Method and system for detecting and measuring the braking force of a vehicle's braking system by incorporating a photon sensor in a brake caliper

Abstract

A method for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque is described. The method includes incorporating a deformation and / or strain sensor in a part of the material of the body of a brake caliper at a corresponding position. The deformation and / or strain sensor is an optical fiber strain sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type. The method further includes: detecting, by means of the optical fiber strain sensor, local deformation and / or strain acting on the corresponding position and generating a first photon signal representing the detected deformation and / or strain; receiving the first photon signal by an optical reading / interrogating unit and generating, based on the received first photon signal, a first electrical signal representing the locally detected deformation and / or strain. The method finally includes the step of processing the above-mentioned first electrical signal to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque. A brake caliper equipped to allow execution of the above method and a corresponding system for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque are also described.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for detecting and measuring the braking force of a braking system of a vehicle (vehicle: carrier, means of transportation, conveyance) by means of a photon sensor (i.e., an optical fiber sensor) incorporated in a brake caliper.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a sensing brake caliper equipped to allow the above method to be implemented. Prior Art

[0003] For controlling, monitoring, and actuating a braking system such as an electronically controlled disc braking system, it is very useful to know in real time and as accurately as possible the value of the braking force or torque exerted by the brake caliper of the braking system during a braking action.

[0004] However, it is difficult to directly, accurately, and reliably measure the braking force and / or torque exerted by the brake caliper of a braking system.

[0005] For this reason, it is desirable to be able to incorporate a force sensor capable of detecting and providing such information in the brake caliper itself.

[0006] However, the force sensors available in the prior art are not suitable for incorporation in the body of a brake caliper because they are not sufficiently miniaturized and compact, or because they cannot be easily connected externally for enabling and / or reading, or because they are too sensitive to temperature changes and are thus not suitable for operation in an environment such as a brake caliper that is subject to large temperature and climate fluctuations.

[0007] For example, at least some of the above disadvantages apply to known force sensors based on piezoelectric or piezoresistive phenomena.

[0008] In view of this, attempts can be made to indirectly estimate and / or calculate the value of the braking force and / or torque based on the detection of other quantities, or based on force detection performed externally relative to the brake caliper itself. However, this results in an additional disadvantage that stems from the fact that such an estimate or calculation cannot fully meet the required accuracy requirements.

[0009] Although the field of sensors offers a wide range of solutions, to the applicant's knowledge, there is currently no solution for a sensor that can be incorporated in a brake caliper and directly or indirectly but with high accuracy and reliability detect the braking force and / or torque exerted in real time by the brake caliper during a braking action.

[0010] In fact, the sensors provided by known solutions either cannot be incorporated in the brake caliper from a practical point of view (because they are either not compact enough or too complex), or it is impossible to obtain brake force and / or torque values with sufficient accuracy based on the indirect measurements they provide.

[0011] Therefore, sensors for force or other quantities related to brake force and / or torque are needed, which are compact, miniaturized and easy to enable / read so as to be practically incorporated in the body of the brake caliper without affecting its performance at all, and at the same time allow the brake force and / or torque applied by the brake caliper to be determined with high accuracy and reliability.

[0012] As described above, the solutions currently available in the prior art do not fully meet these requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a method for detecting and measuring the brake force and / or braking torque generated by the actuation of a vehicle friction braking system by detecting at least in a brake caliper of the braking system, which method allows at least partially overcoming the above-mentioned drawbacks referred to the prior art and meeting the above-mentioned requirements particularly felt in the relevant technical field.

[0014] This object and other objects are achieved by a method for detecting and measuring brake force and / or torque according to the present invention.

[0015] In addition, some preferred embodiments of such a method are provided below.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a similar method for detecting and measuring the brake force and / or torque generated by the actuation of a friction brake by detecting in at least one suspension part of the vehicle connected to the brake caliper.

[0017] This object is achieved by the method according to the present invention.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a sensing brake caliper for a vehicle braking system, which sensing brake caliper is equipped to allow the execution of the above-mentioned method for detecting and measuring brake force and / or braking torque according to the present invention.

[0019] These objects and other objects are achieved by the sensing brake caliper according to the present invention.

[0020] In addition, some preferred embodiments of such a caliper are provided below.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for using at least one sensing caliper according to the present invention to detect and measure brake force and / or braking torque.

[0022] A system for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque according to the present invention achieves this and other objects.

[0023] In addition, some preferred embodiments of such a system are provided below.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to provide a braking system that uses at least one of the above-mentioned sensing brake calipers or the above-mentioned system for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque.

[0025] These and other objects are achieved by a braking system according to the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Other features and advantages of the method and system according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0027] - Figures 1 - 3 、 Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B 、 Figure 4C 、 Figure 5A 、 Figure 5B and Figure 6 corresponding different embodiments of the sensing brake caliper and the system for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque according to the present invention are illustrated by functional block diagrams;

[0028] - Figure 7 and Figure 8 show perspective views of two possible other embodiments of the sensing brake caliper according to the present invention;

[0029] - Figure 9A 、 Figure 9B 、 Figure 9C 、 Figure 10A 、 Figure 10B and Figure 11 show some details of the system for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque according to an embodiment of the present invention, and in particular mention is made of the embodiment scheme of the sensors included in the system;

[0030] - Figures 12 - 14 is a functional block diagram of the corresponding implementation of the optical reading / interrogation unit included in the above-mentioned system for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque;

[0031] - Figure 15 and Figure 16 illustrate two corresponding embodiments of a braking system according to the present invention including a plurality of the above-mentioned sensing calipers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference Figures 1 - 3 、 Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B 、 Figure 4C 、 Figure 5A 、 Figure 5B and Figure 6 and also Figures 12 - 16 , a method for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT generated by the actuation of a braking system is now described by means of a detection carried out in at least one brake caliper 10 of a vehicle friction braking system 1000.

[0033] The method comprises the following steps: in the body of the at least one brake caliper, at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is incorporated at a corresponding predetermined and fixed position in a part of the material M of the body of the at least one brake caliper 10 which is liable to deform due to the reaction force applied to the brake caliper under the braking force and / or torque BF / BT, such that the deformation and / or strain S acting locally at the position where the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is located represents the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT.

[0034] The at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is an optical fiber strain sensor 2 of the fiber Bragg grating type.

[0035] Then, the method comprises the following steps: detecting, by means of each of the at least one optical fiber strain sensor 2, the local deformation and / or strain S acting at the corresponding position, and generating a corresponding at least one first photon signal L representing the detected deformation and / or strain S.

[0036] Then, the method comprises: receiving the at least one first photon signal L by means of an optical reading / interrogating unit 4 optically connected to the at least one optical fiber strain sensor 2, and generating, by means of the optical reading / interrogating unit 4, based on the received at least one first photon signal L, at least one first electrical signal E representing the detected local deformation and / or strain S.

[0037] The method finally comprises the following steps: processing the at least one first electrical signal E representing the deformation and / or strain S to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises the following additional steps: incorporating at least one temperature sensor 5 (likewise, the temperature sensor 5 is an optical fiber temperature sensor 5 of the fiber Bragg grating type) in the above-mentioned part of the material M of the body of the brake caliper 10, and detecting, by means of each of the at least one temperature sensor 5, the value of the temperature T present at the corresponding position, and generating a corresponding at least one second photon signal Lt representing the detected temperature T value.

[0039] The method further provides for receiving the at least one second generated photon signal Lt by means of an optical reading / query unit 4 which is optically connected to the at least one temperature sensor 5; and generating, by means of the optical reading / query unit 4, based on the received at least one second photon signal Lt, at least one second electrical signal Et representative of the temperature.

[0040] In this case, the processing step comprises processing the at least one first electrical signal E and the at least one second electrical signal Et described above in order to obtain a temperature-compensated measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT.

[0041] It is noted that the above term "integrated" into a part of the material M (of the body of the brake caliper) can also be understood as "inserted" or "integrated" or "encapsulated", i.e. arranging the sensor so that the sensor is biased by deformation or strain acting in the above part of the material M of the brake caliper body.

[0042] The above optical fiber Bragg grating optical sensor (hereinafter also referred to as "FBG sensor") is a deformation and / or strain sensor of a type known per se.

[0043] As is well known, FBG sensors are very sensitive and versatile optical devices for measuring various physical parameters including strain and temperature. In its simplest form, an FBG sensor is obtained by spatially periodic modulation of the refractive index inscribed in the core of an optical fiber (which can be obtained, for example, by the photosensitive phenomenon or by using femtosecond optical pulses).

[0044] FBG sensors utilize the presence of a resonance condition which reflects the incident light at a so-called "Bragg wavelength" λ B defined as λ B = 2n eff Λ, where n eff is the effective refractive index of the fundamental mode of the optical fiber and Λ is the spatial pitch (periodicity) of the grating.

[0045] The operating principle of FBG sensors is based on the property that any change in the effective refractive index or grating pitch caused by an external influence such as strain or temperature results in a corresponding shift Δλ B of the operating wavelength (Bragg wavelength), which can be derived from Equation [1]:

[0046]

[0047] where Δλ B = λ - λ B is the change in the Bragg wavelength with respect to the reference Bragg wavelength λ B , k is the proportionality factor, and α Tis the thermo - optical coefficient; for silica fibers in the 1550 nm range, the Bragg wavelength shift linearly depends on the longitudinal strain ε with a sensitivity value equal to approximately 1.2 pm / με and a temperature change with a sensitivity value of approximately 11 pm / °C.

