Handwheel position measurement system and method

A position measurement system for a steering system comprising:

• an input steering shaft;
• an output steering shaft operatively coupled to the input steering shaft, the input steering shaft and the output steering shaft disposed on a steering column axis;
• a gear arrangement driven by a motor disposed on a motor axis to provide a steering assist to the output steering shaft;
• a first sensor located along the motor axis;
• and
• a second sensor located on the steering column axis.

A method of measuring an angular position of a handwheel of a steering system, the method comprising:

• measuring an angular position of a gear operatively coupled to an output steering shaft with a first sensor located on a steering shaft axis;
• measuring an angular position of a worm with a second sensor, the worm engaged with a worm gear operatively coupled to the output steering shaft;
• and
• calculating an absolute position of the handwheel with a combination of the measured angular positions of the gear and the worm.