Sensor system including a magnetized shaft
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor comprising:
- a cylindrical shaft formed from a magnetorestrictive material and having at least one magnetized active region disposed between first and second passive regions 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
at least 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 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 shaft rotational position.
108 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a cylindrical shaft formed from a magnetorestrictive material and having at least one magnetized active region disposed between first and second passive regions 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 at least 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 being representative of a torque applied to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor comprising:
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a cylindrical shaft formed from a magnetorestrictive material and having at least one magnetized active region disposed between first and second passive regions 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 at least one fluxgate 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 representative of a torque applied to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensor comprising:
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a cylindrical shaft formed from a magnetorestrictive material and having at least one magnetized active region disposed between first and second passive regions 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; a first fluxgate coil positioned about said shaft and configured to provide a first output in response to said active region as said shaft is rotated, said first output varying with a rotational angle of said shaft; a second fluxgate coil positioned about said shaft configured to provide a second output in response to said active region as said shaft is rotated, said second output varying with a rotational angle of said shaft and being out of phase with said first output; and torque circuitry configured to accept said first and second outputs and provide an output signal representative of torque applied to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A sensor comprising:
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a solid, homogenous 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 at least 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 being representative of a torque applied to said shaft.
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22. A sensor comprising:
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a solid, homogenous 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 at least one fluxgate 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 representative of a torque applied to said shaft.
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Specification