[0048] As described above, it is appropriate to compensate the strain results obtained by the FBG sensor with respect to the temperature change under the operating conditions of the FBG sensor 2 incorporated in the material M. This compensation can be carried out by expanding the above - mentioned equation [1] as follows:

[0049]

[0050] where ε = ε M +ε T comprises two parts, one part due to pure mechanical strain and the other part due to thermal expansion ε T induced (α SP is the thermal expansion coefficient of the material). Using λ B and T 0 to represent the reference Bragg wavelength and the reference temperature and using λ and T to represent the real - time values of the wavelength and temperature can be written as:

[0051]

[0052] where the pure mechanical strain ε M can be obtained as:

[0053]

[0054] The real - time temperature value (input this real - time temperature value in the above formula to obtain the compensated value of ε M ) is obtained by an additional FBG sensor (i.e., the temperature sensor 5), and this additional FBG sensor can be enclosed in a loose tube placed near the FBG strain sensor 2.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the at least one temperature sensor 5 is made by the following fiber Bragg grating, which is made in a fiber different from one or more fibers used to make the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2. In addition, the fiber Bragg grating of the at least one temperature sensor 5 is arranged to be insensitive to the thermal deformation and mechanical deformation of the caliper body material.

[0056] FBG sensors are "passive" sensors, which means that they do not need to be powered but are enabled by irradiation, i.e., by sending optical enabling radiation at an appropriate wavelength (e.g., the Bragg wavelength) in the fiber portion containing the grating in the sensor. In response to this, the FBG sensor reflects or transmits an optical (i.e., photon) signal that depends not only on the incident radiation but also on the strain condition to which the grating itself is subjected. In the different method embodiments to be illustrated below, this photon signal can be a transmitted optical signal (i.e., a spectrum) or a reflected optical signal (i.e., a spectrum).

[0057] According to an embodiment of the method (schematically shown in Figure 1 ), the fiber optic strain sensor 2 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 by a first connecting fiber 31. In addition, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to enable the above-mentioned fiber optic strain sensor 2 by transmitting optical enabling radiation OA via the above-mentioned first connecting fiber 31. In addition, the above-mentioned first photon signal L includes a first spectrum L reflected by the strain sensor 2 of the fiber Bragg grating type, and this first spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 through the first connecting fiber 31.

[0058] According to an embodiment (as shown in Figure 4B ), at least one temperature sensor 5 is made of a fiber Bragg grating and is arranged to be insensitive to the thermal and mechanical deformations of the material of the caliper body. This at least one temperature sensor is made in the same fiber as at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2. In addition, the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 by the first connecting fiber 31.

[0059] In this case, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to enable the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 by transmitting optical enabling radiation OAt (wavelength multiplexed with the optical enabling radiation OA of the strain sensor) via the first connecting fiber 31, and the second photon signal Lt includes a second spectrum Lt (wavelength multiplexed with the first spectrum L reflected by the strain sensor 2) reflected by the temperature sensor 5, and this second spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 through the first connecting fiber 31.

[0060] According to another embodiment of the method (schematically shown in Figure 2 ), the fiber optic strain sensor 2 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 by a first input connecting fiber 32 and a second output connecting fiber 33. In addition, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to enable the above-mentioned fiber optic strain sensor 2 by transmitting optical enabling radiation OA via the first input connecting fiber 32. In addition, the above-mentioned first photon signal L includes a first spectrum L transmitted by the strain sensor 2 of the fiber Bragg grating type, and this first spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 through the second connecting fiber 33.

[0061] According to an embodiment (as Figure 4A shown), at least one temperature sensor 5 is made of a fiber Bragg grating and is arranged to be insensitive to thermal and mechanical deformations of the material of the caliper body. The at least one temperature sensor is made in the same optical fiber as at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2. In addition, the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 via the above-mentioned first input connection optical fiber 32 and second output connection optical fiber 33.

[0062] In this case, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to enable the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 by transmitting an optical enabling radiation OAt (wavelength multiplexed with the optical enabling radiation OA of the strain sensor) via the first input connection optical fiber 32, and a second photon signal Lt includes a second spectrum Lt (wavelength multiplexed with the first spectrum L transmitted by the strain sensor 2) transmitted by the temperature sensor 5, and the second spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 via the second output connection optical fiber 33.

[0063] According to an embodiment of the method (schematically illustrated in the embodiments of Figure 3 and Figure 4C ), the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 via a third connection optical fiber 34. In addition, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to enable the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 by transmitting an optical enabling radiation OAt via the third connection optical fiber 34. In addition, the above-mentioned second photon signal Lt includes a second spectrum Lt reflected by the temperature sensor 5 of the fiber Bragg grating type, and the second spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 via the third connection optical fiber 34.

[0064] According to an embodiment, each connection between each optical fiber on which a fiber Bragg grating type sensor is obtained and the corresponding connection optical fiber leading to the optical reading / interrogation unit is made by a fiber optic joint or a detachable photon connection element (optical connector).

[0065] According to an embodiment of the method, a plurality of fiber optic strain sensors 2 are provided and advantageously used.

[0066] In this embodiment (schematically shown in Figure 5A and Figure 5B ), the combining step includes: combining a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, each deformation and / or strain sensor being made of a corresponding Bragg grating associated with a corresponding central operating wavelength λa, λb, λc. The above-mentioned Bragg gratings are made of one or more fiber optic elements, and each of the one or more fiber optic elements is combined in the above-mentioned part of the material M of the body of the brake caliper, located at a corresponding position and having a corresponding predetermined and fixed spatial development.

[0067] Furthermore, the step of generating the corresponding at least one photon signal includes generating a plurality of corresponding first photon signals La, Lb, Lc. The receiving step includes receiving the plurality of first photon signals La, Lb, Lc from the optical reading / interrogating unit 4.

[0068] The step of generating at least one first electrical signal E by the optical reading / interrogating unit 4 includes generating a corresponding plurality of first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec based on the received plurality of first photon signals La, Lb, Lc.

[0069] The processing step includes processing several first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT.

[0070] According to an embodiment, each of the one or more optical fiber elements includes a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, which are obtained in different segments of the optical fiber element and are associated with different corresponding operating wavelengths λa, λb, λc.

[0071] In this case, the method includes the following additional steps: by means of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technology, transmitting the corresponding optical enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc at different corresponding operating wavelengths λa, λb, λc to a plurality of sensors and / or strain elements via the connecting optical fiber by the optical reading / interrogating element 4; then, receiving through the connecting optical fiber 33 and demultiplexing by using the wavelength division multiplexing WDM technology to distinguish the corresponding spectra reflected by each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, wherein each of the above reflected spectra corresponds to the corresponding first photon signals La, Lb, Lc.

[0072] According to an embodiment of the method, the material M of the portion in which at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 of the material of the brake caliper 10 is incorporated is aluminum or cast iron or titanium or magnesium or aluminum alloy or CFRP composite material in this material portion.

[0073] The brake caliper to which this method is applicable can be fixed or floating, monolithic or assembled.

[0074] According to an embodiment of the method, the combining step first includes combining at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 within a prefabricated frame and / or package 7 having a predetermined geometry and dimensions (for example, in Figure 9A , Figure 9B , Figure 10A , Figure 10Bas shown). In addition, the assembly steps include: during the manufacture of the brake caliper 10, in the body of the brake caliper 10, the above-mentioned prefabricated frame or package 7 (e.g., as shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 ) is assembled at a fixed and predetermined position in the mold and / or molding housing of the brake caliper, so that each of the above-mentioned at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is partially or fully assembled into the desired part of the material M of the brake caliper body.

[0075] The following refers to Figure 9A , Figure 9B , Figure 9C , Figure 10A and Figure 10B to give some other details of the above-mentioned prefabricated frame 7.

[0076] Figure 9A , Figure 9B , Figure 9C illustrates the following implementation (corresponding to the functional illustration shown in Figure 4C ) that provides a through-fiber with input and output for accommodating the strain sensor 2 and another fiber dedicated to the temperature sensor 5.

[0077] According to this implementation, the prefabricated frame 7 includes an aluminum housing 73 configured to accommodate one or more segments of optical fiber including one or more fiber optic strain sensors 2. There are recesses 71 in the housing 73 for fixing the optical fiber "visibly" by a suitable adhesive or binder.

[0078] In this implementation, the prefabricated frame 7 further includes: two capillary tubes 78 (e.g., made of stainless steel) adapted to accommodate and protect the connecting optical fibers 32, 33 emerging from the prefabricated frame; and an additional output capillary tube 79 adapted to accommodate the connecting optical fiber 34 dedicated to the temperature sensor 5.

[0079] The optical fiber accommodating the strain sensor is pre-assembled and fixed in the aluminum housing 73 by an adhesive or binder 77 (e.g., a cement-based binder) (as shown in the cross-sectional view in Figure 9B ). The strain sensor 2 (as shown in Figure 9B ) is exposed during the fusion process and is thus embedded in the aluminum material forming the caliper body.

[0080] Figure 10A and Figure 10B illustrates the following implementation (corresponding to the functional illustration shown in Figure 3 ) that provides an optical fiber for accommodating the strain sensor 2 and another optical fiber dedicated to the temperature sensor 5.

