Roll stabilizer, motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

Roll stabilizer (1) for a motor vehicle (100) with several sensors (6, 8, 18) for detecting several measured variables, comprising a torque sensor (8) and a rotor position sensor (6) and with electronics (20) for evaluating the measured variables detected by the sensors (6, 8, 18) and / or forwarding these measured variables to an external control unit (101), characterized by several sensor boards (5, 7, 17), each comprising at least one of the sensors (6, 8, 18), and by a main board (10) arranged separately from the sensor boards (5, 7, 17), wherein one of the sensor boards (5) is designed as a rotor position sensor board, comprising a rotor position sensor (6) and arranged parallel to the main board (10), and wherein one of the sensor boards (7) is designed as a torque sensor board, comprising a torque sensor (8) and arranged transversely to the main board (10). is,and wherein the main board (10) is designed without a torque sensor (8) and without a rotor position sensor (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a roll stabilizer for a motor vehicle with multiple sensors for detecting several measured variables, in particular torque, rotor position and / or temperature. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with such a roll stabilizer and a method for operating such a motor vehicle.

[0002] Roll stabilizers are commonly used in motor vehicles to reduce unwanted body roll. An active roll stabilizer, designed as an electromechanical roll stabilizer, is described, for example, in DE 10 2013 221 248 A1. This roll stabilizer has an electric actuator with a rotor, as well as sensors for detecting the actuator's torque and the rotor's position. The roll stabilizer also includes a main circuit board connected to an external control unit, which allows the roll stabilizer to be controlled. This roll stabilizer has proven quite effective in use. However, the fact that the sensor for detecting the rotor position is located on the main circuit board has proven to be a disadvantage.It is therefore necessary to position the main circuit board in the immediate vicinity of the rotor's output shaft and to mount it aligned with a counterpart that interacts with the rotor position sensor. Consequently, the freedom in positioning the main circuit board within the roll stabilizer housing is limited.

[0003] Against this background, the challenge arises to be able to use the relatively small installation space within the housing of a roll stabilizer more flexibly.

[0004] The problem is solved by a roll stabilizer for a motor vehicle with several sensors for detecting several measured variables, in particular with a torque sensor, a rotor position sensor and / or an actuator temperature sensor, several sensor boards, each having at least one of the sensors, and a main board arranged separately from the sensor boards, which is designed without a torque sensor, without a rotor position sensor and without an actuator temperature sensor and has electronics for evaluating the measured variables detected by the sensors and / or forwarding these measured variables to an external control unit.

[0005] In the roll stabilizer according to the invention, the main board is designed without a sensor for detecting torque, rotor position, and / or temperature of the roll stabilizer actuator. Therefore, in the roll stabilizer according to the invention, it is possible to arrange the main board independently of the sensors within the roll stabilizer housing. The sensor boards, which contain the respective sensors, can be smaller than the main board and positioned independently of the main board's location within the housing. Consequently, the installation space within the housing can be used more flexibly.

[0006] According to an advantageous embodiment, one of the sensor boards is designed as a rotor position sensor board, which includes a rotor position sensor. Preferably, the rotor position sensor board is arranged parallel to the main board. The rotor position sensor board can be positioned within the housing independently of the main board's orientation and aligned with a counterpart that interacts with the rotor position sensor and is arranged to rotate with the actuator's output shaft. For example, the rotor position sensor board can be arranged perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the actuator, so that the rotation of a counterpart located at one end face of the axis of rotation can be detected. Preferably, the rotor position sensor board is spaced apart from the main board.A rotor position sensor board is particularly preferred if it is designed without separate electronics for evaluating and / or transmitting the measured value detected by the rotor position sensor, thus reducing the size of the rotor position sensor board. It is especially advantageous if the rotor position sensor board contains no other active components besides the rotor position sensor.

[0007] It is advantageous if one of the sensor boards is designed as a torque sensor board, which includes a torque sensor. Preferably, the torque sensor board is arranged transversely, and in particular perpendicularly, to the main board. This makes it possible to align the torque sensor with the torque to be measured. For example, a measuring direction or preferred direction of the torque sensor can be aligned with a rotational axis of the roll stabilizer actuator. The torque sensor is preferably designed as an integrated circuit arrangement. Particularly preferred is the torque sensor board designed without separate electronics for evaluating the measured value detected by the torque sensor and / or for transmitting this measured value, so that the size of the torque sensor board can be reduced.It is particularly advantageous if the torque sensor board has no other active components besides the torque sensor.

