SENSORS USED IN ELECTRIC CAR

HALL PHASE SENSOR: A Hall effect sensor is a device that is used to

measure the magnitude of a magnetic field. Its output voltage is directly
proportional to the magnetic field strength through it.
Hall effect sensors are used for proximity sensing, positioning, speed
detection, and current sensing applications

In a Hall effect sensor, a thin strip of metal has a current applied along it.
In the presence of a magnetic field, the electrons in the metal strip are
deflected toward one edge, producing a voltage gradient across the short
side of the strip (perpendicular to the feed current). Hall effect sensors have
an advantage over inductive sensors in that, while inductive sensors
respond to a changing magnetic field which induces current in a coil of
wire and produces voltage at its output, Hall effect sensors can detect static
(non-changing) magnetic fields.

SPEED SENSOR FOR TRANSMISSION

CONTROL:The transmission speed sensors are used to calculate the
actual gear ratio of the transmission while in use., this sensor is used to
monitor the speed of the transmission's input shaft. The other sensor is
the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor.

WHEEL SPEED SENSOR:A wheel speed sensor or vehicle speed

sensor (VSS) is a type of tachometer. It is a sender device used for reading
the speed of a vehicle's wheel rotation. The sensor also provided wheel
speed data to the controllers to assist the operator in maintaining control of
the vehicle.
ABS gets activated based on the data given by this sensor.
YAW RATE SENSOR:A yaw-rate sensor is a gyroscopic device that
measures a vehicle’s angular velocity around its vertical axis. The angle
between the vehicle's heading and vehicle actual movement direction is
called slip angle, which is related to the yaw rate.
A yaw-sensor is needed for Electronic stability control.

There are basically two types of Yaw rate sensors: piezoelectric type
and micromechanical type.
In the piezoelectric type, the sensor is a "tuning fork"-shaped structure with
four piezo elements (two on top and two below). During straight ahead
driving, the upper ones produce no voltage as no Coriolis force acts. But in
cornering, the rotational movement causes the upper part of the tuning fork
to leave the oscillatory plane creating an alternating current voltage which
is proportional to the yaw rate and oscillatory speed. The output signal's
sign depends on the direction (left or right).

Electronic stability system:Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred

to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability
control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's
stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction (skidding).When ESC
detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help
"steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go. Braking is automatically
applied to wheels individually, such as the outer front wheel to
counter oversteer, or the inner rear wheel to counter understeer. Some ESC
systems also reduce engine power until control is regained. ESC does not
improve a vehicle's cornering performance; instead, it helps to minimize
the loss of control.

ACCELERATOR-PEDAL POSITION SENSOR:The ability to

smoothly accelerate down the road while using an adequate amount of
energy is attributed to the accelerator pedal position (APP) sensor. The
APP sensor, which is fixed to the throttle body of the 'electronic throttle
control system with intelligence' (ETCSi), monitors the position of the
throttle pedal. The AAP sensor is also involved in converting the
movement of the accelerator pedal into an electronic signal, which then
initiates the opening or closing of the throttle body.

STEERING ANGLE SENSOR:The steering angle sensor (SAS) is a

critical part of the ESC system that measures the steering wheel position
angle and rate of turn. A scan tool can be used to obtain this data in degrees.
The SAS is located in a sensor cluster in the steering column. The cluster
always has more than one steering position sensor for redundancy and to
confirm data. The ESC module must receive two signals to confirm the
steering wheel position. These signals are often out of phase with each
other.

A digital SAS is often called a “contactless sensor.” This type of sensor

uses LED light, a wheel that acts as a shutter and an optic sensor that
measures interruption in the light. These sensors produce a digital square
wave signal with the frequency depending on the speed the wheel is
turning. With the wheel straight, the voltage is low, but it increases as the
wheel is turned away from center.

POSITION SENSORS FOR TRANSMISSION CONTROL: gear absolute

position sensor assembly (GAPS) that senses the current absolute, position
of the shift lever of a manual transmission. The sensor assembly provides
data to an associated electronic controller such as an engine control module
(ECM) regarding the current position of the shift lever, such as an engaged
gear. The sensor assembly preferably comprises at least one Hall effect or
other type of magnetic field (proximity) sensors in combination with an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which is supplied with data
from the sensors, decodes the output of the sensors and provides an output
identifying a specific engaged gear or neutral for use by vehicle or engine
management electronics. The sensors are mounted proximate the shift
linkage at a location where they can sense both rotation and translation.

TRANSMISSION I/O SENSOR:Transmission input/output sensors

calculate the transmission’s actual gear ratio during usage. Typically, two
sensors communicate the transmission data to the vehicle's powertrain
control module. The first sensor, referred to as the input sensor, monitors
the speed of the transmission’s input shaft. The second sensor is the output
sensor, which monitors the output shaft speed.

AXLE LOAD SENSOR:Axle load sensor is designed for axle load control
and cargo weight control in vehicle tracking systems. Axle load sensor can
be connected to the analog input of tracking device.
With axle load sensor, a vehicle tracking system gets valuable information
about the location and time of loading and unloading the vehicle.
Axle load sensor passes the information on raising or lowering the load on
axle to terminal . Vehicle tracking system with the help of GPS determines
the location and time.
The user of a system receives information about changes in load on axle in
the form of parameters or diagrams.
FORCE SENSOR:Force applied to a sensing element affects the atomic
structure of the material, causing a separation of charges and the output
signal. Force sensors are used in a variety of automotive applications such
as brakes, air bags, speed control, suspension, and transmission.

There are many types of sensors measuring force, and the transducers
within the sensor that detects the event of force fall into three main
categories:

● Strain gauge load cells

● Piezoelectric crystal
● Measurement through pressure

Break pedal force sensor:Compact, low profile load-cell for measuring

brake pedal application forces

Seat Belt Tension Force Sensor: load-cell is used for measuring seat belt
tension forces.
Hand break force sensor, gear shift force sensor, clutch pedal and
accelerator pedal force sensor.

TORQUE SENSOR:A torque sensor, torque transducer or torque

meter is a device for measuring and recording the torque on a rotating
system, such as engine, crankshaft, gearbox, transmission, rotor.
SENSORS IN WIPING SYSTEM:optical sensors is used to detect the
moisture. The sensor is mounted in contact with the inside of the
windshield, near the rearview mirror.
The sensor projects infrared light into the windshield at a 45-degree angle.
If the glass is dry, most of this light is reflected back into the sensor by the
front of the windshield. If water droplets are on the glass, they reflect the
light in different directions -- the wetter the glass, the less light makes it
back into the sensor.

BREAK PAD WEAR SENSOR:The Brake Pad Wear Sensor, or brake

wear indicator, is an added safety feature on many vehicles used to warn a
vehicle’s driver if their brake pad’s thickness becomes too low and their
useful life is short. Brake Pad Wear Sensors are designed to “fail” as brake
pads wear. They should be changed whenever the pads are replaced or
when the vehicle’s warning light indicates.