Embodiments relate to magnetic field sensors, such as magnetic field angle sensors with generally on-axis arrangements of sensor elements relative to a rotation axis of a magnet or shaft. The shaft comprises or is coupled to an end portion that comprises a soft magnetic material, in embodiments, with the end portion having an end surface proximate the sensor that is rotationally asymmetric with respect to the rotation axis running through the length of the shaft. The sensor comprises at least three magnetic field sensing elements arranged in a plane generally perpendicular to the shaft and rotation axis. Circuitry forming part of or coupled to the sensor is configured to estimate a rotational position of the shaft by combining the signals of the at least three magnetic field sensing elements.

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, detecting a position, including a polarity, of a rotor to detect incorrect rotor position offset of an electric machine without generating torque or motion within the electric machine.

In a position measuring device (5) and a method for ascertaining positions of an object (3) to be measured, at least one capacitive position measuring sensor (7) provides a position measurement signal (P.sub.M) relating to the object (3) to be measured and at least one capacitive reference measurement sensor (14) provides a reference measurement signal (R.sub.M). The measuring sensors (7, 14) are connected to a computing unit (8) which is embodied to calculate a position signal (P) to ascertain the positions from the position measurement signal (P.sub.M) and the reference measurement signal (R.sub.M). As a result of interfering influences being contained substantially equally in the position measurement signal (P.sub.M) and the reference measurement signal (R.sub.M) as an interference signal (S), it is possible to determine and eliminate the interference signal (S) during the calculation.

Disclosed is an alternating electric field based plane 2D time-grating displacement sensor which includes two parts: the base of fixed ruler and the base of moving ruler, and the two parts are installed in parallel. The base of fixed ruler is arranged with square excitation electrodes that are respectively staggered coded along axis X and Y, and the base of moving ruler is arranged with induction electrodes arranged adjacently along X-axis and Y-axis, and the four induction groups respectively output four traveling wave signals through electric field coupling, and summation of adjacent output signals with an adder can simultaneously decouple two traveling wave signals with opposite phases and only containing X-axis displacement and two traveling wave signals with opposite phases and only containing Y-axis displacement; two traveling wave signals in either direction are differenced by a subtractor to eliminate common mode interference.

This detection device includes a sensor electrode, a shield electrode, which has a parasitic capacitance between the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and is driven by an AC voltage, a detection circuit, which is electrically connected to the sensor electrode and the shield electrode and detects the electrostatic capacitance of the sensor electrode, a capacitor, which is connected in series between the sensor electrode and the detection circuit, and a bias unit, which biases the potential of the sensor electrode via a resistor.

Position sensing apparatus is provided. In one example implementation, the position sensing apparatus comprises a first member having an excitation conductive winding and a detection conductive winding formed thereon, and a second member having a resonant circuit formed thereon. An integrated circuit comprising excitation signal generation and detection signal processing circuitry is arranged to generate an alternating excitation signal at a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit and to process an alternating detection signal induced in the detection conductive winding as a result of a magnetic field generated by the alternating excitation signal flowing through the detection conductive winding, and the excitation conductive winding and the detection conductive winding are arranged so that the detection signal varies in dependence on the relative position of the first and second member. Phase-shift circuitry is arranged to introduce a phase shift to one of the excitation signal and the detection signal such that the excitation signal output by the integrated circuit and the detection signal input to the detection circuit are in phase or in anti-phase with each other.

The present invention provides a magnet unit and a position detection device that are excellent in thermal shock resistance without the risk of being damaged due to a temperature change and that are capable of detecting a position with high accuracy. A magnet unit comprises: a magnet that moves in a linear or rotating manner relative to a magnetic detection element (magnetic detection section) for detecting a change in a magnetic field; and a magnet holding member that moves in a linear or rotating manner while being fixed to an object L to be detected and that holds the magnet attached thereto. The magnet holding member has a fixed part that is fixed to the object L to be detected and a magnet housing part to which the magnet is attached. The magnet housing part has openings where opposite end surface portions of the magnet are exposed.

A pig has a body of resiliently compressible material extending along a central longitudinal axis. At least one strain gauge is embedded in the material of the body. The or each strain gauge extends transversely with respect to the central longitudinal axis and is arranged to deflect and elongate longitudinally with longitudinal deflection of a forward end of the body.

A pig has a body of resiliently compressible material extending along a central longitudinal axis. At least one strain gauge is embedded in the material of the body. The or each strain gauge extends transversely with respect to the central longitudinal axis and is arranged to deflect and elongate longitudinally with longitudinal deflection of a forward end of the body.

A device for determining an angle of rotation and/or a torque of a rotating part, having at least one angle detector for detecting an angular position of the rotating part relative to a reference position and at least one indexer for indexing at a 360° rotation of the rotating part relative to the reference position, the angle detector having a rotor connected in a non-rotatable manner to the rotating part with a base body for attachment to the rotating part and a plurality of vanes extending radially outwardly from the base body. At least one of the vanes of the rotor have a marker detectable by means of the indexer.