Sensor device with integrated electronics

Abstract

In order to implement a sensor device (10) having a sensor part (11) with at least one sensor (21) and at least one electronics part (12) with electronics (22) for controlling and / or reading the at least one sensor (21), by means of which the complexity and component diversity of a fluidic system (100) are reduced, according to the invention, the electronics part (12) is arranged on the rigid circuit board (42); the sensor part (11) is arranged on a flexible printed circuit board (41) or is formed in the form of a flexible printed circuit board (41).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a sensor device having a sensor part, which has at least one sensor, and having at least one electronics part, which has electronics for controlling and / or reading at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is electrically connected to the at least one electronics. In addition, the invention relates to a fluid system. Background Art

[0002] In order to regulate and diagnose the cooling circuit of a vehicle, various sensors and actuators are usually required, which increases the complexity of the vehicle's thermal management system due to the large number of sensors and actuators. In this case, the corresponding actuators and sensors, such as heating elements, temperature sensors and flow sensors, are usually implemented as separate components and installed separately at different installation locations in the vehicle. Due to the different installation locations, the large number of measurement locations also increases the complexity of the thermal management system.

[0003] US 2014 / 0192483 A1 describes a device manufactured using flexible circuit board technology. The flexible circuit board can be wound on a passively or actively cooled roller as required, and can also be unwound from the roller.

[0004] US 5,818,692 A describes a flexible circuit board with a fluid channel in which electronic components are arranged. The fluid channel can be connected to a cooling circuit so that a cooling liquid circulates around the electronic components.

[0005] A heating device for generating an aerosol is known from WO 2021 / 140018 A1. The heater is mounted on a first part of a flexible circuit board, and the control electronics are arranged on a second part of the flexible circuit board.

[0006] EP 2 850 956 B1 describes a heating device in which a heating coil is arranged on a flexible film together with a heat reflecting element. By winding the flexible film into a tube, the heating coil can be arranged on the inside of the tube and the heat reflecting element on the outside of the tube.

[0007] In addition, US2015 / 0305146 A1 describes a device with a flexible and stretchable substrate, which can be used in the field of electrical engineering, and particularly mentions its application in smart clothing.

[0008] Known solutions are not designed for use in a vehicle environment and in particular do not reduce the complexity of existing thermal management systems. Summary of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a sensor device by which the complexity and the diversity of components of existing thermal management systems in vehicles are reduced. This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the respective dependent claims.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sensor device is provided. The sensor device has a sensor part and at least one electronic device part, the sensor part has at least one sensor, and the electronic device part has an electronic device for controlling and / or reading at least one sensor. At least one sensor is electrically connected to at least one electronic device. According to the present invention, the electronic device part is arranged on a rigid circuit board. The sensor part is arranged on a flexible circuit board or is constructed in the form of a flexible circuit board.

[0011] By means of the sensor arrangement according to the invention, a sensor system, in particular a sensor system for integration into a cooling circuit, can be combined with corresponding evaluation electronics.

[0012] Flow sensors are usually expensive to produce, so installing such sensors in the vehicle cooling system is avoided. The sensor device according to the invention can be designed in the form of a flow sensor that is inexpensive to produce and can be easily installed in a cooling system or any fluid system.

[0013] The sensor device is constructed using so-called rigid-flexible circuit board technology. In this case, the electronics or power electronics are mounted on a rigid circuit board. However, the outer conductors or conductor tracks of the rigid circuit board extend into the flexible part, the flexible circuit board. These conductor tracks are structured in this case so that the flexible circuit board can be used directly as a heating element or as a sensor, for example. In this case, a plurality of sensors or actuators can be constructed in the flexible circuit board.

[0014] Thus, a plurality of components can be integrated into the sensor device according to the invention. In this way, for example, temperature sensors, pressure sensors or water flow sensors, which may be necessary for regulating the fluid system, can be integrated cost-effectively. These parameters can allow a more precise regulation of the fluid system or improve the diagnostic capability. For example, a plausibility check of the pump speed and the measured volume flow can be implemented. This can be implemented directly during the operation of the fluid system, wherein, due to the structural form of the sensor device, all measured variables are determined at a substantially common location and the complexity in the evaluation of the measurement data by the electronic device is reduced.

[0015] Furthermore, other sensors for medium diagnostics can be integrated into the flexible circuit board. Such sensors can be used for conductivity measurement and / or for impedance spectroscopy.

[0016] Thus, the sensor part can be designed completely as a flexible circuit board and include one or more sensors. The sensor device can be designed as a vehicle-side sensor device. In particular, at least one sensor device can be positioned in a vehicle-side fluid system, such as a cooling system.

