Methode Electronics, Incorporated

Methode Electronics Malta Ltd.

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Johannes Gießibl

Chad Reed

Julius Beck

Florian Burghardt

Andrew D Niedert

Anton Rogness

Elliott Pearson

Kevin Stanton Giaier

Chris Liston

Peter Simeon Lazarevski

Alexander Galea

Rinku Patel

Allen Carl Bonnici

Ibai Sarria

Christopher Eric Allard

A current sensor has at least one support element that is configured to carry at least one sensing coil of at least two sensing coils of the current sensor. The support element has at least one face on which at least one sensing coil is arranged. The sensing coil is to be used in connection with a current transferring conductor. The at least two sensing coils differ from each other in respect of at least one of an angular orientation of the individual sensing coil relative to a longitudinal axis of the current transferring conductor and/or a vertical distance of the individual sensing coil relative to the current transferring conductor.

Current sensor

A magnetic torque sensing device having a torque transferring member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has oppositely polarized magnetically conditioned regions with initial directions of magnetization that are perpendicular to the sensitive directions of magnetic field sensor pairs placed proximate to the magnetically active region. Magnetic field sensors are specially positioned in relation to the torque-transferring member to accurately measure torque while providing improved RSU performance and reducing the detrimental effects of compassing. The torque sensing devices are incorporated on vehicle drive train components, including differential components, transfer case components, transmission components, and others, including on power transmission shafts, half-shafts, and wheels, and output signals representing characteristics of the vehicle are processed in algorithms to provide useful output information for controlling actions of the vehicle.

Differential transfer case torque sensor apparatus and method

A force sensing device generates an output signal containing information usable for determining a magnitude and a direction of a force acting on a coupling. The coupling has a hook and a linking element linking the hook to a connection flange. The linking element is linked to the hook and the connection flange by at least two pins. Each pin comprises a torque sensor. The linking element is arranged at an angle with respect to the hook such that independent of the angle of the slope between an imaginary horizontal plane and the longitudinal axis of the connection flange, the linking element does not reach a position, in which the two pins are arranged one above the other in a vertical direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the connection flange.

Force sensing device for outputting a signal

Methods and apparatus for a dual reacting, single load sensing element coupled to a hitch receiver are disclosed herein. An example computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed, cause one or more processors to determine a location of a hitch ball of a hitch of a vehicle, determine a load condition of the hitch based on the location and data received from a sensor of a first pin of the hitch, the hitch including a second pin, the first pin to react loads in a first direction and a second direction, the second pin to react loads in the first direction and in response to the load condition satisfying an alert threshold, alert a user of the load condition.

Methods and apparatus for a dual reacting, single load sensing element coupled to a hitch receiver

Device for correcting the effect of an external stress overload affecting a ferromagnetic component, comprising: the ferromagnetic component, having at least one magnetic field, and a magnetic field sensor, and at least one coil, being arranged around the magnetic field sensor and/or around the ferromagnetic component, and generating a magnetic field, with the field providing an oscillating magnetic field and a magnetic flux density of at least 30 Gauss.

Device for correcting an external stress overload affecting a ferromagnetic component

Modular double pin load sensing hitches including two-piece pin mounts are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a pin mount including a first piece, and a second piece, separate from and to be disposed opposite to the first piece. The apparatus further includes and a receiver tube including a first mounting ear to be coupled to the first piece via a first pin and a second mounting ear to be coupled to the second piece via a second pin.

Modular double pin load sensing hitches including two-piece pin mounts

Methods and apparatus for a dual reacting, single load sensing element coupled to a hitch receiver are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a hitch configured to be coupled to a vehicle, the hitch including a crossbar, a receiver tube, and a pin housing coupled to the receiver tube. The pin housing includes a first pin including a load sensor, the first pin reacting loads in a first direction and a second direction and a second pin, the second pin reacting loads in the first direction, the first pin and the second pin acting as the only load path between the receiver tube and the crossbar.

A method for measuring stress applied to a magnetoelastic body, simultaneously detecting a potential external magnetic field affecting a magnetoelastic sensor and allocating a non-stress related influence affected by the field on the body, including applying at least two opposite magnetic zones on the body, providing at least one sensor including at least one first () and second () channel having at least two axially aligned coils each, arranged adjacent to the magnetized zone of the body, both channels having different sensitivity relative to the field, setting-up channelas a common mode rejection channel and channelas a common mode acceptance channel, reading the magnetized zones when stress is applied to the body, measuring the stress by channelleading to an opposite sensitive direction, and detecting the impact of the field to the magnetized zones by channelleading to an identical sensitive direction.

Method for measuring a torque applied to a magnetoelastic body

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.

Towing systems and methods using magnetic field sensing

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a modular double pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver. An example disclosed apparatus to be coupled to a receiver tube includes a crossbar interface to be coupled to a crossbar of a hitch, a pin adapter coupled to the crossbar interface, a first load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter, and a second load-sensing pin disposed within the pin adapter.

Methods and apparatus for a modular double pin load sensor coupled to a hitch receiver

The invention provides a sensor assembly for force sensing, the sensor assembly comprising: a first portion having a first and a second through hole, a second portion having a third and fourth through hole, and a first pin and a second pin coupling the first portion to the second portion. At least one out of the first and the second pin comprises a magnetoelastic based sensor for outputting a signal corresponding to a stress-induced magnetic flux emanating from a magnetically polarized region of the pin. The magnetoelastic based sensor comprises at least one direction sensitive magnetic field sensor in an at least partially hollow portion of the pin, which field sensor is configured for determination of a shear force in at least one direction. The invention further provides a tow coupling comprising the sensor assembly. The invention further provides a method for detecting a load.

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Amerang, Germany

Johannes Gießibl