Patent · US Expired

Angular displacement sensor with movable inductance affecting component

US5637997A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
8References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 1994
Grant dateJun 10, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01D5/2013
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An angular displacement sensor for limited angle applications (e.g., for sensing automotive throttle positions) comprising first (14) and second (16) relatively rotatable components arranged to confront each other axially. The first component (14) provides a plurality of poles (14A, B, C) which are angularly disposed about the rotation axis and extend towards the second component. These poles (14A, B, C) have axes which extend in the same direction as the rotation axis. Some poles have windings (14A, B), while others (14B) provide flux return paths. The second component comprises an inductance affecting component (16) which overlies only some of the wound poles at any given time, the relative rotation varying the poles which are overlaid. The sensor includes an output unit (17) for providing output signal data related to the inductances of the excitation poles and thus related to the rotary configuration of the components.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.