Vehicle Force Sensor Assembly Without Hydraulic Pickups
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulically based pickups in braking or steering systems of modern vehicles require significant installation space, weight, and carry the risk of leaks, adversely affecting vehicle efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly comprising multiple force sensors, arranged in series or parallel configurations, electronically detects driver inputs without hydraulic mechanisms, providing redundancy and reducing installation space and weight while ensuring precise force detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydraulically based pickups are used to detect driver input commands, then the detection function is achieved, but the installation space and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hydraulically based force sensors with electronically based force sensors. The electronic force sensors detect driver input forces directly through electronic measurement mechanisms, eliminating the need for hydraulic fluid and hydraulic transmission components. This substitution significantly reduces both the weight and installation space while maintaining the force detection function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the hydraulic system components from the force sensing mechanism. By taking out the hydraulic fluid, hydraulic lines, and hydraulic pickup elements, the design achieves a simplified electronic force sensing system that occupies less space and weighs less while preserving the essential detection capability.
2Reliability
If hydraulically based pickups are used, then force detection is achieved, but the risk of leaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates hydraulic systems entirely by substituting them with electronic force sensors. This replacement removes the source of potential leaks (hydraulic fluid and seals) while maintaining force detection capability through electronic measurement, thereby eliminating the harmful leak risk.
3Reliability
If multiple hydraulically based pickups are provided for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but the installation space and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple heavy hydraulic pickups with lighter electronic force sensors arranged in a redundant configuration. The electronic sensors can be positioned adjacently or in series with minimal space requirements, achieving the same redundancy goal with significantly reduced weight and installation footprint compared to hydraulic systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent arranges electronic force sensors in spatial configurations (adjacent or series arrangements) that optimize space utilization. By transitioning from the volumetric hydraulic system to planar or linear electronic sensor arrangements, the design achieves redundancy with compact dimensional footprint.
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
The sensor assembly achieves weight savings, reduced installation space, and enhanced reliability by electronically detecting driver inputs, allowing for improved vehicle efficiency and safety through redundant force detection and fault mode management.
Implementation Method 1
For example, a force sensor can have a strain gauge which changes its resistance due to a compression or extension
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly for an actuation device of a vehicle includes a control device and a first sensor group with a first and a second force sensor. At least one of the force sensors is mechanically coupled to the actuation device, and at least one is electrically coupled to the control device. Each force sensor is designed to detect a force acting on the respective force sensor regardless of the other force sensors. The control device determines a force exerted by the actuation device on the force sensor based on a measurement signal received via the at least one force sensor. The force sensors of the first sensor group are arranged on top of one another or next to one another relative to the actuation device.