A position of a target is determined using a linear inductive position sensor that includes a target coil, an excitation coil, two sensors and a Vernier processor. The sensors each include two or more receive coils. The receive coils include multiple twisted loops. In the first sensor, the coils have a first period, with loops offset by first distance. In the second sensor, the coils have a second period, with loops offset by a second distance. The target coil width is a function of the first distance and the second distance. During operation, the coils output voltages in which third, fifth and/or seventh harmonics are cancelled. Based on the voltages, the sensors output respective first and second position signals, from which the Vernier processor calculates the target's position along an axis of the position sensor.

A system, comprising a target, a first receiving coil array, and a second receiving coil array. The target includes: (i) a first array of conductive features that are arranged in a line or arc and separated from one another by voids, and (ii) a second array of conductive features that are arranged in a line or arc and separated from one another by voids, the conductive features in the first array being staggered with respect to the conductive features in the second array. The first receiving coil array is configured to sense a first magnetic field that is associated with the first array of conductive features. The second receiving coil array is configured to sense a second magnetic field that is associated with the second array of conductive features.

An apparatus comprises a position sensor circuit including an offset compensation circuitry to compensate for an offset voltage of a position signal. The offset compensation circuitry includes at least a first current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a second current DAC. The first current DAC includes a first reference input to receive a first input current that varies in response to changes in amplitude of an excitation signal. The first current DAC further includes first logic inputs to adjustably set to respective logic levels to produce a first output current to substantially match a predetermined constant current. The second current DAC includes a second reference input to receive the first output current from the first current DAC. The second current DAC further includes second logic inputs to adjustably set to respective logic levels to produce a second output current to compensate for the offset voltage.

A position of a target is determined using a linear inductive position sensor that includes a target coil, an excitation coil, two sensors and a Vernier processor. The sensors each include two or more receive coils. The receive coils include multiple twisted loops. In the first sensor, the coils have a first period, with loops offset by first distance. In the second sensor, the coils have a second period, with loops offset by a second distance. The target coil width is a function of the first distance and the second distance. During operation, the coils output voltages in which third, fifth and/or seventh harmonics are cancelled. Based on the voltages, the sensors output respective first and second position signals, from which the Vernier processor calculates the target's position along an axis of the position sensor.

A system for inductive energy transmission may include a stationary induction charging device, a mobile induction charging device, and a positioning device configured to detect a relative position of respective charging coils of the charging devices during charging. The positioning device may include a transmitting device and a receiving device that are each arranged in a respective one of the charging devices. The transmitting device may include at least two transmitters that simultaneously emit a respective transmission signal with an associated predetermined frequency. The receiving device may include a receiver configured to output a superimposition of all received transmission signals as a time-dependent received signal. The positioning device may be configured to i) determine an associated amplitude for each transmission signal from the time-dependent received signal and/or ii) provide a position information item from the determined amplitudes. The position information item may represent the relative position of the coils.

Disclosed are an electromagnetic structure for an angle sensor and an angle sensor. The electromagnetic structure for the angle sensor includes a stator assembly including a stator core and stator windings and a rotor assembly including a rotor core and rotor windings. The stator windings are provided on a side of the stator core, and the stator windings include a stator excitation winding and a stator angle winding. The rotor windings are provided on a side of the rotor core, the rotor windings are located on the side of the stator winding away from the stator core, an air gap is formed between the stator windings and the rotor windings, and the rotor windings include a rotor excitation winding and a rotor angle winding.