Multi-turn angle position sensor (extendible for more than 10 turns)

A multi-turn non-contact sensor, comprising:

• a rotationally mounted driver magnet configured to selectively receive a rotational drive torque and, upon receipt of the drive torque, to rotate about a first rotational axis to a rotational position, the driver magnet having a first number (P1) of magnetic poles;
• a rotationally mounted driven magnet spaced apart from, and coupled to receive a magnetic force from, the driver magnet, the driven magnet having a second number (P2) of magnetic poles, the driven magnet responsive to rotation of the driver magnet to rotate about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis;
• a driven magnet sensor spaced apart from the driven magnet, the driven magnet sensor configured to sense rotation of the driven magnet and supply a driven magnet sensor output signal representative thereof;
• and
• an output circuit coupled to receive the sensor output signal from the magnetic sensor and configured, upon receipt thereof, to determine one or both of (i) absolute angular position of the driven magnet and (ii) rotational speed of the driven magnet,
• wherein the driver magnet is axially spaced from the driven magnet with a partial axial overlap between the driver magnet and the driven magnet such that a magnetic coupling between the driver magnet and the driven magnet is an axial coupling that is substantially parallel to the first rotational axis,
• wherein the first rotational axis is different from the second rotational axis and the first rotational axis is radially spaced apart from the second rotational axis, such that the first rotational axis is not coaxially aligned with the second rotational axis,
• wherein the driven magnet rotates one complete revolution each time the driver magnet rotates a predetermined number (N) of complete revolutions,
• P2>P1, and
• N=(P2/P1).

A multi-turn non-contact sensor, comprising:

• a rotationally mounted driver shaft configured to selectively receive a rotational drive torque and, upon receipt of the drive torque, to rotate about a first rotational axis to a rotational position;
• a rotationally mounted driven shaft spaced apart from the driver shaft and configured to rotate about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis;
• a driver magnet mounted on the driver shaft to rotate therewith, the driver magnet having a first number (P1) of magnetic poles;
• a driven magnet mounted on the driven shaft to rotate therewith, and coupled to receive a magnetic force from the driver magnet, the driven magnet having a second number (P2) of magnetic poles, the driven magnet responsive to rotation of the driver magnet to cause the driven shaft to rotate about the second rotational axis;
• a driven magnet sensor spaced apart from the driven magnet, the driven magnet sensor configured to sense rotation of the driven magnet and supply a driven magnet sensor output signal representative thereof;
• and
• an output circuit coupled to receive the sensor output signal from the magnetic sensor and configured, upon receipt thereof, to determine one or both of (i) absolute angular position of the driven magnet and (ii) rotational speed of the driven magnet,
• wherein the driver magnet is axially spaced from the driven magnet with a partial axial overlap between the driver magnet and the driven magnet such that a magnetic coupling between the driver magnet and the driven magnet is an axial coupling that is substantially parallel to the first rotational axis,
• wherein the first rotational axis is different from the second rotational axis and the first rotational axis is radially spaced apart from the second rotational axis, such that the first rotational axis is not coaxially aligned with the second rotational axis,
• wherein the driven magnet rotates one complete revolution each time the driver magnet rotates a predetermined number (N) of complete revolutions,
• P2>P1, and
• N=(P2/P1).