CN118019959A - Angular position sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus, comprising: a support structure; and a first electrically conductive material arranged at the support structure to define a first continuous path for a first current to flow between the first location and the second location, the first continuous path comprising: a first path portion defining a first generally clockwise path for a first current to flow about a first axis, the first path portion including a first inner peripheral portion and a first outer peripheral portion, the first inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to the central axis than the first outer peripheral portion, a radius of curvature of the first inner peripheral portion being greater than a radius of curvature of the first outer peripheral portion; and a second path portion defining a first generally counterclockwise path for the first current to flow about a second axis, the first path portion and the second path portion being disposed circumferentially about the central axis. Related devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Description

Angular position sensor

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/809842, entitled "angular POSITION SENSOR (ANGULAR-POSITION SENSOR)" filed on month 29 of 2022, which claims the benefit of the priority date of Indian provisional patent application 202141043833, entitled "inductive angular POSITION SENSOR and related devices, systems and METHODS (INDUCTIVE ANGULAR-POSITION SENSOR, AND RELATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS), filed on month 28 of 2021, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present description relates generally to inductive angular position sensors. More particularly, some examples relate to sensing coils or targets for inductive angular position sensors.

Background

If the wire coil is placed in a varying magnetic field, a voltage will be induced at the ends of the wire coil. In a predictably varying magnetic field, the induced voltage will be predictable (based on factors including the area of the coil affected by the magnetic field and the degree of variation of the magnetic field). It is possible to disturb the predictably changing magnetic field and to measure the resulting change in the voltage induced in the wire coil. Further, a sensor may be created that measures the movement of a jammer of a predictably varying magnetic field based on the variation of the voltage induced in one or more wire coils.

Drawings

While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the specific examples, various features and advantages of the examples within the scope of the present disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of an apparatus according to one or more examples.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away, exploded, perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device according to one or more examples.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device according to one or more examples.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a schematic of an apparatus according to one or more examples.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a schematic diagram of another apparatus according to one or more examples.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device according to one or more examples.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device according to one or more examples.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device according to one or more examples.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device according to one or more examples.

Fig. 10 includes two graphs showing analog modulated signals according to one or more examples.

FIG. 11 is a graph 1102 illustrating an analog demodulated first sense signal and an analog demodulated second sense signal in accordance with one or more examples.

FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating an analog output signal according to one or more examples.

FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating an analog output signal according to one or more examples.

Detailed Description

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples in which the disclosure may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosure. However, other examples may be utilized, and structural, material, and procedural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The illustrations presented herein are not intended to be actual views of any particular method, system, apparatus, or structure, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe examples of the present disclosure. The figures presented herein are not necessarily drawn to scale. For the convenience of the reader, like structures or elements in the various drawings may be maintained with the same or like numbers; however, the similarity of the numbers does not mean that the structures or components must be identical in size, composition, configuration, or any other property.

The following description may include examples to help enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosed examples. The use of the terms "exemplary," "by way of example," and "such as" means that the associated description is illustrative, and although the scope of the present disclosure is intended to cover both the examples and the legal equivalents, the use of such terms is not intended to limit the scope of the examples of the present disclosure to the particular features, steps, characteristics, or functions, etc.

It should be readily understood that the components of the examples as generally described herein and illustrated in the figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Accordingly, the following description of the various examples is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, but is merely representative of the various examples. Although various aspects of the examples may be presented in the drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

Furthermore, the particular embodiments shown and described are illustrative only and should not be taken as the only way of practicing the present disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein. Elements, circuits, and functions may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Rather, the specific embodiments shown and described are merely examples and should not be construed as the only way to implement the present disclosure unless specified otherwise herein. In addition, the box definitions and the logical partitioning between the various boxes are examples of specific implementations. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced with many other partition solutions. In most instances, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted where such details are not required to obtain a complete understanding of the present disclosure and are within the capabilities of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Those of ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, and symbols that may be referenced throughout this specification may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof. For clarity of presentation and description, some figures may show signals as a single signal. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a signal may represent a signal bus, where the bus may have a variety of bit widths, and that the present disclosure may be implemented on any number of data signals, including a single data signal. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure encompasses the transfer of quantum information and qubits for representing quantum information.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and circuits described in connection with the examples disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, an application specific processor, a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Integrated Circuit (IC), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor (also referred to herein as a "host processor" or simply "host") may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. When a general purpose computer executes computing instructions (e.g., software code, without limitation) associated with examples of the present disclosure, the general purpose computer including a processor is considered a special purpose computer.

Examples may be described in terms of processes depicted as flow diagrams, flow schematic diagrams, structure diagrams, or block diagrams. Although a flowchart may describe the operational acts as a sequential process, many of the acts can be performed in another sequence, in parallel, or substantially simultaneously. In addition, the order of the actions may be rearranged. A process may correspond to a method, a thread, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, or a subroutine, but is not limited to such. Furthermore, the methods disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware, software, or both. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one location to another.

The inductive angular position sensor may include one or more oscillator coils, a first sensing coil, a second sensing coil, and an integrated circuit including an oscillator for driving the oscillator coils and electronic circuitry for receiving and demodulating respective outputs of the first and second sensing coils. Such inductive angular position sensors may determine the angular position of the target relative to one or more oscillator coils or sensing coils.

The oscillator may generate an excitation signal. One or more oscillator coils may be excited by an excitation signal. The oscillating signal on the one or more oscillator coils may generate a varying (oscillating) magnetic field in the vicinity of and in particular within the space surrounded by the oscillator coils.

