Duty cycle modulation for inductive position sensors
First Claim
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1. A position sensor system comprising:
- an inductive position sensor having a transmitting coil and at least one receiving coil;
a coupler attached to a shaft, the shaft configured for rotation, the coupler overlays at least a portion of the at least one receiving coil, the coupler is spaced apart from the transmitting coil and the at least one receiving coil creating an air gap;
an electronic control unit comprising an oscillator drive, the electronic control unit operably connected to the oscillator drive, the oscillator drive enables an oscillation signal configured to enable the inductive position sensor at a predetermined time; and
a start duty cycle and a stop duty cycle controlled by the electronic control unit at a predetermined rate of time, the start duty cycle and the stop duty cycle operating at a predefined frequency and a predefined ratio,wherein the inductive position sensor initiates transmitting a sample to the electronic control unit when the oscillating signal and the start duty cycle are both enabled, the sample being a position of the coupler and the shaft relative to the inductive position sensor, andwherein the start duty cycle and the stop duty cycle is configured to reduce an average radiated emission of the inductive position sensor.
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Abstract
A duty cycle is used in conjunction with a powered oscillator to electronically reduce the current draw by reducing the average tail current and thus reducing the sensor radiated emissions without altering an inductive position sensor. The duty cycle enables an on and an off cycling without altering the hardware but providing the improvements.
14 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A position sensor system comprising:
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an inductive position sensor having a transmitting coil and at least one receiving coil; a coupler attached to a shaft, the shaft configured for rotation, the coupler overlays at least a portion of the at least one receiving coil, the coupler is spaced apart from the transmitting coil and the at least one receiving coil creating an air gap; an electronic control unit comprising an oscillator drive, the electronic control unit operably connected to the oscillator drive, the oscillator drive enables an oscillation signal configured to enable the inductive position sensor at a predetermined time; and a start duty cycle and a stop duty cycle controlled by the electronic control unit at a predetermined rate of time, the start duty cycle and the stop duty cycle operating at a predefined frequency and a predefined ratio, wherein the inductive position sensor initiates transmitting a sample to the electronic control unit when the oscillating signal and the start duty cycle are both enabled, the sample being a position of the coupler and the shaft relative to the inductive position sensor, and wherein the start duty cycle and the stop duty cycle is configured to reduce an average radiated emission of the inductive position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle having a sensor system, the vehicle comprising:
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an inductive position sensor having a transmitting coil and at least one receiving coil; a coupler attached to a shaft, the shaft configured for rotation, the coupler overlays at least a portion of the at least one receiving coil, the coupler is spaced apart from the transmitting coil and the at least one receiving coil creating an air gap; an electronic control unit comprising an oscillator drive, the electronic control unit operably connected to the oscillator drive, the oscillator drive operably connected to the inductive position sensor so to transmit an oscillating signal; and a pulse width modulation signal having a duty cycle, the pulse width modulation signal controlled by the electronic control unit at a predetermined period of time, the duty cycle operating at a predefined proportion of time, wherein a sample of the inductive position sensor position is obtained when the oscillating signal and the duty cycle are both enabled such that only a single sample is required for the predefined proportion of time, the sample being a position of the coupler and the shaft relative to the inductive position sensor, wherein the oscillator drive is inhibited a remaining time of the predefined proportion of time so to reduce power consumption and emissions of the inductive position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification