Reduced offset error configuration for a rotary inductive sensor

Abstract

Systems and methods for a vehicle pedal assembly and an inductive sensor assembly thereof. The inductive sensor assembly includes a rotating inductive sensor target and a printed circuit board (PCB) located opposite the rotating inductive sensor target. The inductive sensor assembly includes a first inductive sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The first inductive sensor circuit includes a first coil circuit including a first coil having a first current in a first flow direction and a second coil having a second current in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction. The first inductive sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotating inductive sensor target causes a change in the first current and the second current within the first coil and the second coil.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Rotary inductive sensors can be used in a variety of applications. One application of a rotary inductive sensor is to sense the position of a vehicle pedal, such as a brake pedal or an accelerator pedal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0002] The accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, and, together with the detailed description, explain various implementations, examples, and aspects of the concepts, including the claimed subject matter.

[0003] Figure 1 A perspective view of a vehicle pedal assembly including a rotary inductive sensor is shown in accordance with some examples.

[0004] Figure 2 A perspective view of a vehicle pedal assembly in accordance with some examples Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of the vehicle pedal assembly of

[0005] Figure 3 A perspective view of a rotary inductive sensor in accordance with some examples Figure 1 A perspective view of the rotary inductive sensor of

[0006] Figure 4A A top view of the rotary inductive sensor of Figure 1 A top view of the rotary inductive sensor of

[0007] Figure 4B A bottom view of the rotary inductive sensor of Figure 1 A bottom view of the rotary inductive sensor of

[0008] Figure 4C A top view of the rotary inductive sensor in accordance with some examples

[0009] Figure 4D A perspective view of another configuration of the rotary inductive sensor of Figure 1 A perspective view of another configuration of the rotary inductive sensor of

[0010] Figure 5A A chart showing simulation results of offset errors of a receive coil signal generated by the rotary inductive sensor of Figure 1 A chart showing simulation results of offset errors of a receive coil signal generated by the rotary inductive sensor of

[0011] Figure 5B A chart showing simulation results of offset errors of a receive coil signal generated by the rotary inductive sensor of Figure 1 A chart showing simulation results of offset errors of a receive coil signal generated by the rotary inductive sensor of

[0012] Figure 6 A perspective view of a vehicle pedal assembly in accordance with some examples Figure 1schematic diagram of an electronic controller of a vehicle pedal assembly.

[0013] The skilled person will appreciate that the elements in the figures are shown for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures can have been exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.

[0014] In some cases, device and method components have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols, and specific details of certain features shown can be omitted in order not to obscure the example, feature, and aspect being described with details that can be well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the benefit of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Rotary inductive position sensors (referred to herein as "rotary inductive sensors") utilize one or more inductive coil circuits to provide information about the rotational angle or position of a target. In particular, in response to rotational movement of the target, an inductive change is generated in the electromagnetic field of the inductive coil circuit, and a sensor output is produced from the resulting current and / or voltage signal. Particular electrical characteristics (e.g., voltage and / or current amplitude and polarity) are then analyzed (e.g., via an electronic processor of an electronic controller) to determine changes in rotational position. Some rotary inductive sensors can include multiple coil circuits, and are configured to output more than one signal for each circuit (e.g., a redundant rotary inductive sensor can provide two outputs).

[0016] The accuracy of a rotary inductive sensor can be negatively impacted by environmental or electromagnetic interference / crosstalk caused by the particular configuration of the inductive coil circuits of the rotary inductive sensor. For example, the electromagnetic field strength along the electrical traces of a transmitter coil circuit of a rotary inductive sensor can be higher in certain places than the electromagnetic field strength at the center of the transmitter coil (referred to as a corner effect).

[0017] One solution to address such issues can be to increase the distance between one or more traces and / or coils of a coil circuit. However, such a configuration can introduce more crosstalk and / or increase the coupling coefficient between one or more components within the sensor. Such a configuration can also require more precise design and manufacturing controls to ensure functionality, which can be expensive. Furthermore, due to the limited size of the printed circuit board (PCB) of a rotary inductive sensor, it can not be possible to implement spaced apart traces or coils.

[0018] Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein provide, among other things, a configuration of a rotary inductive sensor for reducing offset errors in the measurement signals generated thereby (e.g., caused by the corner effect of the transmitter coil circuit of the sensor).

[0019] One example provides a vehicle pedal assembly including a pedal rotatable relative to a shaft and a rotary inductive position sensor. The rotary inductive position sensor includes a rotary inductive sensor target rotatable in response to rotation of the pedal and an inductive sensor assembly. The inductive sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) located opposite the rotary inductive sensor target. The inductive sensor assembly includes a first inductive sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The first inductive sensor circuit includes a first coil circuit including a first coil having a first current in a first flow direction and a second coil having a second current in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction. The first inductive sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotary inductive sensor target causes a change in the first current and the second current within the first coil and the second coil.

[0020] Another example provides an inductive sensor assembly. The inductive sensor assembly includes a rotary inductive sensor target and a PCB located opposite the rotary inductive sensor target. The inductive sensor assembly includes a first inductive sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The first inductive sensor circuit includes a first coil circuit including a first coil having a first current in a first flow direction and a second coil having a second current in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction. The first inductive sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotary inductive sensor target causes a change in the first current and the second current within the first coil and the second coil.

[0021] For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presented herein are described with a single example of each of the parts of the system. Some examples can not describe or illustrate all of the parts of the system. Other examples can include more or fewer of each of the illustrated parts, can combine some of the parts, or can include additional or alternative parts.

[0022] It should be understood that, although certain diagrams herein illustrate hardware and software components, those described are merely examples. In some embodiments, the illustrated components can be combined or divided into separate software, firmware and / or hardware. For example, instead of being located within a single electronic processor, logic and processing can be distributed among multiple electronic processors. Regardless of the combination of hardware and software, the components can be located on the same computing device or distributed among different computing devices connected by one or more networks or other suitable communication links.

[0023] It should also be understood that while examples herein are described with respect to a vehicle pedal, particularly an accelerator pedal, the systems and methods can be used in different applications involving rotary inductive sensors, such as an eBrake pedal. The systems and methods described herein, while described in the form of a dual output rotary inductive sensor, can be applied to rotary inductive sensors having different numbers of outputs.

[0024] Figure 1 and Figure 2 An example vehicle pedal assembly, referred to herein as a vehicle pedal 10, is depicted having a rotary inductive sensor assembly 101 including a rotary inductive sensor 102 and a rotary inductive sensor target 34, both of which will be described in greater detail below. The vehicle pedal 10 includes a pedal housing 20 including a plurality of outer walls 20A and a base 20B, collectively defining an interior 20C, a front opening 20D, and side openings 20E.

[0025] The vehicle pedal 10 also includes an elongated plastic pedal arm 30 including a distal end or drum 32 having a metallic rotary inductive sensor target 34, referred to herein as a rotary sensor target, overmolded into an outer lateral face 32A of the drum 32. In the example shown, the pedal arm 30, and more particularly the distal end or drum 32 having the rotary inductive sensor target 34 thereon, extends into the interior 20C of the pedal housing 20 in rotatable relation with respect to the housing 20 and in rotatable relation about and with respect to a shaft 20F that is integral with and extends into the interior 20C of the housing 20 from one of the lateral outer walls 20A of the housing 20.

[0026] The pedal 10 also includes a combined electrical connector assembly and housing cover 40 that is secured to the pedal housing 20 in covering and closing relation with the side openings 20E of the housing 20 and more particularly in covering relation with the drum 32 of the pedal arm 30 that is positioned in the interior 20C of the housing 20. The combined electrical connector assembly and housing cover 40 is also secured in opposing and spaced apart relation with the lateral outer face 32a of the drum 32 of the pedal arm 30 in which the rotary inductive sensor target 34 is overmolded. A plurality of screws 45 secure the cover 40 to the housing 20.

[0027] The housing cover 40 includes an integral electrical connector 42 and defines a central circular opening 43 and an internal recess 44 about the opening 42. When the housing cover 40 is secured to the housing 20, the housing cover 40 and the pedal arm 30 are positioned in relation to one another with the rotary inductive sensor target 34 on the drum 32 of the pedal arm 30 extending into and positioned in the circular opening 43 defined in the housing cover 40.

