Automotive Computer Controllerd Systems
296
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, VOL. 1, NO. 4, DECEMBER 2001
Overview of Automotive Sensors
William J. Fleming
Abstract—An up-to-date review paper on automotive sensors is presented. Attention is focused on sensors used in production automotive systems. The primary sensor technologies in use today are reviewed and are classified according to their three major areas ofautomotive systems application–powertrain, chassis, and body.
This subject is extensive. As described in this paper, for use in automotive systems, there are six types of rotational motion sensors, four types of pressure sensors, five types of position sensors, and three types of temperature sensors. Additionally, two types of mass air flow sensors, five types of exhaust gas oxygen sensors, one type of engine knock sensor, four types of linear acceleration sensors, four types of angular-rate sensors, four types of occupant comfort/convenience sensors, two types of near-distance obstacle detection sensors, four types of far-distance obstacle detection sensors, and and ten types of emerging, state-of the-art, sensors technologies are identified.
Index Terms—Acceleration sensors, angular rate sensors, automotive body sensors, automotive chassis sensors, automotive powertrain sensors, obstacle detection sensors, position sensors, pressure sensors, review paper, rotational motion sensors, state-of-the-art sensors.
I. INTRODUCTION
S
ENSORS are essential components of automotive electronic control systems. Sensors are defined as [1] “devices that transform (or transduce) physical quantities such as pressure or acceleration (called measurands) into output signals (usually electrical) that serve as inputs for control systems.” It wasn’t that long ago that the primary automotive sensors were discrete devices used to measure oil pressure, fuel level, coolant temperature, etc. Starting in the late 1970s, microprocessor-based automotive engine control modules were phased in to
IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, VOL. 1, NO. 4, DECEMBER 2001
Overview of Automotive Sensors
William J. Fleming
Abstract—An up-to-date review paper on automotive sensors is presented. Attention is focused on sensors used in production automotive systems. The primary sensor technologies in use today are reviewed and are classified according to their three major areas ofautomotive systems application–powertrain, chassis, and body.
This subject is extensive. As described in this paper, for use in automotive systems, there are six types of rotational motion sensors, four types of pressure sensors, five types of position sensors, and three types of temperature sensors. Additionally, two types of mass air flow sensors, five types of exhaust gas oxygen sensors, one type of engine knock sensor, four types of linear acceleration sensors, four types of angular-rate sensors, four types of occupant comfort/convenience sensors, two types of near-distance obstacle detection sensors, four types of far-distance obstacle detection sensors, and and ten types of emerging, state-of the-art, sensors technologies are identified.
Index Terms—Acceleration sensors, angular rate sensors, automotive body sensors, automotive chassis sensors, automotive powertrain sensors, obstacle detection sensors, position sensors, pressure sensors, review paper, rotational motion sensors, state-of-the-art sensors.
I. INTRODUCTION
S
ENSORS are essential components of automotive electronic control systems. Sensors are defined as [1] “devices that transform (or transduce) physical quantities such as pressure or acceleration (called measurands) into output signals (usually electrical) that serve as inputs for control systems.” It wasn’t that long ago that the primary automotive sensors were discrete devices used to measure oil pressure, fuel level, coolant temperature, etc. Starting in the late 1970s, microprocessor-based automotive engine control modules were phased in to