Inductive position-sensing

A method for inductive position measurement, the method comprising:

• configuring an inductive position element, including a position inductor, for movement past a plurality of inductive load elements, each including a load inductor;
• providing position signals through the position inductor of the inductive position element corresponding to an inductance associated with the position inductor;
• providing a plurality of modulation signals to a respective plurality of the inductive load elements to selectively control the plurality of inductive load elements to provide a respective mutual inductance between the position inductor and the respective load inductor;
• monitoring the position inductor via the position signals, and converting the position signals to inductances associated with the position signals;
• and
• calculating a position of the inductive position element relative to the plurality of inductive load elements based on a difference of the inductances associated with the position signals with respect to the mutual inductance between the position inductor and each respective load inductor.

A position sensing system comprising:

• an inductive position element configured to rotate about an axis and comprising a plurality of position inductors arranged in series to receive a position signal corresponding to an inductance associated with the position inductors, wherein every alternating one of the plurality of position inductors has an opposite polarity relative to the remaining plurality of position inductors;
• a plurality of inductive load elements, each comprising a load inductor, each of the plurality of inductive load elements being selectively controlled in response to a modulation signal to provide a corresponding mutual inductance between the position inductor and the respective load inductor, such that each of the plurality of inductive load elements are sequentially activated in response to the respective modulation signal provided to each of the respective plurality of inductive load elements, the corresponding mutual inductance depending on an angular position of the inductive position element relative to the respective load inductor;
• and
• a position controller to generate the position and modulations signals, and to convert the position signals to inductances associated with the position signals, and to calculate the angular position of the inductive position element relative to the plurality of inductive load elements based on a difference of the inductance associated with the position signal with respect to the mutual inductance between the position inductor and each respective load inductor.