An inductive position encoder includes a scale, detector, and signal processor. The scale includes a periodic pattern of signal modulating elements (SME) arranged along a measuring axis (MA) with spatial wavelength W1. The detector comprises sensing elements and a field generating coil that generates changing magnetic flux. The sensing elements comprise conductive loops that provide detector signals responsive to a local effect on the magnetic flux provided by adjacent SME's. The conductive loops have an average MA dimension that spatially filters a 3.sup.rd spatial harmonic signal component and are located along the MA according to an “inter-loop” shift relationship wherein first and second equal numbers of positive and negative polarity loops, are shifted in opposite directions by W1/4K (K=3, 5, 7, 9). Third and Kth spatial harmonic components are both reduced in the detector signals while using a novel “layout friendly” loop arrangement to solve longstanding detrimental layout problems.

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.

Inductive position sensor system for high-speed motors, without said sensor system comprising magnets, brushes or magnetic shields, the sensor system comprising a sensor which comprises an inductor coil and a passive coil, the inductor coil inducing voltage in the passive coil, and an electronic signal processing circuit, said electronic circuit comprising a chip for processing a signal corresponding to the magnetic field induced in the passive coil; the sensor system also comprising a conductor element which is movable with respect to the passive coil such that the magnetic field induced in the passive coil varies; wherein the sensor comprises three coils, one of said three coils being an inductor coil and two of said three coils being passive coils; and the chip is an analogue chip, said analogue chip supplying an analogue sine-cosine output signal.

Methods and apparatus for determining a mechanical angle of a target from sine and cosine signals generated by inductive sensing elements by applying harmonic compensation on the sine and cosine signals using possible mechanical angles and analyzing results of the applied harmonic compensation. One of the mechanical angles can be selected based on the results of the applied harmonic compensation. In embodiments, a cost function can be used to select the mechanical angle.

An angular position sensor comprising two annular sensors, one annular sensor for generating a coarse resolution time varying signal in the presence of a rotatable inductive coupling element and the other annular sensor for generating a fine resolution time varying signal in the presence of the rotatable inductive coupling element. The rotatable inductive coupling element comprising a first annular portion comprising at least one annular conductive sector and at least one annular non-conductive sector and a second annular portion comprising at least one annular conductive sectors and at least one annular non-conductive sector, wherein the number of annular conductive sectors of the first annular portion and the second annular portion are different. In particular, the annular conductive sectors of the annular portions may comprise 50% or 75% of the total area of the annular portions.

A scanning element includes a circuit board having a first detector unit provided with a first receiver conductor trace arranged circumferentially about an axis in the circumferential direction. The course of the first receiver conductor trace has: a periodic configuration along a first line; a first gap along its extension in the circumferential direction; a first amplitude in the first quadrant or in the second quadrant of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a second amplitude in the third quadrant or in the fourth quadrant of the coordinate system. The origin of the coordinate system is located on the axis, and the ordinate extends centrically through the first gap in relation to the circumferential direction. The second amplitude is smaller than the first amplitude.

A scanning element includes a multi-layer circuit board and electronic components, and the circuit board includes a first detector unit having a first receiver track. Moreover, the circuit board includes a second detector unit having a second receiver track. The circuit board has a geometrical center plane located between the detector units. The receiver tracks include first and second receiver conductor traces, each having a periodic characteristic, and the first receiver track has a first gap along its extension, which is restricted by the first receiver conductor traces. The second receiver track has a second gap, which is restricted by the second receiver conductor traces. The circuit board has a plated through-hole arranged both within the first gap and within the second gap.

A scanning element includes a multilayer circuit board having a first detector unit arranged in a first layer and in a second layer. In addition, the circuit board has a second detector unit, which is arranged in a third layer and in a fourth layer, and a first shielding layer, which is arranged in a fifth layer. The circuit board moreover has a geometrical center plane, which is located between the detector units, and furthermore has vias, which are arranged at an offset from one another in a direction parallel to the center plane. The fifth layer is structured such that that a web that is electrically insulated with respect to this first shielding layer is arranged next to the first shielding layer, the web being electrically contacted with the vias and electrically connecting the vias to one another.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a novel inductive rotational position sensor that includes a sensor module having transmitting and receiving coils formed on a printed circuit board with a signal processor located in a center area enclosed by the transmitting and receiving coils. This arrangement permits a more compact sensor module. The entire sensor module can be positioned inside a cavity, which has a diameter generally the same as the diameter of the rotational element whose position is being sensed. The arrangement also permits a coupler to be formed on the end of the target. The sensor is concentric with the transfer case shaft and an annulus bore of a transfer case. The sensor is non-contacting and has no movable parts.

An Eddy current sensor device includes a sender member emitting a magnetic field and two sensing members. A central position sensing member includes a pair of central sense coils each being formed by a plurality of turns, and an edge position sensing member includes a pair of edge sense coils each being formed by a plurality of turns.