Carrier Unit Sensor Base for Load Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carrier units for motor vehicles lack effective means to detect loads acting on the support structure, leading to unreliable measurements due to small, closely spaced sensors prone to errors, which can impact driving characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A carrier unit with a sensor base that converts movements of mounting areas into measurable movements at distant points, using a plate-shaped sensor base with elastic elements and magnetic field detection, allowing for accurate measurement of translational and rotational movements, and an evaluation unit to determine forces and their impact on vehicle safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If small, closely spaced sensors are used to detect movements, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to errors and unreliability
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor base is designed to detect movements in multiple dimensions (translational and rotational movements in one plane, with transverse movements affecting measuring points to a lesser extent). This multi-dimensional detection approach allows accurate load measurement while using a simple sensor arrangement, resolving the contradiction between device complexity and measurement precision.
2Device complexity
If mounting areas are arranged at small distances from one another, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to insufficient elastic deformation detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor base detects both translational and rotational movements in addition to linear displacements. By measuring movements in multiple dimensions, the system can achieve accurate load detection even when mounting areas are arranged at small distances, as the rotational component provides additional measurement information that compensates for the reduced linear displacement.
3Device complexity
If transformation area is directly connected to intermediate area of support structure, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates as movements are not sufficiently transformed
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor base acts as an intermediary element between the support structure and the measurement system. It transforms the relative movements of mounting areas into amplified movements of measuring points through its specific geometric design, providing sufficient movement transformation while maintaining a simple direct connection without complex mechanisms.
4Adaptability or versatility
If sensor base detects movements in all directions equally, then adaptability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from transverse movements
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor base is designed with different functional zones: the transformation area is optimized to convert in-plane movements (translational and rotational) into amplified measuring point movements, while transverse movements affect the measuring points to a lesser extent. This local optimization allows the system to be adaptable to various load types while maintaining high measurement precision for the primary measurement direction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides reliable and reproducible load detection, enhancing vehicle safety by accurately measuring forces and accelerations, thereby improving driving conditions and preventing unsafe loading scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
the transformation area and the intermediate area of the support structure section located between the mounting areas, which are caused by an elastic bending of the support structure section
Implementation Method 2
it is preferably provided that the distance measuring unit carries out a distance measurement on the basis of a magnetic field detection
Data Source
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AI summary
In order to improve a carrier unit (20) for motor vehicles comprising a support structure (60) mountable on a rear area (14) of the motor vehicle, such that the loads acting on the support structure (60) can be detected, it is proposed that a sensor unit (S1, S2) be provided for detecting forces acting on the support structure and elastically deforming it, that the sensor unit be provided with a sensor base (70), that the sensor base comprise two fixing areas (74, 76) arranged at a distance from each other and fixable to mounting areas (124, 126) of an elastically deformable support structure section (T) and a transformation area (80) arranged between the fixing areas, that the transformation area mechanically converts the movements of the mounting areas and thus also of the fixing areas relative to each other generated by the elastic deformation of the support structure section into a movement of measuring points (M1,M2) of the transformation range relative to each other and that the movement of the measuring points can be detected by the sensor unit.