Unit 4-AEE
Unit 4-AEE
Unit 4-AEE
Automotive Sensors
Sensors:
Sensors are the components of
the system that provide the inputs
that enable the computer (ECM) to
carry out the operations that make
the system function correctly.
In the case of vehicle sensors it is
usually a voltage that is represented
by a code at the computer’s
processor. If this voltage is
incorrect the processor will
probably take it as an invalid input
and record a fault.
Fig. B
Automotive Electrical & Electronics
Figure B. shows the theoretical form of a simple
potential divider. A voltage, say 5 V, is applied across
terminals A and B. C is a slider which is in contact with
the resistor and a voltmeter is connected between A
and
C. The voltage VAC is related to the position of the
slider
C in the form VAC =VAB * x/l.
In the air flow sensor, the moving probe (wiper) of the
potential divider is linked to the pivot of the measuring
flap so that angular displacement of the measuring flap
is registered as a known voltage at the potentiometer.
Where,
R : Initial resistance of the strain gauge
ΔR : Resistance change caused by elongation or
contraction
K : Proportional constant (called the “gauge
factor”)
(ΔR/R/ΔL/L)
ε : Strain
Automotive Electrical & Electronics
Automotive Electrical & Electronics
The working principle is based on the strain/resistance
relationship of electrical conductors.
Any electrical conductor changes its resistance with
mechanical stress, e.g. through tension or compression
forces. The resistance change is partially due to the
conductor's deformation and partially due to the change
in the resistivity of the conductor material as a result of
microstructural changes.
Operating Principle:
Welded Sensor utilizes bonded strain gages
connected in Wheatstone bridge circuit. The output is
derived from imbalance in the bridge circuit as load is
sensed by sensor.
Actuators:
Actuators are the devices, such as fuel injectors, ignition
coils, ABS modulators etc., that are operated by outputs
from the ECM.
Actuators normally rely on one of two electrical devices for
their operation; they are either operated by a solenoid or by
an electric motor.
Solenoid-operated actuators are normally controlled in one
of two ways. One is the duty cycle method, where the
solenoid is switched on for a percentage of the time
available, e.g. 20 or 80%.
This means that pulses of varying width can be used to
provide the desired result. The other method of solenoid
control is known as pulse width modulation (PWM). Here
the solenoid current is switched on and off at
frequencies that change to suit operating requirements.
Solenoid Valves:
A fuel injector is (in essence) a solenoid-operated
valve. The valve opens or closes to permit or
block fuel flow to the engine. The valve is
attached to the movable element of the solenoid
and is switched by the solenoid activation.
In a fuel injector with no current flowing, the
solenoid movable element is held down against Figure A
the stop, covering the aperture or nozzle.
Fuel is thereby blocked from flowing from the
pressurized fuel chamber into the aperture. When
current flows through the solenoid coil, the
movable element is switched upward, the
aperture is exposed, and fuel (under pressure)
sprays through this aperture.
SOLENOID-OPERATED VALVE
This type of valve regulates the amount of air that by-passes the
throttle valve through the medium of a solenoid-operated valve
of the type shown in Fig. 6.15.
In the rest position shown, the valve (4) is closed by the spring
(5) and the armature of the solenoid (2) is pushed back inside the
solenoid coil (3). When operating, the energized solenoid opens
the valve (4) and admits air to the induction system. The quantity
of air admitted is controlled by duty cycle pulses that are sent
from the ECM.
COMPUTER MEMORY
Read only memory (ROM) is where the operating program for the
computer is placed. It consists of an electronic circuit which
gives certain outputs for predetermined input values. ROMs have
large storage capacity.
Read and write, or random access memory (RAM), is where data
is held temporarily while it is being worked on by the processing
unit. Placing data in memory is referred to as ‘writing’ and the
process of using this data is called ‘reading’.
THE CLOCK
The clock is an electronic circuit that utilizes the piezoelectric
effect of a quartz crystal to produce accurately timed electrical
pulses that are used to control the actions of the computer.
Clock speeds are measured in the number of electrical pulses
generated in one second. One pulse per second is 1 Hertz and
most computer clocks operate in millions of pulses per second.
One million pulses per second is 1 megahertz (1 MHz).
The microcomputer
This is an 8-bit microcontroller.
In computer language a bit is a 0
or a 1. The 0 normally represents
zero, or low voltage, and the 1
normally represents a higher
voltage, probably 1.8 V.
The microcontroller integrated
circuit (chip) has a ROM
capacity of 2048 bytes (there are
8 bits to one byte) and a RAM
that holds 64 bytes.
The microcontroller also has an
on-chip capacity to convert four
analogue inputs into 8-bit digital
codes.