Inductive angle sensor that adapts an oscillator frequency and phase relationship to that of an interference frequency

US6166535A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. · DE

Inventors

• Henning Irle · Lippstadt, DE
• Norbert Kost · Geseke, DE
• Franz Schmidt · Mannheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 4, 1998
• Grant date: Dec 26, 2000
• Expiry date: Sep 4, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D5/204
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An inductive angle sensor for a motor vehicle has an oscillator circuit that generates a periodic AC oscillator-frequency signal in an exciting coil, at least one receiving coil, an evaluation circuit for detecting the signal induced in the at least one receiving coil, and a movable inductive coupling element that influences a strength of inductive coupling between the exciting coil and the at least one receiving coil. The oscillator circuit is a "soft" or "flexible" oscillator circuit such that when an interference frequency close to the oscillator frequency is coupled into the coil system, the oscillator circuit adapts the oscillator frequency and phase relationship to that of the interference frequency. Undesired overlapping effects are thus efficaciously prevented.