Linear-output, temperature-stable rotational sensor including magnetic field responsive device disposed within a cavity of a flux concentrator

A sensor for sensing the angular position of a throttle valve, the sensor comprising:

• a stator assembly and a rotor assembly for rotating about an axis relative to the stator assembly, the rotor assembly being adapted to be coupled to the throttle valve to rotate therewith, one of the assemblies including a base supporting a flux concentrator and a magnet proximate the flux concentrator, said flux concentrator defining an electromagnetic cavity which surrounds said magnet for generating a first magnetic field within the cavity, the other assembly including a semiconductor device disposed within the cavity, the flux concentrator being shaped to concentrate and control the magnetic flux of the magnet through the device, the device having an electrical property which is a function of the orientation and strength of a resultant magnetic field and having a coil wound about the device for producing a second magnetic field having a direction which is generally perpendicular to the axis and which substantially cancels the effects of the first magnetic field on the device so as to obtain the resultant magnetic field, whereby when the coil is energized with an electrical current, the electrical current in the coil required to produce the second magnetic field provides an indication of the angular position of the throttle valve.

A sensor for sensing the angular position of a throttle valve, the sensor comprising:

• a stator assembly and a rotor assembly for rotating about an axis relative to the stator assembly, the rotor assembly being adapted to be coupled to the throttle valve to rotate therewith, the rotor assembly including a base supporting a flux concentrator and a magnet proximate the flux concentrator, said flux concentrator defining an electromagnetic cavity which surrounds said magnet for generating a first magnetic field within the cavity, the stator assembly including a magnetoresistive device disposed within the cavity, the flux concentrator being shaped to concentrate and control the magnetic flux of the magnet through the device, the device having an electrical property which is a function of the orientation and strength of a resultant magnetic field and having a coil wound about the device for producing a second magnetic field having a direction which is generally perpendicular to the axis and which substantially cancels the effects of the first magnetic field on the device so as to obtain the resultant magnetic field, whereby when the coil is energized with an electrical current, the electrical current in the coil required to produce the second magnetic field provides an indication of the angular position of the throttle valve.

A sensor for sensing the angular position of a throttle valve, the sensor comprising:

• a stator assembly and a rotor assembly for rotating about an axis relative to the stator assembly, the rotor assembly being adapted to be coupled to the throttle valve to rotate therewith, the rotor assembly including a base supporting a flux concentrator and a magnet proximate the flux concentrator, said flux concentrator defining an electromagnetic cavity which surrounds said magnet for generating a first magnetic field within the cavity, the stator assembly including a Hall-effect device disposed within the cavity, the flux concentrator being shaped to concentrate and control the magnetic flux of the magnet through the device, the device having an electrical property which is a function of the orientation and strength of a resultant magnetic field and having a coil wound about the device for producing a second magnetic field having a direction which is generally perpendicular to the axis and which substantially cancels the effects of the first magnetic field on the device so as to obtain the resultant magnetic field, whereby when the coil is energized with an electrical current, the electrical current in the coil required to produce the second magnetic field provides an indication of the angular position of the throttle valve.