Device comprising a sensor and a connector
View Patent ↗A device which comprises a sensor and/or actuator and a connector for electrically and mechanically coupling the sensor and/or actuator. The connector comprises an individual electrical conductor having a core made from a first material and having a jacket made from a second material. The first material can have a lower thermal conductivity than the second material.
1. A device comprising:
a sensor; and
a connector for electrically and mechanically coupling the sensor to an electronic system, the connector including at least one individual electrical conductor having a core made of a first material and a jacket made of a second material, the first and second materials being selected based at least in part on reducing propagation of heat in the sensor and the connector, and a ratio of a radius of the core to a thickness of the jacket being one of greater than and equal to about 10:1, the first material having a lower thermal conductivity than the second material.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first material can be mechanically loaded more than the second material.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first material has a lower thermal coefficient of expansion than the second material.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second material has a higher electrical conductivity than the first material.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is operable to sense a rotational speed of wheels for an anti-lock brake system.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is at least partially surrounded with an injection molded encapsulation for increasing a mechanical stability of the connector.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first material is steel and the second material is one of copper and a copper alloy.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first material is an internal conductor for the at least one individual electrical conductor and has a substantially circular cross-section; and
the second material is as an external conductor for the at least one individual electrical conductor and encloses the internal conductor.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises one of a coupling socket and a coupling plug for coupling the at least one individual electrical conductor to the electronic system for operating the sensor.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one individual electrical conductor is a wire.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the connector further includes a plurality of individual electrical conductors, and wherein each individual electrical conductor of the plurality of individual electrical conductors has a core made of the first material and a jacket made of the second material.
12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of individual electrical conductors are braided into a braided wire.
13. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator coupled to the connector.
14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the connector has first and second ends.
15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the at least one individual electrical conductor is included in only the first and second ends of the connector.