| CPC G01L 3/105 (2013.01) [G01B 7/30 (2013.01); G01D 3/08 (2013.01); G01D 5/147 (2013.01); G01D 5/204 (2013.01); G01D 5/2046 (2013.01); G01D 5/56 (2013.01); G01L 3/1435 (2013.01)] | 6 Claims |
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1. An angle sensor system configured to sense an angle of a target that is rotatable about an axis of rotation, comprising:
a magnetic field sensor, comprising a magnetic field sensing element responsive to a magnetic field affected by movement of the target, and configured to generate a magnetic field sensor output signal indicative of an angle of the target;
an inductive sensor comprising:
an oscillator configured to generate an oscillation signal;
a primary coil coupled to receive the oscillation signal; and
one or more secondary coils electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil as a function of the angle of the target, wherein the inductive sensor is configured to generate an inductive sensor output signal indicative of the angle of the target; and
a checker configured to receive the magnetic field sensor output signal and the inductive sensor output signal and determine whether an error has occurred based on a comparison of the magnetic field sensor output signal and the inductive sensor output signal,
wherein the target comprises a conductive ferromagnetic material and has an outer radius, an intermediate radius, and an inner radius, and wherein the target further has a first plurality of features extending from the outer radius to the intermediate radius and a second plurality of features extending from the intermediate radius to the inner radius, wherein the first plurality of features comprises a different number of features than the second plurality of features, and wherein the first plurality of features and the second plurality of features are positioned in a target plane that is orthogonal with respect to the axis of rotation,
wherein magnetic field sensor comprises a first magnetic field sensor adjacent to the first plurality of features and comprising a first back bias magnet and a second magnetic field sensor adjacent to the second plurality of features and comprising a second back magnet, and wherein the inductive sensor comprises a first inductive sensor adjacent to the first plurality of features and a second inductive sensor adjacent to the second plurality of features, wherein the magnetic field sensor and the inductive sensor are positioned in a sensing plane that is substantially parallel with respect to the target plane.
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