Autolexikon » Electronics » Sensors

Sensors
In a way, sensors are the sensory organs of the vehicle. A fundamental component of electronic control
systems, they must record physical or chemical variables and convert them into electrical signals...

Function

In a way, sensors are the sensory organs of the vehicle. A fundamental component of electronic control
systems, they must record physical or chemical variables and convert them into electrical signals.

Types of sensors

In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of different types of sensor. Many new
types of sensor have been seen in particular in the area of safety and convenience electronics.
Essentially, sensors can be categorised as follows:

Position sensors (distance/angle sensors)

Position sensors are used to capture the position of

the throttle valve,

of the accelerator or brake pedal,
of the distance and angular positions in diesel injection pumps,
of the fill level in the fuel tank,
of the steering angle,
of the angle of tilt, etc.

The ultrasonic and radar sensors used to determine distances from obstacles for modern driver assist
systems also belong in this category.

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Speed and velocity sensors

Speed and velocity sensors are used to determine

the speed of crankshafts,

camshafts and
diesel injection pumps or
wheel speeds.

Yaw rate sensors also belong in this category. They detect the rotational movement of the vehicle about
its own axis and are needed for ESP.

Acceleration sensors

Acceleration sensors record the acceleration of the car body and are used in passive safety systems
(airbags, seat belt tensioners, roll bars) and driving stability systems such as ABS and ESP, as well as
in chassis control.

Pressure sensors

Pressure sensors are used to capture a wide variety of pressures including

suction or charging pressure,

fuel pressure, brake pressure,
tyre pressure,
hydraulic reservoir pressure (for ABS and power steering),
refrigerant pressure (air conditioning system),
modulation pressure (automatic transmission) and so on.

Temperature sensors

Temperature sensors are used to capture temperatures, e.g. in the context of measuring

suction or charge air temperature,

ambient and interior temperatures,
evaporator temperature (air conditioning system),
coolant temperature,
engine oil temperature,
tyre air temperature and so on.

Force and torque sensors

Force and torque sensors are used to measure forces such as

pedal force,
drive,
brake and steering torque forces or
the weight of the occupants of a vehicle (for adaptive restraint systems).

Flowmeters

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Flowmeters are used to capture the fuel requirement and the amount of air drawn in by the engine.

Gas sensors

Gas sensors capture the composition of the exhaust gas (oxygen sensor, NOx sensor) or detect
hazardous substances in the fresh air supply.

Examples of sensors for engine control:

Pulse sensor, <link https: [Link] engine [Link] internen link in

neuem>crankshaft

The crankshaft sensor captures the engine speed and the position of the crankshaft. The control unit
uses these values to calculate the injection pulse and the ignition pulse.

Camshaft position

The <link https: [Link] cardictionary products produkt show [Link]

internen link im aktuellen>camshaft sensor is located at the cylinder head and scans a ring gear at the
camshaft. This information is used, for example, for the start of injection, for the signal to activate the
solenoid valve for the pump/nozzle injection system and for cylinder-specific knock control.

Air mass meter

The air mass meter is installed between the air filter housing and the intake manifold. It measures the
air mass drawn in by the <link https: [Link] [Link] internen link in
neuem>engine. This variable provides the basis for calculating the fuel quantity that must be supplied
to the engine.

Intake air temperature/Outside temperature/Interior temperature

Air temperature sensors capture the temperature of the ambient air. The values measured are used to
control various systems (e.g. the <link https: [Link] heating-air-conditioning air-
[Link] internen link in neuem>air conditioning system) or as correction values for the
injection system. The installation location is determined by the air temperature to be measured. The
sensor for the intake air temperature, for example, is located in the air duct for the intake air.

Coolant temperature

The coolant temperature sensor is screw-mounted in the cooling system. The gauge tip protrudes into
the coolant and records its temperature. The control unit uses this value to adapt the amount of fuel
injected to the engine temperature.

Throttle position

Throttle valve sensors are attached to the throttle valve axle. They monitor the opening angle of the
throttle valve. From the values, the engine electronics calculates the fuel quantity which is injected
based on other factors.

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Knock sensors

Knocking is an uncontrolled form of combustion in a petrol engine. As continuous knocking can

damage the engine, it must be checked and regulated. The engine control unit evaluates the voltage
signals received from the knock sensor and regulates the ignition point in a range just below what is
known as the knock limit. Knock sensors are permanently monitored by the control unit.

Intake pipe pressure

The intake pipe pressure sensor measures the intake pipe vacuum downstream of the throttle valve
and forwards this value to the engine control unit as an electrical signal. This is combined with the value
of the air temperature sensor so that the air mass drawn in can be calculated.

Oxygen sensors

The <link https: [Link] electronics [Link] internen link in

neuem>oxygen sensor measures the residual oxygen content in the exhaust gas in order to ensure an
optimum combustion mixture at all times. Depending on the type of sensor, a chemical element
(titanium dioxide/zirconium dioxide) and the residual oxygen content of the exhaust gas bias a voltage,
which is then used by the control unit as a measured variable.

Examples of sensors from car body electronics:

Wheel speed

The wheel speed is used by driving safety systems such as ABS and ASR as a speed value as well as
by GPS systems to calculate distance travelled. A fault will cause these systems to fail, significantly
impairing safety.

Speed, transmission

The transmission sensor captures the transmission speed. The speed signal is used by the control unit
for precision control of the shift pressure during shifting and to decide which gear should be engaged
when.

Speed, distances travelled

Distance sensors are used to capture driving speed. They are mounted on the transmission or rear
axle. They information obtained is required for the speedometer, cruise control and converter slip
control.

Engine oil level/Coolant level

For reasons of operational safety and for increased comfort, levels such as engine oil, coolant and
washer fluid are monitored with level sensors. The level sensors send a signal to the engine control unit
which activates an indicator lamp.

Brake lining wear

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 The brake wear sensors are located on the brake linings and are subject to the same wear. A visual
signal tells the driver that the wear limit has been reached.

Safety
The sensor information provides the basis for the function of numerous active and passive safety
systems. Thanks to significant progress in the development of new sensors, there has been a constant
increase in the capabilities of safety and driver assist systems in recent years. Sensors thus have a key
role to play in increasing safety on our roads.

Environmental protection
Sensors make modern vehicles not only safer but also cleaner. They supply the basic information for
clean and effective fuel combustion in the engine, thereby enabling exhaust emissions values and fuel
consumption to be reduced significantly. Finally, they support the reliable functioning of high-efficiency
exhaust re-treatment systems. Examples include the controlled 3-way catalytic converter, the diesel
particulate filter or the DeNOx catalytic converter.

Bilder

Hersteller

Bosch
HELLA DENSO Aftermarket Herth+Buss

Hitachi Pierburg_EN Valeo_EN VDO_EN

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 MAHLE ATE_EN Delphi_EN Magneti Marelli_EN

TMD Friction Textar_EN NGK SPARK PLUG EUROPE

GmbH

Quelle:
[Link]

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