A position sensor, wherein the position sensor detects the movement of a target relative to a sine receiver coil and a cosine receiver coil and generates a corresponding sine signal and a corresponding cosine signal, and a method for error detection of a position sensor.

An apparatus for sensing a position of a target, in particular for offset invariant sensing of the position of the target, is described as well as a corresponding method. The apparatus comprises at least three sensor elements. At least one sensor element of the at least three sensor elements generates a first magnetic field. At least two sensor elements of the at least three sensor elements receive a second magnetic field associated with the first magnetic field. The at least two sensor elements of the at least three sensor elements form at least one sensor element pair and provide a signal indicative of the position of the target.

A sensing apparatus for use in harsh environments to measure a target characteristic. The apparatus has a sensing element formed as a section of a coupled slow-wave structure including at least two impedance conductors each curled into a helix with opposing directions of winding around a dielectric base to form a resonator. The sensing element provides as an output signal a digital frequency that depends on the value of the measured characteristic. A target tube moves over the sensing element, covering and uncovering portions of the sensing element. An electronics module receives the output signal and displays the measured characteristic. A separate coaxial cable is connected to each impedance conductor on one end and to the electronics module on the other end, with the length of the coaxial cables separating the electronics module from the sensing element by a distance sufficient to avoid exposing the electronics module to the harsh environments.

A position detecting system detects and responds to the movement of a target through a sensing domain area of a plane. The movement causes the amount of the target that lies within a first sensing domain area of a first sensor to change. A second sensor detects a height from the plane to a sensor for enhancing accuracy of measurements from the first sensor.

An apparatus is arranged for sensing a position of a target, in particular for offset invariant sensing of the position of the target is described, as well as the respective target and the method. The apparatus comprises at least two sensor elements. At least one sensor element of the at least two sensor elements generates a magnetic field. At least one other sensor element of the at least two sensor elements receives the magnetic field and outputs at least one signal associated with the received magnetic field. The target affects a coupling of a magnetic flux of the magnetic field between the at least one sensor element generating the magnetic field and the at least one other sensor element receiving the magnetic field and wherein the target is non-rotational invariant.

A sensing apparatus for use in harsh environments to measure a target characteristic. The apparatus has a sensing element formed as a section of a coupled slow-wave structure including at least two impedance conductors each curled into a helix with opposing directions of winding around a dielectric base to form a resonator. The sensing element provides as an output signal a digital frequency that depends on the value of the measured characteristic. A target tube moves over the sensing element, covering and uncovering portions of the sensing element. An electronics module receives the output signal and displays the measured characteristic. A separate coaxial cable is connected to each impedance conductor on one end and to the electronics module on the other end, with the length of the coaxial cables separating the electronics module from the sensing element by a distance sufficient to avoid exposing the electronics module to the harsh environments.

An apparatus for sensing a position of a target, in particular for offset invariant sensing of the position of the target, is described as well as a corresponding method. The apparatus comprises at least three sensor elements. At least one sensor element of the at least three sensor elements generates a first magnetic field. At least two sensor elements of the at least three sensor elements receive a second magnetic field associated with the first magnetic field. The at least two sensor elements of the at least three sensor elements form at least one sensor element pair and provide a signal indicative of the position of the target.

An apparatus is arranged for sensing a position of a target, in particular for offset invariant sensing of the position of the target is described, as well as the respective target and the method. The apparatus comprises at least two sensor elements. At least one sensor element of the at least two sensor elements generates a magnetic field. At least one other sensor element of the at least two sensor elements receives the magnetic field and outputs at least one signal associated with the received magnetic field. The target affects a coupling of a magnetic flux of the magnetic field between the at least one sensor element generating the magnetic field and the at least one other sensor element receiving the magnetic field and wherein the target is non-rotational invariant.

A proximity sensor is provided with coils (11, 12) disposed in a pre-set positional relationship, a first distance calculation unit (31) and a second distance calculation unit (32) for calculating first distance information (d1) and second distance information (d2), respectively, from the coils (11, 12) to a detection object (W) on the basis of reception results (voltages V1, V2) of the coils (11, 12), and a position estimating unit (33) for estimating the position, such as distance and azimuth, of the detection object (W) on the basis of the first distance information (d1), the second distance information (d2), and the positional relationship of the coils (11, 12).

A duty cycle is used in conjunction with a powered oscillator to electronically reduce the current draw by reducing the average tail current and thus reducing the sensor radiated emissions without altering an inductive position sensor. The duty cycle enables an on and an off cycling without altering the hardware but providing the improvements.