Mechatronic device

• US 8,413,678 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Teichmann, Andreas, Ahrens, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Kevin L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, PHYLLIS MACADE
• Application Number:
  US11/666,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20080115844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,714 Days
• Field of Search: 137/487.5, 137/557, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 137/557
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0006 Electronic control units for transmission control, e.g. connectors, casings or circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

A mechatronic device comprising a housing that encompasses a mechanical part and an electronic part is provided. The mechanical part includes one or more solenoid valves and pressure-directing ducts. The electronic part includes a printed circuit board with electronic components. Sensor modules are incorporated in the pressure-directing ducts to measure physical parameters. In order to minimize electrical connections and separate seals for the sensor modules, the sensor modules wirelessly communicate with at least one reading station located on the circuit board by means of radio technology or light-emitting and light sensitive elements.

Claims

1. A mechatronic device comprising:

a housing;

a mechanical part located in the housing, the mechanical part including;

at least one solenoid valve; and

at least one pressure-conveying duct coupled to the at least one solenoid valve;

an electrical part including a printed circuit board; and

a plurality of sensors operable to measure at least one physical characteristic of the at least one pressure conveying duct, wherein the plurality of sensors;

is mounted entirely in the pressure conveying duct;

communicates wirelessly with at least one reading station of the printed circuit board, wherein the space between said the plurality of sensors and the at least one reading station is transparent to wireless communication, and wherein the at least one reading station is configured to distinguish between individual sensors of the plurality of sensors based on a characteristic of the wireless communication.

2. The mechatronic device of claim 1, wherein the electrical part is located in at least one of a chamber of the housing and a separate electronic housing coupled to the housing.

3. The mechatronic device of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the wireless communication is the carrier frequency of the wireless communication.

4. The mechatronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication comprises light.

5. The mechatronic device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication comprises IR light.

6. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one physical characteristic includes at least one of pressure, temperature, mass flow rate, displacement, magnetic field strength and chemical composition.

7. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein said mechanical part is at least partly formed from plastic.

8. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate plastic plate mounted between said electronic part and said mechanical part.

9. The mechatronic device according to claim 8, wherein said at least one pressure-conveying duct is formed at least one of completely and partly through said intermediate plate.

10. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors is disposed proximate said to the at least one reading station.

11. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sensors communicates with a common one of said at least one reading station.

12. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the wireless communication comprises coded data.

13. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor module is inserted into said at least one pressure-conveying duct and held in position therein by a clamping force.

14. The mechatronic device according to claim 13, wherein said clamping force is generated by at least one spring braced against at least one inside wall of said at least one pressure-conveying duct.

15. The mechatronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors is constructed and arranged to communicate with said at least one reading station by radio signals.

16. The mechatronic device according to claim 15, wherein said radio signals are one of transponder signals and Bluetooth signals.