CONDUCTOR TRACK STRUCTURE, ROTOR, ROTATION ANGLE SENSOR UNIT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A ROTOR FOR A ROTATION ANGLE SENSOR UNIT

Abstract

A conductor track structure for a rotor of a rotation angle sensor comprising an annularly designed conductor track with a meander-shaped conductor track profile. At least one positioning projection projecting inwards in a radial direction for the positive and/or non-positive positioning of the conductor track structure is arranged on the conductor track in an injection molding tool. A rotor having a conductor track structure, a rotation angle sensor unit having a rotor, and a method for producing a rotor are also provided.

Claims

1. A conductor track structure for a rotor of a rotation angle sensor, the conductor track structure comprising: a ring-shaped conductor track with a meandering conductor track pattern; and at least one positioning protrusion that projects inwardly in a radial direction at the conductor track for a form-fit and/or force-fit positioning of the conductor track structure in a mold.

2. The conductor track structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track has outer conductor track segments and inner conductor track segments, the outer conductor track segments being provided farther outwardly in a radial direction than the inner conductor track segments, and wherein a positioning protrusion projects inwardly in the radial direction is provided at at least one inner conductor track segment.

3. The conductor track structure according to claim 2, wherein in each case a positioning protrusion that projects inwardly in the radial direction is provided at multiple inner conductor track segments.

4. The conductor track structure according to claim 1, wherein multiple positioning protrusions that project inwardly in the radial direction are provided at the conductor track.

5. The conductor track structure according to claim 3, wherein the positioning protrusions project radially inwardly in a range between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

6. The conductor track structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track is made of an electrically conductive and non-magnetizable material.

7. The conductor track structure according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track, including the at least one positioning protrusion, is one piece and/or is a monolithic component.

8. A rotor for a rotation angle sensor unit, the rotor comprising: a rotor sleeve; and a conductor track structure according to claim 1, the conductor track structure being affixed to the rotor sleeve by injection molding.

9. A rotation angle sensor unit to determine a rotational angle between the rotor according to claim 8 and a stator, comprising: a housing that defines a housing volume; the rotor, which is rotatably supported in the housing volume; the stator; and a circuit board to which the stator is affixed.

10. A method for producing a rotor according to claim 8, the method comprising: positioning the conductor track structure in a mold via the at least one positioning protrusion; providing the rotor sleeve in the mold; and affixing the conductor track structure to the rotor sleeve by injection molding via the mold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a rotation angle sensor;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a rotor with a conductor track structure according to the invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a conductor track structure according to one an example of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a conductor track structure according to the invention, and a rotor sleeve; and

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart for explaining a method for producing a rotation angle sensor according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an exploded illustration of a generic rotation angle sensor unit 10 that is designed for determining a rotational angle between a rotor 11 and a stator 13. The rotation angle sensor unit 10 has a housing 14 that defines a housing volume; the rotor 11, which is rotatably supported in the housing volume; the stator 13; and a circuit board 16 to which the stator 13 is affixed. The rotor 11 has a rotor sleeve 12 and a conductor track structure 15, the conductor track structure 15 being affixed to the rotor sleeve 12 by injection molding 60.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a rotor 11 for a rotation angle sensor unit 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The rotor 11 has a rotor sleeve 12 and a conductor track structure 15, the conductor track structure 15 being affixed to the rotor sleeve 12 by injection molding 60.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a conductor track structure 15 of the rotor 11 illustrated in FIG. 2, in a top view. As is apparent in FIG. 3, the conductor track structure 15 has a ring-shaped conductor track 17 with a meandering conductor track pattern. The conductor track 17 has outer conductor track segments 34 and inner conductor track segments 35. The outer conductor track segments 34 are provided farther outwardly in a radial direction 19 than the inner conductor track segments 35. Positioning protrusions, projecting inwardly in the radial direction 19, for the form-fit and/or force-fit positioning of the conductor track structure 15 in an injection mold are provided at the inner conductor track segments 35. The positioning protrusions 18 each protrude approximately 1 mm radially inwardly or protrude a corresponding distance from the inner conductor track segments 35. The conductor track 17, including the positioning protrusions 18, is made of an electrically conductive and non-magnetizable material. In addition, the conductor track 17, including the positioning protrusions 18, is designed as a monolithic component. FIG. 4 shows the conductor track structure 15 in a relative position with respect to the rotor sleeve 12, also present in the injection mold.

[0031] Lastly, a method for producing the rotor 11 shown in FIG. 2 is explained with reference to FIG. 5. For this purpose, in a first step S1 the conductor track structure 15 is initially positioned in an injection mold by means of the at least one positioning protrusion 18. In a further step S2 the rotor sleeve 12 is positioned in the injection mold. In a third step S3 the conductor track structure 15 is now affixed to the rotor sleeve 12 via the injection mold by means of injection molding 60.

[0032] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.