[0017] If the sensor device has at least one active part arranged adjacent to the sensor part, the sensor device can be used in many ways. Preferably, at least one active part is designed as an electric heater and / or as at least one coil for generating a magnetic field. In this case, the electronics are designed to control the electric heater and / or the at least one coil continuously or intermittently or in a clock-triggered manner. Conventional cooling circuit measuring systems consist of different components. The design of the sensor device can save plug connectors and installation locations for the different components. These measures lead to reduced costs and reduced installation overhead.

[0018] For example, conventional heaters contain a high proportion of metal. On the one hand, they represent additional weight in the vehicle and, on the other hand, thermal mass, which prolongs the heating time and can lead to reheating. These disadvantages can be avoided by the sensor device according to the invention, since the heating element can be designed in the active part as a flexible conductor track made of copper coating or copper foil.

[0019] According to another embodiment, at least one active part is integrated into the flexible circuit board next to the sensor part. Alternatively, a plurality of active parts with a plurality of sensor parts are integrated alternately into the flexible circuit board. By these measures, differently designed measuring systems, such as Hall sensors, can be realized cost-effectively and compactly or space-savingly.

[0020] When at least one sensor of the sensor part is designed as a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, at least one sensor electrode and / or a conductivity sensor, the sensor device can be used in many ways. For example, the flexible circuit board or the corresponding membrane can contain discrete sensor elements or can itself be part of one or more sensors. Thus, the properties of the medium can be detected directly and cost-effectively. Preferably, the flexible circuit board can extend into the medium or fluid of the fluid system or come into contact with the medium or fluid.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment, a hot film flow meter can also be realized by means of the sensor device according to the invention.

[0022] According to another embodiment, the flexible circuit board is wound into a spiral or a tube. By winding the flexible circuit board into a spiral, the effective area of ​​the sensor part and / or the active part can be increased. In addition, turbulence can be generated by this measure, which can achieve optimal heat transfer to the surrounding medium.

[0023] The tubular structure of the flexible circuit board enables the wall lining of the fluid channel, through which the sensor device can interact with the fluid or medium as little as possible. Therefore, the sensor device can be configured in the direction of enhanced or minimized interaction with the fluid as required.

[0024] In addition, other geometric shapes of the flexible circuit board are also possible. For example, the active part configured as a heating film can be compactly unfolded. Thus, the flexible circuit board can be bent into a Z-shape, W-shape, L-shape, etc., for example, in order to achieve an optimal orientation in the fluid channel.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board has a reinforcement structure and / or a spacing element, which is configured to hold the flexible printed circuit board in a bent and / or wound shape. Preferably, such a reinforcement structure and / or a spacing element can be made of an electrically insulating material or can be electrically insulating. This measure can achieve an unchanged geometry and a fixed position of the flexible printed circuit board.

[0026] The sensor device can be integrated particularly optimally into the fluid system if the flexible printed circuit board is arranged in the flow direction within the fluid. Preferably, the flexible printed circuit board can be oriented such that the flow direction extends parallel to the plane of the flexible printed circuit board. This allows an optimal flow in the active part for at least one sensor and / or at least one actuator, such as a heating element.

[0027] According to another embodiment, the flexible printed circuit is bent substantially into a tube or a tube section, wherein at least two opposite active parts for generating a magnetic field are arranged on the flexible printed circuit. At least two sensor parts are arranged to measure the Hall voltage, wherein the sensor parts are rotated 90° about the flow direction of the fluid relative to the active parts.

[0028] For example, coils and electrodes can be additionally structured in a spirally wound heating film, which are arranged orthogonally to each other in the wound state. In this case, the heating film is a component of one or more active parts. In this case, the coil can be arranged as a sensor coil in the region of at least one sensor part or as an actuator coil for generating a magnetic field in at least one active part. With the coil, an approximately uniform magnetic field can be generated with the help of an electric current, which deflects a conductive medium flowing through the magnetic field. This deflection of the flow can be measured in the form of resistance or capacitance with the help of additional electrodes. Thus, a magnetic inductive flowmeter can be realized, with which the volume flow of the medium can be determined.

[0029] When the flexible printed circuit board and the rigid printed circuit board are mechanically and electrically connected to each other via the connecting part, the sensor device can be introduced into the fluid system in a fluid-tight manner. Here, the connecting part can be designed as a flexible printed circuit board or a rigid printed circuit board.

[0030] According to another aspect of the invention, a fluid system is provided. The fluid system has at least one flowing fluid, which flows through a fluid channel in a flow direction. The fluid system has at least one sensor device according to the invention, wherein a flexible printed circuit board of the sensor device is at least partially arranged in the fluid channel. As a result, an integrated device with a plurality of sensors and / or actuators can be introduced into the fluid system in combination with corresponding electronic components. For example, a heating element can be structured in the flexible printed circuit board in combination with a measuring electrode for conductivity measurement in order to act on the fluid at a common position and determine at least one measured variable.

