# US 12,111,220 B2 · Sensor assembly for sensing a steering torque and an absolute angular position, and sensor device having said sensor assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,220 B2 - Document ID: US12111220B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/625,843 - Filed: 2020-06-03 - Published: 2022-08-18 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-10 - Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG - Inventors: Matthias Hintze; Bernd Wittmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111220B2 ## CPC - G01L 3/102: {involving magnetostrictive means (magnetostrictive sensors H10N35/101)} - B62D 6/10: characterised by means for sensing {or determining} torque - B62D 15/0215: {by measuring on the steering column} - G01D 5/2053: {by a movable non-ferromagnetic conductive element} - G01L 3/104: {involving permanent magnets} - G01L 5/221: {to steering wheels, e.g. for power assisted steering} - G01D 2205/26: Details of encoders or position sensors specially adapted to detect rotation beyond a full turn of 360°, e.g. multi-rotation - G01D 2205/28: The target being driven in rotation by additional gears - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - 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 ## Abstract A steering element sensor assembly for sensing a steering torque and an absolute angular position having a circuit board and first and second sensor elements. The circuit board has a base surface arranged perpendicularly to a steering axis and a wing surface angled to the base. The first sensor element determines the steering torque and has a first primary sensor formed as a magnetically coded portion on the steering element and one secondary sensor for converting the changing magnetic field generated by the primary sensor into an electrical signal. The secondary sensor determines the absolute angular position and a main gear arranged on the steering element that meshes with at least two gears, one which has one more tooth than the other. Each gear has a target that faces a respective angle sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor arrangement for sensing a steering torque and an absolute angular position of a steering element extending along an axis, the sensor arrangement comprising: a circuit board with a base surface arranged perpendicularly to the axis and at least one wing surface extending at an angle to the base surface; a first sensor element for determining the steering torque, the first sensor element including at least one first primary sensor formed as a magnetically encoded section on the steering element and a secondary sensor facing the first primary sensor configured to convert a change in a magnetic field generated by the primary sensor into an electrical signal, the secondary sensor being arranged on the radially inner side of the angled wing surface of the circuit board, facing the primary sensor; and a second sensor element for determining the absolute angular position, the second sensor element comprising a main gear arranged on the steering element that meshes with at least two gears, one of the two gears has one more tooth than an other of the two gears, and at least one target is formed on each of the two gears, which is located facing an angle sensor arranged on the base surface of the circuit board. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are arranged to be orthogonal to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to determine the steering torque and the absolute angular position during a multi-turn of the steering element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board has two or four of the wing surfaces that extend at an angle to the base surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the secondary sensor of the first sensor element comprises a magnetic field sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the magnetically encoded section of the primary sensor of the first sensor element is arranged on an outer surface of the steering element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the steering element is a handlebar or a steering shaft or part of a steering wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least two gears comprises more than two of the gears, and a number of the gears of the second sensor element is a multiple of two. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A sensor device comprising a rotatable steering element and the sensor arrangement according to claim 1 coupled to the steering element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sensor device according to claim 9, further comprising an evaluation unit. ### Claim 11 A sensor arrangement for sensing a steering torque and an absolute angular position of a steering element extending along an axis, the sensor arrangement comprising: a circuit board with a base surface arranged perpendicularly to the axis and four wing surfaces extending at an angle to the base surface, parallel to the axis; a first sensor element for determining the steering torque, the first sensor element including at least one first primary sensor formed as a magnetically encoded section on the steering element and a secondary sensor facing the first primary sensor configured to convert a change in a magnetic field generated by the primary sensor into an electrical signal, the secondary sensor being arranged on the angled wing surfaces of the circuit facing the primary sensor; and a second sensor element for determining the absolute angular position, the second sensor element comprising a main gear arranged on the steering element that meshes with at least two gears, one of the two gears has one more tooth than an other of the two gears, and at least one target is formed on each of the two gears, which is located facing an angle sensor arranged on the circuit board. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are arranged orthogonal to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, the sensor arrangement is configured to determine the steering torque and the absolute angular position during a multi-turn of the steering element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the secondary sensor of the first sensor element comprises a magnetic field sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the magnetically encoded section of the primary sensor of the first sensor element is arranged on an outer surface of the steering element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the steering element is a handlebar or a steering shaft or part of a steering wheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The sensor arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the at least two gears comprises more than two of the gears, and a number of the gears of the second sensor element is a multiple of two. ### Claim 18 A sensor arrangement for sensing a steering torque and an absolute angular position of a steering element extending along an axis, the sensor arrangement comprising: a circuit board with a base surface arranged perpendicularly to the axis and at least one wing surface extending at an angle to the base surface; a first sensor element for determining the steering torque, the first sensor element including at least one first primary sensor formed as a magnetically encoded section on the steering element and a secondary sensor facing the first primary sensor configured to convert a change in a magnetic field generated by the primary sensor into an electrical signal, the secondary sensor being arranged on the angled wing surface of the circuit board facing the primary sensor; and a second sensor element for determining the absolute angular position, the second sensor element comprising a main gear arranged on the steering element that meshes with at least two gears, one of the two gears has exactly one more tooth than the other of the two gears, and at least one target is formed on each of the two gears, which is located facing an angle sensor arranged on the base surface of the circuit board.