Rotation angle sensor or length sensor

• US 8,581,601 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Schreiber, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Jermele M
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US12/531,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20100102827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/637
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/2013 by a movable ferromagnetic element, e.g. a core G01D5/2033 takes precedence

Abstract

A rotation angle sensor with two or more oscillators which comprises, in each case, striplines fixed on a dielectric support, as sensor elements, such that the oscillators are arrayed in a curve, for angle measurement, or they are arrayed in a straight line, for position measurement. One or more actuating elements, for example eddy-current actuating elements, are passed over the curve or the line to cause relative movement. The striplines are shaped so that the one or more actuating elements (B1, B2) cover more than one oscillator.

Claims

1. A rotation angle sensor having at least two stripline oscillators, which comprises respective striplines as sensor elements of a type in a form of so-termed microstrips fixed to a dielectric support such that the stripline oscillators are arrayed in a curve, for angle measurement, such that at least one actuating element is passed by relative movement over the curved array, and the striplines in the form of so-termed microstrips are of such a shape that the at least one actuating element covers more than one of the stripline oscillators.

2. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein the striplines are positioned obliquely to a direction of the relative movement.

3. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 2, wherein the striplines are curved.

4. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 3, wherein the striplines are nested inside one another in a curve.

5. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element is a straight metal rod.

6. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein two actuating elements are two straight metal rods mechanically coupled to one another.

7. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein two rotation sensors, separated by an axial distance, are utilized as a torque sensor.

15. The rotation angle sensor according to claim 1, wherein rotation angle sensor comprises four striplines in the form of so-termed microstrips.

8. A length sensor having at least two stripline oscillators, which comprises respective striplines as sensor elements of a type in the form of so-termed microstrips fixed on a dielectric support, such that for linear measurement the stripline oscillators are arrayed in a line, such that at least one actuating element is passed with relative movement over the linear array, and the striplines in the form of so-termed microstrips are of such shape that the at least one actuating element (B1, B2) covers more than one stripline oscillator.

9. The length sensor according to claim 8, wherein the striplines, in the form of so-termed microstrips, are positioned obliquely to a direction of the relative movement.

10. The length sensor according to claim 8, wherein the striplines in the form of so-termed microstrips are curved.

11. The length sensor according to claim 10, wherein the striplines in the form of so-termed microstrips are nested inside one another in a curve.

12. The length sensor according to claim 8, wherein the actuating element is a straight metal rod.

13. The length sensor according to claim 8, wherein two actuating elements are two straight metal rods mechanically coupled to one another.

14. The length sensor according to claim 8, wherein two length sensors, separated by a distance, measure a position difference.

16. The length sensor according to claim 8, wherein the length sensor comprises four striplines in the form of so-termed microstrips.