Magnetoresistive Piston Position Sensing for Free Piston Engine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control systems for gas compressors, crankshaft engines, and free piston engines are inflexible, unable to meet precision measurement requirements, and struggle with data transmission rates, particularly in environments with electronic noise, and fail to accurately measure piston positions with high velocities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an apparatus and method using anisotropic magneto-resistive sensors coupled with electronic sense modules and controllers, synchronized via Ethernet and fast buses, to accurately determine valve and piston positions, handle electronic noise, and transmit control signals efficiently, enabling precise control and data transmission in gas compressors and free piston engines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current control systems are used in gas compressors and engines, then the system design is simpler, but the measurement precision and data transmission rate are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is divided into modular components: valve sensors with magnets on valve moving parts, electronic sense modules coupled to multiple sensors, and a controller that receives signals from multiple sense modules. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while achieving high overall precision through coordinated operation of multiple specialized components.
2Measurement precision
If current control systems are used, then the system is easier to manufacture, but the system cannot meet precision requirements for high-velocity piston measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic sense modules are designed to be universal components that can be coupled to multiple different sensor types and configurations. The same sense module architecture can measure valve positions, piston positions, and other mechanical parameters, reducing manufacturing complexity through component standardization while maintaining high measurement precision across different applications.
3Reliability
If current control systems are used, then the electronic noise filtering is simpler, but the data collection reliability in noisy environments deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives signals from multiple electronic sense modules and implements feedback mechanisms to identify and correct corrupted data. When data corruption is detected in one sampling cycle, the system can request retransmission or use redundant measurements from other sensors to compensate, ensuring reliable data collection in electrically noisy environments through continuous verification and correction.
4Speed
If current control systems are used, then the sampling rate is lower, but the ability to capture high-velocity piston position data is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve sensors and electronic sense modules are merged into a coordinated data transmission system that sends all measurements synchronously to the controller at high rates. This combining of multiple high-speed data streams allows the system to capture high-velocity piston and valve position data simultaneously, achieving the necessary sampling rates for high-speed engine operation through integrated parallel measurement and transmission.
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
This solution allows for precise measurement of piston positions with sub-micron accuracy and synchronized data transmission, effectively addressing the limitations of existing systems by providing a modular and flexible control system capable of handling high-speed data transmission and noise interference.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first cylinder plurality of valve sensors comprises an anisotropic magneto-resistive sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for sensing the position of a piston in a valve in a gas compressor or the position of a piston in a free piston engine. The apparatus includes a plurality of valve sensors, a plurality of magnets, and a plurality of valve sense modules coupled to the valve sensors and a controller coupled to the plurality of valve sense modules. The method includes processing information received from the valve sensors to determine the linear position of the valves in the gas compressor or a piston in a free piston engine.