[0081] In particular, Figure 10A andFigure 10B Illustrates an implementation variant with a single truncated optical fiber, where the prefabricated frame includes an aluminum housing 73 configured to accommodate an optical fiber section including one or more fiber optic strain sensors 2, and recesses 71 are obtained for fixing the optical fiber in a "visible" manner. In this implementation variant, a second truncated optical fiber accommodating a (reference) FBG temperature sensor is integrated into the housing 73.

[0082] In this embodiment, the prefabricated frame 7 further includes: a capillary 78 (e.g., stainless steel) adapted to accommodate and protect the connecting optical fibers 31, 34 emerging from the prefabricated frame; and an additional output capillary 79 adapted to accommodate the connecting optical fiber 34 dedicated to the temperature sensor 5.

[0083] The optical fiber accommodating the strain sensor is pre-assembled and fixed in the aluminum housing 73 by an adhesive or glue 77 (e.g., a cement-based adhesive) (as shown in the cross-sectional view in Figure 9B ).

[0084] The temperature measurement sensor 5 surrounded by its own capillary 79 is encapsulated in another steel pipe in the housing 73, and the steel pipe is loose to avoid being affected by the thermal stress of the material and being insensitive to the thermal deformation and mechanical deformation of the material of the caliper body. The loose steel pipe accommodating the temperature sensor 5 is also fixed in the aluminum housing 73 by an adhesive or glue 77 (e.g., a cement-based adhesive).

[0085] According to the embodiment, as shown in Figure 11 , several prefabricated frames (e.g., the prefabricated frame 7 according to the embodiments shown in Figure 9A , Figure 9B , Figure 9C , and the prefabricated frame 7' according to the embodiments shown in Figure 10A and Figure 10B ) can be combined by mounting brackets before being integrated into the caliper.

[0086] Then, at least one prefabricated frame 7', 7' (in any of the above embodiments) is fixed at a desired position in the body of the brake caliper.

[0087] For example, Figure 7 shows four different types of sensor assemblies 2, namely, two pairs of sensor assemblies, each pair including: a sensor assembly 2' in a corresponding prefabricated frame 7' in a single optical fiber configuration (thus, having a reflected photon signal, as in the embodiments of Figure 10A , Figure 10B ); and a sensor assembly 2 in a corresponding prefabricated frame 7 in a through configuration having a first optical fiber 32 and a second optical fiber 33 (thus, having a transmitted signal, as in the embodiments of Figure 9A , Figure 9B ,Figure 9C of the implementation solution). In Figure 7 In the example shown, all sensor assemblies also provide a third optical fiber 34 for the temperature sensor. Thus, all sensor assemblies are combined in symmetric lateral positions of the brake caliper body.

[0088] Figure 8 Illustrates another example of an implementation, where the configuration of at least one sensor assembly 2 has separate optical fibers 32, 33 combined in the lower position of the brake caliper between two fixtures (thus, having a transmitted photon signal, where depending on the irradiation direction, one of the two optical fibers acts as the input optical fiber and the other acts as the output optical fiber).

[0089] Additionally or alternatively, at least one sensor assembly 2' can be provided in a single optical fiber configuration and combined in a brake caliper part intended for fixation ( Figure 8 Two such sensor assemblies 2' are shown arranged in the lower parts of two corresponding brake caliper parts intended for fixation).

[0090] Additionally or alternatively, at least one sensor assembly 2" can be provided in a single optical fiber configuration 31 and embedded into a brake caliper part intended for fixation in a direction at 45° relative to the vertical direction through the center of the fixing hole ( Figure 8 Two such sensor assemblies 2" are shown arranged in two corresponding brake caliper parts intended for fixation).

[0091] According to an implementation of the method, the step of combining at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 in the brake caliper body includes welding the optical fiber, where the above-mentioned at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is obtained at a predetermined part of the surface of the brake caliper body.

[0092] According to an implementation of the above-mentioned implementation, the above-mentioned welding is carried out by ultrasonic additive manufacturing UAM which is known per se, which allows the sensor to be combined into the metal body of the caliper through a metal layer.

[0093] According to another implementation of the above-mentioned implementation, the above-mentioned welding is carried out by laser techniques which are known per se and are capable of directly welding the optical fiber in the caliper body.

[0094] The technical advantage provided by the above-mentioned implementation is the ability to use a simpler and more economical sensor structure variant, because by virtue of the characteristics of the above-mentioned process, it does not need to be designed to withstand the temperature of the melting process and subsequent heat treatment, but a lower temperature.

[0095] It is evident from the above that the most diverse embodiments of the method are possible and are included in the present invention, which provides for the incorporation of any number of sensors and / or any number of fiber optic deformation and / or strain sensor assemblies 2 at any desired location of the brake caliper, the only constraint being that the functionality of the brake caliper itself is not altered in any way.

[0096] According to an embodiment of the method, the above receiving and generating steps are performed by a single optical reading / interrogating unit 4 integrated and / or housed within the brake caliper 10.

[0097] According to an embodiment of the method, the steps of the method are performed by a plurality of brake calipers 10 of a disc brake caliper of a vehicle's braking system.

[0098] In this case, according to an embodiment, the above receiving and generating steps are performed by a single optical reading / interrogating unit 4 which is operatively connected to all of the brake calipers 10 of the above plurality of disc brake calipers of the vehicle's braking system. According to another embodiment, the above receiving and generating steps are performed by a plurality of optical reading / interrogating units 4, each of which is operatively connected to one or more of the brake calipers 10 of the above plurality of disc brake calipers.

[0099] According to an embodiment, the method includes the step of transmitting the above at least one first electrical signal E and / or second electrical signal Et to the control unit 20 prior to the processing step.

[0100] According to possible exemplary embodiments, one or more optical reading / interrogating units 4 and one or more control units 20 are installed in one, or two, or four vehicle control units.

[0101] In this case, according to an embodiment, the processing step includes: calculating the braking force and / or torque BF / BT based on the above at least one first electrical signal E by means of one or more algorithms run by one or more software programs by a processor of the control unit 20.

[0102] According to another embodiment, the processing step includes: calculating the braking force and / or torque BF / BT based on the first electrical signal E and the second electrical signal Et by means of one or more algorithms run by one or more software programs by a processor of the control unit 20.

[0103] According to a further embodiment, the processing step includes: calculating the braking force and / or torque BF / BT based on the above plurality of first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec and the above at least one second electrical signal Et by means of one or more algorithms run by one or more software programs by a processor of the control unit 20.

[0104] According to a more specific embodiment, the calculation step includes: calculating the clamping force and / or braking torque BF / BT through a predetermined non-linear relationship between the braking force and / or torque and the deformation and / or strain detected by at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 at its corresponding position where it is incorporated in the brake caliper.

[0105] For example, such a predetermined non-linear relationship is represented by a computerized model or a look-up table stored for access by the processor of the control unit 20.

[0106] For example, the above-mentioned predetermined non-linear relationship is determined by steps of testing and / or characterizing and / or calibrating after at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is incorporated in the brake caliper 10 and before using the brake caliper 10.

[0107] According to an implementation example, the above-mentioned steps of testing and / or characterizing and / or calibrating may include functional and / or structural simulations, for example, calculations based on the finite element method (FEM).

[0108] The above calculations and processing allow for limiting the non-linear relationship between the braking force / torque and the strain measurement results at one or more points of the caliper, thereby allowing the braking force / torque to be estimated based on the performed strain measurement results.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the method, the processing step includes obtaining a dynamic measurement result of the trend of the braking force and / or torque BT / BF in real time based on the time evolution of the detected deformation and / or strain.

[0110] According to an embodiment, the method includes an additional step of detecting a possible failure of the fiber optic sensor 2.

[0111] It is worth noting that the above method can be variably applied in all its different embodiments by detecting not only the stress / strain on the brake caliper but also (or only) the stress / strain on the vehicle suspension part connected to the brake caliper.

[0112] Therefore, a method for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque generated by the actuation of a friction brake by detecting in at least one suspension part of a vehicle connected to a brake caliper is described.

[0113] This method first includes the following steps: combining at least one deformation and / or strain sensor in a part of the following material of the above-mentioned suspension part of the vehicle at a predetermined and fixed position, the material being liable to deform due to the reaction force applied to the suspension part of the vehicle by the brake caliper with braking force and / or torque during a braking event. In this way, the deformation and / or strain locally acting on the above-mentioned position where at least one deformation and / or strain sensor is located represent the braking force and / or braking torque.

[0114] The above-mentioned at least one deformation and / or strain sensor is an optical fiber strain sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type.

[0115] Then, the method includes the following steps: detecting, through each of the at least one optical fiber strain sensor, the local deformation and / or strain acting on the corresponding position, and generating at least one corresponding first photon signal representing the detected deformation and / or strain; then, receiving the above-mentioned at least one first photon signal through an optical reading / query unit optically connected to the at least one optical fiber strain sensor; then, generating, based on the received at least one first photon signal, at least one first electrical signal representing the locally detected deformation and / or strain through the optical reading / query unit; and finally, processing the above-mentioned at least one first electrical signal representing the deformation and / or strain to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque.

[0116] According to an embodiment of the above method, at least one deformation and / or strain sensor arranged at the suspension is further configured to detect other forces acting on the suspension element.

