Sensor for indicating a position or a change in position of a coupling element and method for operating the sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sensor comprising:
- a primary coil;
two secondary coils;
wherein an excitation signal may be applied to the primary coil and an output signal depending on a position of a coupling element may be induced in each secondary coil; and
an evaluator for evaluating the output signals of the secondary coils, wherein the evaluator is configured to evaluate a phase offset between the output signals, and to provide a sensor output signal proportional to the phase offset indicating the position or a change in position of the coupling element,wherein the evaluator is configured to provide, at a first phase offset, a first sensor output signal representing a first position or change in position of the coupling element;
wherein the evaluator is configured to provide, at a second phase offset, a second sensor output signal representing a second position or change in position of the coupling element;
wherein the evaluator is configured to provide, at a third phase offset, a third sensor output signal representing a third position or change in position of the coupling element;
wherein in the case of a directly proportional sensor output signal, the third phase offset is greater than the second phase offset, and the third position or change in position is greater than the second position or change in position, and the second phase offset is greater than the first phase offset, and the second position or change in position is greater than the first position or change in position;
orwherein in the case of an indirectly proportional sensor output signal, the third phase offset is greater than the second phase offset, and the third position or change in position is smaller than the second position or change in position and the second phase offset is greater than the first phase offset, and the second position or change in position is smaller than the first position or change in position.
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Abstract
Sensor having a primary coil, two secondary coils as well as an evaluator. An excitation signal may be applied to the primary coil. An output signal depending on a position of a coupling element may be induced in each secondary coil. An evaluator is configured to evaluate the output signals in order to evaluate a phase offset between the output signals. Further, the evaluator is configured to provide a sensor output signal indicating the position or change in position of the coupling element.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sensor comprising:
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a primary coil; two secondary coils; wherein an excitation signal may be applied to the primary coil and an output signal depending on a position of a coupling element may be induced in each secondary coil; and an evaluator for evaluating the output signals of the secondary coils, wherein the evaluator is configured to evaluate a phase offset between the output signals, and to provide a sensor output signal proportional to the phase offset indicating the position or a change in position of the coupling element, wherein the evaluator is configured to provide, at a first phase offset, a first sensor output signal representing a first position or change in position of the coupling element; wherein the evaluator is configured to provide, at a second phase offset, a second sensor output signal representing a second position or change in position of the coupling element; wherein the evaluator is configured to provide, at a third phase offset, a third sensor output signal representing a third position or change in position of the coupling element; wherein in the case of a directly proportional sensor output signal, the third phase offset is greater than the second phase offset, and the third position or change in position is greater than the second position or change in position, and the second phase offset is greater than the first phase offset, and the second position or change in position is greater than the first position or change in position;
orwherein in the case of an indirectly proportional sensor output signal, the third phase offset is greater than the second phase offset, and the third position or change in position is smaller than the second position or change in position and the second phase offset is greater than the first phase offset, and the second position or change in position is smaller than the first position or change in position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A flexible circuit for a sensor, comprising:
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a substrate; a primary coil comprising primary coil leads; two secondary coils comprising secondary coil leads; wherein the primary coil and the two secondary coils are planar coils on the substrate; wherein the two secondary coils are arranged next to each other; wherein the primary coil is arranged with respect to the two secondary coils such that turns of the primary coil enclose turns of the secondary coils; wherein the primary coil leads and the secondary coils leads are arranged on an elongate substrate part, wherein the elongate substrate part is integrally implemented with a coil substrate part on which the two secondary coils and the primary coil are arranged.
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18. A method for operating a sensor comprising a primary coil, two secondary coils and a coupling element, comprising:
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applying an excitation signal to the primary coil and inducing an output signal depending on a position of the coupling element in each secondary coil; and evaluating the output signals of the secondary coils based on a phase offset between the output signals, and providing a sensor output signal indicating the position or a change in position of the coupling element; providing, at a first phase offset, a first sensor output signal representing a first position or change in position of the coupling element; providing, at a second phase offset, a second sensor output signal representing a second position or change in position of the coupling element; providing, at a third phase offset, a third sensor output signal representing a third position or change in position of the coupling element; such that in the case of a directly proportional sensor output signal, the third phase offset is greater than the second phase offset, and the third position or change in position is greater than the second position or change in position, and the second phase offset is greater than the first phase offset, and the second position or change in position is greater than the first position or change in position;
orsuch that in the case of an indirectly proportional sensor output signal, the third phase offset is greater than the second phase offset, and the third position or change in position is smaller than the second position or change in position and the second phase offset is greater than the first phase offset, and the second position or change in position is smaller than the first position or change in position. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification