ROTARY ANGLE SENSING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a rotary angle sensing system, and more particularly to a sensing system that senses an angular position of a rotating shaft that reduces mechanical error,, is economical to manufacture, and which can be extended to accommodate multiple rotation measurements.

[0002] One known example angular sensing system includes a non- contacting sensor element and an intervening mechanism between a shaft of interest and the non-contacting sensor element. An angular position of a rotating shaft is indirectly measured. A rotating shaft includes a gear that turns at least one additional shaft, the angular position of which is directly measured by the non-contacting sensor. The angular position of the rotating shaft is subsequently calculated based upon the direct measurement and the relationship between the measured shaft and the rotating shaft. Mechanical error, such as gear backlash, inherent in the addition of the intervening mechanism, appears in the indirect measurement of the angular position of the rotating shaft.

[0003] Another known example angular sensing system eliminates the intervening mechanism. This example system incorporates a pair of magnets to measure the angular position of the rotating shaft, whereas other angular sensing systems require only one magnet. As such, this example system is more expensive and complex to manufacture.

[0004] Further, known systems can only measure a relative angular position of a rotating shaft up to 360°. Known systems are unable to take into account that the rotating shaft may have completed, for example, two full 360° rotations prior to reaching its current angular position of 60°, and, as such, would have an actual angular position of 780°, i.e. [(2 revolutions)(360°)] + 60° = 780°.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a need for rotary angle sensing system that reduces mechanical error, is economical to manufacture and which provides multiple rotation measurement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention includes a rotary sensing system that includes a shaft, a magnet encircling the shaft, a pair of plates, each of which is positioned near distal ends of the magnet, and at least one sensing device. The magnet generates a magnetic field, the angle of which changes as the shaft rotates. The pair of plates directs the magnetic field generated by the magnet towards the at least one sensing device. The at least one sensing device is sensitive to the changes in the angle of the magnetic field, which are indicative of an angular position of the shaft.

[0007] For applications in which the shaft is required to rotate less than 180°, one sensing device is sufficient. However, for applications in which the shaft is required to rotate up to 360°, a second sensing device is included to unambiguously measure the angular position of the shaft.

[0008] For applications in which the shaft is required to rotate beyond one full 360° revolution, a counting mechanism is included. The counting mechanism includes a modified plate and a Geneva gear that converts the continuous motion of the rotating shaft into precise intermittent motion by indexing the Geneva gear in a known manner to count each 360° revolution of the shaft.

[0009] These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 A is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention at a maximum positive angle measurement;

[0012] Figure 2B is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention at a zero angle measurement;

[0013] Figure 2C is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention at a maximum negative angle measurement;

[0014] Figure 3 is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention including a counting mechanism; and

[0015] Figure 4 is a detailed illustration of the counting mechanism of Figure 3;

[0016] Figure S is an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention including a counting mechanism and circular plates; and

[0017] Figure 5A is an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system of the present invention including a counting mechanism and non-circular plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Figure 1 is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system 10 of the present invention. A rotating shaft 12 defines a shaft axis A- A and extends through a housing 14. An annular magnet 16 encircles the rotating shaft 12 and generates a magnetic field F. A pair of plates 20 directs the magnetic field F towards a first sensing device 18 which is mounted to the housing 14 between the pair of plates 20. The first sensing device 18 is a sensor that is sensitive to angular changes in the magnetic field F, which may include but is not limited to a magneto- resistive sensor, a magneto-inductive sensor, or a linear hall-effect sensor.

[0019] The pair of plates 20 includes a first plate 2OA and a second plate 20B eccentrically mounted to the rotating shaft 12, each of which is installed at opposing distal ends of the annular magnet 16. The first plate 2OA defines a first axis B-B that extends through a center point of the first plate 20A. The second plate defines a second axis C-C that extends through a center point of the second plate 20B. The rotating shaft 12 intersects each of the pair of plates 20 at an off-center position such that axis A-A is offset from axis B-B a distance Di and axis A-A is offset from axis C-C by a distance D ₂ which is substantially equal to distance Di.

