Torque measurement system
The present invention is directed to an Apparatus for measuring torque in a shaft or driveline component of a vehicle. A radio frequency (RF) tag is connected to the shaft to facilitate communication to an RF reader and is capable of storing at least one sensed physical characteristic such as torque. A torque sensor is operatively connected to the shaft in communication with the RF tag. The RF reader includes a transmitter provided to send modulated radio frequency transmissions to both supply power to the RF tag and associated sensor and trigger a responsive transmission signal indicative of sensed torque. The frequency tag reader is positioned adjacent to the shaft and operable to read the signal transmitted by the RF tag. The RF tag may be continuously triggered and read by the RF modulator/reader in rapid cycles to facilitate continuous monitoring of object to be sensed.
1 . An apparatus for measuring torque in an object, said apparatus comprising:
a torque sensor connected to said object provided to sense torque in said object;
a radio frequency tag connected to said objected and in communication with said torque sensor, said radio frequency tag provided to both store and transmit a signal indicative of said sensed torque;
a radio frequency tag reader positioned adjacent to said object and operable to read the signal transmitted by said radio frequency tag, said radio frequency tag reader comprising a transmitter provided to send modulated radio frequency transmissions to said RF tag to both supply power to both said radio frequency tag and associated sensor and prompt a responsive signal indicative of said sensed torque, and a receiver for receiving and storing said sensed torque.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said object is comprised of a shaft.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said shaft is a driveline component of a vehicle.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
Said radio frequency tag includes a transponder and memory chip in communication with said torque measuring device.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said torque sensor is comprised of a surface acoustic wave resonator.
6 . According to claim 5; wherein said torque sensor and said radio frequency tag are integrated into a single integrated device;
said reader includes an RF excitation coil coupled to an exciter RF modulator to facilitate excitation of said integrated device, and an RF receiver coil coupled to a receiver to facilitate reception of signals transmitted from said transponder chip, and a processing device selectively controlling said exciter RF modulator and processing said signals transmitted from said transponder chip to information indicative of sensed torque in said object, and a display to display said information.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said torque sensor and said radio frequency device are integrated into a single chip device on a single chip, said apparatus includes at least two said singe chip devices disposed in different orientations relative to said driveline component.