Wheel speed and direction sensor
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorEric Stein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable inductor direction sensor may include a rotatable body having a first circumferential tooth array and a stationary body having a second circumferential tooth array. The second circumferential tooth array may be concentric with the first circumferential tooth array. The rotatable body may be disposed relative to the stationary body such that one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array circumscribes the other of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array. Further, at least one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array has a non-uniform circumferential geometry.
Claims19
A variable inductor direction sensor comprising:
- a rotatable body comprising a first circumferential tooth array;
- and
- a stationary body comprising a second circumferential tooth array concentric with the first circumferential tooth array;
- wherein the rotatable body is disposed relative to the stationary body such that one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array circumscribes the other of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array;
- wherein at least one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array comprises a non-uniform circumferential geometry;
- wherein the non-uniform circumferential geometry comprises at least one of an asymmetrical tooth geometry and an irregular sequential pattern of teeth along at least a circumferential portion of the at least one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array.
A variable inductor direction sensor comprising:
- an inner circular body comprising a radially outward surface;
- and
- an outer circular body comprising a radially inward surface, wherein the outer circular body circumscribes the inner circular body such that the radially outward surface and the radially inward surface are concentric about an axis;
- wherein at least one of the inner circular body and the outer circular body is rotatable about the axis and the other is stationary about the axis;
- wherein a dimension of a gap defined between the radially outward surface and the radially inward surface has a first dimension variation profile in response to rotation of the one of the inner circular body and the outer circular body in a first direction about the axis and a second dimension variation profile in response to rotation of the one of the inner circular body and the outer circular body in a second direction, opposite the first direction, about the axis, wherein the first dimension variation profile is different than the second dimension variation profile.
A wheel direction detection system comprising:
- a variable inductor direction sensor comprising a rotatable body and a stationary body that are concentric about an axis, wherein a gap is defined between the rotatable body and the stationary body, wherein the rotatable body is coupled to a rotating shaft of a wheel;
- and
- a control unit electrically coupled to the variable inductor direction sensor, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a direction of rotation of the rotatable body based on a detected inductance waveform envelope shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.