Towing systems and methods using magnetic field sensing

US11491832B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Methode Electronics, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Chad Reed · Ypsilanti, US
• Julius Beck · Munich, DE
• Florian Burghardt · Neuching, DE
• Johannes Gießibl · Obersur, DE
• Chris Liston · Lisle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 13, 2020
• Grant date: Nov 8, 2022
• Expiry date: Jul 17, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01L1/26
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A magneto-elastically-based active force sensor, used with a tow coupling between a towed and a towing vehicle or a coupling between a vehicle body and a suspension of the vehicle, which outputs a signal useful for determining forces acting on the coupling. The outputted force information may be provided by processor-enabled embedded software algorithms that take inputs from the force sensor and other sensors, may be used by one or more vehicle systems during operating of the vehicle, such as engine, braking, stability, safety, and informational systems. The force sensor includes directionally-sensitive magnetic field sensing elements inside the sensor, and shielding may be used around the sensors to reduce the influence of external magnetic fields on the sensing elements. The force sensor may be used with different tow and vehicle weight sensing coupling devices installed on different types of automobile cars and trucks.