An inductive gear sensing system suitable for sensing gear (gear tooth) movement, such as some combination of speed, direction and position, based on differential sensor response waveforms. Example embodiments of inductive gear sensing with differential sensor response for different gear configurations include generating differential pulsed/phased sensor response signals from dual differential sensors based on axial (proximity-type) sensing for offset differential sensors (FIG. 1B, 102, 102; FIG. 2B, 201, 202), and generating asymmetrical response signals from a single sensor based on lateral and axial sensing with either asymmetrical gear teeth (FIG. 3A, 30A; FIG. 3B, 30B) or an asymmetrical sensor (FIG. 4B, 401) or a combination of both.

A variable inductor direction sensor may include a rotatable body having a first circumferential tooth array and a stationary body having a second circumferential tooth array. The second circumferential tooth array may be concentric with the first circumferential tooth array. The rotatable body may be disposed relative to the stationary body such that one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array circumscribes the other of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array. Further, at least one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array has a non-uniform circumferential geometry.

A shifting device with two positive-locking shifting element halves includes a positive connection between the shifting element halves that is able to be established or released. The respective prevailing operating states of the shifting element halves are determined through a sensor device. The surface areas of an encoder contour relative to a measuring device are formed in a convex or concave manner, whereas a perpendicular gap between the surface areas of the encoder contour and a permanent magnet, starting from a joint area between the surface areas in the direction of an end area of the surface areas increases or decreases in each case.

A rotary encoder includes a substrate, two or more switches disposed on the substrate, a mechanical wave generator, and a controller. The mechanical wave generator is disposed proximate to the substrate. The substrate and the mechanical wave generator are adapted to rotate relative to each other about a central axis. The mechanical wave generator has a profile shape that repeats circumferentially about the central axis. The profile shape has ridges and valleys that engage the two or more switches to activate and deactivate the two or more switches as the substrate and the mechanical wave generator rotate relative to each other. The controller is electrically coupled to the two or more switches to track activations of the two or more switches and digitally encode a rotational position of the substrate relative to the wave generator based upon the activations.

A variable inductor direction sensor may include a rotatable body having a first circumferential tooth array and a stationary body having a second circumferential tooth array. The second circumferential tooth array may be concentric with the first circumferential tooth array. The rotatable body may be disposed relative to the stationary body such that one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array circumscribes the other of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array. Further, at least one of the first circumferential tooth array and the second circumferential tooth array has a non-uniform circumferential geometry.