Inductive Position Sensor Multiplexer Single Receiver Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inductive position sensor devices require multiple separate sensor units to measure angular displacement between components, leading to increased costs and area occupation.
Innovation Solution
An inductive position sensor device with a unique receiver channel and multiplexer that selectively couples with multiple receiving antenna coils, allowing evaluation of multiple reception signals using a single receiver channel, thereby reducing the number of required receiver channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two separate position sensor devices are used to measure angles α and β, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate position sensor devices into a single integrated sensor device that measures both angles α and β. The sensor device includes a first receiving antenna coil for receiving a first reception signal and a second receiving antenna coil for receiving a second reception signal, allowing simultaneous measurement of both angular positions without requiring two separate sensor units.
Solution Approach 2:
The single position sensor device performs multiple functions by measuring both angle α (between inner shaft and torsion bar) and angle β (between outer shaft and torsion bar) using different receiving antenna coils. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate sensor devices while maintaining measurement capability for both angular displacements.
2Measurement precision
If two separate position sensor devices are used, then measurement capability is improved, but area occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate sensor devices into one compact unit that houses both the first and second receiving antenna coils. This integration significantly reduces the total area occupied by the sensor system while maintaining the capability to measure both angles α and β for torque calculation.
3Measurement precision
If four receiver channels are used to evaluate all reception signals, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a time-division multiplexing approach where a single receiver channel sequentially evaluates reception signals from different antenna coils at different time periods. The receiver channel switches between evaluating the first reception signal from the first antenna coil and the second reception signal from the second antenna coil, eliminating the need for four simultaneous receiver channels while maintaining measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables high-precision determination of angular displacement between components using a single inductive position sensor device, reducing costs and area occupation while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
The inductive coupling between the excitation coil, the rotating coupler/target and the two receiving antenna coils thus leads to two ratio-metric signals shaped as a sinusoidal signal and a cosinusoidal signal that are dependent on the angular position of the rotating coupler/target
Data Source
AI summary
An inductive position sensor device includes at least a first terminal to couple the position sensor device with a first receiving antenna coil for providing a first reception signal, and at least a second terminal to couple the position sensor device with a second receiving antenna coil for providing a second reception signal. The device further includes a unique receiver channel to evaluate the first and second reception signal, and a multiplexer. The multiplexer is configured to selectively couple the at least one first terminal or the at least one second terminal with the unique receiver channel in dependence on operating the multiplexer in a first or second operation state.