Sensor device and electric power steering apparatus using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339946-A1
Application number	US-201615158189-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 18, 2016
Priority date	May 20, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor device includes a sensor section having a plurality of sensor elements sensing a physical quantity regarding a magnetic flux collecting module, an output circuit generating and outputting an output signal including data signals respectively corresponding to sensing values from the sensor elements, and an ECU obtaining the output signal. The ECU includes an abnormality determiner identifying an abnormal sensor element. When at least two of the plurality of sensor sections respectively have at least one normal sensor element, a sub-sensor section transmits the output signal therefrom to the ECU at a shifted output timing from an output timing of the output signal from a main sensor section. The amount of such a shift of the output timing is shorter than one signal cycle of the output signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor device comprising:
a plurality of sensor sections respectively including:
a plurality of sensor elements sensing a physical quantity of a sensing object; and
an output circuit generating and transmitting an output signal, the output signal including data signals respectively corresponding to sensing values sensed by the plurality of sensor elements; and
a controller obtaining the output signal, wherein at least one of the controller and the plurality of sensor sections includes an abnormality determiner identifying a sensor element having abnormality, and at least two sensor sections respectively transmitting the output signal to the controller at shifted output timings shifted from each other, with an amount of shift of the shifted output timings configured as shorter than one signal cycle of the output signal, when at least two sensor sections have at least one normal sensor element.

2 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein
the abnormality determiner identifies the abnormal sensor element by comparing at least three data equivalent values that respectively correspond to the data signals.

3 . The sensor device of claim 2 , wherein
the abnormality determiner identifies abnormality of the sensor element by comparing a data equivalent value from a subject sensor element with a data equivalent value from an other sensor element belonging to a different sensor section from the sensor section having the subject sensor element.

4 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein
the abnormality determiner determines that the sensor element has abnormality, when the data equivalent value corresponding to the data signal is greater than an upper threshold value, or is smaller than a lower threshold value.

5 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the plurality of sensor sections includes a timing signal generation circuit capable of transmitting, to other sensor sections of the plurality of sensor sections, a timing signal that instructs a transmission timing of the output signal to the controller, from the other sensor sections other than the sensor section having the timing signal generation circuit.

6 . The sensor device of claim 5 , wherein
all of the plurality of sensor sections includes the timing signal generation circuit.

7 . The sensor device of claim 6 , wherein
each of the plurality of sensor sections ( 55 , 65 ) is provided with a sealed part, and a first terminal group and a second terminal group respectively include a reception terminal capable of receiving the timing signal, and a transmission terminal capable of transmitting the timing signal, upon
designating a first group of terminals protruding from a first side surface of the sealed part as the first terminal group, and
designating a second group of terminals protruding from a second side surface of the sealed part as the second terminal group.

8 . The sensor device of claim 7 , wherein
an n-th terminal in the second terminal group that is arranged as the n th from one end of the sealed part is the transmission terminal, and an m-th terminal in the second terminal group that is arranged as the m th from the one end of the sealed part is the reception terminal, upon
setting the n-th terminal in the first terminal group that is arranged as the n th from one end of the sealed part as the reception terminal, and
setting the m-th terminal in the first terminal group that is arranged as an m th from the one end of the sealed part as the transmission terminal.

9 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein
the controller transmits, to the plurality of sensor sections, a timing signal that instructs a transmission timing of the output signal.

10 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein
the output signal from the plurality of sensor sections is configured to be obtained by the controller at equal intervals.

11 . The sensor device of claim 1 , wherein
each of the plurality of sensor elements is a magnetic field sensing element sensing a change of magnetic flux from the sensing object.

12 . The sensor device of claim 11 , wherein
each of the plurality of sensor elements senses a change of magnetic flux according to a change of torque.

13 . An electric power steering apparatus comprising:
the sensor device of claim 12 ; a motor outputting an assist torque for assisting a steering operation of a steering member by a driver; and a power transmission part transmitting the assist torque of the motor to a drive object, wherein the controller of the sensor device drives the motor based on a steering torque that is calculated based on at least one data signal.

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Kuramitsu Shuji
• Hayashi Katsuhiko
• Kozawa Takaharu
• Nakamura Koichi
• Taki Masaya
• Sakai Toshimitsu

Classifications

• B62D5/0481

  monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures · CPC title

• G01R31/50

  Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections (testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58) · CPC title

• G01L25/003

  for measuring torque · CPC title

• G01L5/221

  to steering wheels, e.g. for power assisted steering · CPC title

• B62D5/049

  detecting sensor failures · CPC title