Steering Angle Sensing Using Digital Magnet Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering angle sensing apparatuses face challenges in accurately detecting absolute steering angles and are prone to errors due to signal conversion processes, which can be costly and reduce reliability.
Innovation Solution
A steering angle sensing apparatus and method that utilizes a shaft gear coupled with sub gears and magnets, where the rotated angles are digitally processed to detect absolute steering angles, eliminating the need for analog-to-digital conversion and incorporating a steering angle calculating portion to calculate the steering angle from the difference in digital data from multiple magnets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If analog-to-digital conversion is used to process magnet rotation signals, then signal processing capability is improved, but error potential increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional analog-to-digital conversion process with a direct digital output mechanism. Magnets are coupled to sub-gears that rotate at different rates, and angle detecting portions directly detect the rotational angles and output digital data without requiring analog signal conversion. This substitution eliminates the conversion process that introduces errors while maintaining automated signal processing capability.
2Extent of automation
If analog-to-digital converters are included in the sensing apparatus, then signal processing is enabled, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the analog-to-digital converter component from the sensing apparatus. By designing the system so that angle detecting portions directly output digital data from magnet rotations, the patent eliminates the need for separate conversion components, thereby reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining full signal processing capability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sub-gears with different gear ratios are used to detect steering angle, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the steering angle detection function into multiple independent detection channels using sub-gears with different gear ratios. Each sub-gear detects a portion of the rotational movement, and the control unit integrates these segmented measurements to calculate the absolute steering angle. This segmentation approach improves measurement precision by distributing the detection function across multiple simpler components rather than requiring a single complex mechanism.
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
This approach allows for accurate detection of absolute steering angles with reduced error potential, improved reliability, faster processing, and cost savings by omitting analog/digital converters, while enabling a smaller apparatus design and integration with torque sensing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnet 231 and a second magnet 241 respectively coupled on axes of the first sub gear 230 and the second sub gear 240, a first angle detecting portion 251 for detecting a first rotated angle of the first magnet 231 and a second angle detecting portion 252 for detecting a second rotated angle of the second magnet 241
Data Source
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AI summary
A steering angle sensing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus and method sense the steering angle of a steering shaft by using a rotated bit value difference corresponding to the rotated angles of magnets, which are respectively coupled on an axis of one of a plurality of sub gears, when the sub gears with respectively different gear ratios rotate with a shaft gear that rotates together with the steering shaft.