[0117] Refer again to Figures 1 - 14 , and a sensing brake caliper 10 for a braking system of a vehicle 1000 is described below.

[0118] This sensing brake caliper 10 includes a brake caliper 10 having a brake caliper body 1, at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2, and first photon connection means 3.

[0119] The brake caliper includes a brake caliper body 1 made of a material liable to deform due to the reaction force applied to the brake caliper under braking force and / or torque during a braking event. The body 1 of the brake caliper includes the following part of the above-mentioned material M, and the deformation and / or strain S of this part locally represent the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT applied to the braking system.

[0120] At least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 is incorporated in a part of the deformable material M at corresponding predetermined fixed positions, and includes at least one fiber optic strain sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type (FBG sensor), which is configured to detect the deformation and / or strain S locally acting on the corresponding position and generate at least one corresponding first photon signal L representative of the detected deformation and / or strain S.

[0121] First photon connection means 3 are connected to the above-mentioned fiber optic strain sensor 2 and are adapted to be connected to an optical reading / interrogation unit 4 to transmit the above-mentioned at least one first photon signal L.

[0122] According to an embodiment, the sensing caliper 10 further includes at least one temperature sensor 5, which is incorporated in the above-mentioned part of the material M of the brake caliper body at a predetermined and fixed position, close to the fiber optic strain sensor 2. The at least one temperature sensor includes at least one fiber optic temperature sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type, which is configured to detect the temperature value T present at the corresponding position and generate at least one corresponding second photon signal Lt representative of the detected temperature.

[0123] The sensing caliper 10 further includes second photon connection means 6, which are connected to the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 and are adapted to be connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 to transmit the above-mentioned at least one second photon signal Lt.

[0124] According to an embodiment, the sensing caliper 10 further includes an optical reading / interrogation unit 4, which can be connected to a remote control unit 20 external to the brake caliper.

[0125] The optical reading / interrogation unit 4 (as illustrated by the above method according to the present invention) is optically connected to the first photon connection means 3 and is configured to transmit first optical enabling radiation OA to enable the at least one fiber optic strain sensor 2 and receive at least one first photon signal L.

[0126] Furthermore, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to generate at least one first electrical signal E representative of the detected deformation and / or strain S based on the received at least one first photon signal L. The above-mentioned at least one second electrical signal E is adapted to be transmitted to the remote control unit 20.

[0127] Thus, in the above embodiment, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 (according to any implementation variant described in the above method) is integrated into the sensing brake caliper 10.

[0128] In particular, according to an embodiment of the sensing brake caliper, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is also connected to the second photon connection device 6 and is configured to transmit a second optical enabling radiation OAt to enable the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 and receive at least one second photon signal Lt.

[0129] In this case, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is also configured to generate at least one second electrical signal Et representative of the detected temperature based on the received at least one second photon signal Lt. The at least one second electrical signal Et is adapted to be transmitted to the remote control unit 20.

[0130] According to an embodiment, the first photon connection device 3 includes a first connection optical fiber 31 which is adapted to convey the first optical enabling radiation OA from the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 to at least one fiber optic strain sensor 2 and convey a first photon signal L having a first reflection spectrum L from the at least one fiber optic strain sensor 2 towards the optical reading / interrogation unit 4.

[0131] According to another embodiment of the sensing brake caliper, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is also configured to enable at least one fiber optic strain sensor 2 by transmitting a first optical enabling radiation OA.

[0132] According to an embodiment, the first photon connection device 3 includes a first input connection optical fiber 32 which is adapted to convey the first optical enabling radiation OA from the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 to at least one fiber optic strain sensor 2, and the first photon connection device further includes an output connection optical fiber 33 which is adapted to convey a first photon signal L including a first transmission spectrum L from the at least one fiber optic strain sensor 2 towards the optical reading / interrogation unit 4.

[0133] According to an embodiment, the at least one temperature sensor 5 is made by a fiber Bragg grating and is arranged to be insensitive to thermal and mechanical deformations of the material of the caliper body, and the at least one temperature sensor is made in the same optical fiber as the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2.

[0134] In this case, according to an embodiment (as Figure 4B shown), the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 by the first connection optical fiber 31, the optical enabling radiation OAt is transmitted through the first connection optical fiber 31, wavelength multiplexed with the optical enabling radiation OA of the strain sensor, and the second photon signal Lt includes a second spectrum Lt reflected by the temperature sensor 5, and the second spectrum is wavelength multiplexed with the first spectrum L reflected by the strain sensor 2 and reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 through the first connection optical fiber 34.

[0135] According to another embodiment (as Figure 4AAs shown, the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 via the aforementioned first input connecting fiber 32 and second output connecting fiber 33. The optically enabled radiation OAt is transmitted through the first input connecting fiber 32, wavelength multiplexed with the optically enabled radiation OA of the strain sensor, and the second photon signal Lt includes the second spectrum Lt transmitted by the temperature sensor 5, which is wavelength multiplexed with the first spectrum L transmitted by the strain sensor 2 and reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 via the second output connecting fiber 33.

[0136] According to a further embodiment, the aforementioned second photon connecting means 6 includes a third connecting fiber 34, which is adapted to convey the second optically enabled radiation OAt from the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 to the fiber optic temperature sensor 5 and to convey the second photon signal Lt having the second reflected spectrum Lt from the fiber optic strain sensor 5 towards the optical reading / interrogation unit 4.

[0137] According to an implementation example, each connection between each fiber obtaining a fiber Bragg grating type sensor and the corresponding connecting fiber leading to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is made by means of a fiber optic joint or a detachable photon connecting element (optical connector).

[0138] According to an embodiment, the sensing caliper 10 includes a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, each deformation and / or strain sensor being made by means of a corresponding Bragg grating associated with a corresponding central operating wavelength (λa, λb, λc); the aforementioned Bragg gratings are obtained in one or more fiber optic elements, each of the one or more fiber optic elements being incorporated in the aforementioned part of the material M of the body of the brake caliper 10, located in a corresponding position and having a corresponding predetermined and fixed spatial development.

[0139] Each of the aforementioned deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c is configured to generate a corresponding photon signal among a plurality of first photon signals La, Lb, Lc.

[0140] The optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to receive the aforementioned plurality of first electrical signals La, Lb, Lc, to generate the corresponding plurality of first photon signals Ea, Eb, Ec received based on the received plurality of first photon signals La, Lb, Lc, and to transmit the plurality of first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec to the control unit 20.

[0141] According to an embodiment, each of the one or more fiber optic elements includes a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, which are obtained in different segments of the fiber optic element and are associated with different corresponding operating wavelengths λa, λb, λc.

[0142] The optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is also configured to transmit the respective optically enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc at respective operating wavelengths λa, λb, λc to the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c by means of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technology, and to receive and demultiplex by using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology the respective spectra corresponding to the respective first photon signals La, Lb, Lc reflected by each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c.

[0143] According to an embodiment, the sensing brake caliper 10 further comprises at least one prefabricated frame and / or housing 7 having a predetermined geometry and dimensions, which is incorporated in the sensing caliper during the manufacture of the sensing caliper 10.

[0144] This at least one prefabricated frame and / or housing 7 houses at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 such that each of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensors 2 is incorporated in a desired part of the material M of the sensing caliper body.

[0145] Some exemplary embodiments of the prefabricated frame or package 7 are shown in Figure 9A 、 Figure 9B 、 Figure 10A and Figure 10B and have been described in the foregoing explanation of the method according to the invention.

[0146] According to an embodiment, the sensing caliper 10 further comprises an optical fiber welded to the surface of the brake caliper body, wherein at least one deformation and / or strain sensor 2 and / or at least one temperature sensor 5 is incorporated in the optical fiber.

[0147] Referring to Figures 12 - 14 ,further exemplary details will now be provided by way of example with reference to the reading / interrogation unit 4.

[0148] According to an embodiment of the sensing brake caliper 10, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 comprises a broadband optical radiation source 40, an optical circulator 46, and at least one optoelectronic spectrometer receiver 41.

[0149] The broadband optical radiation source 40 is configured to transmit a first optically enabling radiation OA or a plurality of second optically enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc and / or a second optically enabling radiation OAt.

[0150] At least one optoelectronic spectrometer receiver 41 is configured to select one and / or more wavelengths to be received, and is further configured to receive the above-mentioned first photon signal L or the above-mentioned multiple first photon signals La, Lb, Lc and convert them into a first electrical signal E or multiple first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec, and / or receive the above-mentioned second photon signal Lt and convert it into a second electrical signal Et.

[0151] In this embodiment, a technique based on a broadband source and a spectrometer is used to interrogate multiplexed FBG sensors in the wavelength domain (WDM) (as Figure 12 shown).

[0152] The broadband source may include, for example, a superluminescent diode or a spontaneous emission source (such as a semiconductor optical amplifier or an erbium-doped fiber optical amplifier), and is used to irradiate (through the input port and the through port of the optical circulator 46) the FBG sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, the reflectivity peaks of which at different wavelengths (λa, λb, λc) do not overlap with each other.

[0153] The different photon signals La, Lb, Lc at their respective wavelengths are retroreflected by the FBG sensors (in the Figure 12 example shown), and are coupled to the spectrometer 41 through the output port of the optical circulator 46.

