Encoder wheel for use in an internal combustion engine
AssigneeAudi AG
InventorRolf Karcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An encoder wheel for an internal combustion engine, having six indicator elements, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction with respect to a rotational axis of the encoder wheel on a main body of the encoder wheel. Flanks arranged in the same direction of the indicator elements are arranged equidistantly to one another in the circumferential direction. The indicator elements each have one of three different indicator element extensions in the circumferential direction.
Claims8
An encoder wheel for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- six indicator elements, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction with respect to a rotational axis of the encoder wheel on a main body of the encoder wheel, each indicator element having a leading flank and a trailing flank;
- wherein flanks of the indicator elements that are arranged in the same direction, either the leading flanks or the trailing flanks, are arranged equidistant from one another in the circumferential direction;
- and
- wherein the indicator elements each have one of three different indicator element extensions in the circumferential direction,
- wherein at least two directly adjacent indicator elements form an indicator element pair and have the same indicator element extensions.
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft and a camshaft, the method comprising:
- sensing, by a crankshaft encoder sensor, indicator elements of a crankshaft encoder wheel that is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the crankshaft;
- sensing, by a camshaft encoder sensor, indicator elements of a camshaft encoder wheel that is coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the camshaft and includes six indicator elements, wherein each of the indicator elements of the camshaft encoder wheel includes a leading flank and a trailing flank;
- generating, by the camshaft encoder sensor, a sensor signal having a first level upon overlap with one of the indicator elements and a second level upon overlap with one of the intermediate spaces between the indicator elements;
- detecting, from the sensor signal, rising edges corresponding to leading flanks of the indicator elements;
- and
- determining a rotational angle position based on a sequence of three different indicator element extensions in the circumferential direction, wherein flanks of the indicator elements of the camshaft encoder wheel that are arranged in the same direction, either the leading flanks or the trailing flanks, are arranged equidistant from one another in the circumferential direction, wherein the indicator elements of the camshaft encoder wheel each have one of three different indicator element extensions in the circumferential direction, and at least two directly adjacent indicator elements form an indicator element pair and have the same indicator element extensions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.