School of Aerospace & Automotive

Engineering

SENSORS AND
ACTUATORS

Dr.Rajesh Ravi
Professor Assistant /Automotive Engg / UIR / Rabat-111031
 1. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS

Introduction
In the electronic controlled engine system, sensors
detect the state of the engine, and all information
from the sensors is sent to Engine Control Unit
(ECU).
According to the information from sensors, ECU
calculates injection volume and ignition timing. ECU
also controls idle rotating speed by means of the idle
speed control valve (ISCV).
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ECU gathers information from sensors about the engine,
and then controls actuators for Electronic Fuel Injection
(EFI), Electronic Spark Advance (ESA) and Idle Speed
Control (ISC), according to that information.

Computers receive vital information about a number of

conditions, allowing minor adjustments to be made for
more quickly and accurately than the mechanical systems.
Sensors are a device that senses different physical
conditions of the engine parameters.

Sensors converts temperature, pressure, speed, position and

other data into either digital or analog electrical signals.
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 Importance of Sensors

• Improve Vehicle Performance

• Safety of the vehicle
• Passenger comfort
• Reliability and Durability
• Unsung Hero's of the automotive vehicles
 Classifications of Sensors

Active Sensor Passive Sensor

 Variable resistance sensor
 Produces its own voltage
 Reference voltage is fed to the
signal internally.
sensor from the computer.
 The signal is fed to the
 Sensor resistance varies with
computer for analysis
changes in a condition
 Examples;
temperature, pressure, motion,
Thermocouple,
etc.
Zirconia type O2 sensor, 
As sensor resistance changes,
magnetic inductance, the voltage signal sent back to
piezoelectric the computer Changes.
o Examples are potentiometer,
thermistor, piezo-resistor,
switch 6
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Different Sensors Used in EMS

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 BASICS AND TYPES SENSOR
1. Manifold absolute pressure (MAP)

2. Intake air temperature sensor

3. Mass air flow sensor

4. Oxygen sensor

5. Ego Sensor Zirconia

6. Crankshaft angular position/RPM

7. Throttle plate angular position

8. Coolant temperature

9. Vehicle speed

10. Knock Sensor

11. Battery sensor

12. AC sensor

13. Acceleration Pedal Position sensor 9

Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor
(MAP)

• Used to Find out the amount of air

flow into the engine.
• Helps ECM to determine fuel
quantity to be injected.
• When air enters the intake
manifold, the MAP sensor senses
the air pressure and gives varying
voltage signal.
 Intake Air Temperature Sensor

• It is positioned in the air intake

passage to read the temperature of air
entering the engine.

• Helps ECM to determine the sir

density and quantity of fuel needed.

• IT provides a varying voltage signal as

per its resistance, the resistance of the
sensor decreases with increase in
temperature of air.
 Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAF)

 It is placed between MAP & IAT.

 To determine the amount and density of air flow
into engine.
 Conductor is used & maintained at a defined
temperature by ECM.
 Air entering the engine passes this conductor.
- Absorbing the heat from the conductor
- Current requirement to maintain the
conductor varies based on the air flow
(Hot air/Cold Air).
 Current Flow is converted into voltage signal
indicating the amount of air to ECM.
Oxygen Sensor

• Oxygen sensor measures density of oxygen in exhaust gases and gives

information to ECM.
• This is very useful information to maintain stoichiometric ratio of air fuel
mixture,
• O2 sensor which is located before and after catalytic converter helps ECM to
compare both signals in order to check the function of catalytic converter.
• Atmospheric air contains 21% oxygen.
• A 'Stoichiometric' AFR has the correct amount of air and fuel to produce a
chemically complete combustion event. For gasoline engines, the
stoichiometric, A/F ratio is 14.7:1, which means 14.7 parts of air to one part of
fuel. The stoichiometric AFR depends on fuel type-- for alcohol it is 6.4:1 and
14.5:1 for diesel
 Continued….

• Whenever the air/fuel ratio is at

stoichiometry the value for λ is 1. When the
air–fuel mixture is too lean, the condition is
represented by lambda greater than one
(denoted λ > 1). Conversely, when the air–
fuel mixture is too rich, the condition is
represented by an equivalence ratio of
lambda less than one (λ < 1).
• The two types of EGO sensors that have been
used are based on the use of active oxides of
two types of materials.
• Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) (the most
commonly used type today) and
• Titanium dioxide (TiO2).
ZrO2 EGO SENSOR

•The EGO sensor consists of a tumble-

shaped section of ZrO2 with thin
platinum electrodes on the inside and
outside of the ZrO2.
•The inside electrode is exposed to air,
and the outside electrode is exposed to
exhaust gas through a porous protective
overcoat
• EGO sensor operation is based on the
distribution of oxygen ions. An ion is an
electrically charged atom.
 Crank •A crank sensor is an electronic device used in an
internal combustion engine, both petrol and diesel, to
angle monitor the position or rotational speed of the crankshaft.

position •This information is used by engine management systems

to control the fuel injection or the ignition system timing
and other engine parameters.
sensors •Before electronic crank sensors were available, the
distributor would have to be manually adjusted to a
timing mark on petrol engines.
 Throttle Position Sensor

• A throttle position sensor

(TPS) is a sensor used to
monitor the throttle position
of a vehicle.
• The sensor is usually
located on the butterfly
spindle/shaft so that it can
directly monitor the position
of the throttle.

