# US 10,501,121 B2 · Rotation angle detector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,121 B2 - Document ID: US10501121B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/158,232 - Filed: 2016-05-18 - Published: 2016-11-24 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-05-20 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Toshihiro Fujita; Hideki Kabune - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501121B2 ## CPC - B62D 15/0235: {by measuring or deriving directly at the electric power steering motor} - B62D 15/021: {Determination of steering angle} - G01D 5/145: {influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06)} - H02P 6/16: Circuit arrangements for detecting position - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract A rotation angle detector includes a voltage detector receiving a supply of voltage from a first power source and detecting a motor rotation regarding a motor, the motor rotation more specifically detected as (i) a rotation angle of the motor and (ii) a number of rotations of the motor. Also, a second power source is disposed separately from the first power source and supplying voltage to the voltage detector. Thus, even when the voltage of the in-vehicle battery lowers or the voltage supply therefrom is interrupted, the voltage supply to a voltage detector is continuous from the power storage device, thereby enabling a continuous detection of the rotation angle and the rotation number of the motor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for detecting rotation angle of an electric power steering motor of a vehicle, comprising: a rotation sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor and to receive a supply of voltage from a first chargeable power source; a second chargeable power source disposed separately from the first chargeable power source and configured to supply voltage to the rotation sensor; and a charger configured (i) to supply an electric power from the first chargeable power source to the second chargeable power source to charge the second chargeable power source, and (ii) to control whether to charge the second chargeable power source, wherein the second chargeable power source supplies voltage to the rotation sensor, regardless of whether the first chargeable power source is supplying voltage to the rotation sensor, and the charger is further configured to charge the second chargeable power source in response to an alternator charging the first chargeable power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation sensor includes: a rotation angle sensor configured (i) to receive a supply of voltage from the first chargeable power source when a power switch is turned ON, and (ii) to detect (a) the rotation angle of the motor or (b) information corresponding to the rotation angle of the motor; and a rotation number sensor configured (i) to receive a supply of voltage from the first chargeable power source regardless of an ON position or an OFF position of the power switch, and (ii) to detect the number of rotations of the motor, wherein the second chargeable power source is further configured to supply voltage to the rotation number sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second chargeable power source includes a plurality of power sources, each of the plurality of power sources configured to supply the rotation sensor with voltage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second chargeable power source is a battery or a capacitor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to rotate a rotation object that is a part of a steering system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the charger to supply electric power from the first chargeable power source to the second chargeable power source, the controller connected to a switchable supply of electric power, wherein the controller controls the charger to supply electric power from the first chargeable power source to the second chargeable power source in response to receiving electric power from the switchable supply of electric power. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to operate in an electric power steering device of a vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the charger is further configured to refrain from charging the second chargeable power source in response to the alternator not charging the first chargeable power source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second chargeable power source has an electric power storage capacity configured to supply the continuous voltage to the rotation sensor for a preset time period, when the voltage of the first chargeable power source lowers, or the voltage supply from the first chargeable power source is interrupted. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the electric power storage capacity of the second chargeable power source is configured to enable a continuous voltage supply to the rotation sensor for a required time period that is required for a replacement of the first chargeable power source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the charger comprises a switch between the first chargeable power source and the second chargeable power source, the switch controlling the supply of electric power from the first chargeable power source to the second chargeable power source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a controller, the controller receiving a supply of electric power from the first chargeable power source when a power switch between the first chargeable power source and the controller is ON, wherein the controller controls the switch of the charger such that the switch is ON when the power switch is ON. ### Claim 13 A steering system, comprising: a rotation angle detector, the rotation angle detector having: a rotation sensor configured to detect (i) a rotation angle of the motor and (ii) a number of rotations of the motor, the rotation sensor configured to receive a supply of voltage from a first chargeable power source; a second chargeable power source disposed separately from the first chargeable power source and configured to supply voltage to the rotation sensor; and a charger configured (i) to supply an electric power from the first chargeable power source to the second chargeable power source to charge the second chargeable power source, and (ii) to control whether to charge the second chargeable power source, wherein the second chargeable power source supplies voltage to the rotation sensor, regardless of whether the first chargeable power source is supplying voltage to the rotation sensor, and the charger is further configured to charge the second chargeable power source in response to an alternator charging the first chargeable power source. ### Claim 14 An apparatus for detecting rotation angle of an electric power steering motor of a vehicle, comprising: a rotation sensor configured to detect rotation of the motor and to receive a supply of voltage from a first chargeable power source, the rotation sensor including: a rotation angle sensor configured (i) to receive a supply of voltage from the first chargeable power source when a power switch is turned ON, and (ii) to detect (a) therotation angle of the motor or (b) information corresponding to the rotation angle of the motor; and a rotation number sensor configured (i) to receive a supply of voltage from the first chargeable power source regardless of an ON position or an OFF position of the power switch, and (ii) to detect the number of rotations of the motor; a second chargeable power source disposed separately from the first chargeable power source and configured to supply voltage to the rotation sensor; and a charger configured (i) to supply an electric power from the first chargeable power source to the second chargeable power source to charge the second chargeable power source, and (ii) to control whether to charge the second chargeable power source, the charger further configured to charge the second chargeable power source in response to an alternator charging the first chargeable power source, wherein the second chargeable power source supplies voltage to the rotation sensor, regardless of whether the first chargeable power source is supplying voltage to the rotation sensor, the second chargeable power source is further configured to supply voltage to the rotation number sensor, the second chargeable power source has an electric power storage capacity configured to supply the continuous voltage to the rotation sensor for a preset time period, when the voltage of the first chargeable power source lowers, or the voltage supply from the first chargeable power source is interrupted, the electric power storage capacity of the second chargeable power source is configured to enable a continuous voltage supply to the rotation sensor for a required time period that is required for a replacement of the first chargeable power source, the second chargeable power source includes a plurality of power sources, each of the plurality of power sources configured to supply the rotation sensor with voltage, and the second chargeable power source includes a battery or a capacitor.