Patent · US Expired

Magnetostrictive linear displacement transducer for a vehicle steering system

US6528990B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by
1References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 21, 2000
Grant dateMar 4, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 21, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60G2401/172
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A steering angle sensing system 1, 26 for measuring the angle position of a vehicle steering wheel is disclosed which uses at least one position magnet 7, 8, G1, G2, G3 coupled to the rotary movement of the steering wheel 2′ as a transducer, and a magnetostrictive transducer 4, 35 as a measuring device and a second measuring device 70, 90 for measuring the angular movement of the vehicle wheels. Magnetostrictive transducer 4, 35 includes an elongated, magnetostrictive waveguide 9, 33 extending over a defined arc section, with mode converter 10, 35 for detecting magnetostrictively generated voltage pulses at one end. The waveguide 9, 33 is stationary related to the rotary movement of at least one position magnet 7, 8, G1, G2, G3 so that, when turning the steering wheel 2′, the magnet field of one position magnet 7, 8, G1, G2, G3 is applied to waveguide 9,33 in different positions dependent of the position of the steering wheel 2′. The second measuring device 70, 90 may measure gross changes to distinguish 360° or less, for example 270°, rotation whereas the steering wheel measuring device 1, 26 measures fine changes of the vehicle steering wheel 2′.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.