[0008] An advantageous design has proven to be one in which the roll stabilizer comprises a common mounting element that supports the main board and one of the sensor boards, in particular a torque sensor board that includes a torque sensor. The common mounting element is preferably designed separately from the roll stabilizer housing, so that during the manufacturing of the roll stabilizer, the main board and the sensor board are first mounted on the common mounting element and then, together with the mounting element, can be inserted into the roll stabilizer housing. The use of a common mounting element is particularly advantageous when the torque sensor board is to be arranged transversely, and especially perpendicularly, to the main board.The common retaining element can have a first receiving area for the main board and a second receiving area for the sensor board, wherein the receiving areas are oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to each other.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the main board and a sensor board, in particular a sensor board arranged transversely to the main board, are connected to each other by means of a flexible printed circuit board. The flexible printed circuit board can be bent, for example by an angle in the range between 80° and 100°, in particular 90°. The flexible printed circuit board can be formed from a film, in particular a polyimide film.

[0010] Preferably, the roll stabilizer includes an actuator temperature sensor for measuring the actuator temperature. Particularly preferably, one of the sensor boards is configured as a temperature sensor board incorporating the actuator temperature sensor. Alternatively, an actuator temperature sensor can be located on the torque sensor board or the rotor position sensor board. Additionally, a temperature sensor can be located on the main board to determine the ambient temperature of the main board, which may differ from the actuator temperature.

[0011] According to an advantageous embodiment, the main board includes a power supply unit for the sensor boards. This power supply unit can provide supply voltages, in particular different supply voltages, for the individual sensor boards. Preferably, the power supply unit includes one or more voltage converters so that internal supply voltages can be provided that differ from the voltage supplied to the roll stabilizer.

[0012] Preferably, the main board and the sensor boards are arranged within a housing of the roll stabilizer.

[0013] Preferably, the mainboard and / or the sensor boards are designed as a fixed printed circuit board. Such fixed printed circuit boards are also referred to as printed circuit boards (PCBs).

[0014] Preferably, the roll stabilizer is an active roll stabilizer, in particular an electromechanical roll stabilizer, which reduces the body roll of a motor vehicle. Such undesirable body roll can occur when driving through curves or over uneven surfaces. The roll stabilizer can counteract this body roll behavior. Particularly preferably, the roll stabilizer comprises an actuator for generating a rotational or torsional torque, in particular an electric motor. The electric motor is preferably rotationally fixed to a housing of the roll stabilizer and has a rotatable rotor that is rotatable relative to the housing. The rotor is preferably connected via an output shaft to a stabilizer element of the roll stabilizer, in particular a torsion bar spring, which is subjected to torsion.

[0015] Another object of the invention is a motor vehicle with a roll stabilizer as described above and a control unit arranged separately from the roll stabilizer for controlling the roll stabilizer, which is connected to the main board of the roll stabilizer via a communication link.

[0016] The control unit can receive the measured values ​​determined by the roll stabilizer sensors, in particular the torque, rotor position, and / or actuator temperature, via the mainboard. Based on these measured values, the control unit can generate commands for the actuator and / or the roll stabilizer sensors. Such commands from the control unit, intended for one of the sensors, can be transmitted to the sensors via the mainboard.

[0017] Preferably, the roll stabilizer is arranged on an axle of the motor vehicle. Preferably, the motor vehicle has several, in particular two, roll stabilizers, for example a first roll stabilizer on a front axle of the motor vehicle and a second roll stabilizer on a rear axle of the motor vehicle.

[0018] To solve the aforementioned problem, a method for operating a motor vehicle with a roll stabilizer and a control unit for controlling the roll stabilizer is further proposed, wherein the roll stabilizer has several sensors for detecting several measured variables, in particular a torque sensor, a rotor position sensor and / or an actuator temperature sensor, wherein measured variables are detected by means of the sensors, each of which is arranged on a sensor board, and the detected measured variables are evaluated by means of electronics on a main board arranged separately from the sensor boards and / or forwarded to the control unit, wherein the main board is designed without a torque sensor, without a rotor position sensor and without an actuator temperature sensor.

[0019] The same advantages can be achieved in the method for operating a motor vehicle with a roll stabilizer as have already been described in connection with the roll stabilizer according to the invention.

