Sensor arrangement for force measurement

• US 20040187591A1
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Vollert, Herbert, Foitzik, Bertram, Nagel, Willi, Henke, Andreas, Baumann, Dietmar, Hofmann, Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/779
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/741 acting on an ultimate actuator
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/005 Force, torque, stress or strain
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2127/10 having wedging elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/122 by using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/14 by measuring variations in capacitance or inductance of electrical elements, e.g. by measuring variations of frequency of electrical oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/225 to foot actuated controls, e.g. brake pedals

Abstract

A sensor arrangement for detecting mechanical forces (F) with at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element, in which the output signal of the sensor element depends on the deflection of a mechanical component in the magnetic field in response to the exertion of force. The mechanical component here is a spring, which changes its location in the magnetic field in response to the exertion of force and is a component of a brake system for a motor vehicle; the at least one sensor element being located in the force flow of the brake caliper.

Claims

1. In a sensor arrangement for detecting mechanical forces (F), having at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element (3;

14;

16, 17),

wherein the output signal of the sensor element (3;

14;

16, 17) depends on the deflection of a mechanical component (1;

12) in the magnetic field in response to the exertion of force, the improvement wherein

the mechanical component comprises a spring (1;

12), which changes its position in the magnetic field as a result of the exertion of force.

2. The sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 1, wherein

the spring (12) is a component of a brake system for a motor vehicle, and wherein the at least one sensor element (14;

16, 17) is located in the force flow of the brake caliper.

3. The sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 2, comprising

at least one sensor element (14;

16, 17) located on one side of the brake caliper (9) of a disk brake (11), as the brake system, and

an electric motor (13) for generating a tightening force located on the other side of the brake caliper (9).

4. The sensor arrangement in accordance with claim 2, comprising

at least one sensor element (14;

16, 17) located on one side of the brake caliper (9) of a brake disc (11) as the brake system, and an electric motor (13) for generating a tightening force located on the same side of the brake caliper (9) of the disk brake (11).

5. The sensor arrangement in accordance to claim 1, wherein

at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element (3;

14;

16, 17) is an AMR or GMR sensor.

6. The sensor arrangement in accordance to claim 2, wherein

at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element (3;

14;

16, 17) is an AMR or GMR sensor.

7. The sensor arrangement in accordance to claim 3, wherein

at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element (3;

14;

16, 17) is an AMR or GMR sensor.

8. The sensor arrangement in accordance to claim 4, wherein

at least one magnetic-field-dependent sensor element (3;

14;

16, 17) is an AMR or GMR sensor.