[0031] The fluid system according to the invention can be designed, for example, as a vehicle-side cooling system, a stationary cooling system, a continuous heater, a pocket heater, an industrial circulation system, or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with the help of the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a sensor device according to the invention according to a first embodiment,

[0034] Figure 2 shows a top view of a sensor device according to the invention according to a second embodiment,

[0035] Figure 3 The invention shows a spirally wound form according to Figure 2 A perspective view of the sensor device,

[0036] Figure 4 A sectional view of a sensor device according to the invention according to a third embodiment is shown, and

[0037] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a fluid system according to the invention is shown according to one embodiment.

[0038] In the figures, identical components are provided with the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Figure 1 A perspective view of a sensor device 10 according to the invention according to a first embodiment is shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor device 10 has a sensor part 11 with a sensor 21 and at least one electronics part 12 with electronics 22 for controlling and / or reading at least one sensor 21.

[0040] Furthermore, the sensor device 10 has an active part 13. The active part 13 is arranged, by way of example, between the electronics part 12 and the sensor part 11. Electrical conductor tracks 33 are arranged on the active part 13 and serve as an electrical heater 23.

[0041] Sensor part 11 has an electrical conductor track 31 which serves as capacitive sensor 21. In the exemplary embodiment shown, electrical conductor tracks 31 in sensor part 11 and electrical conductor tracks 33 in active part 13 are electrically insulated on both sides and are not in direct contact with the surrounding medium or fluid F.

[0042] The active part 13 and the sensor part 11 are arranged on a flexible printed circuit board 41. The electronics part 12 is arranged on a rigid printed circuit board 42. In addition to controlling and evaluating the sensor 31 on the sensor part 11, the electronics 22 also assumes the control and regulation of the components in the active part 13. In the embodiment shown, the electronics 22 controls the electric heater 23.

[0043] Furthermore, a connection portion 14 is provided which mechanically and electrically connects the flexible circuit board 41 with the action portion 13 and the sensor portion 11 to each other and mechanically and electrically connects the rigid circuit board 42 with the electronic device portion 12 to each other.

[0044] Figure 2 FIG. 1 shows a top view of a sensor device 10 according to the invention according to a second embodiment. Figure 1 The sensor device 10 described in , unlike , is provided with a plurality of active parts 13 , which alternate with a plurality of sensor parts 11 .

[0045] On the side of the flexible circuit board facing away from the electronics part 12, the electromagnetic excitation windings 34 and the sensor electrodes 35 are arranged alternately behind the electric heater 23. The sensor electrodes 35 are arranged in the sensor part 11 and the electromagnetic excitation windings 34 are arranged in the active part 13. Here, the sensor electrodes 35 and the electromagnetic excitation windings 34 are arranged and oriented relative to each other on the flexible circuit board so that in the rolled-up state, the two electromagnetic excitation windings 34 face each other and the two sensor electrodes 35 also face each other. Here, the sensor electrodes 35 are positioned rotated 90° relative to the electromagnetic excitation windings 34 in order to realize a magnetic inductive flow meter.

[0046] The respective sensor part 11 and the active part 13 are arranged offset by 90° about the flow direction or flow direction S of the fluid F. Figure 3 The sensor device 10 is shown in the spirally wound state and the orientation of the electromagnetic excitation winding 34 and the sensor electrode 35 relative to each other. The fluid F can flow parallel to the plane of the flexible printed circuit along the flow direction S. In particular, the flexible printed circuit can only be immersed in the fluid F. The connecting part 14 can be introduced into a sleeve (not shown) and thus electrically connect the fluid-conducting part of the fluid system 100 with the non-fluid-conducting part.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sensor electrode 35 is arranged at least partially without electrical insulation (not shown) and therefore has direct contact with the fluid F. The sensor electrode 35 is therefore designed as a resistive sensor or as a sensor for measuring conductivity.

[0048] Figure 4 A sectional view of a sensor device 10 according to the invention is shown according to a third embodiment. Figure 4 Shown according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The principle and working mode of the sensor device 10 are similar to Figure 3 Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 , the flexible printed circuit board of the sensor device 10 is rolled into a tube. Thus, the sensor device 10 can be placed on the inside of the tube, for example. Figure 5 The fluid channel 110 of the fluid system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is lined.

[0049] The electromagnetic excitation winding 34 generates a magnetic field with magnetic field lines M, which extend transversely to the flow direction S of the fluid. The resulting Hall voltage U is caused by the magnetic field M in the fluid F. This Hall voltage U depends on the flow velocity of the flow along the flow direction S and is measured by the sensor electrode 35. The corresponding measurement data can be received and evaluated by the electronics 22.

[0050] For the sake of clarity, the connection part 14 and the electronics part 12 of the sensor device 10 are not shown.