[0020] The pair of plates 20 directs the magnetic field F generated by the annular magnet 16 to a desired position about the first sensing device 18. That is, the magnetic field F is generated by the annular magnet 16 and travels from S to N. The first plate 2OA directs the field generated by the annular magnet 16 toward the first sensing device 18 located between the first plate 2OA and the second plate 20B. As the rotating shaft 12 rotates, an angle 0, sensed by the first sensing device 18 and associated with the magnetic field F, changes. The changes in the angle 0 associated with the magnetic field F are measured by the first sensing device 18 and are indicative of an angular position of the rotating shaft 12.

[0021] In the example embodiment illustrated, the pair of plates 20 are circular ferrous plates. It should be noted however that the pair of plates 20 are not limited to circular ferrous plates and may be manufactured from different materials or in different shapes to accommodate different applications.

[0022] Figure 2A is an illustration of one example embodiment of an example sensing device 10 in a home position at a maximum positive angle measurement 0pos. The first plate 2OA and the second plate 2OB are eccentrically mounted to the rotating shaft 12. The angle 0 is defined relative to the axis A-A of the rotating shaft 12 from an edge 30 of the first plate 2OA to an edge 32 of the second plate 2OB. When the rotating shaft 12, the annular magnet 16 and the pair of plates 20 are in the home position, the angular position is 0°, which is considered the maximum positive angle measurement øpos. In the home position, an edge 30 of the first plate 20A is a distance D ₃ away from the shaft axis A-A, an edge 32 of the second plate 20B is a distance D ₄ , and the distance D ₃ is less than the distance D ₄ .

[0023] Figure 2B is an illustration of an example embodiment of the sensing device 10 of the present invention at a zero angle measurement øzero. Rotation of the rotating shaft 12, the annular magnet 16 and the pair of plates 20 to 90° from the home position results in the zero angle measurement øzero. At the zero angle measurement øzero, the rotating shaft 12 is rotated to a position in which the edge 30 of the first plate 2OA is a distance D ₃ away from the shaft axis A-A, the edge 32 of the second plate 2OB is a distance D4, and the distance D3 is equal to the distance D4.

[0024] Figure 2C is an illustration of the sensing device 10 at a maximum negative angle measurement øneg. Continued rotation of the rotating shaft 12, the annular magnet 16 and the pair of plates 20 to 180° from the home position results in the maximum negative angle measurement øneg. At the maximum negative angle measurement øneg, the rotating shaft 12 is rotated to a position in which the edge 30 of the first plate 2OA is a distance D3 away from the shaft axis A-A, the edge 32 of the second plate 2OB is a distance D ₄ , and the distance D ₃ is greater than the distance D ₄ .

[0025] For applications requiring angular rotational measurement less than 180°, the single sensing device 18 is sufficient. However, continued rotation of the rotating shaft 12, the annular magnet 16 and the pair of plates 20 beyond 180°, for example, to 270° from the home position results in the zero angle measurement øzero

shown in Figure 2B. Therefore, to unambiguously measure angular rotation greater than 180°, a second sensing device 50 (shown in Figure 5) is mounted to the housing 14 at a substantial angle, typically at least 90°, from the first sensing device 18 and a known relationship between the sensing devices is used to determine the angular position of the rotating shaft 12.

[0026] The addition of the second sensing device 50 (shown in Figure 5) to the sensing system 10 increases the measurement capability of the sensing system 10 only to 360°. Therefore, for applications requiring angular rotational measurement beyond 360° or one full revolution, a counting mechanism (shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 5A) is utilized to extend the measurement range to accommodate multiple rotation applications.

[0027] Figure 3 is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system 10 of the present invention including a counting mechanism 34 that converts continuous motion, i.e. the rotation of the rotating shaft 12, into precise intermittent motion, i.e. indexing that counts each 360° rotation of the rotating shaft 12. The counting mechanism 34 includes a modified second plate 20Bi and a Geneva gear 36 mounted on a counting shaft 38. The modified second plate 20Bi includes a dwell feature 42 and an indexing pin 40. As the rotating shaft 12, the annular magnet 16 and the pair of plates 20, including the modified second plate 20Bi, rotates, the indexing pin 40 engages a slot 44 (shown in Figure 4) in the Geneva gear 36 and indexes the Geneva gear 36 one station (shown in Figure 4) for each 360° revolution of the rotating shaft 12. A third sensing device 52 (shown in Figure 5) is positioned within the housing 14 proximate to the counting mechanism 34 and senses the indexing of the Geneva gear 36. Because typical steering systems require between three to four 360° revolutions of the rotating shaft 12, the indexing of the Geneva gear 36 sensed by the third sensing device 52 (shown in Figure 5) is useful to determine an actual angular position of the rotating shaft 12 when the rotating shaft 12 rotates beyond one 360° revolution.