[0028] The pedal 10 further includes a rotary inductive sensor substrate or printed circuit board (PCB) 50 including opposite outer faces 52 and 54. The PCB 50 is configured to be inserted, positioned and seated in the notch 44 defined in the housing cover 40 and positioned opposite and adjacent to the rotary inductive sensor target 34 on the drum 32 of the pedal arm 30, and as shown, the outer face 54 of the PCB 50 faces the rotary inductive sensor target 34. As described in greater detail below, the PCB 50 includes respective inductive sensor transmit and receive coil circuits defined and formed on respective outer front and back faces 52 and 54. A plastic electrical cover or plate 70 covers the PCB 50 and is fastened to the outer face of the housing cover 40. The inductive sensor assembly 101 of the pedal 10 includes the rotary inductive sensor target 34 on the drum 32 of the pedal arm 30 and a rotary inductive sensor 102 (explained in detail below).

[0029] The pedal 10 further includes a pedal friction assembly 80 located in the interior 20c of the housing 20. The pedal friction assembly 80 includes a friction device 81 seated on the base 22 of the pedal housing 20 and adapted for pivotal movement relative to the base 22. A pair of telescoping springs 82 and 84 extend between the pedal friction assembly 80 and the underside of the elongated pedal arm 30. A spring damper 86 is adapted to be wedged between the two springs 82 and 84.

[0030] Power is provided to the rotary inductive sensor 102 from a power source (e.g., a power source connected to or as part of an electronic controller (such as the controller described in greater detail below in Figure 6 The transmit coil circuit (explained in greater detail below) includes a plurality of transmit coils. Current flows through the transmit coils, also generating a magnetic field around the coils. The receive coil circuit also includes a plurality of receive coils positioned such that the magnetic field generated by the transmit coils induces an electrical current (and thus its corresponding magnetic field) within the receive coils. The electrical signal induced in the receive coils is then provided from the sensor 102 to the electronic controller (not shown). Due to the position of the rotary inductive sensor 102, the rotary inductive sensor target 34 is located within the generated magnetic field. Force applied to or removed from the pedal arm 30 (e.g., from a user's foot) during operation of the vehicle (not shown) causes movement / rotation of the pedal arm 30, in turn causing movement / rotation of the pedal arm drum 32 in the interior 20C of the pedal housing 20, thereby causing movement / rotation of the rotary inductive sensor target 34.

[0031] The movement / rotation of the rotary inductive sensor target 34 relative to the inductive sensor 102 transmit and receive coil circuitry of the rotary inductive sensor 102 results in a change in the magnetic field generated by the corresponding transmit coil circuitry of the rotary inductive sensor 102. Accordingly, the movement of the rotary inductive sensor target 34 also results in a change in the voltage and / or current in the corresponding receive coil circuitry of the rotary inductive sensor 102. The controller (e.g., the electronic controller 600 of Figure 6 FIG. 1) then utilizes the corresponding change in the electrical signal provided to the electronic controller to determine the position of the pedal arm 30 and to control one or more operations of the vehicle (e.g., acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle) accordingly.

[0032] Figure 6 One example embodiment of the electronic controller 600 is shown schematically. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic controller 600 includes an electronic processor 605, a memory 610, an input / output interface 615, and a power supply 620. The illustrated components, as well as other various modules and components, are connected to one another by means of or through one or more control or data buses (e.g., bus 625) that enable communication therebetween. The electronic controller 600 can be housed in a single device (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)), or distributed across multiple devices.

[0033] The electronic processor 605 can include one or more microprocessors, ASICs, or another suitable electronic device. The electronic processor 605 obtains and provides information (e.g., to and from the memory 610 and / or the input / output interface 615) and processes the information by executing one or more software instructions or modules, which can be stored in, for example, a random access memory (“RAM”) region of the memory 610, a read-only memory (“ROM”) of the memory 610, or another non-transitory computer readable medium (not shown). The software can include firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. The electronic processor 605 is configured to retrieve and execute software and the like associated with the processes and methods described herein from the memory 610.

[0034] The electronic processor 605 is configured to control the input / output interface 615 to send and / or receive communications and / or power signals to and from at least one other device (e.g., the rotary inductive sensor 102), e.g., via one or more switches not shown. The input / output interface 615 can include various digital and analog components (e.g., digital signal processors, high-band filters, low-band filters, etc.) that are not described herein for the sake of brevity and that can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of the two. The input / output interface 615 can include, for example, a transceiver, a transmitter, and / or a receiver (not shown). The input / output interface 615 can alternatively or additionally include one or more ports for wired communication with the respective components (e.g., the rotary inductive sensor 102). In some embodiments, the electronic processor 605 is configured to provide current (from the power source 620) to power the transmit coil circuit of the rotary inductive sensor 102. The power source 620 can be part of the electronic controller 600 itself or a power source separate from one or more electrical systems of the vehicle.