The varying magnetic field generated by the one or more oscillator coils may induce a first oscillating voltage at the end of the first sensing coil and a second oscillating voltage at the end of the second sensing coil. The first oscillating voltage at the end of the first sensing coil may oscillate in response to the oscillation of the excitation signal and may be the first sensing signal. The second oscillating voltage at the end of the second sensing signal may oscillate in response to the oscillation of the excitation signal and may be the second sensing signal.

The target may be positioned relative to the one or more oscillator coils, the first sensing coil, and the second sensing coil. For example, the target or a portion of the target may be positioned over a portion of the one or more oscillator coils, the first sensing coil, and the second sensing coil, but is not limited thereto. The target may interfere with some of the varying magnetic fields through one or more loops of the first and second sense coils.

The position of the target or a portion of the target above one or more of the first and second sensing coils may affect the first and second sensing signals sensed in the first and second sensing coils, respectively. For example, the target may interfere with magnetic coupling between the one or more oscillator coils and the first and second sensing coils. Such disturbances may affect the amplitude of the first and second sense signals sensed in the first and second sense coils, respectively. For example, in response to the target or a portion of the target being above the loop in the first sense coil, the amplitude of the first sense signal may be less than the amplitude of the first sense signal when the target is not above the loop in the first sense coil.

Further, the target may be rotated (e.g., rotated about an axis, but not limited to) such that a portion of the target may pass over one or more loops of one or more of the first and second sensing coils. The first sense signal of the first sense coil and the second sense signal of the second sense coil may be amplitude modulated in response to rotation of the target and in response to a portion of the target passing over the loop as the target rotates.

In one or more examples, the integrated circuit may generate the output signal in response to the first sense signal and the second sense signal. The output signal may be a fraction of a rail voltage based on the first and second sense signals. The output signal may be related to an angular position of the object or a position of a portion of the object, and successive samples of the output signal may be related to a direction of movement of the object. Thus, the inductive angular position sensor may generate an output signal indicative of the angular position of the target.

In one or more examples, the integrated circuit may generate a first output signal based on the first sense signal and a second output signal based on the second sense signal. The first output signal may be a demodulated first sense signal; the second output signal may be a demodulated second sense signal. The two output signals may be correlated together with the angular position of the target, and subsequent samples of the first output signal and the second output signal may be indicative of rotation of the target.

In one or more examples, the integrated circuit may generate a single output signal based on the first sense signal and the second sense signal. Some examples include a sense coil or target that causes the integrated circuit to generate a constant slope output signal in response to rotation of the target relative to the first sense coil and the second sense coil. The constant slope output signal may be an output signal having a known correlation between the amplitude of the output signal and the angular position of the target.

One or more examples of the present disclosure may include elements of an inductive angular position sensor (including, for example, a sensing coil and a target, but not limited to) that may allow such an inductive angular position sensor to provide a more accurate correlation between an output signal and an angular position of the target relative to the sensing coil. In other words, one or more examples of the present disclosure may include an element for sensing an angular position sensor that may make the sensed angular position sensor more accurate than other sensed angular position sensors. Additionally or alternatively, one or more examples may include a more accurate sensor of angular position than other sensors of angular position.

As non-limiting examples, one or more examples may include a sense coil or target having a shape that may cause a sense signal from the respective sense coil to exhibit a desired waveform shape (e.g., a waveform shape that approximates an ideal waveform shape, but is not limited to). The shape of the sensing coil or path portion of the target may relate to how the sensing signal generated in the one or more oscillator coils when the target interferes with the magnetic field between the first and second sensing coils is amplitude modulated. As a non-limiting example, when the target rotates over the first and second sense coils and interferes with the magnetic field between the one or more oscillator coils and the first and second sense coils, the shape of the first and second sense coils or the target or both may determine the shape of the amplitude modulation envelope exhibited by the first and second sense signals. As a non-limiting example, the amplitude modulation envelopes of the first and second sense signals of the first and second sense coils of one or more examples, respectively, may be close to sinusoidal in shape. The sinusoidal shaped amplitude modulation envelope may be well suited for conversion to angular position, for example, by a trigonometric function (e.g., arctangent, but not limited).

For example, in one or more examples, a path portion of the coil (e.g., a lobe of the sense coil, but not limited to) may define an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion. The inner peripheral portion may have a radius of curvature that is greater than a radius of curvature of the outer peripheral portion. In some examples, the path portion may include a straight radial portion between the inner and outer peripheral portions. Such path portions may generate a sense signal that exhibits a desired amplitude modulation envelope, such as, but not limited to, a sinusoidal-shaped amplitude modulation envelope, when it is amplitude modulated by interference of a rotating target with a magnetic field.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more examples may include or allow more turns in the sense coil than other inductive angular position sensors. The greater number of turns in the sense coil may result in the example being more sensitive than other inductive angular position sensors. A sense coil having a greater number of turns than other sense coils may exhibit a higher degree of magnetic coupling between the sense coil and the oscillator coil than exhibited by other sense coils. The increased magnetic coupling may result in a sense coil having a greater number of turns exhibiting a sense signal of greater amplitude than a sense coil having a fewer number of turns. Additionally or alternatively, a sense coil having more turns than other sense coils may be more sensitive to interference of the target with the magnetic field than other sense coils. As a non-limiting example, the amplitude modulation exhibited by a sense coil having a greater number of turns may have a greater amplitude than the amplitude of the amplitude modulation exhibited by a sense coil having a lesser number of turns. Having a sensing coil with more turns may allow the example sensor to be more accurate than other inductive angular position sensors.

