Linear and rotational inductive position sensor
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a signal related to a position of a part, the apparatus including:
- an exciter coil;
a receiver coil, disposed proximate to the exciter coil, the receiver coil generating a receiver signal when the exciter coil is energized due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coil and the exciter coil,the inductive coupling being modified by movement of the part so that the receiver signal is related to the position of the part,the apparatus including an electronic circuit,the electronic circuit being operable to generate a reference signal using a plurality of receiver signals including the receiver signal, the reference signal being substantially independent of the position of the part,the electronic circuit being further operable to generate the signal related to the position of the part,the signal being a ratiometric signal derived from the receiver signal and the reference signal, andthe reference signal being used for common mode correction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for providing a signal related to a position of a part comprises an exciter coil, and a receiver coil disposed proximate to the exciter coil. The exciter coil generates magnetic flux when the exciter coil is energized by a source of electrical energy, such as an alternating current source. The receiver coil generates a receiver signal when the exciter coil is energized, due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coil and the exciter coil. The receiver coil has a plurality of sections, the inductive coupling tending to induce opposed voltages in at least two of the sections. Embodiments of the present invention include linear sensors, rotational sensors, and novel configurations for improved ratiometric sensing.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a signal related to a position of a part, the apparatus including:
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an exciter coil; a receiver coil, disposed proximate to the exciter coil, the receiver coil generating a receiver signal when the exciter coil is energized due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coil and the exciter coil, the inductive coupling being modified by movement of the part so that the receiver signal is related to the position of the part, the apparatus including an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit being operable to generate a reference signal using a plurality of receiver signals including the receiver signal, the reference signal being substantially independent of the position of the part, the electronic circuit being further operable to generate the signal related to the position of the part, the signal being a ratiometric signal derived from the receiver signal and the reference signal, and the reference signal being used for common mode correction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for providing a signal related to a position of a part, the apparatus, comprising:
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an exciter coil; a plurality of receiver coils disposed proximate to the exciter coil, the receiver coils generating a plurality of receiver signals when the exciter coil is energized due to an inductive coupling between the receiver coils and the exciter coil; a coupler element, the coupler element being moveable and having a coupler element position correlated with the part position, the coupler element being operable to modify the inductive coupling between the exciter coil and the receiver coils so that each receiver signal is correlated with the part position; and an electronic circuit, the electronic circuit generating a reference signal from the plurality of receiver signals, the reference signal being substantially independent of the coupler element position, and the electronic circuit being further operable to generate the signal related to the position of the part, the signal being a ratiometric signal derived from at least one of the receiver signals and the reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification