Sensors in the Motor Vehicle (UniTrain)

In modern motor vehicles more and more components are being monitored and controlled electronically. Sensors have several jobs to do, including the detecting of physical data and converting this information into electrical signals which can then be processed by control units. Trainees should be able to grasp how this process works and the effects different sensor stimuli have on these signals. Our system allows students and trainees to learn and analyse the most essential aspects of this process.

List of Articles

UniTrain: Sensors in Motor Vehicles

Sensors serve the purpose of recording physical variables in their vicinity and converting them into electrical signals so that they can be processed by control units. This training system explains the function and diagnostic procedures involved in diagnosing key engine management sensor systems in both theory and practice.

Training contents:

• Physical principles: Induction, Hall effect, piezo-effect
• Purpose of sensors for engine control
• Inductive and Hall-type speed sensors and how they work
• Measurement of throttle valve position: throttle valve switches and potentiometers
• Mass air flow measurement using hot-filament and hot-wire sensors
• Measurement of pressure in the intake manifold
• Detection of shock waves using a knock sensor
• Temperature measurement using NTC and PTC sensors
• Troubleshooting (8 simulated faults activated via relays)
• Course duration:  10 h approx. (including about 2 hours for troubleshooting)

Additionally Required

The UniTrain-I system is a computer-based training and experimentation system for vocational and further training and education in the areas of basic and advanced electrical engineering and electronics. Its multimedia courses combine cognitive and hands-on (haptic) training units into a comprehensive unified concept, specifically enabling students to acquire skills in the handling of equipment. Starting with basic courses and advancing to cover a huge variety of electrical engineering and electronics topics, a wide range of multimedia courses is available for study in school or in professional and advanced training courses. The UniTrain-I system is completely self-contained and can be used anywhere at any time. The multimedia learning environment the system provides high degrees of motivation, and maximum learning effectiveness in laboratories, at work or at home. It thus becomes a guarantor for effective and efficient study. Access to the multimedia courses and control of virtual instruments and experiment hardware is provided by LabSoft, the system's open experiment platform. The courses teach the theoretical building blocks and provide experiments to be carried out using the course-specific experiment hardware. The intelligent measurement interface supplies the analog and digital measuring and control I/O and represents, in combination with the system's virtual instruments, a high quality item of laboratory equipment. In addition, students' progress can be monitored and electronically documented on the basis of fault finding experiments with faults simulated by the hardware as well as tests of knowledge. The electrical and electronic circuits needed for the experiments are connected to the system with the aid of an Experimenter module.

UniTrain Interface with Virtual Instruments (Basic VI)

The UniTrain Interface is the central unit of the UniTrain system. It incorporates all inputs and outputs, switches, power and signal sources and measurement circuitry needed to perform experiments. The Interface is controlled via the connected PC.

Equipment:

• 32-bit processor with storage memory for measurements
• USB interfaces, transfer rate 12 Mbits/s
• WLAN/WiFi interface, 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
• Simultaneous connection of any number of Experimenters via serial bus system
• High-quality designer casing with aluminium feet and surface-hardened Plexiglas front panel
• Suitable for accommodating in training panel frames for DIN A4 training panels
• Designed for connection of 2-mm safety measuring leads
• Multi-coloured LEDs for displaying status
• Adjustable analog output, +/-10 V, 0.2 A, DC – 5  MHz, via BNC and 2-mm sockets
• 4 Analog differential amplifier inputs with 10 MHz band width, safe for voltages up to 100 V, sampling rate 100 mega samples, 9 measuring ranges, memory depth 4 x 8 k x 10 bits, inputs via BNC (2 inputs) or 2-mm sockets (4 inputs)
• 2 Analog inputs for current measurement, overcurrent-protected up to 5 A, sampling rate 250 kilo samples, 2 measuring ranges, resolution 12 bits, connection via 2-mm sockets
• 3 variable analog outputs +/- 20V, 1 A, DC-150 Hz (requires CO4203-2B)
• 16-bit digital signal output, of which 8 bits are accessed via 2-mm sockets, TTL/CMOS, clock frequency 0 – 100 kHz, electric strength +/- 15 V
• 16-bit digital signal input, of which 8 bits are accessed via 2-mm sockets, memory depth 16 bit x 2 k, TTL/CMOS, sampling rate 0 – 100 kHz, electric strength +/- 15 V,
• 8 Relays, 24 V DC/1 A, of which 4 are accessed via 2-mm sockets
• Dimensions: 29.6 x 19 x 8.6 cm
• External power supply with wide range input 100-264 V, 47-63 Hz, output 24 V / 5 A
• Weight (including power supply): 2.1 kg