Additionally or alternatively, a sense coil with more turns may allow the sensor to include a larger air gap than a sensor including fewer turns. In other words, a sense coil with more turns may have greater manufacturing or design tolerances. As a non-limiting example, as the sensitivity of a sense coil including more turns increases, an inductive angular position sensor including more turns may be designed or configured to include a target positioned farther from the sense coil or oscillator coil than other inductive angular position sensors including sense coils including fewer turns while still exhibiting similar amplitude modulation due to target rotation.

In this disclosure, references to "at," "in," "on," "disposed at," "disposed in," "disposed on," and the like, relative to a support structure may refer to things that are disposed substantially within or on a surface of the support structure (including, but not limited to, sense coils, oscillator coils, and paths). As a non-limiting example, the sensing coil may include conductive traces in one or more planes (e.g., layers, but not limited to) of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The sensing coil disposed at the support structure may include conductive traces in multiple layers within the support structure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of an apparatus 100 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 100 may be an inductive angular position sensor.

The apparatus 100 may include an oscillator coil 102 to carry an excitation signal 104 to induce a sense signal 106 in a first conductive material 108 of a first sense coil 110 or in a second conductive material 118 of a second sense coil 112. The apparatus 100 may include a target 114 to rotate about its central axis 116 and affect the magnetic coupling between the excitation signal 104 and the sense signal 106. The apparatus 100 may include an integrated circuit 120 to generate an output signal 122 indicative of an angular position 124 of the target 114 at least partially in response to the sense signal 106.

Fig. 2 is a partially cut-away, exploded, perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device 200 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 200 may be an inductive angular position sensor.

The apparatus 200 may include a support structure 202 and a conductive material 204 disposed at the support structure 202 to define a continuous path 206 for current to flow between a first location 208 and a second location 210. The continuous path 206 may include a first path portion 212 defining a generally clockwise path 214 for current to flow about a first axis 216. The first path portion 212 may include an inner peripheral portion 218 and an outer peripheral portion 220. The inner peripheral portion 218 may be positioned closer to the central axis 222 than the outer peripheral portion 220 is to the central axis 222. The first radius of curvature 224 of the inner peripheral portion 218 may be greater than the second radius of curvature 226 of the outer peripheral portion 220. The continuous path 206 may include a second path portion 228 defining a generally counterclockwise path 230 for current to flow about a second axis 232. The first path portion 212 and the second path portion 228 may be disposed circumferentially about the central axis 222. The apparatus 200 may include an oscillator coil 234 disposed about the central axis 222. The device 200 may include a target 236 arranged to rotate about the central axis 222. The apparatus 200 may include an integrated circuit 238 to generate an output signal 240 indicative of an angular position 242 of the target 236.

The terms generally clockwise path and generally counterclockwise path as used herein are not meant to be absolute, but rather to distinguish one path from another. Those skilled in the art will recognize that an excitation signal, such as excitation signal 104, oscillates and thus the current in the excitation coil and in the first and second sensing coils changes direction regularly. At a particular point in time, when the current in the generally counterclockwise path is generally clockwise, the current in the generally counterclockwise path will be generally counterclockwise.

The apparatus 200 may be the same or substantially similar to the apparatus 100 of fig. 1. As a non-limiting example, the conductive material 204 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first conductive material 108 of fig. 1. The conductive material 204 in the continuous path 206 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first sensing coil 110 of fig. 1. The central axis 222 may be the same as or substantially similar to the central axis 116 of fig. 1. Oscillator coil 234 may be the same or substantially similar to oscillator coil 102 of fig. 1. Target 236 may be the same or substantially similar to target 114 of fig. 1. Integrated circuit 238 may be the same as or substantially similar to integrated circuit 120 of fig. 1. The output signal 240 may be the same as or substantially similar to the output signal 122 of fig. 1. Angular position 242 may be the same as or substantially similar to angular position 124 of fig. 1. The apparatus 200 may include additional elements not shown in fig. 2 for clarity. For example, the apparatus 200 may include a second sensing coil, which is not shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device 300 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 300 may be an inductive angular position sensor.

The apparatus 300 may be the same or substantially similar to the apparatus 200 of fig. 2. As a non-limiting example, the apparatus 300 may include many elements that are the same or substantially similar to the elements of the apparatus 200. In fig. 3, reference numerals having the same last two digits as the corresponding reference numerals in fig. 2 may indicate that elements referenced by the respective reference numerals are substantially the same in fig. 3 as they are in fig. 2, without the explicit description to the contrary. As a non-limiting example, the support structure 302 of fig. 3 may be substantially identical to the support structure 202 of fig. 2.

In addition to elements corresponding to those described with respect to fig. 2, the support structure 302 defines an aperture 348, the target 336 of the device 300 includes an extension 344 and the target 336 is coupled to a shaft 346.

In one or more examples, the target 336 includes an extension 344 that extends over the continuous path 306. The extension 344 may be over more than half of the continuous path 306.

In one or more examples, the target 336 may be coupled to a shaft 346 that may extend through a hole 348 defined by the support structure 302.

In one or more examples, the oscillator coil 334 may be substantially above or below the outer peripheral portion 320 of the first path portion 312. In one or more examples, the oscillator coil 334 may be center tapped.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a schematic diagram of an apparatus 400 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 400 may include a sensing coil to sense an angular position sensor.

