US 12,013,300 B2
Torque sensing device and method
David Witts, Cambridge (GB); and Paul Smith, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH, Werne (DE)
Filed by Kyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH, Werne (DE)
Filed on May 5, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/313,019.
Application 18/313,019 is a continuation of application No. 17/106,720, filed on Nov. 30, 2020, granted, now 11,692,887.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/037,652, filed on Jun. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0273080 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01L 3/10 (2006.01); G01L 5/22 (2006.01)
CPC G01L 3/105 (2013.01) [G01L 5/221 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A torque sensor comprising:
at least one excitation coil;
at least one oscillator circuit coupled to the excitation coil, wherein the oscillator circuit is configured to generate a periodic voltage signal and energize the excitation coil with the periodic voltage signal;
a first channel, the first channel comprising:
a first receiver, the first receiver comprising a plurality of first receiver structures that are periodically repeated; and
a first rotor target configured to be coupled to a first rotor, the first rotor target configured to affect a strength of the inductive coupling between the excitation coil and the first receiver;
a second channel; the second channel comprising:
a second receiver, the second receiver comprising a plurality of second receiver structures that are periodically repeated; and
a second rotor target configured to be coupled to a second rotor, the second rotor target configured to affect a strength of the inductive coupling between the excitation coil and the second receiver; and
processing circuitry configured to provide a first signal associated with the first channel indicative of a position of the first rotor target relative to the first receiver; the processing circuitry configured to provide a second signal associated with the second channel indicative of a position of the second rotor target relative to the second receiver;
wherein torque sensor comprises one or more features to reduce electromagnetic coupling of the first channel and the second channel.