[0020] Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. This shows: Fig. 1 An embodiment of a roll stabilizer according to the invention in a schematic partial sectional view; Fig. 2 An embodiment of a common mounting for the main board and a sensor board in a schematic sectional view (Detail II from Fig. 1); and Fig. 3 a block diagram of an embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0021] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a roll stabilizer 1 according to an embodiment of the invention in a partially cutaway view. The roll stabilizer 1 is designed as an active, electromechanical roll stabilizer and can be used on an axle of a motor vehicle. The roll stabilizer 1 has two stabilizer elements 12, 13 designed as stabilizer arms, which are connected to the wheel suspensions of the respective axle. An actuator 2 is provided between the stabilizer elements 12, 13, which can apply a torsional moment to the stabilizer elements 12, 13.

[0022] The actuator 2 is arranged within a housing 11 of the roll stabilizer 1. Several sensors 6, 8 for detecting various measured variables are also arranged within the housing 11. A first sensor 6 is designed as a rotor position sensor. The rotor position sensor 6 is arranged on a rotor position sensor board 5. It is designed as a rotor position sensor with a digitizing and transmitting unit and interacts with a counterpart that moves with the rotor 3 of the actuator 2, which is designed as the output shaft. A second sensor 8 is designed as a torque sensor and is arranged on a torque sensor board 7. The torque sensor board 7 and the torque sensor are arranged parallel to a torque, in particular torsional torque, generated by the actuator 2. Therefore, the torque sensor board 7 is oriented perpendicular to the rotor position sensor board 5.The torque sensor 8 is preferably designed as a magnetic field sensor and interacts with a magnetized area of ​​the surrounding stabilizer element 12.

[0023] Another component of the roll stabilizer 1 is a main board 10, arranged separately from the sensor boards 5 and 7. This main board lacks a torque sensor, a rotor position sensor, or an actuator temperature sensor and includes electronics 20 for evaluating the measured values ​​acquired by the sensors 6 and 8 and / or transmitting these measured values ​​to an external control unit 101. The measured values ​​acquired by the sensors 6 and 8 are transmitted to the main board 10 via connecting lines 15 and 16. A further connecting line 14 links the main board 10 to the control unit 101, which is located outside the roll stabilizer.

[0024] In this embodiment, the rotor position board 5 is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the main board 10. The torque sensor board 7 is positioned perpendicular to the main board 10.

[0025] Optionally, the roll stabilizer 1 can be adjusted to Fig. 1. The actuator temperature sensor is integrated. This sensor can, for example, be part of another sensor board, i.e., a temperature sensor board, or be located on the torque sensor board or the rotor position sensor board. In any case, the actuator temperature sensor is connected to the main board 10 via another connecting line, so that the electronics 20 of the main board 10 can evaluate the measured value acquired by the actuator temperature sensor and / or forward this measured value.

[0026] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a detailed representation of area II (see Figure 2). Fig. 1) comprising the main board 10 and the torque sensor board 7. The main board 10 and the torque sensor board 7 are arranged on a common mounting element 9, which supports both boards 7 and 10. For this purpose, the mounting element 9 has a first receiving area 9.1 for receiving the main board 10 and a second receiving area 9.2 for receiving the torque sensor board 7 with the torque sensor 8. The first receiving area 9.1 is rotated by 90° relative to the second receiving area 9.2, so that the boards 7 and 10 can be arranged perpendicular to each other.

[0027] The torque sensor board 7 contains no active components other than the torque sensor 8. The main board is equipped with an electronics unit 20 and a power supply unit 30. The electronics unit 20 comprises a data transmission unit 22, a data acquisition and processing unit 23, and a communication unit 24, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0028] According to a modification of the embodiment not shown in the figures, the main board 10 and the torque sensor board 7 are connected to each other by means of a flexible circuit board or by means of a flexible conductor track, e.g. a ribbon cable.

[0029] In the Fig. Figure 3 shows a block diagram of an exemplary motor vehicle 100 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 100 has a first roll stabilizer 1 arranged on a front axle and a second roll stabilizer 1 arranged on a rear axle, of which in Fig. For the sake of clarity, only the first roll stabilizer 1 is shown in Figure 3. Another component of the motor vehicle 100 is a control unit 101, arranged separately from the roll stabilizers 1, for controlling the roll stabilizers. This control unit is connected to the main circuit board 10 of the respective roll stabilizer 1 via a communication link 14.1, 14.2.