[0154] For example, the spectrometer 41 is a dispersive element, typically made of a phase grating volume, capable of spatially separating different spectral components of the signal. Such spatially separated signal components are coupled to an array of optical receivers capable of generating a signal having intensity values corresponding to different wavelengths.

[0155] Each optical receiver is sensitive to optical radiation corresponding to a clearly defined spectral region, thus providing the possibility of reconstructing the entire spectrum within the spectral range of interest.

[0156] According to another embodiment of the sensing brake caliper 10 ( Figure 13 illustrated), the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 includes a tunable optical radiation source 42, an optical circulator 46, and an optoelectronic spectrometer receiver 43.

[0157] The tunable optical radiation source 42 is configured to transmit a desired optical radiation OAn (at a corresponding wavelength λn) at a given time, the desired optical radiation being between the possible first optically enabled radiations OAa, OAb, OAc or the second optically enabled radiation OAt at wavelength λt.

[0158] The emitted optical radiation OAn irradiates (through the input and through ports of the optical circulator 46) the optical fiber accommodating the FBG sensor, and determines the response of the FBG sensor sensitive to the wavelength λn, which generates a retro - reflected photon signal Ln, and the retro - reflected photon signal is coupled to the photosensitive diode receiver 43 through the output port of the optical circulator 46.

[0159] The photosensitive diode photoreceiver 43 is configured to receive the above - mentioned first retro - reflected photon signal Ln and convert the first retro - reflected photon signal into a first electrical signal En (or similarly receive the second photon signal Lt and convert the second photon signal into the second electrical signal Et).

[0160] In this embodiment, a technique based on a tunable laser and a photosensitive diode is used to interrogate the multiplexed FBG sensors (WDM) in the wavelength domain.

[0161] According to different embodiments, the tunable optical radiation source 42 is a tunable laser, which can be used in the "flexibly tunable" or "swept - wavelength" modes known per se.

[0162] According to another embodiment of the sensing caliper 10 ( Figure 14 illustrated schematically), the optical reading / interrogating unit 4 is made entirely of a single - photon integrated circuit using PIC technology. In this case, such a single integrated photon circuit includes a broadband optical radiation source 40, at least one wavelength optical filtering element 44, and at least one photosensitive diode receiver 43.

[0163] The broadband optical radiation source 40 is configured to transmit a first optical enabling radiation OA and / or a plurality of second optical enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc and / or a second optical enabling radiation OAt.

[0164] The emitted optical radiation (including the optical radiations OAa, OAb, OAc in the Figure 14 example) irradiates the optical fiber accommodating the FBG sensor through the input and through ports of the optical circulator 46, and each FBG sensor reflects a corresponding photon signal La, Lb, Lc. The overall photon signal WDM given by the sum of the signals La, Lb, Lc - each signal at its own and different wavelength - is conveyed to the input of at least one filtering element 44 through the output port of the optical circulator 46.

[0165] At least one wavelength optical filtering element 44 can be tuned around the wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating being interrogated to select the corresponding photon signal ( Figure 14In the example, a photon signal Lb at a wavelength λb). At least one tunable optical filtering element 44 can be tuned to different wavelengths, so as to sequentially or at different times select the photon signals reflected by any FBG sensor as required.

[0166] At least one optoelectronic photosensitive diode receiver 43 is configured to receive the selected photon signal from the above photon signals and convert the selected photon signal into one or more electrical signals, and / or is configured to receive a second photon signal if the second photon signal Lt is selected, and convert the second photon signal into a second electrical signal Et.

[0167] Referring to the above description of different embodiments of the reading / querying unit 4 (and referring to Figures 12 - 14 ), it can be easily understood that a completely similar description is applied mutatis mutandis in the following cases: the three FBG sensors include two FBG strain sensors and one FBG temperature sensor; or only one fiber optic strain sensor and one FBG temperature sensor are provided; or any number of fiber optic strain sensors and one FBG temperature sensor are provided.

[0168] According to the embodiment, the brake caliper body is made of aluminum or cast iron. More specifically, the material of the part of the brake caliper where at least one deformation and / or strain sensor is incorporated is made of aluminum or cast iron or ordinary aluminum alloy or CFRP composite material.

[0169] It is worth noting that, as described above, the special feature of the technical solution described here is the fact that the deformation and / or strain sensor is incorporated into the body of the brake caliper itself and detects the deformation and strain applied to the brake caliper body during braking. From both the structural and functional perspectives, this clearly differentiates the solution described here from the technical solutions that incorporate force sensors in the vulnerable parts of the brake caliper such as brake pads.

[0170] According to different possible embodiments, the sensing brake caliper is a fixed brake caliper or a floating brake caliper.

[0171] Now, with reference to Figures 1 to 5B A system 100 for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT generated by the actuation of a vehicle braking system through detection performed in at least one brake caliper 10 of the braking system will be described.

[0172] Such a system 100 includes: at least one sensing caliper 10 according to any of the above embodiments; an optical reading / querying unit 4 that is optically connected to the first photon connection device 3 of the sensing caliper to receive the above at least one first photon signal L; and a remote control unit 20.

[0173] The above optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is configured to generate at least one first electrical signal E representing the detected deformation and / or strain S based on the received at least one first photon signal L.

[0174] A remote control unit 20 external to the sensing caliper 10 is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 to receive at least one first electrical signal, and is configured to process the above at least one first electrical signal E representing the deformation and / or strain S to obtain and provide a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT.

[0175] According to an embodiment of such a system, the sensing brake caliper 10 further includes an optical fiber temperature sensor 5.

[0176] In this case, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is also connected to a second photon connection device 6 of the sensing caliper to receive at least one second photon signal Lt, and is further configured to generate at least one second electrical signal Et representing the detected temperature based on the received at least one second photon signal Lt, and transmit the at least one second electrical signal Et to the remote control unit 20.

[0177] The remote control unit 20 is further configured to also process the above at least one second electrical signal Et to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT based on the at least one first electrical signal E and the at least one second electrical signal Et.

[0178] According to an embodiment of the system (e.g., as shown in Figure 6 ), the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is integrated and / or housed in the sensing caliper 10. In this case, the electrical signal E is output from the sensing caliper and is guided to the remote control unit.

[0179] According to another embodiment of the system (shown in a different variant in Figures 1 to 5B ), the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is external to the sensing brake caliper 10. In this case, the photon signal L is emitted from the sensing caliper and is guided towards the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 through an optical fiber.

[0180] According to an embodiment of the system 100, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is further configured to enable the fiber optic strain sensor 2 and / or the temperature sensor 5 of the fiber Bragg type included in the sensing caliper 10, so as to transmit the first optical enabling radiation OA and / or the second optical enabling radiation OAt.

[0181] According to an embodiment of the system, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 is further configured to transmit corresponding optically enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc at corresponding operating wavelengths λa, λb, λc to a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors 2a, 2b, 2c by means of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technology, and to receive and demultiplex by using wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technology to distinguish the corresponding spectra La, Lb, Lc reflected by each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors.

[0182] According to different embodiments of the system 100, it includes, outside the brake caliper 10, an optical reading / interrogation unit 4 according to any of the design variants of the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 illustrated above.

[0183] In particular, according to an embodiment of the system 100, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 includes a broadband optical radiation source 40, an optical circulator 46, and at least a photoelectric spectrometer receiver 41.

[0184] The broadband optical radiation source 40 is configured to transmit a first optically enabling radiation OA or a plurality of second optically enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc and / or a second optically enabling radiation OAt.

[0185] The at least one photoelectric receiver 41 with a spectrometer is configured to: select one and / or more wavelengths to be received, and is further configured to receive the above-mentioned first photon signal L or the above-mentioned plurality of first photon signals La, Lb, Lc and convert them into a first electrical signal E or a plurality of first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec; and / or receive the above-mentioned second photon signal Lt and convert the second photon signal into a second electrical signal Et.

[0186] According to another embodiment of the system 100, the optical reading / interrogation unit 4 includes a tunable optical radiation source 42, an optical circulator 46, and at least one photosensitive diode photoelectric spectrometer receiver 43.

[0187] The tunable optical radiation source 42 is configured to transmit a desired optical radiation OAn (at a corresponding wavelength λn) at a given time, the desired optical radiation being between the possible first optically enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc or the second optically enabling radiation OAt at wavelength λt.

[0188] The emitted optical radiation OAn irradiates (through the input port and the through port of the optical circulator 46) the optical fiber accommodating the FBG sensor and determines the response of the FBG sensor sensitive to the wavelength λn, which generates a retroreflected photon signal Ln, and the retroreflected photon signal is coupled to the photosensitive diode receiver 43 through the output port of the optical circulator 46.

[0189] At least one photosensitive diode photoreceiver 43 is configured to receive the above-described first retroreflected photon signal Ln and convert the first retroreflected photon signal into the first electrical signal En (or similarly receive the second photon signal Lt and convert the second photon signal into the second electrical signal Et).

[0190] According to another embodiment of system 100, the optical read / query unit 4 is made entirely of a single photon integrated circuit using PIC (photonic integrated circuit) technology. In this case, such a single integrated photonic circuit includes a broadband optical radiation source 40, at least one wavelength optical filtering element 44, and at least one photosensitive photodiode receiver 43.

[0191] The broadband optical radiation source 40 is configured to transmit a first optical enabling radiation OA or multiple second optical enabling radiations OAa, OAb, OAc, and / or a second optical enabling radiation OAt.

