A measuring arrangement for distance or angle measurement and a corresponding measuring method are described. In accordance with one example, the measuring arrangement comprises a scale having magnetization which varies along a measuring direction and which brings about a correspondingly varying magnetic field. The measuring device furthermore comprises at least one scanning head which is permeated by the varying magnetic field depending on the relative position with respect to the scale in the measuring direction. The scanning head comprises the following: at least one ferromagnetic film having, on account of the magneto impedance effect, a local electrical impedance that is dependent on the magnetic field and varies along the measuring direction, and at least one sensor unit configured to generate at least two phase-shifted sensor signals which are dependent on the local electrical impedance of the film.

A scale for inductive position measurement along a measurement direction X includes a support channel made of electrically conductive material having two interconnected spaced-apart side walls extending parallel to the measurement direction X and enclosing an interstitial space therebetween. A succession of first graduations made of electrically conductive material are disposed on the support channel, located in the interstitial space opposite and spaced from one of the two side walls and extending parallel to the measurement direction X. A succession of second graduations made of electrically conductive material are disposed on the support channel, located in the interstitial space opposite and spaced from the other one of the two side walls and extending parallel to the measurement direction X. The succession of first graduations and the succession of second graduations form a gap configured to receive a scanner operable to inductively scan the first graduations and the second graduations.

A sensor for detecting a position of an encoder magnet in a direction of motion, including: a first coil extending in the direction of motion, a second and third coil, which are aligned with the first coil and which are arranged symmetrical to each other with respect to a point of symmetry as observed in the direction of motion and which accordingly form a first and second transformer with the first coil, the transformation ratio of which transformers depends on the position of the encoder magnet, and a magnetic asymmetry, which changes the transformation ratio of one of the transformers with respect to the other transformer.

A positioning device (101) for producing a position signal indicative of a rotational position of a resolver is presented. The positioning device comprises a signal interface (102) for receiving alternating signals (V_cos, V_sin) from the resolver and a processing system (103) for generating the position signal based on position-dependent amplitudes of the alternating signals and on polarity information indicative of a polarity of an excitation signal (V_exc) of the resolver. The processing system is configured to recognize a polarity indicator, such as a change of frequency or phase, on a waveform of one or both of the alternating signals and to determine the polarity information based on the recognized polarity indicator. Thus, the polarity information related to the excitation signal is included in the alternating signals and therefore there is no need for a separate signaling channel for transferring the polarity information to the positioning device.

An inductive absolute position sensor has a scale with planar conducting features on a pattern repeating every spatial period T.sub.C along a measuring path and a reading head with planar windings: multipolar sine and cosine sense windings of spatial period T.sub.F=T.sub.C/M, M an integer, a unipolar first drive winding surrounding the sense windings and a multipolar second drive winding of spatial period T.sub.C/N along the measuring path, with N=M±1. An electronic circuit makes a first mode measurement using the first drive winding and a second mode measurement using the second drive winding. The absolute position in a range T.sub.C is computed from both modes' measurements. The sensor may be as compact as the incremental sensor it replaces, as the scale pattern and second drive winding needed for making it absolute do not need extra space.

Method of optimizing output of sensor for indicating location of metallic object. Sensor having primary electromagnetic coil to generate time varying magnetic field; secondary electromagnetic coil to detect time varying magnetic field as affected, by object to output, on basis of detected time varying magnetic field, signal indicative of location of object. Method includes steps of: supplying primary coil with alternating-current to result generated time varying magnetic field; locating object in first-position and recording signal output by secondary electromagnetic coil for range of frequencies of supplied alternating-current; locating object in second-position and recording signal output by secondary electromagnetic coil for range of frequencies of supplied alternating-current; calculating, for each of frequencies, a value for span to offset ratio of measured signals on basis of respective signals measured for object in first and second positions; determining frequency of supplied alternating-current which provides maximum span to offset ratio on basis of calculations.

A plurality of core bodies are housed within a casing having an opening portion on one end side. A core body selecting mechanism is provided which includes a plurality of operating portions coupled to each of the plurality of core bodies, and makes at least a tip of one core body among the plurality of core bodies selectively project from the opening portion of the casing. A pen pressure detecting portion common to the plurality of core bodies is provided within the casing. When the operating portion is operated to make at least the tip of the one core body project from the opening portion, part of the operated operating portion engages with the pen pressure detecting portion common to the plurality of core bodies, and the pen pressure detecting portion detects a pen pressure applied to the tip projected from the opening portion.

A resolver has a lead wire that can be slack even in a structure in which it is impossible to maintain the distance between an end of wound wire and a terminal pin without using a special jig. A lead wire of a stator coil 500 is entwined on a plurality of terminal pins 603 in a slack condition, and the entwined parts are fixed by soldering or welding. Terminal base 600 is then moved to a stator core 200 side, and the lead wire is made slack by contacting the lower surface of a terminal base body 601 to the upper surface of the stator core 200. Next, end part of the pins 306 of a primary insulator 300 are melted so as to fix the terminal base 600.

A displacement sensor comprises a first frame; a second frame; a first coil wherein a first voltage formed at the first frame is applied; a second coil formed at the first frame, wherein a current of a second voltage flows if the first voltage is applied to the first coil; a conductor coupled to the second frame; and a detector for calculating a relative position between the first frame and the second frame by monitoring the second voltage. Since two coils are embodied in one frame, the number of process times can be reduced and space utility can be enhanced.

In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor-less detection circuit is provided that includes a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A differential amplifier has an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for detecting a motor rotor position is provided that includes receiving a first back electromotive force that is at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The first back electromotive force is filtered to generate a first filtered voltage; and a first motor rotor position signal is generated in response to comparing the first filtered voltage with a reference voltage.