Rotation angle detector

• US 7,535,219 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Mayuko, Shiraga, Shozoh, Ohta, Tamotsu, Noda, Hiromitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US12/060,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20080238416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 324173-174, 324/207.25, 735/143.1, 735/143.9, 338/32.R, 338/32.H
• US Class Current: 324/207.25
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0215 by measuring on the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0245 Means or methods for determination of the central position of the steering system, e.g. straight ahead position
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2205/26 Details of encoders or position sensors specially adapted to detect rotation beyond a full turn of 360°, e.g. multi-rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A rotation angle detector includes a rotator, first and second detecting bodies, an auxiliary detecting body, first and second detectors, an auxiliary detector, and a controller. The first detecting body rotates in association with the rotator, and the first detector detects rotation of the first detecting body. The second detecting body rotates in association with the first detecting body at a different speed therefrom, and the second detector detects rotation of the second detecting body. The auxiliary detecting body is engaged with the rotator at a position symmetrical to the first detecting body with respect to a rotation axis of the rotator. The auxiliary detector detects rotation of the auxiliary detecting body. The controller detects a rotation angle of the rotator based on detection signals from the first, second, and auxiliary detectors.

Claims

1. A rotation angle detector comprising:

a rotator;

a first detecting body configured to rotate in association with the rotator;

a first detector configured to detect rotation of the first detecting body;

a second detecting body configured to rotate at a different speed from the first detecting body in association with the first detecting body;

a second detector configured to detect rotation of the second detecting body;

an auxiliary detecting body engaged with the rotator at a position symmetrical to the first detecting body with respect to a rotation axis of the rotator;

an auxiliary detector configured to detect rotation of the auxiliary detecting body; and

a controller configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotator based on detection signals from the first detector, from the second detector, and from the auxiliary detector,

wherein the controller is configured to compare the detection signals from the auxiliary detector and from the first detector.

2. The rotation angle detector according to claim 1, wherein when only one of the first detector and the auxiliary detector outputs a detection signal, the controller is configured to detect the rotation angle of the rotator based on the detection signal output from the one of the first detector and the auxiliary detector.

3. The rotation angle detector according to claim 1, wherein the second detecting body and the auxiliary detecting body are configured to rotate at a same speed.

4. The rotation angle detector according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect the rotation angle by using a larger one of the detection signals from the auxiliary detector and from the first detector.

5. The rotation angle detector according to claim 1, wherein when there is a difference not less than a predetermined value between the detection signals from the auxiliary detector and from the first detector, the controller determines that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the first detecting body, the auxiliary detecting body, the first detector, and the auxiliary detector.

6. The rotation angle detector according to claim 1, wherein the first detecting body, the second detecting body, and the auxiliary detecting body each have a rotation axis;

and the rotation axis of the rotator, and rotation axes of the first detecting body, the second detecting body, and the auxiliary detecting body are parallel to each other.

7. A rotation angle detector comprising:

a rotator;

a first detecting body configured to rotate in association with the rotator;

a first detector configured to detect rotation of the first detecting body;

a second detecting body configured to rotate at a different speed from the first detecting body in association with the first detecting body;

a second detector configured to detect rotation of the second detecting body;

an auxiliary detecting body engaged with the rotator at a position symmetrical to the first detecting body with respect to a rotation axis of the rotator;

an auxiliary detector configured to detect rotation of the auxiliary detecting body; and

a controller configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotator based on detection signals from the first detector, from the second detector, and from the auxiliary detector,

wherein at least one of the first detecting body, the second detecting body, and the auxiliary detecting body has a rotation axis which forms an angle of other than 0 degrees with the rotation axis of the rotator.

8. The rotation angle detector according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first detecting body, the second detecting body, and the auxiliary detecting body has a rotation axis which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotator.

9. A rotation angle detector comprising:

a rotator rotatable about a rotation axis;

a first detecting body engaged with said rotator for rotation with said rotator;

a first detector configured to detect rotation of said first detecting body;

a second detecting body engaged with said first detecting body for rotation with said first detecting body, such that said second detecting body is separated from said rotator and arranged to be rotated with rotation of said rotator via said first detecting body, said second detecting body being configured to rotate at a different speed than said first detecting body;

a second detector configured to detect rotation of said second detecting body;

an auxiliary detecting body engaged with said rotator for rotating with said rotator;

an auxiliary detector configured to detect rotation of said auxiliary detecting body; and

a controller configured to detect a rotation angle of said rotator based on a detection signal from at least one of said first detector, said second detector, and said auxiliary detector,

wherein said first detecting body and said auxiliary detecting body are engaged with said rotator at positions which are symmetrical about the rotation axis of said rotator.

10. A rotation angle detector according to claim 9, said controller is configured to detect the rotation angle of said rotator based on a detection signal output from one of said first detector and said auxiliary detector.

11. The rotation angle detector according to claim 9, wherein said second detecting body and said auxiliary detecting body are configured to rotate at a same speed.

12. The rotation angle detector according to claim 9, wherein said controller is configured to compare a detection signal from said auxiliary detector to a detection signal from said first detector.

13. The rotation angle detector according to claim 12, wherein said controller is configured to detect the rotation angle using a larger one of the detection signal from said auxiliary detector and the detection signal from said first detector.

14. The rotation angle detector according to claim 12, wherein said controller is configured to determine an abnormality in at least one of said first detecting body, said auxiliary detecting body, and said first detector, and said auxiliary detector when there is a difference not less than a predetermined value between the detection signal from said auxiliary detector and the detection signal from said first detector.

15. The rotation angle detector according to claim 9, wherein said first detecting body, said second detecting body, and said auxiliary detecting body each have a rotation axis;

and the rotation axis of said rotator, and the rotation axes of said first detecting body, said second detecting body, and said auxiliary detecting body are parallel to each other.

16. The rotation angle detector according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said first detecting body, said second detecting body, and said auxiliary detecting body has a rotation axis which forms an angle greater than 0 degrees with the rotation axis of said rotator.

17. The rotation angle detector according to claim 9, wherein at least one of said first detecting body, said second detecting body, and said auxiliary detecting body has a rotation axis which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of said rotator.