Crankshaft Sensor Voltage Modifier Circuit for Fault Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motor vehicle crankshaft, camshaft, and transmission sensors lack the ability to detect and identify malfunctions between the sensor and the connecting cable, leading to unnecessary hardware and labor costs as both components are often replaced instead of just the faulty one.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an electronic voltage modifier circuit between the processing module's output port and the sensor's output port, which generates distinct output signals for normal operation and malfunction scenarios, allowing the engine control unit to differentiate between sensor and cable faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional sensor system without voltage modifier circuit is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to detect and identify malfunctions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a voltage modifier circuit as an intermediary component between the processing module and the output. This circuit modifies the output voltage levels to distinct values that encode diagnostic information, enabling the control unit to differentiate between sensor and cable faults without requiring complex communication protocols or additional sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameter (voltage level) of the sensor output signal to convey diagnostic information. By setting the output to distinct voltage levels (first level for normal operation, second level for malfunction), the system encodes fault status in the signal parameter itself, enabling simple diagnostic logic in the control unit.
2Ease of repair
If no voltage modifier circuit is implemented, then the manufacturing cost is low, but unnecessary hardware replacements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage modifier circuit serves as an intermediary that adds diagnostic capability to the sensor output signal. This simple voltage transformation enables accurate fault identification (distinguishing sensor faults from cable faults) without requiring complex manufacturing processes or additional components beyond basic voltage regulation circuitry.
3Loss of information
If traditional sensor output signals are used, then the signal processing is simple, but the diagnostic information is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the sensor output signal parameter (voltage level) to encode diagnostic information. The voltage modifier circuit outputs distinct voltage levels that preserve the original sensor functionality while adding diagnostic information about system health status, enabling the control unit to identify fault locations without increasing signal processing complexity.
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
Enables accurate detection and identification of faults in the sensor or cable, reducing unnecessary replacements and improving diagnostic efficiency by providing distinct signal values for normal and faulty conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a measurement cell (15) suitable for delivering a raw signal that is representative of the variations in a magnetic field that are induced by the rotation of said target
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a crankshaft, transmission or camshaft sensor (10) for a motor vehicle, intended for being connected to an engine control unit (30) by a cable (20). The sensor comprises a processing module (17) and a voltage-modifying circuit (18) configured to generate an output signal via an output port (12) of the sensor (10) allowing a diagnosis module (36) of the engine control unit (30) to detect and identify faults of the sensor (10) or the cable (20). In particular, the processing module (17) is configured to provide on its output port (172), when the toothed target (14) is immobile, a predetermined pattern representing the fact that the toothed target (14) is immobile, this predetermined pattern corresponding to a status change of the output port (172) of the processing module (17) with a predetermined time and repeated periodically. The invention likewise relates to a diagnosis system (1) comprising such a sensor (10), a cable (20) and an engine control unit (30). The invention also relates to a diagnosis method (50) implemented by said diagnosis system (1).