An inductive sensing-based user interface device which includes a conductive barrier with at least one aperture, a magnetic flux modifier attached to a rotary member on one side of the barrier and an inductive structure on an opposed side of the barrier aligned with the aperture, magnetically coupled to the flux modifier, wherein a change in sensed inductance is used to determine rotational input.

A magnet for a magnetic angle sensing system, the magnet having a tapered geometry in parallel with a rotation axis of the magnet, and configured to be mounted to a rotatable member such that a thin end of the magnet is closer to a magnetic field sensing element located on the rotation axis than a broad end of the magnet.

An absolute position measurement system includes a multipole magnet including alternating magnetic poles extending along a multipole extension direction, the multipole magnet has a linear changing configuration relative to a linear path and produces a magnetic field having a field strength that undergoes a sinusoidal change along the linear path due to the alternating magnetic poles and a linear change along the linear path according to the linear changing configuration relative to the linear path; and a magnetic sensor configured to move along the linear path. The magnetic sensor includes a first sensor element arrangement configured to generate a first sensor signal, a second sensor element arrangement configured to generate a second sensor signal that is phase shifted with respect to the first sensor signal, and a processing circuit configured to calculate an absolute position of the magnetic sensor based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

Systems and methods for measuring displacement parameters of rotating shafts and couplings are disclosed. In some aspects, a measurement system includes a shaft extended in a longitudinal direction and a target wheel configured to rotate with the shaft. The target wheel includes sensor targets circumferentially distributed around the target wheel. Some of the targets are slanted in the longitudinal direction and some of the targets are parallel to the longitudinal direction. The measurement system includes a sensor array including at least three sensors mounted radially around the shaft and configured to detect the sensor targets as the target wheel rotates with the shaft. The measurement system includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals from the sensors and determine, based on the sensor signals, at least an axial displacement measurement of the shaft in the longitudinal direction and a radial displacement measurement of the shaft.

A rotor apparatus includes: a rotor rotatable around a rotational axis; an angular position identification layer disposed to surround the rotational axis and configured to rotate according to rotation of the rotor, and having a width varying with angular positions of the rotor; and an angular range identification layer disposed to surround the rotational axis, configured to rotate according to the rotation of the rotor, having a shape different from a shape of the angular position identification layer, and configured such that an overall width of a portion of the angular range identification layer corresponding to an angular position range, among a plurality of different angular position ranges of the rotor, in which an angular position corresponding to a point having the largest change in width of the angular position identification layer is located, is different from an overall width of a remaining portion of the angular range identification layer.

A magnetic position sensor comprises a first magnetic rod including a first end and a second end, and a second magnetic rod including a third end and a fourth end, the first end and the third end at a first distance, the second end and the fourth end at a second distance greater than the first distance. The magnetic position sensor further includes a magnet configured to travel relative to the first magnetic rod and the second magnetic rod along a first axis, and one or more magnetic sensors communicatively coupled to the magnet.

Systems and methods for measuring displacement parameters of rotating shafts and couplings are disclosed. In some aspects, a measurement system includes a shaft extended in a longitudinal direction and a target wheel configured to rotate with the shaft. The target wheel includes sensor targets circumferentially distributed around the target wheel. Some of the targets are slanted in the longitudinal direction and some of the targets are parallel to the longitudinal direction. The measurement system includes a sensor array including at least three sensors mounted radially around the shaft and configured to detect the sensor targets as the target wheel rotates with the shaft. The measurement system includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals from the sensors and determine, based on the sensor signals, at least an axial displacement measurement of the shaft in the longitudinal direction and a radial displacement measurement of the shaft.

A monitoring system for monitoring the axial position of a rotating shaft includes a phonic wheel which is mounted coaxially to the shaft for rotation therewith. The phonic wheel includes a circumferential row of teeth. The system further includes a sensor configured to detect the passage of the row of teeth by generating an alternating measurement signal. The teeth are configured around the row such that the teeth contribute a component to the alternating measurement signal. The teeth are tapered in an axial direction of the wheel and the sensor is positioned relative to the phonic wheel such that, in use, axial displacement of the shaft causes the signal generated by the sensor to vary either or both of the amplitude and the pulse width of the component, whereby the axial position of the shaft can be monitored.

An inductive sensing-based user interface device which includes a conductive barrier with at least one aperture, a magnetic flux modifier attached to a rotary member on one side of the barrier and an inductive structure on an opposed side of the barrier aligned with the aperture, magnetically coupled to the flux modifier, wherein a change in sensed inductance is used to determine rotational input.

Inductance values are measured though the use of a charge transfer based measurement system. During a first phase, a target inductor is connected to an energy source to allow current through an inductor to increase. In a second phase, the inductor is disconnected from the energy source, to allow the current to decrease, and to facilitate transfer of charge to a capacitor. The phases may be repeated, and a count is kept of the number of repetitions.