SENSOR UNIT, SENSING AND ANALYSIS DEVICE WITH SUCH A SENSOR UNIT AND MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRAILER THEREWITH AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING AN ANALYZER

Abstract

A sensor unit (2) for a motor vehicle or trailer is disclosed. The sensor unit comprises a sensor measuring arrangement (16) for sensing at least one physical variable, a sensor housing (12) partly or fully enclosing the sensor measuring arrangement (16) and at least two connecting lines (18). The sensor unit (2) with the sensor housing (12) is electrically connectable to a conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer and the sensor measuring arrangement (16) is connectable to an analyzer (6) via the connecting lines (18). Related methods, a sensing and analysis device, and motor vehicles or trailers including the same are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sensor unit for a motor vehicle or trailer, wherein the sensor unit comprises: a sensor measuring arrangement for sensing at least one physical variable, a sensor housing partly or fully enclosing the sensor measuring arrangement, and at least two connecting lines, wherein the sensor measuring arrangement is connectable via the connecting lines to an analyzer, wherein the sensor unit with the sensor housing are electrically connectable to a conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer, and wherein the sensor unit comprises a predetermined discharge path between the sensor housing and a connecting line or between the sensor housing and the sensor measuring arrangement for discharging electrostatic charge from the conductive part of the motor vehicle.

2. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined discharge path is implemented as a predetermined spark gap between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit or between the sensor housing and the sensor measuring arrangement of the sensor unit.

3. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first contact of the spark gap is conductively connected to the sensor housing and a second contact of the spark gap is conductively connected to a connecting line of the sensor unit, wherein the first and second contacts lie opposite each other and are at a predetermined distance from each other.

4. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined discharge path is implemented as a varistor between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit or between the sensor housing and the sensor measuring arrangement of the sensor unit.

5. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the varistor comprises a threshold voltage that lies below the maximum permissible voltage of the analyzer when connected to the sensor unit, wherein the maximum permissible voltage is given by the breakdown voltage of the weakest electrical component of the analyzer.

6. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined discharge path is implemented as a high-impedance resistance between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit or between the sensor housing and the sensor measuring arrangement of the sensor unit.

7. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined discharge path is implemented as a high-impedance resistance between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit and wherein a resistance value of the high-impedance resistance between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit is between 100 kΩ and 1000 kΩ.

8. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined discharge path is implemented as a high-impedance casting compound between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit or between the sensor housing (12) and the sensor measuring arrangement of the sensor unit.

9. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined discharge path is implemented as the high-impedance casting compound between the sensor housing and a connecting line of the sensor unit and wherein the high-impedance casting compound has a specific resistance as to produce a resistance value of the predetermined discharge path between 100 kΩ and 1000 kΩ.

10. The sensor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is a revolution rate sensor.

11. A sensing and analysis device for a motor vehicle or trailer, wherein the sensing and analysis device comprises the sensor unit as claimed in claim 1 and an analyzer.

12. The sensing and analysis device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the analyzer comprises a varistor that is disposed so as to protect electronic components that are disposed in the analyzer against damage by overvoltage.

13. The sensing and analysis device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the varistor is disposed in the analyzer between a connecting line to ground and a connecting line to a connecting line that connects the sensor measuring arrangement of the sensor unit to the analyzer.

14. A motor vehicle or trailer, comprising at least one sensor unit as claimed in claim 1.

15. A method for protecting electronic components of an analyzer that is connected to a sensor unit via at least two connecting lines against excessive electrical voltages due to electrostatic charging, wherein the sensor unit comprises a sensor measuring arrangement for sensing at least one physical variable and a sensor housing partly or fully enclosing the sensor measuring arrangement and wherein the sensor unit with the sensor housing is electrically connected to a conductive part of a motor vehicle or trailer, said method comprising discharging electrostatic charge from the conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer via a predetermined discharge path between the sensor housing of the sensor unit and a connecting line that connects the sensor measuring arrangement of the sensor unit to the analyzer.

16. A motor vehicle or trailer, comprising at least one sensing and analysis device as claimed in claim 11.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0034] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a sensor unit with a discharge path implemented as a predetermined spark gap and an analyzer connected to the sensor unit,

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a sensor unit with a discharge path implemented as a varistor and an analyzer connected to the sensor unit,

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a sensor unit with a discharge path implemented as a high-impedance resistance and an analyzer connected to the sensor unit, and

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a sensor unit with a discharge path implemented as a high-impedance casting compound and an analyzer connected to the sensor unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] With reference to the specific embodiment of the Figures, wherein like numerals generally indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a sensor unit 2 with a predetermined discharge path 4 and an analyzer 6 that is connected to the sensor unit 2.

[0040] Electrostatic charge is produced within a vehicle axle 10 by the friction from tires 8 while travelling, for example. Usually, however, the chassis parts of a motor vehicle or trailer, such as vehicle axles 10, are disposed electrically separately or isolated from a frame of a vehicle 11, which as a rule is at ground potential. As a result, electrostatic charge can arise especially in the wheel area of the motor vehicle or trailer, for example on the vehicle axle 10, wherein such charge can be discharged when a voltage limit is exceeded by flashing over to the nearest electrically conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer.

[0041] If a sensor unit 2 is attached to the vehicle axle 10 so that there is a conductive connection 14 between a sensor housing 12 and the vehicle axle 10, the discharge takes place via the sensor unit 2 and possibly results in damage to the sensor unit 2 and/or to an analyzer 6 that is connected to the sensor unit 2.