The apparatus 400 includes a support structure 402 and a first conductive material 404. A first electrically conductive material 404 may be disposed at the support structure 402 to define a first continuous path 406 for a first current to flow between a first location 408 and a second location 410. The first continuous path 406 may include a first path portion 412 defining a first generally clockwise path 414 for a first current to flow about a first axis 416. The first path portion 412 may include a first inner peripheral portion 418 and a first outer peripheral portion 420. The first inner peripheral portion 418 may be positioned closer to the central axis 422 than the first outer peripheral portion 420 is to the central axis 422. The first radius of curvature 424 of the first inner peripheral portion 418 may be greater than the second radius of curvature 426 of the first outer peripheral portion 420. The first continuous path 406 may include a second path portion 428 defining a first generally counterclockwise path 430 for the first current to flow around a second axis 432. The first path portion 412 and the second path portion 428 may be arranged circumferentially about the central axis 422.

The first continuous path 406 may be or may be included in a sensing coil of an inductive angular position sensor. As a non-limiting example, the first continuous path 406 may be or may be included in the first sensing coil 110 of the apparatus 100 of fig. 1. Additionally or alternatively, the first continuous path 406 may be the same as or substantially similar to the continuous path 206 of fig. 2. The inductive angular position sensor may include additional elements not shown in fig. 4, including, for example, an oscillator coil (e.g., oscillator coil 102 of fig. 1 or oscillator coil 234 of fig. 2, but not limited), another sensing coil (e.g., second sensing coil 112 of fig. 1, but not limited), an integrated circuit (e.g., integrated circuit 120 of fig. 1 or integrated circuit 238 of fig. 8, but not limited), or a target (e.g., target 114 or target 236 of fig. 1, but not limited).

The first continuous path 406 may be arranged in two or more respective planes connected by a via, e.g., such that a section of the first continuous path 406 may pass over or under another section of the first continuous path 406 or over or under it, without electrical connection other than at the via, but without limitation. The portion of the first continuous path 406 in the first plane is shown using solid lines and the portion of the first continuous path 406 in the second plane (e.g., below the first plane) is shown using dotted dashed lines. Additionally, the first continuous path 406 may pass over or under another continuous path (e.g., a continuous path of another sense coil or oscillator coil, but is not limited). The support structure 402 may be formed of a non-conductive material to support the first continuous path 406 in one or more planes or layers. The first continuous path 406 on or in the support structure 402 may be a conductive trace on or in the PCB. Unless otherwise indicated, other paths or coils (e.g., sense coil or path thereof and oscillator coil or path thereof, but not limited to) and electrical connections between, for example, coils and integrated circuits, may likewise be conductive traces on or in support structure 402, but not limited to.

The first continuous path 406 may be formed from the first conductive material 404 and may provide a path for current to flow between the first location 408 and the second location 410. The first location 408 and the second location 410 are provided as example locations to define the first continuous path 406 as a path for current. The first location 408 and the second location 410 may or may not be proximate to or at the input of an integrated circuit (not shown in fig. 4) that senses the angular position sensor.

The shape of the first continuous path 406 or path portions of the first continuous path 406 (e.g., the first path portion 412 and the second path portion 428, but not limited thereto) may relate to a sense signal generated in the first continuous path 406 when a target (not shown in fig. 4) interferes with magnetic coupling between the first continuous path 406 and an oscillator coil (not shown in fig. 4). As a non-limiting example, a path portion of the first continuous path 406 may interfere with magnetic coupling to a different extent as the portion of the target passes over the path portion. As a non-limiting example, if a portion of the target is completely above the first path portion 412, the amplitude of the sense signal in the first continuous path 406 may be less than if the target is not above the first path portion 412. As another example, if the target were to rotate such that it was not above the first path portion 412, the amplitude of the sense signal in the first continuous path 406 would be greater than the amplitude of the sense signal of the target above the first continuous path 406.

As the target rotates over the first continuous path 406, the shape of the first continuous path 406 may cause the sense signal therein to have a particular waveform shape. The particular waveform shape may have properties that make it suitable for converting the target location into an output signal indicative of the target location. As a non-limiting example, the particular waveform shape may exhibit a sinusoidal shaped amplitude modulation envelope when the target rotates. The sinusoidal shaped amplitude modulation envelope can be accurately translated into angular target position by using a geometric function (e.g., arctangent, but not limited to). To generate the angular target position, a geometric function may be applied to the sinusoidal shaped amplitude modulation envelope of the sensing signal and another sinusoidal shaped amplitude modulation envelope of another sensing signal, which may be removed 90 degrees from the sensing signal.

As a non-limiting example, the shape of the first path portion 412 (including the first inner peripheral portion 418 and the first outer peripheral portion 420, the first inner peripheral portion 418 having a first radius of curvature 424 that is greater than a second radius of curvature 426 of the first outer peripheral portion 420) may result in a particular waveform shape in the sensed signal in response to the target rotating over the first continuous path 406.

As a non-limiting example, the first continuous path 406 may be defined or "drawn" using the following equation:

x= (a+b) sin (n t)); and

y＝(a+b*sin(n*t))*sin(t)；

For the following: t=0 to 2 pi;

Wherein:

a= (inner radius + outer radius)/2;

b= (outer radius-inner radius)/2;

The inner radius is a first distance between the central axis and a nearest point of the inner peripheral portion;

the outer radius is a second distance between the central axis and a furthest point of the peripheral portion; and

N is an integer related to the measurement range of the device.

For descriptive purposes, the first continuous path 406 is depicted as being between a first location 408 and a second location 410. The current may pass through the first continuous path 406 from the first location 408 to the second location 410 or from the second location 410 to the first location 408. In some examples, the current may be oscillating. As a non-limiting example, the sensing signal in the first continuous path 406 may be an oscillating signal that is responsive to an oscillating signal in an oscillator coil (not shown in fig. 4). In such an example, between one time and the next, i.e., during the first half of the cycle, current may flow in the first continuous path 406 in the described direction. Depending on the oscillations of the excitation signal and the oscillations of the sense signal, during the second half of the cycle, current may pass through the first continuous path 406 in the opposite direction.

Further, for purposes of description, the first path portion 412 is described as defining a first generally clockwise path 414, and the second path portion 428 is described as defining a first generally counterclockwise path 430. The current may flow in the first path portion 412 in a generally clockwise direction or in a generally counterclockwise direction about the first axis 416 (whether the current flows from the first location 408 to the second location 410 or from the second location 410 to the first location 408). Similarly, current may flow in the second path portion 428 in a generally clockwise direction or in a generally counterclockwise direction about the second axis 432 (whether current flows from the first location 408 to the second location 410 or from the second location 410 to the first location 408).

However, current may flow in the opposite direction about adjacent axes. As a non-limiting example, if current flows in the first substantially clockwise path 414 in a substantially clockwise direction about the first axis 432 in the first path portion 412, current may flow in the first substantially counterclockwise path 430 in a substantially counterclockwise direction about the second axis 432 in the second path portion 428 (adjacent the first axis 416). Likewise, if current flows in the first path portion 412 in a generally counterclockwise direction about the first axis 416, current may flow in the second path portion 428 (adjacent to the first axis 416) in a generally clockwise direction about the second axis 432.

In fig. 4, for illustration purposes, the first continuous path 406 is shown to include four path portions. In other examples, the first continuous path 406 may include any even number of path portions. The number of path portions may determine the number of cycles of amplitude modulation that the sense signal undergoes when the target rotates 360 ° about the central axis 422. As a non-limiting example, an inductive angular position sensor comprising a sensing coil arranged as a first continuous path 406 comprising four path portions may produce two complete cycles of amplitude modulation when the target is rotated 360 ° about the central axis 422. Including more path portions may result in more cycles of amplitude modulation. Thus, when the target is rotated 360 ° about the central axis 422, an inductive angular position sensor comprising sensing coils arranged as a first continuous path 406 comprising six path portions may result in three complete cycles of amplitude modulation.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a schematic diagram of another apparatus 500 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 500 may include a sensing coil to sense an angular position sensor.

The apparatus 500 may be the same or substantially similar to the apparatus 400 of fig. 4. As a non-limiting example, the apparatus 500 may include many elements that are the same or substantially similar to elements of the apparatus 400. In fig. 5, reference numerals having the same last two digits as the corresponding reference numerals in fig. 4 may indicate that elements referenced by the respective reference numerals are substantially the same in fig. 5 as they are in fig. 4, without the explicit description to the contrary. As a non-limiting example, the support structure 502 of fig. 5 may be substantially identical to the support structure 402 of fig. 4. The portion of the first continuous path 506 in the first plane is shown using a solid line and the portion of the first continuous path 506 in the second plane (e.g., below the first plane) is shown using a dotted line.

In addition to elements corresponding to those described with respect to fig. 4, apparatus 500 further includes: the radial portion 534 of the first path portion 512, the second inner peripheral portion 536 of the second path portion 528, the second outer peripheral portion 538 of the second path portion 528, the third radius of curvature 540 of the second inner peripheral portion 536, the fourth radius of curvature 542 of the second outer peripheral portion 538, the third path portion 544, the second generally clockwise path 546, the third axis 548, the fourth path portion 550, the second generally counterclockwise path 552, and the fourth axis 554.

In one or more examples, the first path portion 512 may define a radial portion 534 between the first inner peripheral portion 518 and the first outer peripheral portion 520. The radial portion 534 may be substantially straight.

In one or more examples, the second path portion 528 can include a second inner peripheral portion 536 and a second outer peripheral portion 538. The second inner peripheral portion 536 may be positioned closer to the central axis 522 than the second outer peripheral portion 538 is to the central axis 522. The third radius of curvature 540 of the second inner peripheral portion 536 may be greater than the fourth radius of curvature 542 of the second outer peripheral portion 538.

In one or more examples, the path portions may be substantially radially symmetric to each other. Additionally or alternatively, the first continuous path 506 as a whole may be said to exhibit substantially radial symmetry.

In one or more examples, the first continuous path 506 may additionally include a third path portion 544 and a fourth path portion 550. The third path portion 544 may define a second generally clockwise path 546 for current to flow around a third axis 548. The fourth path portion 550 may define a second generally counterclockwise path 552 for current to flow about a fourth axis 554. The first, second, third, and fourth path portions 512, 528, 544, 550 may be disposed circumferentially about the central axis 522, with the second path portion 528 disposed between the first and third path portions 512, 544, and the third path portion 544 disposed between the second and fourth path portions 528, 550.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another apparatus 600 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 600 may include a sensing coil to sense an angular position sensor.

The apparatus 600 may be the same or substantially similar to the apparatus 500 of fig. 5 or the apparatus 400 of fig. 4. As a non-limiting example, device 600 may include many elements that are the same or substantially similar to elements of device 500 or device 400. In fig. 6, reference numerals having the same last two digits as the corresponding reference numerals in fig. 5 or 4 may indicate that elements referenced by the respective reference numerals are substantially the same in fig. 6 as they are in fig. 5 or 4, without the explicit description to the contrary. As a non-limiting example, the first path portion 612 of fig. 6 may be substantially the same as the first path portion 512 of fig. 5 or the first path portion 412 of fig. 4.