[0051] In order to ensure the rolled shape of the flexible circuit board 41, a reinforcing structure 43 may be used. For example, a coil spring or a tube portion can be used as the reinforcing structure 43. In addition, a spacer element 44 may be provided, for example, to ensure the spiral shape, such as Figure 3 shown.

[0052] Figure 5 1 shows a schematic diagram of a fluid system 100 according to the invention according to one embodiment. In the embodiment shown, the fluid system 100 is designed as a vehicle-side cooling system. Here, the fluid system 100 is shown in a very simplified manner and has a fluid channel 110, through which a fluid F, for example a liquid coolant, is conveyed.

[0053] The coolant pump 120 delivers fluid F through the fluid passage 110 to transfer heat from a heat generator 130 (eg, an internal combustion engine or power electronics) to a heat sink 140 (eg, an ambient heat exchanger).

[0054] The sensor device 10 is integrated into the fluid channel 110 . In this case, a flexible printed circuit board 41 with the sensor part 11 and optionally with the active part 13 is arranged in the fluid channel 110 , and a rigid printed circuit board 42 with the electronics part 12 is arranged outside the fluid channel 110 .

[0055] The acting portion 13 is configured to act on the fluid F in the fluid channel 110 in the form of, for example, thermal or electromagnetic action.

[0056] The sensor portion 11 is configured to measure at least one parameter of the fluid F within the fluid channel 110 .

[0057] Reference numerals list

[0058] 100 Motor Vehicles

[0059] 110 Fluid Channel

[0060] 120 Coolant pump / Fluid pump

[0061] 130 Heat Generator

[0062] 140 Radiator

[0063] 10 Sensor device

[0064] 11 Sensor part

[0065] 12 Electronic Devices

[0066] 13 Functional Part

[0067] 14 Connection

[0068] 21 Sensors / capacitive sensors

[0069] 22 Electronic devices

[0070] 23 Electric heater

[0071] 31 Electrical traces for capacitive sensors

[0072] 33 Electrical printed conductors for electric heaters

[0073] 34 Electromagnetic field winding

[0074] 35 sensor electrodes

[0075] 41 Flexible circuit board

[0076] 42 Rigid PCB

[0077] 43 Reinforcement structure

[0078] 44 Spacer element

[0079] F Fluid

[0080] M Magnetic field

[0081] S Fluid flow direction

[0082] U Hall voltage

Claims

1. A sensor device (10), comprising a sensor part (11) and at least one electronics part (12), wherein the sensor part comprises at least one sensor (21), and the electronics part comprises electronics (22) for controlling and / or reading the at least one sensor (21), wherein: The at least one sensor (21) is electrically connected to the at least one electronic device (22), wherein the electronic device part (12) is arranged on a rigid circuit board (42), and wherein the sensor part (11) is arranged on a flexible circuit board (41) or is constructed in the form of a flexible circuit board (41).

2. The sensor device according to claim 1, wherein: The sensor device (10) has at least one active part (13), which is arranged adjacent to the at least one sensor part (11), wherein the at least one active part (13) is designed as an electric heater (23) and / or is designed as at least one coil (34) for generating a magnetic field, wherein the electronic device (22) is configured to control the electric heater (23) and / or the at least one coil (34) continuously or intermittently or in a clock-triggered manner.

3. The sensor device according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one active part (13) is integrated into the flexible circuit board (41) beside the sensor part (11); or a plurality of active parts (13) and a plurality of sensor parts (11) are alternately integrated into the flexible circuit board (41) or arranged on the flexible circuit board (41).

4. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The at least one sensor (21) is designed as a capacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, at least one sensor electrode and / or a conductivity sensor.

5. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The flexible circuit board (41) is wound into a spiral shape or a tube.

6. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The flexible printed circuit board (41) has a reinforcement structure (43) and / or a spacer element (44), which is configured to hold the flexible printed circuit board (41) in a bent and / or wound shape.

7. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The flexible printed circuit (41) is configured to be arranged in a fluid (F) having a flow direction (S), wherein the flexible printed circuit (41) can be oriented such that the flow direction (S) extends parallel to a plane of the flexible printed circuit (41).

8. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The flexible printed circuit board (41) is substantially bent into a tube or a tube section, wherein at least two oppositely disposed active parts (13) for generating a magnetic field (M) are arranged on the flexible printed circuit board (41), wherein at least two sensor parts (11) for measuring a Hall voltage (U) are arranged rotated 90° around a flow direction (S) relative to the active parts (13).

9. The sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The flexible printed circuit board (41) and the rigid printed circuit board (42) are mechanically and electrically connected to each other via a connecting portion (14), wherein the connecting portion (14) is designed to be flexible or rigid.

10. A fluid system (100) comprising at least one flowing fluid (F) which flows through a fluid channel (110) in a flow direction (S), and comprising at least one sensor device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The flexible printed circuit board (41) of the sensor device (10) is arranged at least partially in the fluid channel (110).

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