US 12,247,855 B2
Inductive angular position sensor
Jacques Jean Bertin, Pocatello, ID (US)
Assigned to SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed by SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ (US)
Filed on Mar. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/194,215.
Prior Publication US 2024/0328830 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. G01D 5/20 (2006.01); G01B 7/30 (2006.01); G01P 3/44 (2006.01)
CPC G01D 5/208 (2013.01) [G01B 7/30 (2013.01); G01P 3/44 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An inductive sensor comprising:
an exciter coil;
a non-resonant driver coupled to the exciter coil, the non-resonant driver configured to switch the exciter coil alternately between a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a voltage source to generate an excitation current in the exciter coil, the excitation current having a triangular-shaped amplitude;
a plurality of receiver coils;
a rotor coil mechanically coupled to a movable element, the rotor coil configured to couple a magnetic field generated by the excitation current to the plurality of receiver coils according to an angle-dependent inductive coupling between the rotor coil and the plurality of receiver coils, the magnetic field generating a plurality of coil voltages at the plurality of receiver coils; and
a difference encoder configured to compare the plurality of coil voltages to determine an angle measurement of the movable element.