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Apparatus and method for determining angular position and rotational speed using a rotating magnet and a directional magnetometer

  • US 5,602,472 A
  • Filed: 10/20/1995
  • Issued: 02/11/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the angular position, rotational speed, and/or acceleration of a rotatable member, comprising:

  • (a) providing on said rotatable member an annular magnetic source generating tangential, radial, and axial magnetic flux field components;

    (b) detecting, with a directional magnetometer having a toroidal core and two secondary output windings thereon, at a location radially spaced from said magnetic source, in proximity to said magnetic source, the amplitude(s) and/or change of amplitude(s) of one or more said magnetic flux field components, and providing outputs from said secondary output windings indicative thereof;

    (c) modifying said outputs, to equalize measured peak amplitudes of said magnetic flux field components and/or to compensate for environmental distortion thereof, by orienting said toroidal core such that said toroidal core lies in a plane at an angle between the plane of said annular magnetic source and a plane perpendicular to said plane of said annular magnetic source; and

    (d) determining from said outputs the angular position, rotational speed, and/or acceleration of said rotatable member.

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