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Vehicle Speed
Sensor
 Provides information about
vehicle speed
 It Produces AC voltage.
 Frequency increases with the
increase of vehicle speed
 ECM monitor coolant temperature
and increases the fuel quantity in
cold condition start up.

Engine
Coolant
Temperature Improved drivability in cold start
Sensor condition.

CTS increases along with voltage

signal from sensor goes down.
 CAM Shaft Position
Sensor
 It is used to identify No1
cylinder and its position
 Its to manage & match
ignition & injection to the
pistons & firing order of
cylinders
 (Example 1-3-4-2- 4cylinder
Engine)
 Gives information to ECM
when cylinder no1 comes at
TDC at the end of
compression.
Knock Sensor
 Provides information to
control engine knocking by
high temperature or low
octane fuel.
 Produces AC voltage signal
whenever it detects vibration
due to abnormal combustion.
 With the help of knock sensor
infomation ECM retards the
ignition timing until engine
runs smoothly,
 It is the best protector of
engine from damage
Acceleration Pedal Battery Sensor AC Refrigeration
Position Sensor  Detects the battery Sensor
temperature,
 Provides information voltage and current  Based on the AC
about accelerator pedal flowing through it. refrigeration sensor
depression to ECM,  It is useful to ECM operates the
Based on the signal ECM control the AC compressor
operates the electronic alternator.
throttle.
 ACTUATORS

 In addition to the set of sensors, electronic engine control is critically

dependent on a set of actuators to control air/fuel ratio, ignition, and
EGR.
 Actuators are the devices, such as fuel injectors, ignition coils, ABS
modulators etc. that are operated by outputs from the ECM. They are
normally electromechanical devices.
 An actuator is a device that receives an electrical input (e.g., from the
engine controller) and produces a mechanical or thermal (or other)
output.
 Examples of actuators include various types of electric motors,
solenoids, and piezoelectric force generators.
 In automotive electronic systems the solenoid is the most used device
because it is relatively simple and inexpensive.
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Actuators in automotive for the vehicle interior

Steering wheel. The regulation of the steering wheel

position according to the driver, is a widespread
movement which improves the comfortableness of
driving. …

Headrest. ...

Seats. ...

Rear view mirrors. ...

Headlights.

Engine block. ...

 SOLENOID OPERATED
ACTUATORS
• The solenoid is used in applications ranging from
precise fuel control to applications such as electric
door locks. A solenoid is in essence a powerful
electromagnet having a configuration generally
similar to that illustrated in the following figure.

• The solenoid consists of a fixed steel (i.e.,

ferromagnetic) frame with a movable steel element.

• A spring holds the movable element in position

such that there is a gap between the end of the
movable element and the opening in the frame. A
coil is wound around the steel frame, forming
a powerful electromagnet.
 STEPPER MOTOR OPERATED ACTUATORS

 Electric motors that are used in actuators may be stepper

motors, or reversible permanent magnet D.C. motors.

 A stepper motor can be made to provide small

movements of valves by pulsing the current supply.

 Some stepper motors rotate 7.5o per step, which means

that a full rotation of the motor shaft takes 48 steps.

 They move in fixed both directions and can have 120

steps of motion increments in Stepper motors fall into
three distinct groups, the applications of which range
from idle speed air bypass and carburettor choke control
to speedometer display drivers.
Variable reluctance motors

 These rely on the physical principle of maximum

flux. Several windings are set in a circle on a
toothed stator.
 The rotor also has teeth and is made of a permeable
material. (Note in this example that the rotor has
two teeth less than the stator.) When current is
supplied to a pair of windings of one phase, the
rotor will line up with its teeth positioned such as to
achieve maximum flux.
 It is now simply a matter of energizing the
windings in a suitable order to move the rotor. For
example, if phase four is energized, the motor will
‘step’ once in a clockwise direction. If phase two is
energized the step would be anti-clockwise
Permanent magnet motors

• The rotor is now, in effect, a permanent

magnet. In this type, the change in
direction of current causes the permanent
magnet motor to step. Permanent magnet
stepper motors have step angles of 45 °, 18
°, 15 ° or 7.5 °.
• Because of their better torque and holding
properties, permanent magnet motors are
becoming increasingly popular.
• Permanent magnet stepper motors have a
much higher starting torque and also have
a holding torque when not energized.
Hybrid motors.

• The hybrid stepper motor is a combination of

the previous two motors. These motors were
developed to try and combine the high-speed
operation and good resolution of the variable
reluctance type with the better torque
properties of the permanent magnet motor.
• A pair of toothed wheels is positioned on
either side of the magnet. The teeth on the
‘North’ and ‘South’ wheels are offset such as to
take advantage of the variable reluctance
principle but without losing all the torque
benefits. Step angles of these motors are very
small: 1.8 °, 0.75 ° or 0.36°.
Thank you all!!!