Virtual instruments (meters and sources):

• 2 x Voltmeter VIs, 2 x Ammeter VIs: AC, DC, 9 ranges, 100 mV to 50 V, true RMS, AV
• 1 x Power meter, 9 ranges, 100 mV to 50 V
• 1 x VI with 8 relays, 1 x Multimeter VI: multimeter display (optional LM2330, LM2331 or LM2322) in LabSoft
• 1 x 2-channel ammeter VI: AC, DC, 2 ranges, 300 mA and 3 A, TrueRMS, AV
• 1 x 2-channel voltmeter VI: AC, DC, 9 ranges, 100 mV to 50 V, TrueRMS, AV
• 1 2-/4-channel oscilloscope: band width 10 MHz, 25 time ranges, 100 ns/div to 10 s/div, 9 ranges 20 mV/div to 10 V/div, trigger and pre-trigger, XY and XT modes, cursor function, addition and multiplication function for 2 channels
• 1 x VI Spectrum Analyzer: 9 voltage ranges 100 mV to 50 V, input frequency range 3 Hz to 1 MHz, time domain display
• 1 X VI Bode-Plotter: 9 voltage ranges 100 mV to 50 V, frequency range 1 Hz - 5MHz, time domain display and locus diagram
• 1 x Adjustable DC voltage VI 0 - 10 V
• 1 x Function generator VI: 0.5 Hz - 5 MHz, 0 - 10 V, sine, square, triangular,
• 1 x Arbitrary generator VI, 1 x Pulse generator VI
• 1 x VI with 16 digital outputs, 1 x VI with 16 x digital inputs, 1 x VI with 16 digital input/outputs. Display modes: binary, hex, decimal and octal numerals
• 1 x Three-phase power supply VI, 0 - 150 Hz, 0 - 14 Vrms, 2 A (requires CO4203-2B)
• 1 x Adjustable DC power supply VI, 3 x (-20 V - +20 V), 2 A (requires CO4203-2B)
• 1 x Three-phase power supply VI with additional phase-shift and clock rate adjustment (requires CO4203-2B)

Includes:

• Interface
• Power supply
• Power lead
• USB cable
• CD with basic software
• Operating manual

System requirements:

• Personal computer with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (32 or 64 bit)
• CD-ROM drive for installing software
• USB port for connection to Interface

UniTrain Measurement Accessories, Shunts and Connection Cables

Shunt resistors on a PCB, for current measurement using the analog inputs of the UniTrain system.

• 6 Shunt resistors: 2 x 1 ohm, 2 x 10 ohm, 2 x 100 ohm
• Screen print of symbols for identifying resistors, the voltage taps and current inputs
• 24 x 2-mm sockets
• Dimensions: 100 x 40 mm

Set of connection cables 2 mm (28 pcs) for UniTrain consisting of:

• 8 x connection leads 2 mm, 15 cm, blue
• 4 x connection leads 2 mm, 15 cm, yellow
• 5 x connection leads 2 mm, 45 cm, black
• 2 x connection leads 2 mm, 45 cm, yellow
• 5 x connection leads 2 mm, 45 cm, red
• 2 x connection leads 2 mm, 45 cm, blue
• 1 x safety adapter lead 4 mm to 2mm, 50 cm, black
• 1 x safety adapter lead 4 mm to 2mm, 50 cm, red
• 10 x 2-mm connector plugs / Plug spacing 5 mm, white

Over-/Under Pressure Pump

Manual pump for monitoring and setting under-pressure or over-pressure functions. Quick and easy to use. Integrated discharge valve for reducing the under-pressure or over-pressure, without removing the terminal connections. With a connection hose and a variety of end pieces.

• Under-pressure: -1000....+1000mbar
• Weight: 0.4kg