recognized.

7. The shaft angle sensor system as recited in claim 6, wherein the shaft angle sensor is designed to transmit exactly one angle signal.

8. A shaft angle sensor system, comprising:

a shaft angle sensor;

a magnetic transducer element;

a magnetic sensor element, one of the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element being capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft, the magnetic sensor element producing at least one angle signal,

wherein the at least one angle signal is capable of being transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device;

at least one base station; and

a standstill recognition system, the standstill recognition system recognizing a standstill of the internal combustion engine, and the shaft angle sensor being fashioned so as to transmit the at least one angle signal from the shaft angle sensor to the base station when a standstill is recognized,

wherein the standstill recognition system acquires angle signals at predetermined temporal intervals, and recognizes a standstill when the angle signals differ by not more than a predetermined tolerance angle.

9. The shaft angle sensor system as recited in claim 8, wherein the shaft angle sensor is designed to transmit exactly one angle signal.

10. A shaft angle sensor system, comprising:

a shaft angle sensor;

a magnetic transducer element;

a magnetic sensor element, one of the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element being capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft, the magnetic sensor element producing at least one angle signal,

wherein the at least one angle signal is capable of being transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device;

at least one base station; and

an inclination angle recognition system, the inclination angle recognition system recognizing an inclination of the motor vehicle coordinate system relative to a surrounding system when the motor vehicle is at a standstill, and correcting the at least one angle signal with respect to the inclination of the motor vehicle coordinate system.

11. The shaft angle sensor system as recited in claim 10, wherein the shaft angle sensor is designed to transmit exactly one angle signal.

12. A shaft angle sensor system, comprising:

a shaft angle sensor;

a magnetic transducer element;

a magnetic sensor element, one of the magnetic transducer element or the magnetic sensor element being capable of being connected fixedly to the shaft, the magnetic sensor element producing at least one angle signal,

wherein the at least one angle signal is capable of being transmitted wirelessly to a base station by a transmitter device; and

at least one base station,

wherein the transmitter device is supplied with energy wirelessly by at least one of the base station and a supply station.

13. The shaft angle sensor system as recited in claim 12, wherein the shaft angle sensor is designed to transmit exactly one angle signal.