[0192] The emitted optical radiation (including optical radiations OAa, OAb, OAc in the Figure 14 example) irradiates the optical fiber accommodating the FBG sensor through the input port and the through port of the optical circulator 46, and each FBG sensor reflects a corresponding photon signal La, Lb, Lc. The overall photon signal WDM given by the sum of the signals La, Lb, Lc - each signal at its own and different wavelength - is conveyed to the input port of at least one filtering element 44 through the output port of the optical circulator 46.

[0193] At least one wavelength optical filtering element 44 can be tuned around the wavelength of the interrogated fiber Bragg grating to select the corresponding photon signal ( Figure 14 the photon signal Lb at wavelength λb in the example). The tunable optical filtering element 44 can be tuned to different wavelengths so as to sequentially or at different times select the photon signal reflected by any one of the FBG sensors as needed.

[0194] The photosensitive photodiode receiver 43 is configured to receive the selected photon signal from the above-described photon signals and convert the selected photon signal into one or more electrical signals, and / or is configured to receive the second photon signal if the second photon signal Lt is selected and convert the second photon signal into the second electrical signal Et.

[0195] Referring to the above description of the different embodiments of the read / query unit 4 (and referring to Figures 12 - 14),It can be easily understood that exactly similar descriptions are applied mutatis mutandis in the following cases: the three FBG sensors include two FBG strain sensors and one FBG temperature sensor; or only one fiber optic strain sensor and one FBG temperature sensor are provided; or any number of fiber optic strain sensors and one FBG temperature sensor are provided.

[0196] Referring Figure 15 , now another embodiment of the system 100 for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque BF / BT will be described.

[0197] In this case, the system 100 includes a plurality of sensing calipers (101 - 104) belonging to the braking system of the vehicle, and a single optical reading / interrogating unit 4 operatively connected to each of the plurality of sensing calipers 101, 102, 103, 104.

[0198] The optical reading / interrogating unit 4 is configured to transmit corresponding optically enabled radiation OA1 - OA4 to the fiber optic strain sensors 101 - 104 and receive corresponding photon signals L1 - L4 (reflected or transmitted depending on the selected configuration) from these different fiber optic strain sensors.

[0199] The optical reading / interrogating unit 4 is further configured to generate a plurality of corresponding electrical signals E1 - E4 based on the photon signals L1 - L4 received from the plurality of sensing brake calipers 101 - 104.

[0200] In Figure 15 the illustrated example, there are four brake calipers connected to the optical reading / interrogating unit 4. In other exemplary embodiments, this number may be different from four (e.g., two or six).

[0201] According to another embodiment, the system 100 includes a plurality of optical reading / interrogating units 4, each optical reading / interrogating unit being operatively connected to one or more of the plurality of disc brake calipers 10.

[0202] For example, Figure 16 one of the preferred solutions is shown, having four reading / interrogating units 4, each optical reading / interrogating unit being operatively connected to a corresponding brake caliper. Another preferred solution (not shown in the figure) provides for the presence of two reading / interrogating units 4, each reading / interrogating unit being connected to two brake calipers.

[0203] According to an embodiment of the system 100, the remote control unit 20 includes at least one processor in which one or more software programs are stored, and the software programs are configured to run algorithms to calculate braking force and / or torque based on: the at least one first electrical signal E received; or the at least one first electrical signal E and the second electrical signal Et received; or the plurality of first electrical signals Ea, Eb, Ec and the second electrical signal Et.

[0204] The present invention also includes a braking system 1000 for a vehicle, including a plurality of sensing brake calipers 10 according to any one of the foregoing embodiments of the sensing brake calipers described above.

[0205] The present invention also includes a braking system 1000 for a vehicle, including a system 100 for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque (generated by the implementation of the braking system) according to any embodiment of the system 100 for detecting and measuring braking force and / or braking torque described above.

[0206] It can be noted that the object of the present invention is fully achieved by the above methods and systems by virtue of their functional and structural characteristics.

[0207] In fact, the technical solutions described herein include one or more photon sensors, which can be easily and effectively incorporated into the (fixed or floating) caliper of a friction brake for indirectly but accurately and reliably measuring the braking force generated by the actuation of the brake or the torque generated by the clamping force of the brake caliper on the brake disc.

[0208] The fiber optic sensing element consists of a single sensor or multiple strain sensors based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technology.

[0209] Advantageously, at least one temperature sensor of the FBG technology type is also provided.

[0210] The fiber optic sensor element can be prefabricated so that it can be easily incorporated into the brake caliper during manufacturing.

[0211] The positioning of the prefabricated frame that houses the photon sensor ensures the correct positioning of the strain sensor at the desired points on the brake caliper body to detect the strain acting on the brake caliper due to the reaction of the braking force at several points.

[0212] Advantageously, the possibility of detecting strain at several points allows for a more accurate, although indirect, determination of the braking force and / or torque.

[0213] The system consists of the above-described sensing brake caliper, which includes an optical fiber sensor optically connected to a reading / interrogating unit for optoelectronic conversion of strain information (which can be remote or integrated into the brake caliper), and the reading / interrogating unit can advantageously also be based on WDM technology.

[0214] The reading / interrogating unit can be made based on different electro-optical technologies.

[0215] Advantageously, such a reading / interrogating unit can be implemented by silicon-based photonics technology (e.g., PIC - Photonics Integrated Circuit), which allows the unit to be fabricated by integrating such a unit into the sensing brake caliper or an existing electronic control unit.

[0216] Therefore, the control unit of the system can determine the braking force and / or torque with temperature compensation and has a wide operating range.

[0217] In addition, based on the output of the sensing caliper, the system control unit can calculate additional information such as the brake caliper temperature, or the system control unit can continuously read the output of the sensor at a high sampling rate to calculate the braking torque in real time, thereby optimizing the braking action by controlling the brake actuation (e.g., by detecting vibrations and actively damping them).

[0218] In addition, several sensing brake calipers can be conveniently connected to a single reading / interrogating unit.

[0219] Other advantages of using an optical fiber sensor for dynamic measurement of braking force are that passive sensors (which do not require power supply) can be used, high robustness and reliability in harsh environments, electromagnetic immunity, high sensitivity (detecting both very low and very strong forces), and a wide wavelength band.

[0220] Those skilled in the art can make many changes and adjustments to the above-described embodiments, or can replace elements with other functionally equivalent elements to meet possible needs, without departing from the scope of the appended claims. All the features described above belonging to one possible embodiment can be implemented independently of the other described embodiments.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque generated by the actuation of a braking system of a vehicle (1000) by means of detection carried out in at least one brake caliper (10) of the braking system, the method comprising the following steps: - In the body of at least one of the brake calipers, at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is incorporated at a corresponding predetermined and fixed position in a part of the material (M) of the body of at least one of the brake calipers (10) that is liable to be deformed by the reaction force applied to the brake caliper due to the braking force and / or braking torque, such that the deformation and / or strain (S) locally acting at the position where the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is located represents the braking force and / or braking torque, wherein the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is a fiber optic strain sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type; - By means of each of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), detecting the local deformation and / or strain (S) acting at the corresponding position and generating a corresponding at least one first photon signal (L) representing the detected deformation and / or strain (S); - Receiving the at least one first photon signal (L) by means of an optical reading / interrogation unit (4) optically connected to the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2); - By means of the optical reading / interrogation unit (4), generating, based on the received at least one first photon signal (L), at least one first electrical signal (E) representing the locally detected deformation and / or strain (S); - Processing the at least one first electrical signal (E) representing the deformation and / or strain (S) to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the following additional steps: - Incorporating at least one temperature sensor (5) in the part of the material (M) of the body of the brake caliper (10), wherein the at least one temperature sensor (5) is a fiber optic temperature sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type; - By means of each of the at least one temperature sensor (5), detecting the temperature value (T) present at the corresponding position and generating a corresponding at least one second photon signal (Lt) representing the detected temperature value (T); - Receiving the generated at least one second photon signal (Lt) by means of the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) optically connected to the at least one temperature sensor (5); - By means of the optical reading / interrogation unit (4), generating, based on the received at least one second photon signal (Lt), at least one second electrical signal (Et) representing the temperature; and wherein, the processing step comprises: processing the at least one first electrical signal (E) and the at least one second electrical signal (Et) to obtain a temperature-compensated measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The at least one temperature sensor (5) is made by a fiber Bragg grating, and the at least one temperature sensor is made in a fiber different from one or more fibers used to make the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2). Wherein, the fiber Bragg grating of the at least one temperature sensor (5) is arranged to be insensitive to thermal deformation and mechanical deformation of the material of the body of the brake caliper. Wherein, the at least one temperature sensor (5) is connected to the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) by a third connecting fiber (34). Wherein, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is configured to enable the at least one temperature sensor (5) by transmitting a second optical enabling radiation (OAt) via the third connecting fiber (34). And wherein, the at least one second photon signal (Lt) includes a second spectrum reflected by the at least one temperature sensor (5) of the fiber Bragg grating type, and the second spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) through the third connecting fiber (34).

4. The method according to claim 2. Wherein,[[]]END]] The at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is connected to the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) by a first connecting fiber (31). Wherein, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is configured to enable the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) by transmitting a first optical enabling radiation (OA) via the first connecting fiber (31). And wherein, the at least one first photon signal (L) includes a first spectrum reflected by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) of the fiber Bragg grating type, and the first spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) through the first connecting fiber (31).