[0030] The roll stabilizers 1 are designed as active, in particular electromechanical, roll stabilizers. The first and the second roll stabilizer 1 each have a Fig.3. Actuator 2 (not shown), in particular an electric motor, which can generate a rotational or torsional torque. Both roll stabilizers 1 each include a torque sensor 8 for measuring a torque that applies torsional stress to a stabilizer element 12. In addition, each roll stabilizer 1 includes a rotor position sensor 6, which measures the rotor position of the rotor 3. Furthermore, each roll stabilizer 1 has an actuator temperature sensor 18 for measuring the temperature of the actuator 2 of the roll stabilizer 1. Optionally, the roll stabilizer can include one or more additional sensors 40, in particular temperature sensors.

[0031] Sensors 6, 8, 18, and 40 are each arranged on their own sensor board 5, 7, and 17, which can be positioned inside the housing as needed. Sensor boards 5, 7, and 17 are functionally designed as simple data acquisition elements. Separate from sensor boards 5, 7, and 17, a main board 10 is provided, which does not include a torque sensor, a rotor position sensor, or an actuator temperature sensor. The main board 10 contains electronics 20 and a power supply 30 for sensor boards 5, 7, and 17.

[0032] The temperature sensor board 17 includes the actuator temperature sensor 18, which is used to measure, in particular, the temperature T of the actuator 2. A voltage signal, in particular an analog signal, is transmitted to the electronics 20 of the main board 10 via a first connecting line 19 between the temperature sensor board 17 and the main board 10.

[0033] The torque sensor board 7 includes the torque sensor 8, which measures the torque M generated by the actuator 2 or applied externally to the stabilizer elements 12, 13. A second connecting line 15 between the torque sensor board 7 and the main board 10 transmits a signal, primarily analog, to the electronics 20 of the main board 10.

[0034] The rotor position sensor board 5 includes the rotor position sensor 6, which measures the rotor position W. Integrated signal processing and digitization within the rotor position sensor 6 provides a digital rotor position signal. The rotor position sensor board 5 is connected to the main board 10 via a third connection line 16.1 and a fourth connection line 16.2. The detected rotor position is transmitted to the electronics 20 of the main board 10 via the third connection line 16.1. The fourth connection line 16.2 enables the transmission of a trigger signal from the electronics 20 or the external control unit 101 to the rotor position sensor 5.

[0035] The main circuit board 10 includes a power supply unit 30 for the sensor boards 5, 7, 17. This power supply unit 30 can provide supply voltages for the individual sensor boards 5, 7, 17. For example, the power supply unit 30 can have one or more voltage converters so that the sensor boards 5, 7, 17 can be supplied with voltages that differ from the voltage supplied to the roll stabilizer.

[0036] Furthermore, the mainboard 10 includes electronics 20 for evaluating the measured values ​​acquired by sensors 6, 8, 18, and 40 and / or forwarding these measured values ​​to the external control unit 101. The electronics 20 include, among other things, a data transmission unit 22, a data acquisition and processing unit 23, and a communication unit 24 on the mainboard. Measured values, in particular the rotor position measured by the rotor position sensor 5, can be forwarded unchanged to the external control unit 101 via the data transmission unit 22. The forwarded data is not processed in the data transmission unit 22. Optionally, the measured rotor position can alternatively or additionally be supplied to the data acquisition and processing unit 23.The data acquisition and processing unit 23 can determine the rotor speed and / or rotor acceleration based on the measured rotor position. The data acquisition and processing unit 23 is also used to acquire, digitize, and process the measured signals from the torque sensor 8, the temperature sensor 18, and any other sensors 40 that may be present. Therefore, a single data acquisition and processing unit 23 can be used to process the signals from several, in particular all, sensors 5, 7, 18, 40 of the roll stabilizer 1.

