Sensor System Including a Magnetized Shaft
First Claim
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1. A sensor comprising:
- a shaft formed from a magnetorestrictive material and having at least one magnetized active region in an axial extent of said shaft, said at least one active region having at least partially opposing magnetic polarizations in a radial cross-section taken in said axial extent; and
only one magnetic sensor positioned adjacent said active region and configured to sense each of said opposing magnetic polarizations and provide an output in response to said opposing magnetic polarizations, said output varying with the rotational angle of said shaft and a peak-to-peak amplitude of said output being representative of a torque applied to said shaft.
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Abstract
A sensor includes a shaft and a magnetic sensor. The shaft may have at least one magnetized active region. The magnetic sensor may be configured to sense a magnetic field about the shaft, and may provide an output representative of torque applied to the shaft, shaft rotational speed and/or shaft rotational position.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a shaft formed from a magnetorestrictive material and having at least one magnetized active region in an axial extent of said shaft, said at least one active region having at least partially opposing magnetic polarizations in a radial cross-section taken in said axial extent; and only one magnetic sensor positioned adjacent said active region and configured to sense each of said opposing magnetic polarizations and provide an output in response to said opposing magnetic polarizations, said output varying with the rotational angle of said shaft and a peak-to-peak amplitude of said output being representative of a torque applied to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of sensing torque applied to a rotating shaft, said method comprising:
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establishing at least one magnetized active region in an axial extent of said shaft, said at least one active region having at least partially opposing magnetic polarizations in a radial cross-section taken in said axial extent; positioning only one magnetic sensor adjacent said active region and configured to sense each of said opposing magnetic polarizations and provide an output in response to said opposing magnetic polarizations, said output varying with the rotational angle of said shaft; and monitoring an amplitude of said output as said shaft rotates, said amplitude being representative of a torque applied to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of compensating for aging effects in a torque sensor including a magnetic sensor that provides a torque output representative of torque applied to a shaft, said method comprising:
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positioning an anti-aging magnetic sensor adjacent said shaft for sensing a magnetic polarization in said shaft and providing a reference signal output that is substantially independent of torque applied to said shaft; and adjusting said torque output in response to said reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification