Dual-band magnetoelastic torque sensor

A vehicular component for determining a magnitude of an applied torque, the vehicular component comprising:

• a mechanism for applying the applied torque;
• a torque sensor comprising:
• a shaft configured to receive the applied torque and comprising:
• a first end and an opposing second end and an axis being defined between the first and second ends, wherein the applied torque is applied to the shaft of the torque sensor about the axis;
• a first region being magnetoelastic and configured to generate a first magnetic field in response to the applied torque;
• a second region being magnetoelastic and configured to generate a second magnetic field in response to the applied torque;
• and
• a third region disposed between the first region and the second region and being configured to generate a substantially negligible magnetic field in response to the applied torque;
• wherein the first region, the second region, and the third region each comprise a first end and an opposing second end such that a first end of the first region and a second end of the second region defines a length of the first, second, and third region along the axis;
• a first sensor disposed adjacent to the first region and being configured to sense the first magnetic field and an ambient magnetic field;
• a second sensor disposed adjacent to the second region and being configured to sense the second magnetic field and the ambient magnetic field;
• and
• a third sensor disposed adjacent to the third region and being configured to sense the ambient magnetic field;
• wherein the length of the first, second, and third region along the axis of the shaft is defined as a compressed length, with the compressed length being shorter than an uncompressed length of the regions by a known compression factor, and
• wherein the known compression factor is based on increasing an immunity to noise of the ambient magnetic field of the torque sensor while maintaining an acceptable displacement tolerance of the torque sensor such that:
• an immunity to noise of the ambient magnetic field of the compressed torque sensor is higher than an immunity to noise of the ambient magnetic field of an uncompressed torque sensor, and
• a displacement tolerance of the compressed torque sensor is within a range of acceptable displacement tolerances to maintain an ability to accurately sense the first and second magnetic fields;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor of the torque sensor and being configured to determine the magnitude of the applied torque based on the first magnetic field, the second magnetic field, and the ambient magnetic field.