[0037] The roll stabilizers 1 described above for a motor vehicle 100 each have several sensors 6, 8, 18, 40 for detecting several measured variables, in particular a torque sensor (8), a rotor position sensor (6), and / or an actuator temperature sensor (18). The roll stabilizers 1 comprise several sensor boards 5, 7, 17, each of which has at least one of the sensors 6, 8, 18, and a main board 10 arranged separately from the sensor boards 5, 7, 17. The main board 10 is designed without a torque sensor, without a rotor position sensor, and without an actuator temperature sensor, and includes electronics 20 for evaluating the measured variables detected by the sensors 6, 8, 18 and / or forwarding these measured variables to an external control unit 101. This allows for more flexible use of the relatively small installation space within the housing 11 of the roll stabilizer 1. Furthermore, the following advantages arise: - A sensor board 5, 7, 17 can be connected to the main board 10 or not, as required, without this requiring any further changes to the main board 10 or other sensor boards 5, 7, 17. - The sensor boards 5, 7, 17 can be relatively small, as only a few components need to be arranged on them. - Since the orientation of the sensor boards 5, 7, 17 is independent of the orientation of the main board 10, the sensors 6, 8, 18, 40 can be arranged according to the measuring principle (e.g. axial or radial). Reference symbol list: 1 roll stabilizer 2 Actuator 3 Rotor 4 brackets 5 Rotor position sensor board 6 Rotor position sensor 7 Torque sensor board 8 Torque sensor 9 retaining element 9.1 Recording area 9.2 Recording area 10 Mainboard 11 cases 12 Stabilizer element 13 Stabilizer element 14.1 Connecting cable 14.2 Connecting cable 15 connecting line 16.1 Connecting cable 16.2 Connecting cable 17 Temperature sensor board 18 Temperature sensor 19 Connecting line 20 Electronics 22 Data forwarding unit 23 Data acquisition and data processing unit 24 communication units 30 Energy supply unit 100 motor vehicles 101 Control unit Temperature M torque W rotation angle

Claims

Roll stabilizer (1) for a motor vehicle (100) with several sensors (6, 8, 18) for detecting several measured quantities, comprising a torque sensor (8) and a rotor position sensor (6) and with electronics (20) for evaluating the measured quantities detected by the sensors (6, 8, 18) and / or forwarding these measured quantities to an external control unit (101), characterized by several sensor boards (5, 7, 17), each comprising at least one of the sensors (6, 8, 18), and by a main board (10) arranged separately from the sensor boards (5, 7, 17), wherein one of the sensor boards (5) is designed as a rotor position sensor board, comprising a rotor position sensor (6) and arranged parallel to the main board (10), and wherein one of the sensor boards (7) is designed as a torque sensor board, comprising a torque sensor (8) and arranged transversely to the main board (10) is ordered,and wherein the main board (10) is designed without a torque sensor (8) and without a rotor position sensor (6). Roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a common retaining element (9) which supports the main board (10) and one of the sensor boards (7). Roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main board (10) and a sensor board (7) are connected to each other by means of a flexible printed circuit board or a flexible conductor track. Roll stabilizer according to claims 2 and 3, the retaining element (9) of which supports the main board (10) and the torque sensor board, which is connected to the main board (10) by means of the flexible circuit board or the flexible conductor track. Roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the sensor boards (17) is designed as a temperature sensor board which has an actuator temperature sensor (18) or that an actuator temperature sensor (18) is arranged on the torque sensor board (7) or the rotor position sensor board (5). Roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main board (10) has a power supply unit (30) for the sensor boards (5, 7, 17). Roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main board (10) and the sensor boards (5, 7, 17) are arranged within a housing (11) of the roll stabilizer (1). Roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator (2) generates a torque about an actuator axis, wherein the main board (10) is arranged transversely to the actuator axis and is located between the rotor position sensor board and the torque sensor board. Motor vehicle with a roll stabilizer according to one of the preceding claims, with a control unit (101) arranged separately from the roll stabilizer (1) for controlling the roll stabilizer (1), which is connected to the main board (10) of the roll stabilizer (1) via a communication link (14). A method for operating a motor vehicle (100) with a roll stabilizer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, with a control unit (101) for controlling the roll stabilizer (1), wherein the roll stabilizer (1) has several sensors (6, 8, 18) for detecting several measured variables, namely a torque sensor (8), a rotor position sensor (6) and / or an actuator temperature sensor (18), such that measured variables are detected by means of the sensors (6, 8, 18), each of which is arranged on a sensor board (5, 7, 17), and the detected measured variables are evaluated by means of electronics (20) of a main board (10) arranged separately from the sensor boards (5, 7, 17) and / or forwarded to the control unit (101), wherein the main board (10) without a torque sensor (8), without a rotor position sensor (6) and without an actuator temperature sensor (18) is trained.

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