Brushless DC Motor and Method for Providing an Angle Signal

Abstract

A brushless DC motor configured with an external rotor includes an analysis and control unit, a stator, a rotor, a co-rotating bell, and a sensor that detects an angular position of the rotor. A target with at least one electrically conductive track is attached to the co-rotating bell, and the sensor is configured as an eddy current sensor with at least one coil. The sensor is arranged at a radial distance from the target such that the at least one electrically conductive track at least partly covers the at least one coil. The sensor provides an angle signal as a function of the at least one coil being covered by the at least one electrically conductive track. The angle signal uniquely represents the absolute angular position of the rotor up to 360°. A method includes providing an angle signal for the brushless DC motor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.