A position sensor system for determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic structure, the system comprising: said magnetic structure comprising a plurality of non-equidistant poles; said sensor device comprising at least three magnetic sensors spaced apart over predefined distances; and the sensor device being adapted for: a) measuring at least three in-plane magnetic field components, and for calculating two in-plane field gradients therefrom; b) measuring at least three out-of-plane magnetic field components, and for calculating two out-of-plane field gradients therefrom; c) calculating a coarse signal based on these gradients; d) calculating a fine signal based on these gradients; e) determining said position based on the coarse signal and the fine signal.

A rotational angle detection apparatus is provided with a magnet disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with an axis of rotation, having a substantially circular shape when viewed along the axis of rotation, and including a magnetization vector component in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation; a magnetic sensor that outputs a sensor signal on the basis of change in a magnetic field accompanying rotation of the magnet; and a rotational angle detector that detects a rotational angle of the rotating body on the basis of the sensor signal output by the magnetic sensor; wherein the magnet has a curved inclined surface with a concave shape along the axis of rotation from a prescribed position on the outer side in a radial direction toward the axis of rotation, and when a circular virtual plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation and centered at the axis of rotation is established at a position opposed to the curved inclined surface, the magnetic sensor is disposed at a position at which the amplitudes of a magnetic field intensity H.sub.r in a radial direction and a magnetic field intensity H.sub. in a circumferential direction on the virtual plane are substantially the same, and the magnetic field intensities H.sub.r and H.sub. in the radial direction and/or the circumferential direction is output as the sensor signal.

A resolver includes a resolver rotor fixed to a rotating shaft, and a resolver stator disposed around the resolver rotor. The resolver stator includes an annular stator core having a plurality of salient poles which protrudes radially inward and which is disposed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction. The resolver rotor has an outer peripheral surface defined by an outer radius Rm() which is obtained by blending, with respect to a first function Gp() where an air gap between the resolver rotor and the salient poles is proportional to a sine wave (sin ) related to an angle of the resolver rotor, a second function Gip() where the inverse of the air gap is proportional to the sine wave (sin ), at a predetermined ratio .

A rotational angle detection apparatus is provided with a magnet disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with an axis of rotation, having a substantially circular shape when viewed along the axis of rotation, and including a magnetization vector component in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation; a magnetic sensor that outputs a sensor signal on the basis of change in a magnetic field accompanying rotation of the magnet; and a rotational angle detector that detects a rotational angle of the rotating body on the basis of the sensor signal output by the magnetic sensor; wherein the magnet has a curved inclined surface with a concave shape along the axis of rotation from a prescribed position on the outer side in a radial direction toward the axis of rotation, and when a circular virtual plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation and centered at the axis of rotation is established at a position opposed to the curved inclined surface, the magnetic sensor is disposed at a position at which the amplitudes of a magnetic field intensity H.sub.r in a radial direction and a magnetic field intensity H.sub. in a circumferential direction on the virtual plane are substantially the same, and the magnetic field intensities H.sub.r and H.sub. in the radial direction and/or the circumferential direction is output as the sensor signal.

An apparatus for sensing a rotating body includes a detection target arranged on a surface perpendicular to an extension direction of a rotating shaft of the rotating body, a sensor module facing the detection target, and comprising two sensors disposed in a rotation direction of the rotating body, and a rotation information calculator configured to calculate rotation information of the rotating body based on sensed values from the two sensors, wherein the rotation information calculator is further configured to calculate a rotation angle of the rotating body in accordance with a difference value generated from the sensed values.

A ring-shaped magnet arrangement for use in determining a rotational angle of a rotatable shaft. The ring-shaped magnet arrangement being connected to or formed as part of the rotatable shaft for co-rotation with the rotatable shaft around a rotational axis. The ring-shaped magnet arrangement includes a first ring portion including a first wedge surface and a second ring portion including a second wedge surface. The first wedge surface and the second wedge surface form a wedge in a sensor facing end of the ring-shaped magnet arrangement. The sensor facing end is axially opposite a radial end of the ring-shaped magnet arrangement.

There is provided a resolver rotor in a resolver provided to a rotating electrical machine. The resolver rotor is formed from an annular body. A phase determination hole for setting a relative position to a shaft of a motor is provided at a near outer peripheral portion of the resolver rotor. A virtual circle is set which comes into contact with a section of the phase determination hole at a proximal end to an inside diameter of the resolver rotor, and has a center point coincident with the center of the resolver rotor. A pair of hole portions are arranged at portions extending from the virtual circle to an outside diameter side of the resolver rotor while taking in the virtual circle.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an inductive position sensor assembly is provided. The inductive sensor assembly includes a sensor and a coupler element. The sensor includes a transmitter coil having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and a receiver coil positioned within the outer diameter of the transmitter coil. The coupler element has a geometric continuous curve shape. The coupler element is positioned within the outer diameter of the transmitter coil such that a maximum diameter of the geometric continuous curve shape is the outer diameter of the transmitter coil. When the coupler element is moved, the geometric continuous curve shape of the coupler element modify an inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil.

An apparatus for sensing a rotating body includes a unit to be detected, including a first pattern portion having at least one first pattern and a second pattern portion having at least one second pattern, and configured to rotate around a rotating shaft, a sensor module comprising a first sensor disposed opposite to the first pattern portion and a second sensor disposed opposite to the second pattern portion, and a rotation information calculator configured to calculate a difference value by differentiating output signals of the first sensor and the second sensor, and to compare comparison values, determined according to a target sensing angle and a size of the first pattern and the second pattern, with the difference value.

A position detection system includes a first magnet, a first soft ferromagnetic member, and a magnetic detector. The first magnet is magnetized in a first direction and generates a first magnetic field including a first magnetic line. The first soft ferromagnetic member is rectilinearly movable along a second direction and includes a first outer edge having a first outer edge part remote from the first magnet by a first distance in a third direction and a second outer edge part remote from the first magnet by a second distance in the third direction. The first and second outer edge parts are disposed at different positions in the second direction. The magnetic detector is kept at a predetermined constant position relative to the first magnet. The first magnetic line passes through the magnetic detector in the first direction when the first soft ferromagnetic member is at rest.