In addition to elements corresponding to those described with respect to fig. 4 and 5, the apparatus 600 further includes: the first plane 656, the fifth path portion 658, the third generally clockwise path 660, the second plane 662, the sixth path portion 664, the third generally counterclockwise path 666, the passageway 668 about the first axis 616, the passageway 670 about the second axis 632, the passageway 672 about the third axis 648, and the passageway 674 about the fourth axis 654.

In one or more examples, the first path portion 612, the second path portion 628, the third path portion 644, and the fourth path portion 650 can all be disposed substantially in the first plane 656. The first continuous path 606 may additionally include a fifth path portion 658 and a sixth path portion 664. The fifth path portion 658 may define a third generally clockwise path 660 for current to flow about the first axis 616. The fifth path portion 658 may be substantially below the first path portion 612. The fifth path portion 658 may be substantially in a second plane 662, which second plane 662 may be below the first plane 656. The sixth path portion 664 may define a third generally counterclockwise path 666 for current to flow about the second axis 632. The sixth path portion 664 may be substantially below the second path portion 628. The sixth path portion 664 may be substantially in the second plane 662.

In one or more examples, the first count of passages 668 about the first axis 616 of the first generally clockwise path 614 may be greater than or less than the second count of passages 670 about the second axis 632 of the first generally counterclockwise path 630.

Additionally or alternatively, in one or more examples, the third count of passages 672 about the third axis 648 of the second generally clockwise path 646 may be the same as the first count (of passages 668). Further, the fourth count of passages 674 about the fourth axis 654 of the second generally counterclockwise path 652 may be the same as the second count (of passages 670).

For example, the first count of vias 668 about the first axis 616 may be five (including three vias of the first path portion 612 in the first plane 656 and two vias of the fifth path portion 658 in the second plane 662). Further, the second count of vias 670 around the second axis 632 may be six (including three vias of the second path portion 628 in the first plane 656 and three vias of the sixth path portion 664 in the second plane 662). Further, the third count of passages 672 about the third axis 648 may be five and the fourth count of passages 674 may be six.

The first count of channels 668 about first axis 616 being greater than or less than the second count of channels 670 about second axis 632 may contribute to the desired waveform shape of the sense signal generated in first continuous path 606. As a non-limiting example, the portion 675 of the first continuous path 606 between path portions (e.g., between the first path portion 612, the second path portion 628, the third path portion 644, the fourth path portion 650, the fifth path portion 658, and the sixth path portion 664) may result in (unless compensated for) a Direct Current (DC) offset in the sense signal generated in the first continuous path. Differing the number of clockwise passages about the axis from the number of counterclockwise passages about the axis may compensate for DC offset that would otherwise occur in response to the portion 675 of the first continuous path 606 between the path portions.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device 700 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 700 may include a sensing coil and an oscillator coil 784 of an inductive angular position sensor.

In addition to elements corresponding to those described with respect to fig. 4, 5 and 6, the apparatus 700 further comprises: a second conductive material 776 defining a second continuous path 778 of the oscillator coil 784.

The oscillator coils 784 may be arranged in two planes. The oscillator coil 784 may be center tapped. As a non-limiting example, the oscillator coil 784 may include an inward spiral path 786 and an outward spiral path 796, e.g., an inward spiral path 786 in a first plane and an outward spiral path in a second plane.

Oscillator coil 784 may be above (or below) one or more sense coils. As a non-limiting example, the oscillator coil 784 may be above the first continuous path 706. Specifically, in some examples, the oscillator coil 784 may be above an outer peripheral portion of the path portion of the first continuous path 706.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device 800 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, the apparatus 800 may include two sensing coils that sense an angular position sensor. In fig. 8, reference numerals having the same last two digits as corresponding reference numerals in any one of fig. 4, 5,6, and 7 may indicate that elements referenced by the respective reference numerals are substantially the same in fig. 8 as they are in any one of fig. 4, 5,6, and 7, without the explicit description to the contrary.

The apparatus 800 includes a support structure 802, a first sensing coil 804, and a second sensing coil 828. The first sensing coil 804 can be or can include a first conductive material 806 disposed at the support structure 802 to define a first continuous path 808 for a first current to flow between a first location 810 and a second location 812. The first continuous path 808 may include a plurality of respective first path portions 814 that define respective substantially clockwise paths 816 for the first current to flow about a plurality of respective first axes 818. The first continuous path 808 may include a plurality of respective second path portions 820 defining respective generally counterclockwise paths 822 for the first current to flow about a plurality of respective second axes 824. The plurality of respective first path portions 814 and the plurality of respective second path portions 820 of the first continuous path 808 may be alternately arranged circumferentially about the central axis 826. The second sensing coil 828 may be or may include a second conductive material 830 disposed at the support structure 802 to define a second continuous path 832 for a second current to flow between the third location 834 and the fourth location 836. The second continuous path 832 may include a plurality of respective first path portions 838 defining respective generally clockwise paths 840 for the second current to flow about a plurality of respective third axes 842. The respective first portion 844 of each of the plurality of respective first path portions 838 of the second continuous path 832 may be above or below the respective second portion 846 of a respective one of the plurality of respective second path portions 820 of the first continuous path 808. Similarly, the respective third portion 848 of each of the plurality of respective first path portions 838 of the second continuous path 832 is above or below the fourth portion 850 of a respective one of the plurality of respective second path portions 820 of the first continuous path 808. The second continuous path 832 may include a plurality of respective second path portions 852 defining respective generally counterclockwise paths 854 for the second current to flow about a plurality of respective fourth axes 856. The plurality of respective first path portions 838 and the plurality of respective second path portions 852 of second continuous path 832 may be alternately arranged circumferentially about central axis 826.

