A magnetic transmitting antenna has a beam member having a first end and a second end, wherein the beam member comprising: an elastic member; at least one magnetoelastic member disposed on a first surface of the elastic member; and an actuator disposed on a second surface of the elastic member, wherein the actuator is configured to apply stress to the elastic member thereby applying a bending stress thereto for changing the magnetic permeability of the at least one magnetoelastic member, which in turn, changes an external magnetic field. At least one magnet is disposed adjacent to the magnetoelastic member such that magnetization is induced in the magnetoelastic member.

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.

In one embodiment, a system for determining strain within a material includes a magnetostrictive sensor configured to be embedded within the material, a sensing unit configured to apply an excitation magnetic field to the material and the embedded sensor and to receive a response magnetic field that has passed through the material and the embedded sensor, wherein the sensing unit does not contact the material, and a device configured to determine a difference between the excitation magnetic field and the response magnetic field and to determine the strain within the material based upon that difference.

The torque measuring device includes: a casing made of a magnetic metal; a rotating shaft rotatably arranged inside the casing and having a magnetostrictive effect section whose magnetic permeability changes according to torque to be transmitted; and a torque sensor arranged around the magnetostrictive effect section and supported by the casing, the torque sensor including a coil unit formed in a cylindrical shape using a flexible substrate having a detection coil that changes voltage in response to changes in the magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictive effect section, and a holder made of rubber or synthetic resin, covering an outer peripheral surface of the coil unit, and having a portion that protrudes from the coil unit on both sides in an axial direction; and the torque sensor supported by the casing with an outer peripheral surface of the holder fitted into an inner peripheral surface of the casing.

A gap compensated stress sensing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include a sensor head in communication with a controller. The sensor head can contain a stress sensor configured to generate a stress signal representing stress applied to a target based upon measurement of generated magnetic fluxes passing through the target. The system can also include a drive circuit configured to provide a current for generation of the magnetic fluxes, and to measure signals characterizing a gap between the sensor head and the target. The controller can analyze these signals to determine a gap-dependent reference signal that is relatively insensitive to electrical runout. The controller can further adjust the stress signal based upon the gap-dependent reference signal to determine an improved stress signal that has reduced sensitivity to gap changes.

The present invention relates to an arrangement for detecting a torque on a machine element (01). The arrangement comprises a sleeve (03) arranged on the machine element (01), wherein the sleeve (03) has a magnetized region (07). The arrangement furthermore comprises a magnetic field sensor, which is arranged opposite the sleeve (03), and an intermediate sleeve (02). The intermediate sleeve (02) is arranged between the machine element (01) and the sleeve (03) and has an elevation (04) at each of the two end regions thereof. The elevations (04) come to abut the machine element (01). The sleeve (03) and the intermediate sleeve (02) are connected to one another for conjoint rotation. The invention furthermore relates to a vehicle having an arrangement for detecting a torque on a machine element (01).

A stress detection device includes: a first detector including a first magnetostrictive member configured to be deformed by tensile stress or compression stress in accordance with a load from outside, and a first wound portion made of a conductive material and configured to be wound around the first magnetostrictive member; and a second detector including a second magnetostrictive member having a magnetostrictive constant different from a magnetostrictive constant of the first magnetostrictive member, the second magnetostrictive member being configured to be deformed by tensile stress or compression stress in accordance with a load from outside, and a second wound portion made of a conductive material and configured to be wound around the second magnetostrictive member, wherein the first detector and the second detector are configured to electrically detect strength of magnetic permeability due to compression stress or tensile stress, and output detection signals having opposite signals.

A torque measuring device includes: a magnetostrictive sensor having a ring-shaped holder arranged around a magnetostrictively affected section of a rotating shaft, a detecting section embedded in the holder and that changing a voltage according to a change in magnetic permeability of the magnetostrictively affected section; and a sensor-side engaging section; and a fixed member having a fixed-side engaging section, the fixed member not rotating even during operation. One of the sensor-side engaging portion and the fixed-side engaging section is a convex section and the other is a concave section. With the sensor-side engaging section and the fixed-side engaging section engaged with a concave-convex engagement, shifting of the position of the magnetostrictive sensor in the direction of rotation and the radial direction with respect to the substrate is prevented.

A gap compensated stress sensing system and methods for using the same are provided. The system can include a sensor head in communication with a controller. The sensor head can contain a stress sensor configured to generate a stress signal representing stress applied to a target based upon measurement of generated magnetic fluxes passing through the target. The system can also include a drive circuit configured to provide a current for generation of the magnetic fluxes, and to measure signals characterizing a gap between the sensor head and the target. The controller can analyze these signals to determine a gap-dependent reference signal that is relatively insensitive to electrical runout. The controller can further adjust the stress signal based upon the gap-dependent reference signal to determine an improved stress signal that has reduced sensitivity to gap changes.

A stress detection device includes: a first detector including a first magnetostrictive member configured to be deformed by tensile stress or compression stress in accordance with a load from outside, and a first wound portion made of a conductive material and configured to be wound around the first magnetostrictive member; and a second detector including a second magnetostrictive member having a magnetostrictive constant different from a magnetostrictive constant of the first magnetostrictive member, the second agnetostrictive member being configured to be deformed by tensile stress or compression stress in accordance with a load from outside, and a second wound portion made of a conductive material and configured to be wound around the second magnetostrictive member, wherein the first detector and the second detector are configured to electrically detect strength of magnetic permeability due to compression stress or tensile stress, and output detection signals having opposite signals.