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AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsGuenter Kowalski, Stefan Pusch
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In an arrangement for detecting the angle of rotation of a rotatable element, in which, while evaluating properties of a sensor arrangement which can be magnetically influenced, a first magnetic field generated or influenced by the rotatable element is detectable and can be used for determining the angle of rotation, the sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of magnetic field-sensitive sensor elements which are substantially planar and are substantially arranged in one plane, which sensor elements are connected to at least two bridge circuits each supplying a signal assigned to a function of the angle of rotation. The sensor arrangement is adapted to supply signals which are unambiguously assignable to a direction of the first magnetic field via a first angular range. Means are provided for supplying a magnetic auxiliary field to the sensor arrangement, by means of which a modification of the signals assignable to the direction of the first magnetic field can be achieved for unambiguous assignment of an angle via a second angular range, the means for applying the magnetic auxiliary field to the sensor arrangement comprising a substantially planar coil arranged with its planar extension along the planar arrangement of the sensor elements. To allow an unambiguous measurement through a large angular range, preferably up to 360°, with a compact, simple and low-cost arrangement, the sensor elements of each bridge circuit are arranged in a star-shaped configuration, the sensor elements of the different bridge circuits are interleaved in a star-shaped concentric manner, and the substantially planar coil comprises a substantially spirally concentric, planar winding along its planar extension.
An arrangement for detecting the angle of rotation of a rotatable element, in which, while evaluating properties of a sensor arrangement which can be magnetically influenced, a first magnetic field generated or influenced by the rotatable element is detectable and can be used for determining the angle of rotation, the sensor arrangement comprising a plurality of magnetic field-sensitive sensor elements which are substantially planar and are substantially arranged in one plane, which sensor elements are connected to at least two bridge circuits each supplying a signal assigned to a function of the angle of rotation, whereby the sensor arrangement is adapted to supply signals which are unambiguously assignable to a direction of the first magnetic field via a first angular range, means for supplying a magnetic auxiliary field to the sensor arrangement, by means of which a modification of the signals assignable to the direction of the first magnetic field can be achieved for unambiguous assignment of an angle via a second angular range, the means for applying the magnetic auxiliary field to the sensor arrangement comprising a substantially planar coil arranged with its planar extension along the planar arrangement of the sensor elements, characterized in that the sensor elements of each bridge circuit are arranged in a star-shaped configuration, in that the sensor elements of the different bridge circuits are interleaved in a star-shaped concentric manner, and in that the substantially planar coil comprises a substantially spirally concentric, planar winding along its planar extension.
An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in the substantially planar coil is monolithically integrated on the sensor arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.