The support structure 802 may be the same as or substantially similar to the support structure 402 of fig. 4, the support structure 502 of fig. 5, or the support structure 702 of fig. 7. The first sensing coil 804 can be an example of the first sensing coil 110 of fig. 1. The first sensing coil 804 formed, for example, of the first conductive material 806 in the first continuous path 808 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first conductive material 404 in the first continuous path 406 of fig. 4, the first conductive material 504 in the first continuous path 506 of fig. 5, or the first conductive material 704 in the first continuous path 706 of fig. 7. The first and second positions 810, 812 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first and second positions 408, 410 of fig. 4, the first and second positions 508, 510 of fig. 5, or the first and second positions 708, 710 of fig. 7, respectively.

The first path portion 814 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first path portion 412 of fig. 4, the first and third path portions 512 and 544 of fig. 5, or the first and third path portions 612 and 644 of fig. 6. The first substantially clockwise path 816 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first substantially clockwise path 414 of fig. 4, the first and second substantially clockwise paths 514, 546 of fig. 5, or the first and second substantially clockwise paths 614, 646 of fig. 6. The first axis 818 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first axis 416 of fig. 4, the first axis 516 and the third axis 548 of fig. 5, or the first axis 616 and the third axis 648 of fig. 6.

The second path portion 820 may be the same as or substantially similar to the second path portion 428 of fig. 4, the second path portion 528 and the fourth path portion 550 of fig. 5, or the second path portion 628 and the fourth path portion 650 of fig. 6. The first generally counterclockwise path 822 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first generally counterclockwise path 430 of fig. 4, the first and second generally counterclockwise paths 530, 552 of fig. 5, the first and second generally counterclockwise paths 630, 652 of fig. 6. The second axis 824 may be the same as or substantially similar to the second axis 432 of fig. 4, the second and fourth axes 532, 554 of fig. 5, or the second and fourth axes 632, 654 of fig. 6. Central axis 826 may be the same as or substantially similar to central axis 422 of fig. 4, central axis 522 of fig. 5, central axis 622 of fig. 6, or central axis 722 of fig. 7.

The first sensing coil 804 can include two first path portions 814 and two second path portions 820. The second sensing coil 828 may include two third path portions 838 and two fourth path portions 852.

The second sense coil 828 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first sense coil 804. However, the second sense coil 828 may rotate on the support structure 802 relative to the orientation of the first sense coil 804 on the support structure 802. As a non-limiting example, the second sense coil 828 may be substantially symmetrical with the first sense coil 804. Further, the second sensing coil 828 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first sensing coil 804, however, the point of electrical coupling between the first sensing coil 804 and the first continuous path 808 and the first location 810 may be different than the point of electrical coupling between the second sensing coil 828 and the third location 834 and the fourth location 836.

As a non-limiting example of an example of the reference device 800, the first sensing coil 804 may include two first path portions 814 and two second path portions 820. The second sensing coil 828 may include two third path portions 838, each of which may be substantially symmetrical with the two first path portions 814 of the first sensing coil 804. The second sense coil 828 may include two fourth path portions 852, each of which may be substantially symmetrical with the two second path portions 820 of the first sense coil 804.

All of the first, second, third, and fourth path portions 814, 820, 838, 852 may include inner and outer peripheral portions. The inner peripheral portion may have a respective radius of curvature that is greater than a respective radius of curvature of the respective outer peripheral portion.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a three-dimensional schematic of another device 900 according to one or more examples. According to one or more examples, apparatus 900 may include two sensing coils that sense an angular position sensor.

The apparatus 900 may be the same or substantially similar to the apparatus 800 of fig. 8. As a non-limiting example, the apparatus 900 may include many elements that are the same or substantially similar to elements of the apparatus 800. In fig. 9, reference numerals having the same last two digits as the corresponding reference numerals in fig. 8 may indicate that elements referenced by the corresponding reference numerals are substantially the same in fig. 9 as they are in fig. 8, without the explicit description to the contrary. As a non-limiting example, the support structure 502 of fig. 5 may be substantially identical to the support structure 802 of fig. 8.

The first plane 958, the second plane 960, the third plane 962, and the fourth plane 964 are specifically shown in fig. 9. The first plane 958 and the second plane 960 may be the same as or substantially similar to the first plane 656 and the second plane 662 of fig. 6.

In one or more examples, the first continuous path 908 of the first sensing coil 904 can be disposed in a first plane 958 and a fourth plane 964. The second continuous path 932 may be disposed in the third plane 962 and the second plane 960. Third plane 962 and fourth plane 964 may be between first plane 958 and second plane 960.

Fig. 10 includes two graphs showing analog modulated signals according to one or more examples. In particular, fig. 10 includes a first graph 1002 showing an example first sense signal 1004 of a first sense coil and a second graph 1008 showing an example second sense signal 1010 of a second sense coil.

The first graph 1002 shows the normalized signal amplitude of the first sense signal 1004 as a function of the angular position of the target, for example, but not limited to, when the target is rotated about an axis. Similarly, a second graph 1008 shows the normalized signal amplitude of the second sense signal 1010 as a function of the angular position of the target.

The first sense signal 1004 includes a carrier signal (e.g., generated in response to an oscillating signal at an oscillator coil, but is not limited to) enveloped by a first amplitude modulation envelope 1006. Similarly, the second sense signal 1010 includes a carrier signal (e.g., generated in response to an oscillating signal at an oscillator coil, but is not limited) enveloped by the second amplitude modulation envelope 1012. The carrier signal shown for the first sense signal 1004 and the carrier signal shown for the second sense signal 101 o are simulated for illustrative purposes. For example, the carrier signal may oscillate with respect to time, and the time is not shown in the first graph 1002 and the second graph 1008. Thus, the carrier signal is shown as if the target is rotating in time at a constant rotational speed.