5. The method according to claim 4. Wherein,[[]]END]] The at least one temperature sensor (5) is made by a fiber Bragg grating and is arranged to be insensitive to thermal deformation and mechanical deformation of the material of the body of the brake caliper. The at least one temperature sensor is made in the same fiber as the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2). Wherein, the at least one temperature sensor (5) is connected to the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) by the first connecting fiber (31). Wherein, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is configured to enable the at least one temperature sensor (5) by transmitting a second optical enabling radiation (OAt) wavelength-division multiplexed with the first optical enabling radiation (OA) of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor via the first connecting fiber (31). And wherein, the at least one second photon signal (Lt) includes a second spectrum reflected by the at least one temperature sensor (5) of the fiber Bragg grating type, and the second spectrum is wavelength-division multiplexed with the first spectrum reflected by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) and reaches the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) through the first connecting fiber (31).

6. The method according to claim 2. Wherein, the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) by a first input connection optical fiber (32) and a second output connection optical fiber (33), wherein the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) is configured to enable the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) by transmitting a first optical enabling radiation (OA) via the first input connection optical fiber (32), and wherein the at least one first photon signal (L) includes a first spectrum transmitted by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) of the fiber Bragg grating type, and the first spectrum reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) through the second output connection optical fiber (33).

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, the at least one temperature sensor (5) is made of a fiber Bragg grating and is arranged to be insensitive to thermal and mechanical deformations of the material of the body of the brake caliper, and the at least one temperature sensor is made in the same optical fiber as the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), wherein the at least one temperature sensor (5) is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) by the first input connection optical fiber (32) and the second output connection optical fiber (33), wherein the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) is configured to enable the at least one temperature sensor (5) by transmitting a second optical enabling radiation (OAt) wavelength-division multiplexed with the first optical enabling radiation (OA) wavelength of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor via the first input connection optical fiber (32), and wherein the at least one second photon signal (Lt) includes a second spectrum transmitted by the at least one temperature sensor (5) of the fiber Bragg grating type, and the second spectrum is wavelength-division multiplexed with the first spectrum transmitted by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) and reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) through the second output connection optical fiber (33).

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: - The combining step includes combining a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c), each deformation and / or strain sensor being made of a corresponding Bragg grating associated with a corresponding central operating wavelength (λa, λb, λc), and the Bragg gratings are obtained in one or more optical fiber elements, wherein each of the one or more optical fiber elements is combined in the portion of the material (M) of the body of the brake caliper, located at a corresponding position and having a corresponding predetermined and fixed spatial development; and wherein the method includes the following additional steps: - By means of wavelength-division multiplexing transmission technology, transmitting corresponding first optical enabling radiations at different corresponding central operating wavelengths (λa, λb, λc) to a plurality of sensors and / or strain elements through the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) via a connection optical fiber. -Receiving via the second output connecting optical fiber (33) and demultiplexing by using wavelength division multiplexing technology to distinguish the respective spectra reflected by each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c), wherein each of the reflected respective spectra corresponds to a respective first photon signal; -The step of generating at least one first electrical signal (E) by the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) includes: generating respective multiple first electrical signals (Ea, Eb, Ec) based on the received multiple first photon signals; -The processing step includes: processing the multiple first electrical signals (Ea, Eb, Ec) to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The combining step includes: -Combining the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) within a prefabricated frame and / or housing (7) having a predetermined geometry and dimensions; -During the manufacture of the brake caliper (10), within the body of the brake caliper (10), combining the prefabricated frame and / or housing (7) at a fixed and predetermined position within the mold and / or molding shell of the brake caliper such that each of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is partially or fully incorporated into a desired portion of the material (M) of the body of the brake caliper.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The step of combining at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) within the body of the brake caliper includes welding an optical fiber, wherein the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is obtained at a predetermined portion of the surface of the body of the brake caliper.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The step of performing the welding is by the following techniques: -Ultrasonic additive manufacturing ultrasonic technology, which is adapted to incorporate the sensor into the metal body of the brake caliper through a metal layer, or -Laser technology, which is adapted to directly weld the optical fiber into the body of the brake caliper.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The receiving and generating steps are performed by a single optical reading / interrogating unit (4) integrated and / or housed within the brake caliper (10).

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The steps of the method are performed by a plurality of brake calipers in a disc brake caliper of a vehicle's braking system, and wherein the receiving and generating steps are performed by a single optical reading / interrogating unit that is operatively connected to all of the plurality of brake calipers in the vehicle's braking system, or wherein the receiving and generating steps are performed by a plurality of optical reading / interrogating units, each of the plurality of optical reading / interrogating units being operatively connected to one or more of the plurality of brake calipers in the vehicle's braking system.

14. The method according to claim 8, comprising the step of transmitting the at least one first electrical signal (E) and / or the at least one second electrical signal (Et) to a control unit (20) before the processing step; And wherein, the processing step comprises: - calculating the braking force and / or braking torque by a processor of the control unit (20) using one or more algorithms run by one or more software programs, based on: the at least one first electrical signal (E); or the at least one first electrical signal (E) and the at least one second electrical signal (Et); or the plurality of first electrical signals (Ea, Eb, Ec) and the at least one second electrical signal (Et).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, the calculating step comprises calculating the braking force and / or braking torque by a predetermined non-linear relationship between the braking force and / or braking torque and the deformation and / or strain detected by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) at a corresponding position where the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is incorporated in the brake caliper, the predetermined non-linear relationship being represented by a computerized model or look-up table stored for access by the processor of the control unit (20), the predetermined non-linear relationship being determined by way of experimentation and / or characterization and / or calibration after the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) has been incorporated in the brake caliper (10) and before using the brake caliper (10).

16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, the processing step comprises obtaining a dynamic measurement result of the real-time trend of the braking force and / or braking torque based on the time evolution of the detected deformation and / or strain.

17. A sensing brake caliper (10) for a braking system (1000) of a vehicle, comprising: - a body (1), the body of the brake caliper being made of a material that is liable to deform under a reaction force applied to the brake caliper under a braking force and / or braking torque during a braking event, such that the body (1) of the brake caliper comprises a portion of the material (M), the deformation and / or strain (S) of which locally represents the braking force and / or braking torque applied to the braking system; - at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor being incorporated in the portion of the deformable material (M) at corresponding defined and fixed positions, wherein the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is a fiber optic strain sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type, configured to detect the deformation and / or strain (S) acting locally at the corresponding position and to generate a corresponding at least one first photon signal (L) representative of the detected deformation and / or strain (S). - A first photon connection device (3) that is connected to the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) and is adapted to be connected to an optical reading / interrogating unit (4) to transmit the at least one first photon signal (L).

18. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to claim 17, further comprising: - At least one temperature sensor (5) that is incorporated in the part of the deformable material (M) of the body of the brake caliper at a corresponding predetermined and fixed position, close to the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), wherein the at least one temperature sensor (5) is a fiber optic strain sensor of the fiber Bragg grating type, configured to detect the temperature value (T) present at the corresponding position and generate the corresponding at least one second photon signal (Lt) representing the detected temperature; - A second photon connection device (6) that is connected to the at least one temperature sensor (5) and is adapted to be connected to an optical reading / interrogating unit (4) to transmit the at least one second photon signal (Lt).

19. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to claim 18, further comprising: - An optical reading / interrogating unit (4) that can be connected to a remote control unit (20) outside the brake caliper, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) being optically connected to the first photon connection device (3) and being configured to transmit a first optical enabling radiation (OA) to enable the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), and to receive the at least one first photon signal (L), the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) being configured to generate at least one first electrical signal (E) representing the detected deformation and / or strain (S) based on the received at least one first photon signal (L), wherein the at least one first electrical signal (E) is adapted to be transmitted to the remote control unit (20).

20. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to claim 19, wherein, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is further connected to the second photon connection device (6) and is configured to transmit a second optical enabling radiation (OAt) to enable the at least one temperature sensor (5), and to receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt), the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is further configured to generate at least one second electrical signal (Et) representing the detected temperature based on the received at least one second photon signal (Lt), the at least one second electrical signal (Et) being adapted to be transmitted to the remote control unit (20).

21. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to claim 20, wherein: - The first photon connection device (3) includes a first connecting optical fiber (31), which is adapted to convey the first optically enabled radiation (OA) from the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) to the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), and to convey the at least one first photon signal (L) having a first spectrum from the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) towards the optical reading / interrogation unit (4). Or alternatively: - The first photon connection device (3) includes a first input connecting optical fiber (32), which is adapted to convey the first optically enabled radiation (OA) from the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) to the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), and the first photon connection device further includes a second output connecting optical fiber (33), which is adapted to convey the at least one first photon signal (L) including a first spectrum from the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) towards the optical reading / interrogation unit (4).

22. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to claim 21, wherein, the at least one temperature sensor (5) is made of a fiber Bragg grating and is arranged to be insensitive to the thermal and mechanical deformations of the material of the body of the brake caliper, the at least one temperature sensor is made in the same optical fiber as the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), and wherein: the at least one temperature sensor (5) is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) through the first connecting optical fiber (31), the second optically enabled radiation (OAt) is transmitted through the first connecting optical fiber (31) in a wavelength-division multiplexing manner with the first optically enabled radiation (OA) of the at least one deformation and / or sensor, and the at least one second photon signal (Lt) includes a second spectrum reflected by the at least one temperature sensor (5), the second spectrum being wavelength-division multiplexed with the first spectrum reflected by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), and reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) through the first connecting optical fiber (31); or the at least one temperature sensor (5) is connected to the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) through the first input connecting optical fiber (32) and the second output connecting optical fiber (33), the second optically enabled radiation (OAt) is transmitted through the first input connecting optical fiber (32) in a wavelength-division multiplexing manner with the first optically enabled radiation (OA) of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor, and the at least one second photon signal (Lt) includes a second spectrum transmitted by the at least one temperature sensor (5), the second spectrum being wavelength-division multiplexed with the first spectrum transmitted by the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2), and reaches the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) through the second output connecting optical fiber (33).

23. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to claim 20, wherein: - The second photon connection device (6) includes a third connection optical fiber (34) adapted to convey the second optically enabled radiation (OAt) from the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) to the at least one temperature sensor (5), and to convey the at least one second photon signal (Lt) having a second spectrum from the at least one temperature sensor (5) towards the optical reading / interrogation unit (4).

24. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 21 to 23, wherein, each connection between each optical fiber in which a fiber Bragg grating type sensor is obtained and the corresponding connection optical fiber leading to the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) is made by an optical fiber joint or a detachable photon connection element or an optical connector.

25. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to any one of claims 17 to 23, comprising a plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c), each deformation and / or strain sensor being made by a corresponding Bragg grating associated with a corresponding central operating wavelength (λa, λb, λc), the Bragg grating being obtained in one or more optical fiber elements, wherein, each of the one or more optical fiber elements is incorporated in the portion of the material (M) of the body of the brake caliper (10), located at a corresponding position and having a corresponding predetermined and fixed spatial development, wherein each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c) is configured to generate a corresponding photon signal among a plurality of first photon signals (La, Lb, Lc), wherein the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) is further configured to transmit the corresponding first optically enabled radiation at the corresponding central operating wavelength (λa, λb, λc) to the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c) by wavelength division multiplexing transmission technology, and to receive and demultiplex by using wavelength division multiplexing technology to distinguish the corresponding spectra corresponding to the corresponding first photon signals reflected by each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c), wherein the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) is further configured to generate corresponding plurality of first electrical signals (Ea, Eb, Ec) based on the received plurality of first photon signals (La, Lb, Lc), and to transmit the plurality of first electrical signals (Ea, Eb, Ec) to a remote control unit (20).

26. The sensing brake caliper (10) according to any one of claims 17 to 23, further comprising: - a prefabricated frame and / or housing (7) having a predetermined geometry and dimensions and incorporated in the brake caliper during the manufacture of the brake caliper (10), wherein the prefabricated frame and / or housing (7) houses at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) such that each of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) is incorporated in a desired portion of the material (M) of the body of the brake caliper.

27. The sensed brake caliper (10) according to any one of claims 18 to 23 further includes an optical fiber welded to the surface of the body of the brake caliper, wherein the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) and / or the at least one temperature sensor (5) are incorporated in the optical fiber.

28. The sensed brake caliper (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein, the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) includes: - a broadband optical radiation source (40) configured to transmit a respective first optically enabling radiation and / or a second optically enabling radiation (OAt); - a photoelectric spectrometer receiver (41) configured to select one and / or more wavelengths to be received and further configured to: receive each of the respective first photon signals and convert each of the respective first photon signals into a respective first electrical signal; and / or receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt) and convert the at least one second photon signal into the at least one second electrical signal (Et).

29. The sensed brake caliper (10) according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein, the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) includes; - a tunable optical radiation source (42) configured to transmit a respective first optically enabling radiation and / or a second optically enabling radiation (OAt), each radiation at a desired respective wavelength; - a photodiode photoreceiver (43) configured to receive the respective first photon signals and convert the respective first photon signals into respective first electrical signals, and the photodiode photoreceiver is configured to receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt) and convert the at least one second photon signal into the at least one second electrical signal (Et).

30. The sensed brake caliper (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 20 to 23, wherein, the optical reading / interrogation unit (4) is made entirely by a single integrated photonic circuit implementing photonic integrated circuit technology, and wherein the single integrated photonic circuit includes: - a broadband optical radiation source (40) configured to transmit a respective first optically enabling radiation and / or a second optically enabling radiation (OAt); - at least one wavelength optical filtering element (44) tunable around the wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating being interrogated to select the respective photon signals; - a photodiode photoreceiver (43) configured to: receive the selected photon signals from the respective first photon signals and convert the selected photon signals into respective first electrical signals; and / or receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt), if the at least one second photon signal is selected, and convert the at least one second photon signal into the at least one second electrical signal (Et).

31. A system (100) for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque generated by the actuation of a braking system by means of a detection carried out in at least one brake caliper (10) of the braking system of a vehicle, comprising: - at least one brake caliper (10) according to claim 18; - an optical reading / querying unit (4), which is optically connected to a first photon connection device (3) of the brake caliper to receive the at least one first photon signal (L), the optical reading / querying unit (4) being configured to generate at least one first electrical signal (E) representing the detected deformation and / or strain (S) based on the received at least one first photon signal (L); - a remote control unit (20), which is external to the sensorized brake caliper (10) and is connected to the optical reading / querying unit (4) to receive the at least one first electrical signal, the remote control unit (20) being configured to process the at least one first electrical signal (E) representing the deformation and / or strain (S) to obtain and provide a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque.

32. The system (100) according to claim 31, the optical reading / querying unit (4) also being connected to a second photon connection device (6) of the brake caliper to receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt), the optical reading / querying unit (4) also being configured to generate at least one second electrical signal (Et) representing the detected deformation and / or strain based on the received at least one second photon signal (Lt), and to transmit the at least one second electrical signal (Et) to the remote control unit (20); and wherein, the remote control unit (20) is also configured to process the at least one second electrical signal (Et) as well, so as to obtain a measurement result of the braking force and / or braking torque based on the at least one first electrical signal (E) and the at least one second electrical signal (Et).

33. The system (100) according to claim 31 or 32, wherein, the sensorized brake caliper (10) is a sensorized brake caliper according to any one of claims 21 to 30, such that the optical reading / querying unit (4) is integrated in and / or housed in the sensorized brake caliper (10).

34. The system (100) according to claim 32, wherein, the optical reading / querying unit (4) is also configured to: enable each of the at least one deformation and / or strain sensor (2) of the fiber Bragg type and / or the at least one temperature sensor (5) included in the sensorized brake caliper (10) by transmitting a first optical enabling radiation (OA) and / or a second optical enabling radiation (OAt).

35. The system (100) according to claim 34, wherein, The optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is further configured to transmit the respective first optically enabling radiation at respective central operating wavelengths (λa, λb, λc) to the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors (2a, 2b, 2c) by means of wavelength division multiplexing transmission technology, and to receive and demultiplex by using wavelength division multiplexing technology the respective spectra reflected by each of the plurality of deformation and / or strain sensors.

36. The system (100) according to claim 35, wherein, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) comprises: - a broadband optical radiation source (40) configured to transmit the respective first optically enabling radiation and / or second optically enabling radiation (OAt); - a photoelectric spectrometer receiver (41) configured to select one and / or more wavelengths to be received and further configured to: receive each of the respective first photon signals and convert each of the respective first photon signals into a respective first electrical signal; and / or receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt) and convert the at least one second photon signal into the at least one second electrical signal (Et); or wherein, the reading / interrogating unit (4) comprises: - a tunable optical radiation source (42) configured to transmit the respective first optically enabling radiation and / or second optically enabling radiation (OAt), each radiation at a desired respective wavelength; - a photodiode photoelectric receiver (43) configured to: receive the respective first photon signals and convert the respective first photon signals into respective first electrical signals; and receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt) and convert the at least one second photon signal into the at least one second electrical signal (Et); or wherein, the optical reading / interrogating unit (4) is made entirely by a single integrated photonics circuit implementing photonics integrated circuit technology, and wherein the single integrated photonics circuit comprises: - a broadband optical radiation source (40) configured to transmit the respective first optically enabling radiation and / or second optically enabling radiation (OAt); - at least one wavelength optical filtering element (44) capable of being tuned around the wavelength of the fiber Bragg grating being interrogated to select the respective photon signals; - a photodiode photoelectric receiver (43) configured to: receive the selected photon signals from the respective first photon signals and convert the selected photon signals into respective first electrical signals; and / or receive the at least one second photon signal (Lt), if the at least one second photon signal is selected, and convert the at least one second photon signal into the at least one second electrical signal (Et).

37. The system (100) according to claim 31 or 32, comprising a plurality of sensing brake calipers (10) belonging to the braking system of the vehicle, and includes a single optical reading / interrogating unit (4) operatively connected to each of the plurality of sensed brake calipers, or includes a plurality of optical reading / interrogating units (4), each optical reading / interrogating unit being operatively connected to one or more of the plurality of brake calipers (10) of a vehicle's braking system.

38. A braking system (1000) for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of sensed brake calipers (10) according to any one of claims 18 to 30, or includes a system (100) for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque generated by actuation of the braking system, wherein, the system for detecting and measuring the braking force and / or braking torque is the system according to any one of claims 31 to 37.

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