# US 2010/0163333 A1 · Rotary position sensing apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163333 A1 - Document ID: US20100163333A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/346,512 - Filed: 2008-12-30 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: SWAPNIL Gopal PATIL; GAUTHAM RAMAMURTHY; NURUL Hasan IBRAHIM; AZHAGAR RAJ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163333A1 ## CPC - B62D 15/0215: {by measuring on the steering column} - B62D 15/0245: {Means or methods for determination of the central position of the steering system, e.g. straight ahead position} - G01D 5/145: {influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06)} - G01D 2205/22: by converting the rotary movement into a linear movement - G01D 2205/26: Details of encoders or position sensors specially adapted to detect rotation beyond a full turn of 360°, e.g. multi-rotation - 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 An angular position sensor (100) for determining angular position includes a shaft (105) having a threaded portion (108), and a structure for engaging an external application (119). The shaft (105) includes a first permanent magnet (114). A nut (116) is threaded on the threaded portion (108). The nut (116) is formed from a first magnetic permeable material or includes a second permanent magnet (118). At least one constraint (122) is coupled to the nut (116) for preventing rotational movement of the nut (116) while allowing linear motion of the nut (116). A first magnetic sensor (120) is positioned along a length of the threaded portion (108) of the nut (116) for measuring a linear position of the nut (116). A second magnetic sensor (124) is provided for measuring an angular position of the shaft (105). Signal processing circuitry (130) is coupled to receive outputs from both the first magnetic sensor (120) and second magnetic sensor (124) for calculating a parameter relating to an angular position of the rotatable member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An angular position sensor, comprising: a shaft having a threaded portion, and a structure for engaging an external application that involves rotation of a rotatable member, said rotation of said rotatable member rotating said shaft, wherein said shaft includes a first permanent magnet; a nut having threading threaded on said threaded portion; wherein said nut is formed from a first magnetic permeable material or comprises a second permanent magnet, at least one constraint coupled to said nut for preventing rotational movement of said nut while allowing linear motion of said nut; a first magnetic sensor positioned along a length of said threaded portion of said nut for measuring a linear position of said nut; a second magnetic sensor for measuring an angular position of said shaft, and signal processing circuitry coupled to receive respective outputs from said first magnetic sensor and said second magnetic sensor for calculating a parameter relating to an angular position of said rotatable member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein said first permanent magnet is aligned to have its respective poles oriented along an axial direction of said shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein said second magnetic sensor is positioned along an axial direction of said shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry includes a microcontroller. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The angular position sensor of claim 4, wherein said parameter relating to an angular position of said rotatable member comprise a turn count, further wherein said microcontroller derives a course measured position portion comprising an integer number of turns of said turn count from said linear position of said nut provided by said first magnetic sensor and a fine measured position portion fractional portion of said turn count from said angular position of said shaft from said second magnetic sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The angular position sensor of claim 4, wherein said second magnetic sensor has a higher accuracy as compared to said first magnetic sensor, further wherein said microcontroller includes stored software for error compensation which uses said second magnetic sensor as a reference sensor to correct error for said first magnetic sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein said signal processing circuitry comprises in a serial connection an analog multiplexer (AMUX) having at least two channels, a signal conditioning amplifier block, and analog to digital converter (ADC), and a microcontroller, wherein said microcontroller is coupled to said signal conditioning amplifier block to set a gain for said signal conditioning amplifier block, and said AMUX for channel selection. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The angular position sensor of claim 7, further comprising a digital to analog converter (DAC) coupled to an output of said microcontroller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein said nut comprises said second permanent magnet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said shaft comprises a second magnetic permeable material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The angular position sensor of claim 1, wherein said first magnetic sensor comprises a Hall sensor and said second magnetic sensor comprises an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor. ### Claim 12 A motor vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel assembly comprising a steering wheel coupled to a rotatable steering shaft engaged to a steering position sensor, wherein said steering position sensor comprises: a shaft having a threaded portion, and a structure engaged to said rotatable steering shaft, said rotation of said rotatable steering shaft rotating said shaft, wherein said shaft includes a first permanent magnet; a nut having threading threaded on said threaded portion; wherein said nut is formed from a first magnetic permeable material or comprises a second permanent magnet, at least one constraint coupled to said nut for preventing rotational movement of said nut while allowing linear motion of said nut; a first magnetic sensor positioned along a length of said threaded portion of said nut for measuring a linear position of said nut; a second magnetic sensor for measuring an angular position of said shaft, and signal processing circuitry coupled to receive respective outputs from said first magnetic sensor and said second magnetic sensor for calculating a parameter relating to an angular position of said rotatable steering shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The motor vehicle of claim 12, wherein said signal processing circuitry includes a microcontroller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, said parameter relating to an angular position of said rotatable steering shaft comprise a turn count, wherein said microcontroller derives a course measured position portion comprising an integer number of turns of said turn count from said linear position of said nut provided by said first magnetic sensor and a fine measured position portion fractional portion of said turn count from said angular position of said shaft from said second magnetic sensor. ### Claim at position 15 (depends on 14) 15 The motor vehicle of claim 14, wherein said second magnetic sensor has a higher accuracy as compared to said first magnetic sensor, further wherein said microcontroller includes stored software for error compensation which uses said second magnetic sensor as a reference sensor to correct error for said first magnetic sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The motor vehicle of claim 15, wherein said first magnetic sensor comprises a Hall sensor and said second magnetic sensor comprises an anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The motor vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a steer-by-wire and electric assist power steering system, wherein said steering position sensor is a component of said steer-by-wire and electric assist power steering system.