[0042] In order to avoid such damage to the sensor unit 2 and/or analyzer 6, the sensor unit 2 comprises a discharge path 4 that is designed to reliably discharge an electrostatic charge present in the conductive part of the motor vehicle or trailer, for example the vehicle axle 10. For this purpose, the predetermined discharge path 4 is disposed between the electrically conductive sensor housing 12 and a sensor measuring arrangement 16 within the sensor housing 12.

[0043] The sensor unit 2 represented in FIG. 1 corresponds to a revolution rate sensor with a known sensor measuring arrangement 16. The sensor measuring arrangement 16 may comprise a magnet for producing a magnetic flux and a coil for detecting a change of the magnetic flux. The invention is however not limited to the use of revolution rate sensors as the sensor unit 2. Rather, any sensor units 2 that comprise an electrically conductive sensor housing 12 and that are connected via at least two connecting lines 18 to further electrical devices, such as an analyzer, are provided with a predetermined discharge path 4 in order to protect the electrical device that is connected via the connecting lines 18 to the sensor unit 2 against an overvoltage that was caused by an electrostatic charge, for example in the vehicle axle 10. Thus, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, etc. may also advantageously be provided with the discharge path 4 according to the invention.

[0044] The sensor unit 2 represented in FIG. 1 comprises an electrically conductive, pot-shaped sensor housing 12 that is closed by a closure part 20, from which the connecting lines 18 are fed out of the sensor unit 2. The connecting lines 18 are connected to the analyzer 6 via a plug connection and are fed within the analyzer 6 to an analysis circuit 22.

[0045] In this embodiment, the analyzer 6 is connected via a further electrical line 24 to the frame of the vehicle 11 as ground potential.

[0046] In order to protect the analyzer 6 in addition to the discharge path 4 against overvoltage, this can be provided with a voltage-dependent resistance 28, also known as a varistor. For this purpose, the varistor 28 may be disposed between a ground connecting line 30 and a connecting line 32 that is connected to a connecting line 18.

[0047] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention in FIG. 1, the predetermined discharge path 4 is implemented as a predetermined spark gap 4.1. The spark gap 4.1 is formed by a first contact that is conductively connected to the sensor housing 12 and a second contact that is conductively connected to a connecting line 18 of the sensor unit 2. In this case, the contacts are disposed opposite each other and are at a predetermined distance from each other.

[0048] The contacts in the sensor housing 12 are typically enclosed hermetically tight and the sensor unit 2 is filled with a gas. This has the advantage that the breakdown voltage of the spark gap 4.1 is independent of impurities, moisture and air pressure. Owing to the design of the contacts, the distance between the contacts and the choice of the gas disposed between the contacts, the breakdown voltage at which the electrostatic charge is discharged can advantageously be accurately determined. The breakdown voltage may be dimensioned so that the analyzer 6 is not damaged by the discharged charge.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows an alternative design of the invention with which the predetermined discharge path 4 is implemented as a varistor 4.2 between the sensor housing 12 and a connecting line 18.

[0050] The varistor 4.2 is a voltage-dependent resistance that is abruptly smaller above a defined threshold voltage. In this case, the threshold voltage is typically selected so that it lies below the maximum permissible voltage of an analyzer 6 that is connected to the sensor unit 2. The maximum permissible voltage of the analyzer 6 is dependent here on the breakdown voltage of the weakest component of the analyzer 6. Thus, the electrostatic charge induced for example in the vehicle axle 10 can advantageously be discharged without damaging the analyzer 6, while the measurement of the sensor is not affected.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the predetermined discharge path 4 between the sensor housing 12 and a connecting line 18 is in the form of a high-impedance resistance 4.3.

[0052] The resistance 4.3 typically comprises a resistance value between 100 kΩ and 1000 kΩ and is dimensioned such that the electrostatic charge that is induced in the vehicle axle 10 for example can be discharged without damaging the analyzer 6.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the predetermined discharge path 4 between the sensor housing 12 and a connecting line 18 is implemented as a high-impedance casting compound 4.4.

[0054] The high-impedance casting compound 4.4 is typically implemented so as to comprise a specific resistance that forms a resistance value of the discharge path 4 of 100 kΩ to 1000 kΩ. The specific resistance is in this case dependent on enriching the casting compound 4.4 with conductive particles and the dimensions of the casting compound 4.4. The resistance of the high-impedance casting compound 4.4 is generally dimensioned so that the electrostatic charge that is induced in the vehicle axle 10 for example can be discharged without damaging the analyzer 6.

[0055] The alternative embodiments of the invention according to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4 described above differ only in the implementation of the embodiment of the discharge path 4 according to the invention. The functions of the discharge path 4 described under FIG. 1 thereby also apply analogously to the embodiments according to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4.

[0056] The discharge path 4 according to the invention can be implemented simply and inexpensively in the sensor unit 2, so that a sensing and analysis device of such a sensor unit 2 and an analyzer 6 connected thereto have reliable overvoltage protection.

[0057] All the features mentioned in the above description as well as in the claims can be combined with the features of the independent claims both individually and in any combination. The disclosure of the invention is therefore not limited to the described or claimed feature combinations. Rather, all feature combinations that are useful within the scope of the invention are to be considered as being disclosed.