[0035] In some embodiments, the electronic controller 600 is configured to operate and receive signals from the rotary inductive sensor 102. Based on the received signals, the controller 600 determines, as described above, the position, velocity, and / or change in position of the rotary inductive sensor target 34 (and the pedal arm 30). In one example, the electronic controller 600 provides the resulting information to one or more controllers of the vehicle. The one or more controllers control one or more operations of the vehicle (e.g., acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle) based on the received information accordingly. In some embodiments, part or all of the functionality of the electronic controller 600 is integrated into a vehicle control unit (VCU) of the vehicle. The controller 600 can communicate information (e.g., determined position, velocity, and / or change in position determined from the signals from the rotary inductive sensor 102) to the VCU or another controller of the vehicle to perform operations of the vehicle based on the resulting information. In some embodiments, part or all of the functionality of the electronic controller 600 is integrated into the rotary inductive sensor 102. In some embodiments, part or all of the processing of the signals generated by the inductive sensor 102 can be performed at the electronic controller 600. In some embodiments, the rotary inductive sensor 102 can include circuit components, such as a microprocessor and memory (not shown), for performing at least part of the processing of the generated signals (e.g., converting to an appropriate output protocol for transmission to the electronic controller 600).

[0036] Figure 3is a diagram 300 of a rotary inductive sensor 102 according to some examples. In the illustrated example, the inductive sensor 102 includes first and second inductive sensor circuits 301 A, 301 B of a rotary inductive sensor target 34 according to some examples. Each inductive sensor circuit 301 A, 301 B includes a transmit coil circuit 302A, 302B and a receive coil circuit 304A, 304B, respectively. The transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B and the receive coil circuits 304A, 304B are defined and formed on opposite faces 52 and 54 of the PCB 50, respectively. The overlapping arrangement of the respective transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B and the respective receive coil circuits 304A, 304B on the opposite faces 52, 54 of the PCB 50 results in interaction and mixing between the respective magnetic fields generated by the respective transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B. This results in increased coupling between the respective transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B and the respective receive coil circuits 304A, 304B.

[0037] In the illustrated example, each transmit coil circuit 302A, 302B includes two transmit coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D, respectively. Each of the two coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D is connected in series. Each receive coil circuit 304A, 304B includes two receive coils 308A, 308B and 308C, 308D, respectively. Each of the two coils 308A, 308B and 308C, 308D is connected in series.

[0038] Each transmit coil 306A-306D and receive coil 308A-308D is defined and formed on four different and independent portions or quadrants 50A-50D of the PCB 50. Each of the transmit coils 306A-306D and receive coils 308A-308D includes respective traces 312A-312D and 314A-314D, respectively. The associated circuitry, components and output integrated circuits (not shown) on the respective opposite faces 52 and 54 of the PCB 50 are electrically coupled to the respective transmit and receive coil circuit traces 312A-312D and 314A-314D on the respective opposite faces 52 and 54 of the PCB 50.

[0039] The special separation between the traces 312A-312D and 314A-314D of the respective transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B and receive coil circuits 304A, 304B reduces the interaction or interference between the respective magnetic fields generated by the respective transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B, thereby reducing the coupling between them / lowering the coupling factor. As noted above, while the corner effect can be reduced by increasing the space between the coils 306A-306D, 308A-308D (and in particular the traces 312A-312D, 314A-314D), the modification of increasing the spacing can increase the interference and cross-talk between two or more traces 312A-312D.

[0040] Figure 4A is a top view 400A of the inductive sensor circuits 301A, 301B of the rotary inductive sensor 102 and the rotary inductive sensor target 34. In the illustrated example, the inductive sensor circuits 301A, 301B are configured such that the current within the transmit coils 306A, 306D flows in a first flow direction, while the current within the transmit coils 306B, 306C flows in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction (i.e., opposite polarity). The flow direction of the transmit coils 306A-306D of the PCB 50 is indicated by arrows 402A-402D.

