A torque sensor including a shaft that receives an applied torque is disclosed. The shaft includes a magnetoelastic region that generates a non-negligible magnetic field responsive to the applied torque and one or more null regions that each generates a negligible magnetic field. The torque sensor includes a plurality of null region sensors proximal a null region that generate a null region magnetic field measure corresponding to a magnitude of an ambient magnetic field. The torque sensor includes a magnetoelastic region sensor proximal the magnetoelastic region that generates a magnetoelastic region magnetic field measure corresponding to the magnitude of the ambient magnetic field and a magnitude of the non-negligible magnetic field. The torque sensor includes a controller coupled to the null region sensors and the magnetoelastic region sensor that calculates a magnitude of the applied torque based on the null region magnetic field measures and the magnetoelastic region magnetic field measure.

A sensor unit for a steering system, in particular a steer-by-wire steering system, includes a component to be monitored and having a multifunctional position sensor, which has at least one spring element and at least one piezoelectric sensor, which is associated with the spring element and is provided at a first end of the spring element. The spring element is associated with the component to be monitored via a second end opposite to the first end. A steering wheel subassembly, a rack subassembly and a steering system are furthermore described.

An angular position sensor may include a housing, and a rotor including a rotor assembly with a rotor latching device. The rotor and the housing are connected by the rotor latching device secured by a retaining ring. The retaining ring can be transferred into a secured position in an axial direction. The retaining ring is integral with the rotor assembly and features at least one retaining element with which the retaining ring secures the connection of rotor and housing. The retaining ring and the rotor latching device each feature corresponding latching elements. The rotor assembly features axial position-securing elements. The latching elements interact such that the retaining ring is secured in an axial direction along the rotary axis relative to the rotor. The axial position-securing elements interact so that the rotor is secured essentially free of play on the housing in an axial direction along the rotary axis.

An apparatus for estimating a column torque in a motor-driven power steering system includes a vehicle speed sensing unit configured to sense a vehicle speed; a steering sensing unit configured to sense a steering state of a driver; a yaw rate sensor configured to output a measured yaw rate by sensing a tilted state of a vehicle; and a column torque estimation unit configured to calculate a self-aligning torque and an estimated yaw rate based on the vehicle speed and the steering state inputted from the vehicle speed sensing unit and the steering sensing unit, estimate a column torque by adjusting angular velocity compensation gains with respect to a steering angular velocity for each of the estimated yaw rate and the vehicle speed, and output a final column torque by adjusting the estimated column torque according to a difference between the measured yaw rate and the estimated yaw rate.

A steering control device, a steering motor, a steering apparatus, and a steering control method are provided. The steering control device includes a first steering controller connected to a first winding of a steering motor, a second steering controller connected to a second winding of the steering motor, and a third steering controller connected to a third winding of the steering motor. The first to third steering controllers may monitor corresponding states and control the steering motor in accordance with a result of the monitoring.

A sensor assembly for a vehicle including a sensor module having a main printed circuit board (PCB). A plurality of auxiliary printed circuit boards (PCBs) are coupled to the main PCB and electrically connected to the main PCB. Each of the plurality of auxiliary PCBs has at least one sensor that is configured to generate a signal. Each of the plurality of auxiliary PCBs are coupled to each other in a defined position relative to each other. A plurality of attachment elements couple the plurality of auxiliary PCBs and the main PCB to at least partially maintain the defined positions of the auxiliary PCBs relative to each other and to electrically connect the plurality of auxiliary PCBs to the main PCB. A retainer abuts the plurality of auxiliary PCBs.

A sensor device includes a first stator pair, consisting of a first and second ferromagnetic stators and a second stator pair, consisting of the second ferromagnetic stator and a third ferromagnetic stator. The sensor device includes a multipole magnet, rotatable relative to the two stator pairs. A magnetic field is induced as a result of the rotation. The sensor device includes first and second magnetic field sensors configured to output first and second sensor signals, respectively. The sensor device includes a magnetic flux concentrator configured to concentrate the induced magnetic field at the location of the first magnetic field sensor and at the location of the second magnetic field sensor. The magnetic flux concentrator and the two magnetic field sensors are arranged such that an influence of a rotation-independent magnetic stray field on the sensor signals is compensated for upon difference formation or summation applied to the sensor signals.

A steering wheel in which detection is made of an electrostatic capacitance generated between a hand of an occupant and a sensor electrode of a rim section to detect contact of the occupant's hand with the rim. The sensor electrode is separated in a peripheral direction of the rim section into a first electrode and a second electrode. This enables the installation surface area of the sensor electrode to be made smaller, enabling the cost of the sensor electrode to be reduced.

Disclosed is an electronic device for determining the angular position of a shaft of a motor vehicle, the device including a printed circuit board and a magnetic guide including at least two fastening tabs for fastening to the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including a base substrate and at least two fastening areas for fastening the magnetic guide, each designed to receive a fastening tab of the magnetic guide, the fastening tab defining a fastening orifice. Each fastening area is defined on the base substrate of the printed circuit board and includes a pad fastened to the base substrate. Each fastening tab is joined to the pad of the corresponding fastening area by way of an adhesive that is applied in its fastening orifice.

An electric power steering system. One example includes a steering control, a steering shaft connected to the steering control, a steering rack, a sensor configured to detect an operating parameter of the steering rack or an electric motor, and an electronic controller. In one example, the electronic controller is configured to receive data indicative of the operating parameter from the sensor, compare the data to a known characteristic curve, the known characteristic curve indicating potential damage to a component of the electric power steering system, and when the data matches the known characteristic curve, output an indication to a user that potential damage has occurred to the component of the electric power steering system.