Foreword

Sensors have been widely used in automotive electronic stability control systems (vehicle electronic control systems), lane departure warning systems, and blind spot detection systems, which have contributed to the integration and intelligence of modern automobiles. What is an automotive sensor? What sensors are used in cars? What are their roles? Automotive sensors are input devices for automotive computer systems. They provide information on various operating conditions such as vehicle speed and various types of vehicle operating conditions. The temperature of the medium, engine operating conditions, etc., are converted into electrical signals for transmission to the computer so that the engine is in an optimal working condition. Many automotive sensors, their role is not the same. The author will collect detailed answers to the above questions.

Automotive Sensors Automotive Sensors for Different Applications

Chassis Control Sensors (1) Chassis control sensors are sensors used in chassis control systems such as transmission control systems, suspension control systems, power steering systems, and anti-lock braking systems. Although these sensors are distributed in different systems, the working principle is the same as the corresponding sensors in the engine. Moreover, with the increase in the degree of integration of automotive electronic control systems and the widespread use of CAN-BUS technology, the same sensor can not only provide signals to the engine control system, but also provide signals for the chassis control system.

(2) Sensors for automatic transmission systems The sensors for automatic transmission systems include: vehicle speed sensors, accelerator pedal position sensors, acceleration sensors, throttle position sensors, engine speed sensors, water temperature sensors, and oil temperature sensors. Anti-lock braking system sensors are: wheel speed sensors, speed sensors;

(3) Suspension System Sensors Suspension system sensors include: vehicle speed sensor, throttle position sensor, acceleration sensor, body height sensor, steering wheel angle sensor, etc.; sensors for power steering system include: vehicle speed sensor, engine speed sensor , torque sensors, hydraulic sensors, etc.

(4) Body Control Sensors The body control sensors are mainly used to improve the safety, reliability and comfort of automobiles. Since the operating conditions are not as bad as the engine and the chassis, general industrial sensors can be applied with a slight improvement. Mainly used in automatic air conditioning system temperature sensor, humidity sensor, air flow sensor, sunshine sensor, etc.; used in the airbag system acceleration sensor; used in door lock control speed sensor; for automatic control of brightness of the light sensor; Ultrasonic sensor or laser sensor for reverse control; distance sensor for maintaining vehicle distance; image sensor for eliminating blind area of ​​the driver, etc.

(5) Sensors for Navigation System (Car GPS)

With the application of GPS/GIS (Global Positioning System and Geographic Information System) based navigation systems in automobiles, navigation sensors have developed rapidly in recent years. Sensors used in navigation systems include compass sensors, gyroscopes and speed sensors, and steering wheel angle sensors that determine the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Automotive Sensor Development Trend
Due to the important role of automotive sensors in automotive electronic control systems and the rapidly growing market demand, all countries in the world have attached great importance to their theoretical research, new material applications, and new product development. The future automotive sensor technology, the overall development trend is miniaturization, multi-function, integration and intelligence.

Micro-sensors are based on MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) developed from semiconductor integrated circuit technology. Micro-sensors use micro-machining technology to encapsulate micro-scale sensitive elements, signal processors, and data processing devices on a fast chip, due to Small size, low price, easy integration, etc., can significantly improve the system test accuracy. At present, the technology is becoming more and more mature. It can produce a variety of miniature sensors that can sense and detect mechanical quantities, magnetic quantities, thermal quantities, chemical quantities, and biomass. Due to the advantages of miniature sensors based on MEMS technology in reducing the cost of automotive electronic systems and improving their performance, they have gradually replaced sensors based on traditional electromechanical technologies.

Multifunction means that a sensor can detect two or more characteristic parameters or chemical parameters, thereby reducing the number of automotive sensors and improving system reliability.

Integration refers to the use of IC manufacturing technology and fine processing technology to make IC sensors.

Intelligence refers to the combination of sensors and large-scale integrated circuits, with a CPU, and an intelligent role to reduce the complexity of the ECU, reduce its size, and reduce costs.

to sum up

With the development of electronic technology (automotive control technology) and the increasing use of automotive electronic control systems, automotive sensors have become one of the core areas of automotive electronics technology research. This article briefly introduces the concept and classification of automotive sensors, and forecasts the future development trend of automotive sensors. It mainly introduces several major sensors used in automobiles.