US5602471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Angle sensor including angularly spaced sensor units
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1995-03-08
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Granted: 1997-02-11
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Expires: 2015-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An angle sensor includes at least two angularly spaced sensor units which measure in a contactless manner and whose sensor voltages are similar but angularly shifted sinusoidal functions (sensor characteristic) of the angle α to be measured relative to a rotatable element and a processing circuit forms an angle sensor voltage which is a measure of the angle α. Using limited analog circuitry, a wide angular range is obtained and also a monotonously increasing angle sensor voltage which is dependent as linearly as possible on the angle to be measured, in that the sensor voltages are direct voltages which are constant in time. The processing circuit includes limiter circuits (15) whose input receives the sensor voltages (UMA, UMB), and whose output voltages exhibit values (10, 11) which remain constant when a limit value of the sensor voltages is exceeded, and that the output voltages of the limiter circuits (15) are applied to the input of a summing circuit (16) in order to form the angle sensor voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Muth
- 👤 Volker Graeger
- 👤 August Petersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/12; G01D5/14; G01D5/142; G01D5/145; G01D5/244; G01D5/24404
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
An angle sensor for forming an angle sensor voltage which is a measure of an angle α indicating the orientation of a rotatable element relative to the angle sensor, said angle sensor comprising: first and second angularly spaced apart sensor units which measure the orientation of the rotatable member in a contactless manner in accordance with respective sensor characteristics such that respective first and second sensor voltages of the first and second sensor units are similar but angularly shifted sinusoidal functions of the angle α to be measured; circuit means responsive to the first and second sensor voltages for forming at least three output voltages having values which are a measure of the angle α over different respective proportionality ranges, and which remain at limit values when the angle α is outside the respective proportionality range; and a summing circuit having inputs and an output, said inputs of said summing circuit being connected to the output voltages of the circuit means and wherein the angle sensor voltage is formed at the output of said summing circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
An angle sensor for forming an angle sensor voltage which is a measure of an angle α indicating the orientation of a rotatable element relative to the angle sensor, said angle sensor comprising: first and second angularly spaced apart sensor units which measure the orientation of the rotatable member in a contactless manner in accordance with respective sensor characteristics such that respective first and second sensor voltages of the first and second sensor units are similar but angularly shifted sinusoidal functions of the angle α to be measured; circuit means responsive to the first and second sensor voltages for forming at least three output voltages having values which are a measure of the angle α over different respective proportionality ranges, and which remain at limit values when the angle α is outside the respective proportionality range; and a summing circuit having inputs and an output, said inputs of said summing circuit being connected to the output voltages of the circuit means and wherein the angle sensor voltage is formed at the output of said summing circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proportionality ranges of the output voltages of the circuit means essentially directly adjoin one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit means sustain the range of the output voltages so that they remain at the limit values outside the proportionality range, even when the sensor voltage drops below the limit values.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proportionality ranges of at least two of the output voltages of the circuit means overlap one another over a range of the angle α.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 5, wherein said circuit means sustains the range of its output voltages so that they remain at the limit values outside the proportionality range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit means sustains the range of its output voltages so that they remain at the limit values outside the proportionality range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the proportionality ranges of the sensor characteristic are situated between the ranges limited to constant values essentially directly adjoin one another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least four output voltages are formed by the circuit means, having values which are a measure of the angle α over different respective proportionality ranges, and which remain at limit values when the angle α is outside the respective proportionality range.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the proportionality ranges of the output voltages essentially directly adjoin one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 14, wherein said circuit means sustains the range of its output voltages so that they remain at the limit values outside the proportionality range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 12, wherein the proportionality ranges of at least two of the output voltages overlap one another over a range of the angle α.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 17, wherein said circuit means Sustains the range of its output voltages so that they remain at the limit values outside the proportionality range.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 12, wherein said circuit means sustains the range of its output voltages so that they remain at the limit values outside the proportionality range.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
An angle sensor as claimed in claim 20, wherein the sensor units are magnetoresistive sensors, each of which consists of four bridge elements, the bridge elements of the sensors being angularly arranged around a center in an alternating sequence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-11 | 2000-08-12 | 2001-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-11 | 2004-08-12 | 2005-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-11 | 2008-08-12 | 2009-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |