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US 6,894,487 B2Granted
Angle of rotation sensor
AssigneeTech3 e.K.
InventorThomas Kunz-Vizenetz
Life of this patent
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AssigneeTech3 e.K.
InventorThomas Kunz-Vizenetz
Estimating the term…
An angle of rotation sensor includes a rotary shaft coupled to a permanent magnet. A magnet-sensitive sensor element generates a sinusoidal output signal and a cosinusoidal output signal (Vx, Vy) as a function of the relative angle of rotation (a) between magnet and sensor element. Evaluation electronics generate from the output signals a signal corresponding to the angle of rotation. When the shaft rotates about its axis it moves linearly parallel to its axis along a guide track, and changes the distance between the magnet and sensor. From the sensor signals, a signal (B(z)) is determined, which corresponds to the magnitude of the field strength dependent on the distance. From this signal, a gross signal is determined, from which the number (n) of rotations can be determined. From the sinusoidal and cosinusoidal sensor signals, a fine signal is determined, which is added to the number of rotations multiplied by 360°.
An angle of rotation sensor with a rotary shaft, a magnet coupled to the rotary shaft, and a magnetically sensitive sensor element, which generates a sinusoidal output signal and a cosinusoidal output signal as a function of the relative angle of rotation between the magnet and the sensor element, and with an evaluation unit, which generates from the output signals a signal corresponding to the angle of rotation, characterized in that the shaft is also moved linearly parallel to its axis along a guide track when the shaft rotates about its axis, so that the distance between magnet and sensor changes corresponding to a pitch of the guide track, and the evaluation unit determines from the generated sinusoidal and cosinusoidal output signals of the sensor element a signal, from which the distance between the sensor element and the magnet, and thus a number of full rotations of the shaft, can be determined, wherein from the generated sinusoidal and cosinusoidal output signals a fine signal within a full rotation is determined and this fine signal is added to the full rotation value multiplied by 360°.
An apparatus for measuring an angle of rotation of a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having a magnet coupled thereto, said apparatus comprising:
A method for measuring an angle of rotation of a rotary shaft, said rotary shaft being rotatable about an axis of rotation and having a magnet coupled thereto, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.