Camshaft adjuster and method for determining the setting of a camshaft adjuster

A method for measuring a setting of a camshaft adjuster configured for adjusting a phase angle between a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• supplying a stationary inductance configured to be fixed in position relative to the internal combustion engine, and applying a signal to the stationary inductance,
• producing an inductive coupling with a measurement circuit, the measurement circuit being totally formed within at least one rotatable component of the camshaft adjuster, the at least one rotatable component arranged axially between an actuator of the camshaft adjuster and the camshat, and electrical properties of the measurement circuit vary depending on the setting of the camshaft adjuster;
• and,
• measuring a fed back signal, which varies depending on the setting of the camshaft adjuster, and which is picked up by the stationary inductance.

A camshaft adjuster for adjusting a phase angle between a crankshaft and a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, the camshaft adjuster comprising:

• an electric motor;
• a signal generator having an inductance;
• and,
• a variator arranged axially between the electric motor and the camshaft, the variator including:
• a transmission housing configured to be driven by the crankshaft;
• and,
• a transmission configured to be coupled to the electric motor;
• an output element configured to be rotated within a pre-determined range relative to the transmission housing, the output element configured to be coupled to the camshaft;
• and,
• a measurement circuit inductively coupled to the signal generator, the measurement circuit formed within at least one of the transmission housing, the transmission, or the output element, and including at least one resonant circuit component having electrical properties which vary depending on the phase angle.