[0028] Figure 4 is a detailed illustration of the counting mechanism 34 illustrated in Figure 3. In the illustrated example, the Geneva gear 36 includes four (4) slots 44; however, the number of slots 44 could vary based upon the application. Each slot 44 represents a station. As such, the example Geneva gear 36 includes four consecutive stations. The Geneva gear 36 is indexed one time for each 360°

revolution of the rotating shaft 12 and the third sensing device 52 (shown in Figure 5) senses the indexing of the Geneva gear 36. As the modified second plate 2OB j rotates clockwise with the rotating shaft 12, the indexing pin 40 engages each slot 44 consecutively, mechanically indexing the Geneva gear 36 to each of the four consecutive stations in a known manner.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the indexing pin 40 and the dwell feature 42 are integral to the modified second plate 20Bi to simplify manufacture.

[0030] Figure 5 is an illustration of an example embodiment of a rotary sensing system 10 of the present invention including the counting mechanism 34 wherein the first plate 2OA and the modified second plate 2OB i are circular. The first sensing device 18 and the second sensing device 50 are positioned proximate to the first plate 20A and the modified second plate 20Bi. The first sensing device 18 and the second sensing device 50 sense angular changes in the magnetic field generated by the annular magnet 16 as discussed above.

[0031] The Geneva gear 36, in this example, includes eight slots 44, each representing a consecutive station, which interact with the indexing pin 40 located on a modified second plate 2OB ₍ to index the Geneva gear 36 with each 360° rotation of the rotating shaft 12. A third sensing device 52 is positioned proximate the Geneva gear 36 senses the indexing of the Geneva gear 36.

[0032] Alternatively, a third sensing device, schematically shown as 54, may be added to satisfy the system redundancy requirements or to improve the accuracy of the rotary sensing system 10. In this configuration, the first sensing device 18, the second sensing device 50 and the third sensing device 54 are positioned approximately 120° apart from one another. Further, it should be noted that additional sensors (not shown) may also be added to further improve system accuracy.

[0033] The angular changes in the magnetic field sensed by the first sensing device 18 and the second sensing device 50 are used to determine the angular position of the rotating shaft 12 as discussed above. Further, the indexing of the Geneva gear 36 sensed by the third sensing device 52 is used to determine the number of 360° rotations of the rotating shaft 12. As such, by combining the information determined from the sensing devices 18, 50 and 52, one can determine the angular position of the rotating shaft 12 through multiple rotations.

[0034] Figure 5A is an illustration of another example embodiment of a rotary sensing system 10 of the present invention including the counting mechanism 34, and a first plate 20A ¹ and a modified second plate 20B ¹ . In this example, the first plate 20A ¹ and the modified second plate 20B ¹ are non-circular and a second indexing pin 40 ^l is added to accommodate for the non-circular geometry. The indexing pin 40 and the second indexing pin 40 ¹ both are located on the modified second plate 20B ¹ .

[0035] The first sensing device 18 and the second sensing device 50 are positioned proximate to the first plate 2OA and the modified second plate 2OB ^l . The first sensing device 18 and the second sensing device 50 sense angular changes in the magnetic field generated by the annular magnet 16 as discussed above.

[0036] The Geneva gear 36, in this example, includes eight slots 44, each representing a consecutive station, which interact with the indexing pin 40 and the second indexing pin 40 ¹ . The indexing pin 40 and the second indexing pin 40 ¹ index the Geneva gear 36 twice with each 360° rotation of the rotating shaft 12. A third sensing device 52 is positioned proximate the Geneva gear 36 senses the indexing of the Geneva gear 36.

[0037] The angular changes in the magnetic field sensed by the first sensing device 18 and the second sensing device 50 are used to determine the angular position of the rotating shaft 12 as discussed above. Further, the indexing of the Geneva gear 36 sensed by the third sensing device 52 is used to determine the number of 360° rotations of the rotating shaft 12. As such, by combining the information determined from the sensing devices 18, 50 and 52, one can determine the angular position of the rotating shaft 12 through multiple rotations.

[0038] Although preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.