[0041] Figure 4B is a bottom view 400B of the PCB 50 and the rotary inductive sensor target 34. As shown, the rotary inductive sensor target includes a plurality of vanes 34A-34G. Since the transmit coils 306A-306D have opposite polarity, the rotary inductive sensor target 34 (and in particular the configuration of the vanes 34A-34F and the spacing therebetween) is configured (and in this example is shaped) such that the area of the receive coils 308A-308D covered by one or more vanes 34A-34F of the rotary inductive sensor target 34 is opposite for the diagonal quadrants 50A, 50B and 50C, 50D. For example, the area covered by vane 34A in quadrant 50A is not covered in quadrant 50B, while the area covered by vanes 34D and 34E in quadrant 50B is not covered in quadrant 50A. Vane 34G can be included to increase the angular sensing range of the sensor.

[0042] The receive coil signal can be explained by the following equation:

[0043]

[0044] where A is the area of the particular receive coil 308A-308D, Θ is the relative angular position of the rotary inductive sensor target 34, and Error offset is the offset error of the receive coil signal due to the corner effect.

[0045] To compute the total receive coil signal for a receive coil circuit (e.g., receive coil circuit 304A), the sum of the receive coil signals for the respective receive coils (in this example, coils 308A and 308B of circuit 304A) must be determined. The following are the functions for determining the receive coil signals for the receive coil pairs of receive coil circuits 304A, 304B.

[0046]

[0047]

[0048] Because the polarity of the transmit coil for the respective quadrant (e.g., transmit coil 306B for receive coil 308B) is opposite, the offset error for the second receive coil of receive coil circuits 304A, 304B is negative. Because the spacing between the transmit coil and the receive coil is approximately symmetrical in both quadrants of the respective inductive sensor circuit 301A, 301B, the magnitude of the offset error is approximately equal. Thus, the receive coil signal for a single receive coil circuit 304A, 304B can be approximated as:

[0049]

[0050] Thus, by adjusting the configuration of the rotary inductive sensor target 34 and driving the transmit coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D of the respective transmit coil circuits 302A, 302B to be opposite in polarity to each other, the offset error can be reduced.

[0051] Figure 4C FIG. 400C is a top view of inductive sensor circuits 301A, 301B of PCB 50 and rotary inductive sensor target 402C. In the illustrated example, the current flow direction of transmit coils 306A-306D of PCB 50 is the same. In other words, the current provided to each of the two transmit coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D of the respective inductive sensor circuits 301A, 301B flows in the same direction (same polarity). As shown, the configuration of rotary inductive sensor target 402C is different than target 34 to accommodate the polarity of individual coils 306A-306D.

[0052] Figure 5AFigure 500A shows the simulated results of the offset error in the receiving coil signal in two cases: with the transmitting coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D having opposite polarities (line 502A), and with the transmitting coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D having the same polarities (line 502B). Figure 500 shows the receiving coil signal of the sensing sensor circuit (e.g., circuits 301A and 301B) at the target angular position. As shown, the offset error achieved with opposite polarities (approximately 3.2 mV) is smaller than the offset error achieved with the same polarities (approximately 14.4 mV).

[0053] Alternatively, the sensing sensor circuits 301A, 301B can be configured such that the polarities of the receiving coils 308A, 308B and 308C, 308D, rather than the transmitting coils 306A, 306B and 306C, 306D, are opposite. Figure 4D Figure 400D shows an example configuration of the sensing sensor circuits 301A, 301B of PCB 50 and target 34 according to some embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensing sensor circuits 301A, 301B are configured such that the currents induced in the receiving coils 308A, 308B and 308C, 308D flow in opposite directions (opposite polarities).

[0054] Figure 5B Figure 500B shows the simulation results of the offset error in the received coil signal in two cases: receiving coils 308A, 308B and 308C, 308D have opposite polarities (line 504A), and receiving coils 308A, 308B and 308C, 308D have the same polarity (line 504B). Figure 500B shows the relationship between the received coil signal of the sensing sensor circuit (e.g., circuits 301A and 301B) and the angular position of the target. As shown, the offset error of the opposite polarity implementation (approximately 6.6 mV) is smaller than the offset error of the same polarity implementation (approximately 14.4 mV).

[0055] Various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features have been described in the foregoing specification. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. Therefore, the specification and drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this teaching.

[0056] Benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may lead to or make any benefit, advantage, or solution appear or become more apparent should not be construed as key, essential, or fundamental features or elements of any or all claims. This invention is defined only by the appended claims, including any modifications made during the pending period of this application and all equivalents of those published claims.

