Rotary inductive position sensing with 60° phase-shifted sense signals, and related apparatuses and methods

A method comprising:

• at a position sensor circuitry for a rotary inductive position sensor, the rotary inductive position sensor comprising a support structure, multiple planar coils on or in the support structure, and a target arranged to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the support structure, the multiple planar coils including one or more oscillator coils in a circular winding pattern around the axis of rotation for the target, a first sense coil having a coil winding pattern arranged around the axis and surrounded by the circular winding pattern of the one or more oscillator coils, and a second sense coil having a coil winding pattern arranged around the axis and surrounded by the circular winding pattern of the one or more oscillator coils, the coil winding pattern of the second sense coil mechanically offset from the coil winding pattern of the first sense coil at an angle of substantially Φ degrees, where Φ=60°/N, and N is an integer number of pole pairs of the target;
• generating an excitation signal in the one or more oscillator coils to produce a varying magnetic field for inducing a first sense signal and a second sense signal in the first and the second sense coil, respectively, the varying magnetic field disturbed in accordance with an angular position of the target for modulating the first sense signal and the second sense signal, the modulated first and second sense signals having respective first and second sinusoidally modulated amplitudes substantially 60° out-of-phase with each other due to the mechanical offset at the angle of substantially Φ degrees;
• receiving the modulated first and second sense signals from the first and second sense coils, respectively;
• and
• demodulating the modulated first and second sense signals to produce first and second demodulated amplitude position signals, respectively.

An apparatus comprising:

• a rotary inductive position sensor comprising:
• a support structure;
• one or more oscillator coils in a circular winding pattern around an axis of rotation for a target;
• a first sense coil having a first sine winding pattern arranged around the axis of rotation and surrounded by the circular winding pattern of the one or more oscillator coils;
• a second sense coil having a second sine winding pattern arranged around the axis of rotation and surrounded by the circular winding pattern of the one or more oscillator coils;
• and
• the second sine winding pattern of the second sense coil mechanically offset from the first sine winding pattern of the first sense coil by an angle of substantially Φ degrees, where
• Φ
• =
• 60
• ⁢
• °
• /
• N
• ,
• and N is an integer number of pole pairs of the rotary inductive position sensor;
• and
• a target arranged to rotate about the axis of rotation perpendicular to a plane of the support structure, the target defined by an inner ring, one or more fins radially extending from the inner ring, and one or more apertures between fin edges of the one or more fins, the one or more fins being N in number.