A detection device includes: a plurality of sensors configured to detect a value to be detected; and a processing section configured to process a detection signal output from each of the plurality of sensors. A periodicity with which one or some of the plurality of sensors output detection signals is shorter than a periodicity with which others of the plurality of sensors output detection signals.

An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.

A sealed encoder module for mounting onto a machine so as to measure relative displacement of first and second parts of the machine. The sealed encoder module can comprise, a scale, a readhead comprising a scale signal receiver, and an integral protective housing which encapsulates at least the scale and said scale signal receiver. The sealed encoder module can be configured to determine and output diagnostic information regarding a scale signal detected by the readhead.

A position sensor device includes position sensor elements for generating analog sense signals. A digitization circuit is provided for a digital signal representative of the input phase based on the analog sense signals and a digital processing unit. An output signal is indicative of the position based on the first output of the processing unit. The processing unit comprises an error signal generator for computing an error signal indicative of a phase difference between the digital signal and a feedback signal. A digital filter filters the error signal to generate the first output. A feedback path provides the feedback signal based on the first output and a filter selector to select a filter to be applied from different filters. At least one input on which a common filter circuit operates is scaled differently for each of the different filters to select different filter bandwidths.

The invention relates to a crankshaft, transmission or camshaft sensor (10) for a motor vehicle, intended for being connected to an engine control unit (30) by a cable (20). The sensor comprises a processing module (17) and a voltage-modifying circuit (18) configured to generate an output signal via an output port (12) of the sensor (10) allowing a diagnosis module (36) of the engine control unit (30) to detect and identify faults of the sensor (10) or the cable (20). In particular, the processing module (17) is configured to provide on its output port (172), when the toothed target (14) is immobile, a predetermined pattern representing the fact that the toothed target (14) is immobile, this predetermined pattern corresponding to a status change of the output port (172) of the processing module (17) with a predetermined time and repeated periodically. The invention likewise relates to a diagnosis system (1) comprising such a sensor (10), a cable (20) and an engine control unit (30). The invention also relates to a diagnosis method (50) implemented by said diagnosis system (1).

A rotary encoder includes a detection device for detecting malfunction of the rotary encoder, a rotor, a stator, a shaft having a bearing configuration, and an axial bushing internally connected to the bearing configuration and rotatably arranged in a housing of the rotary encoder. A spring device is arranged for pre-stressing the bushing and the bearing configuration. A distancing arrangement is arranged to change an axial distance between the rotor and the stator by rotation of the bushing resulting from malfunction of the bearing configuration and by creating increased distance between the rotor and stator. The increased distance is sufficient to reduce detectability of angular positions of the shaft, as detected by the rotary encoder, to a level below a predetermined threshold.

Systems and methods for detecting magnetic turn counter errors with redundancy are provided. In one aspect, a magnetic field turn sensor system includes a magnetic field angle sensor having a sine bridge and a cosine bridge and first to third comparators configured to compare the outputs from the sine and cosine bridges. The system further includes a processor configured to receive outputs from each of the first to third comparators, determine that a combination of the outputs from the first to third comparators corresponds to an invalid state, and indicate a fault in response to determining that the combination of the outputs from the first to third comparators corresponds to the invalid state.

An encoder includes a scale and a sensor. The scale has first and second absolute patterns. The sensor includes a light source, and first and second absolute light receivers. The first and second absolute light receivers receive light from the first and second absolute patterns, respectively. The first absolute light receiver receives light from the first pattern and includes first and second light receiving elements. Each first light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a first phase. Each second light receiving elements outputs a first signal with a second phase. The first and second light receiving elements are arranged alternately. The second absolute light receiver includes third and fourth light receiving elements. Each third light receiving element outputs a second signal with the first phase. The third and fourth light receiving elements are arranged alternately. Each fourth light receiving element outputs a second signal with the second phase.

A position encoder arrangement is configured to detect the position of a movable source based on a source field, which is a magnetic field or an electric field, emitted by the source. The position encoder arrangement includes a number of sensor elements that are evenly distributed and each is configured to provide a sensor value based on the source field at the sensor element's location. The arrangement further includes an evaluation unit that is configured to determine a fine position value for the position of the movable source, and to determine from the sensor values a trustworthiness of the fine position value and/or an error flag indicating whether a failure status of the position encoder arrangement is present.

An apparatus for detecting a failure of a motor drive circuit includes an encoder for detecting rotation information of a motor. The apparatus also includes an interface configured to transmit rotation information detected by the encoder to a processor. The apparatus also includes the processor configured to control the motor based on the rotation information of the motor and configured to receive through the interface and detecting a failure of the interface.