EP0159191A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Position sensing apparatus
Assignee: VERIFY ELECTRONICS Ltd
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Filing: 1985-04-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An unenergised member (60) moves relative to an extended single phase energised primary coil system (12) and a secondary coil system (11). The coils of the secondary coil system are in series connected pairs (coils 11A, 11G in pair 11/1) interspaced with other pairs (coils 11B,11H in pairs 11/2) as an array of coils along a path (x) which may be straight, curved, etc. The coils in the pairs, which are balanced to give a zero output, form sequences (sequences I, II, III etc) each of which are terminated with a phase-shift network (PC) to give an incremental phase shift between sequences. The incremental phase-shifted outputs are combined to give a progressive phase-shifted output (66) representative of the position of the member (60). Ambiguity avoidance, when phase shift exceeds 360°, may be arranged (Figures 8 and 9) by having two secondary coil systems (81A, 81B) with the same number of coils but with differing inremental phase-shifted outputs so that the utilised progressive phase-shifted output is a phase difference (C in Figure 9).
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest Howbrook
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/046; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/20; G01D5/204
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
Position sensing apparatus having primary and secondary coil systems defining a path (x) and an unenergised movable member devoid of electrical connections which is dimensionally much smaller than said path which can serve as a flux-coupler between the coil systems and whose position on the path defined by the coil systems is represented as a progressive phase- variable output from the secondary coil system, said output being nominally zero in the absence of said member, characterised in that: (a) the primary coil system (12) is adapted to be single- phase energised: (b) the coils (11A, 11B.. etc) of the secondary coil system (11) are: (i) disposed series connected in pairs (e.g. coils 11A, 11G in pair 11/1) interspaced with other pairs (coils 11B, 11H in pair 11/2) as ar array of coils along said path (straight, curved, circular etc), (ii) placed relative to the primary coil system so that on energisation of that system the two coils of any pair have reversed polarity signals to generate said nominally zero output, and (iii) located relative to the movement of the unenergised member (60) so that they are close coupled with said member; (c) phase shift networks (PC1, PC2 etc) for each pair, or series connected sequence (I, II, III etc) of pairs of secondary coils, said networks giving an incremental phase shifted output as between one pair, or sequence of series connected pairs, and the next; and (d) means (65) combining the incremental phase shifted outputs to give a progressive phase shifted output (66) so that the position of the unenergised member is represented by said progressive output.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
Position sensing apparatus having primary and secondary coil systems defining a path (x) and an unenergised movable member devoid of electrical connections which is dimensionally much smaller than said path which can serve as a flux-coupler between the coil systems and whose position on the path defined by the coil systems is represented as a progressive phase- variable output from the secondary coil system, said output being nominally zero in the absence of said member, characterised in that: (a) the primary coil system (12) is adapted to be single- phase energised: (b) the coils (11A, 11B.. etc) of the secondary coil system (11) are: (i) disposed series connected in pairs (e.g. coils 11A, 11G in pair 11/1) interspaced with other pairs (coils 11B, 11H in pair 11/2) as ar array of coils along said path (straight, curved, circular etc), (ii) placed relative to the primary coil system so that on energisation of that system the two coils of any pair have reversed polarity signals to generate said nominally zero output, and (iii) located relative to the movement of the unenergised member (60) so that they are close coupled with said member; (c) phase shift networks (PC1, PC2 etc) for each pair, or series connected sequence (I, II, III etc) of pairs of secondary coils, said networks giving an incremental phase shifted output as between one pair, or sequence of series connected pairs, and the next; and (d) means (65) combining the incremental phase shifted outputs to give a progressive phase shifted output (66) so that the position of the unenergised member is represented by said progressive output.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary coil system comprises a coil which lies over (Fig. l:Fig. 3) or around (Fig. 12) the secondary coil system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the primary coil system comprises an array of coils individual to respective coils of the secondary coil system (Fig. 2; Fig. 6).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the coils (81A in Fig. 8) of the secondary coil system are arranged in successive pitches (Pl, P2 etc. in Fig. 6) with each pitch representing 360° of phase change with means resolving ambiguity between the pitches, said means comprising a further secondary coil (81B) system with the same spacing between coils as in the first secondary coil system but having more, or less, coils per pitch so that a progressive phase shifted output (C in Fig. 9) is obtained which is the phase difference between the two secondary coil systems.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the unenergised member is shaped to give a smooth progression of the phase shifted output as the member moves across the coils of the secondary coil system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the coils of the secondary coil system are individually shaped to give said nominally zero output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the unenergised member has multiple parts with the parts spaced apart and moving together (Fig. 13)
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the coils (31) of the secondary coil system are disposed on a circular array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the coils of the coil systems are given an oblique disposition whereby a deviation from movement of the unenergised member along a pure direction (x) can be detected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the unenergised member has its surface located relative to the coil systems by no more than one half the transverse dimension of the coils of the secondary coil system.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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