Automotive Design
Displacement and temperature sensors get smaller and smarter
4 Chris Jones discusses some of the latest applications and innovations in non-contact displacement measurement and infrared temperature sensors for the automotive and motorsport markets.
4 Chris Jones évoque certaines des applications et des innovations les plus récentes du monde de la mesure des déplacements sans contact et des capteurs de température infrarouges pour les marchés automobile et des sports mécaniques.
4 Chris Jones erörtert einige der neuesten Anwendungen und Innovationen der kontaktlosen Wegmessungs- und Infrarot-temperatursensoren für den Automobil- und Motorsportmarkt.
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urrent trends indicate that smaller, more compact, more intelligent displacement measurement sensors are now required, particularly in high
performance motorsport and automotive applications. With pressure on motorsport teams and
passenger vehicle manufacturers to minimise the weight of onboard systems and therefore reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions, the requirement for extremely compact sensors is now a critical factor. This is also true for integration - both in terms of electronics and building more intelligence into the sensor itself, without the need for any bulky, separate controllers. Manufacturers of automotive
turbochargers, for example, now require measurement systems to test the performance limits of their products. Measurement systems are required to monitor the temperature and speed of the blades on the turbine wheel.
Due to increasing material stresses and higher speeds (up to 400,000rpm), turbocharger blades are now made from either aluminium or titanium, which presents a challenge in terms of measurement technologies. Titanium is a very poor electrical conductor and so eddy current sensors cannot be used easily on titanium. However, using special linearisation and advanced electronics, measurement systems have been developed (such as Micro- Epsilon’s turboSPEED sensors) that are able to accurately measure the speed (and temperature) of both aluminium and titanium turbocharger blades over the complete speed range - in both multiple test cell and on-vehicle testing. These sensors are robust, resistant to oil and dirt, extremely compact and slim, with the latest versions measuring just 3mm in diameter.
Miniature cylinders and actuators
Miniaturisation of sensors is equally important in other areas. Hydraulic and pneumatic
Fig. 1. Micro-Epsilon’s turboSPEED sensors are able to accurately measure the speed (and temperature) of both aluminium and titanium turbocharger blades over the complete speed range – in both multiple test cell and on-vehicle testing.
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