Inductive angular-position sensing over multiple measurement ranges using a single target, including related apparatuses and methods

A method comprising:

• at an inductive angular-position sensing apparatus including a rotatable target, the rotatable target including a target body having a combined M and N pole pair pattern, the combined M and N pole pair pattern comprising a combination of an M pole pair pattern and an N pole pair pattern, where M and N are integer numbers and N>M,
• sensing or detecting a first angular-position of the rotatable target at least partially based on modulated first and second sense signals from first and second sense coils, respectively, the modulated first and second sense signals being modulated according to the M pole pair pattern of the rotatable target, respective ones of the first and the second sense coils having one or more M pole pairs;
• and
• sensing or detecting a second angular-position of the rotatable target at least partially based on modulated third and fourth sense signals from third and fourth sense coils, respectively, the modulated third and fourth sense signals being modulated according to the N pole pair pattern of the rotatable target, respective ones of the third and the fourth sense coils having N pole pairs.

An apparatus comprising:

• a target including a target body, the target body comprising:
• an annular ring;
• one or more fin regions, respective fin regions of the one or more fin regions including a number of fins radially extending outwardly from the annular ring;
• the one or more fin regions defining an M pole pair pattern, where M is a positive integer;
• and
• the number of fins in the respective fin regions of the one or more fin regions defining an N pole pair pattern, where N is a positive integer greater than M.

A method comprising:

• at an inductive angular-position sensing apparatus adapted to sense or detect an angular-position of a rotatable target, the rotatable target including a target body having a combined M and N pole pair pattern, the combined M and N pole pair pattern comprising a combination of an M pole pair pattern and an N pole pair pattern, where M and N are integer numbers and N>M,
• generating an excitation signal in one or more first oscillator coils of the inductive angular-position sensing apparatus to produce a varying magnetic field to induce first and second sense signals in first and second sense coils, respectively, of the inductive angular-position sensing apparatus, the varying magnetic field disturbed in accordance with the angular-position of the rotatable target which modulates the first and the second sense signals to produce modulated first and second sense signals, respectively, according to the M pole pair pattern;
• receiving the modulated first and second sense signals from the first and the second sense coils, respectively;
• and
• demodulating the modulated first and second sense signals to produce demodulated first and second position signals, respectively,
• wherein respective ones of the demodulated first and second position signals exhibit one or more M cycles for every full rotation of the rotatable target.

An apparatus comprising:

• a support structure;
• a first set of coils on, or in, the support structure, the first set of coils arranged within an annulus centered about an axis, the first set of coils including a first sense coil and a second sense coil, respective ones of the first sense coil and the second sense coil having one or more M pole pairs;
• a second set of coils on, or in, the support structure, the second set of coils arranged within the annulus, the second set of coils including a third sense coil and a fourth sense coil, respective ones of the third sense coil and the fourth sense coil having N pole pairs;
• and
• a target to rotate about the axis, the target including a target body having a combined M and N target pattern, the combined M and N target pattern comprising a combination of an M pole pair pattern and an N pole pair pattern, where M and N are positive integers and N>M.