US 11,859,667 B2
Low-cost modular inductive position sensor and method of manufacturing it
Lauri Juhani Salmia, Espoo (FI); Petri J. Mäki-Ontto, Espoo (FI); and Esa H. M. Vikman, Espoo (FI)
Assigned to Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed by Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/879,465.
Application 17/879,465 is a continuation of application No. 16/551,078, filed on Aug. 26, 2019, granted, now 11,401,971.
Prior Publication US 2023/0055707 A1, Feb. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. F16C 32/04 (2006.01); H02K 3/52 (2006.01); H02K 7/09 (2006.01); H02K 1/30 (2006.01); G01D 5/20 (2006.01); H02K 11/225 (2016.01)
CPC F16C 32/0474 (2013.01) [G01D 5/2046 (2013.01); H02K 1/30 (2013.01); H02K 3/524 (2013.01); H02K 7/09 (2013.01); H02K 11/225 (2016.01); H02K 2203/03 (2013.01); H02K 2203/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position sensor for positioning a shaft of an electrical motor, the position sensor comprising:
a plurality of E-shaped ferromagnetic cores arranged to define a circular opening therethrough to receive a shaft, each E-shaped ferromagnetic core having at least a middle tooth, a first side tooth, and a second side tooth, the second side tooth of each E-shaped ferromagnetic core at least partially overlapping the first side tooth of an adjacent E-shaped ferromagnetic core of the arranged plurality of E-shaped ferromagnetic cores and thereby defining a set of overlapping side teeth;
a first plurality of electromagnetic coils, each electromagnetic coil positioned around a respective set of overlapping side teeth;
a second plurality of electromagnetic coils, each electromagnetic coil positioned around a respective middle tooth; and
a control circuit coupled to the electromagnetic coils of the first plurality of electromagnetic coils and the second plurality of electromagnetic coils, the control circuit configured to receive position signals from the electromagnetic coils and control power supplied to the electromagnetic coils of the first plurality of electromagnetic coils to cause rotation of the shaft based on the received position signals.