[0057] Also, in the present document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like can be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having," "contains," "containing," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, contains, or includes an element list of another process, method, article, or apparatus not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. No element discussed in any of the claims is intended to be dependent or independent of any other elements apart from those otherwise explicitly recited. That is, any single element of a process, method, article, or apparatus that is recited in any claim is considered essential to that claim as a whole unless otherwise explicitly stated. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise. The terms "substantially," "essentially," "approximately," "about" or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term "coupled" as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "configured" in a certain way is configured at least in that way, but can also be configured in ways not listed.

[0058] It should be understood that some embodiments can be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or "processing devices") such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, but executes hard-wired logic that is custom- configured to perform the functions described herein. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. Thus, methods and means for these functions have been described herein.

[0059] Furthermore, embodiments can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored therein for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a FLASH memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding

[0060] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present application as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

[0061] The various features and advantages of some embodiments can be set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A vehicle pedal assembly, comprising: A pedal that can rotate relative to an axis; as well as A rotation-sensing position sensor, comprising: A rotation-sensing sensor target rotatable in response to rotation of the pedal, the rotation-sensing sensor target comprising a plurality of blades, and A sensing sensor assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) located opposite the target of the rotation sensing sensor. The sensing sensor assembly includes a first sensing sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The first sensing sensor circuit includes a first coil circuit and a second coil circuit. The first coil circuit includes a first coil having a first current in a first flow direction, and the second coil circuit includes a second coil having a second current in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction. Wherein, the first sensing sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotation sensing sensor target causes changes in the first current and the second current within the first coil and the second coil, respectively. The rotation sensing sensor target is configured such that a first region of the PCB within a first quadrant of the rotation sensing sensor target is covered by a first subset of the plurality of blades, and a second region of the PCB opposite to the first region is not covered, the second region being located within a second quadrant of the rotation sensing sensor target diagonally opposite to the first quadrant.

2. The component according to claim 1, wherein, The first coil and the second coil are transmitting coils.

3. The component according to claim 1, wherein, The first coil and the second coil are receiving coils.

4. The component according to claim 1, wherein, The sensing sensor assembly includes a second sensing sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The second sensing sensor circuit includes a third coil circuit and a fourth coil circuit. The third coil circuit includes a third coil having a third current in a third flow direction. The fourth coil circuit includes a fourth coil having a fourth current in a fourth flow direction opposite to the third flow direction. The second sensing sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotation sensing sensor target causes changes in the third current and the fourth current.

5. The component according to claim 4, wherein, The first coil, the second coil, the third coil, and the fourth coil are transmitting coils.

6. The component according to claim 4, wherein, The first coil, the second coil, the third coil, and the fourth coil are receiving coils.

7. A sensing sensor assembly, comprising: The rotating sensor target comprises multiple blades; as well as Located opposite the target of the rotation sensing sensor, a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. The sensing sensor assembly includes a first sensing sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The first sensing sensor circuit includes a first coil circuit and a second coil circuit. The first coil circuit includes a first coil having a first current in a first flow direction, and the second coil circuit includes a second coil having a second current in a second flow direction opposite to the first flow direction. Wherein, the first sensing sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotation sensing sensor target causes changes in the first current and the second current within the first coil and the second coil, respectively. The rotation sensing sensor target is configured such that a first region of the PCB within a first quadrant of the rotation sensing sensor target is covered by a first subset of the plurality of blades, and a second region of the PCB opposite to the first region is not covered, the second region being located within a second quadrant of the rotation sensing sensor target diagonally opposite to the first quadrant.

8. The component according to claim 7, wherein, The first coil and the second coil are transmitting coils.

9. The component according to claim 7, wherein, The first coil and the second coil are receiving coils.

10. The component according to claim 7, wherein, The sensing sensor assembly includes a second sensing sensor circuit defined on the PCB. The second sensing sensor circuit includes a third coil circuit and a fourth coil circuit. The third coil circuit includes a third coil having a third current in a third flow direction. The fourth coil circuit includes a fourth coil having a fourth current in a fourth flow direction opposite to the third flow direction. The second sensing sensor circuit is configured such that rotation of the rotation sensing sensor target causes changes in the third current and the fourth current.

11. The component of claim 10, wherein, The first coil, the second coil, the third coil, and the fourth coil are transmitting coils.

12. The component of claim 10, wherein, The first coil, the second coil, the third coil, and the fourth coil are receiving coils.

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