The first sense signal 1004 may have been obtained from a sense coil, such as, by way of non-limiting example, the first sense coil 110 of fig. 1, the conductive material 204 in the continuous path 206 of fig. 2, the conductive material 304 in the continuous path 306 of fig. 3, the first conductive material 404 in the first continuous path 406 of fig. 4, the first conductive material 504 in the first continuous path 506 of fig. 5, the first conductive material 704 in the first continuous path 706 of fig. 7, the first sense coil 804 of fig. 8, or the first sense coil 904 of fig. 9.

The second sense signal 1010 may have been obtained from a second sense coil, which may be the same or substantially similar to the sense coil from which the first sense signal 1004 was obtained, but rotated 45 °. As a non-limiting example, in fig. 10, the first amplitude modulation envelope 1006 may be observed to be 45 ° out of phase (e.g., in front of, but not limited to) the second amplitude modulation envelope 1012. As non-limiting examples, the second sensing signal 1010 may have been obtained from the second sensing coil 828 of fig. 8 or the second sensing coil 928 of fig. 9.

The carrier frequency shown in fig. 10 is intentionally selected to be on the order of the rotation frequency near the target to show that the first sense signal 1004 and the second sense signal 1010 are modulated signals. In one or more examples, the carrier frequencies of the first and second sense signals 1004, 1010 may be 1MHz to 6MHz, which may be orders of magnitude greater than the frequencies of the first and second amplitude modulation envelopes 1006, 1012, as non-limiting examples. The frequencies of the first amplitude modulation envelope 1006 and the second amplitude modulation envelope 1012 may be based on a rotational frequency of the target, e.g., the target interfering with the magnetic field between the oscillator coil and each of the first sensing coil and the second sensing coil, but are not limited.

Fig. 11 is a graph 1102 illustrating an analog demodulated first sense signal 1104 and an analog demodulated second sense signal 1106 in accordance with one or more examples.

Graph 1102 shows normalized signal amplitudes of the demodulated first sensing signal 1104 and the demodulated second sensing signal 1106 as a function of angular position of the target, for example, but not limited to, when the target is rotated about an axis.

The demodulated first sense signal 1104 may have been obtained by demodulating the first sense signal 1004. In other words, the demodulated first sensing signal 1104 may be directly related to the first amplitude modulation envelope 1006 of the first sensing signal 1004. Similarly, the demodulated second sense signal 1106 may have been obtained by demodulating the second sense signal 1010. Similarly, the demodulated second sense signal 1106 may be directly related to the second amplitude modulation envelope 1012 of the second sense signal 1010.

In one or more examples, an integrated circuit (e.g., integrated circuit 120, integrated circuit 238, or integrated circuit 338, but not limited to) may generate demodulated first sense signal 1104 and demodulated second sense signal 1106 as output signals (e.g., output signals 122, 240, or 340, but not limited to) indicative of an angular position (e.g., angular position 124, angular position 242, or angular position 342) of a target (e.g., target 114, target 236, or target 336, but not limited to).

Fig. 12 is a graph 1202 illustrating an analog output signal 1204 in accordance with one or more examples. Graph 1202 shows an output signal 1204 having a range of 0 volts to 5 volts (as an example) as a function of the angular position of the target, for example, but not limited to, when the target is rotated in a clockwise direction about an axis.

The output signal 1204 may have been obtained by performing an operation (e.g., a geometric operation, such as arctangent, but not limited to) on the demodulated first sense signal 1104 and the demodulated second sense signal 1106 of fig. 11. As a non-limiting example, the output signal 1204 may be an arctangent of the demodulated first sensing signal 1104 and the demodulated second sensing signal 1106.

The output signal 1204 has a constant slope as a function of the angular position of the target.

In one or more examples, an integrated circuit (e.g., integrated circuit 120, integrated circuit 238, or integrated circuit 338, but not limited to) may generate output signal 1204 as an output signal (e.g., output signal 122, output signal 240, or output signal 340, but not limited to) indicative of an angular position (e.g., angular position 124, angular position 242, or angular position 342) of a target (e.g., target 114, target 236, or target 336, but not limited to). The output signal 1204 may be indicative of (amplitude-based) the angular position of the target. The output signal 1204 (based on the slope of the signal over time) may indicate the direction of rotation of the target over time.

Fig. 13 is a graph 1302 illustrating an analog output signal 1304 in accordance with one or more examples. Graph 1302 shows an output signal 1304 having a range of 0 volts to 5 volts (as an example) as a function of the angular position of the target, for example, but not limited to, when the target is rotated in a counterclockwise direction about an axis.

The output signal 1304 may have been obtained by performing an operation (e.g., a geometric operation, such as arctangent, but not limited to) on the demodulated first sense signal 1104 and the demodulated second sense signal 1106 of fig. 11. As a non-limiting example, the output signal 1304 may be an arctangent of the demodulated first sensing signal 1104 and the demodulated second sensing signal 1106.

The output signal 1304 has a constant slope as a function of the angular position of the target. The slope of the output signal 1304 may be opposite to the slope of the output signal 1204 because the output signal 1204 may be generated in response to the target rotating in a clockwise direction about the axis, and the output signal 1304 may be generated in response to the target rotating in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis. The output signal 1304 may be indicative (based on amplitude) of the angular position of the target. The output signal 1304 (based on the slope of the signal over time) may indicate the direction of rotation of the target over time.

In one or more examples, an integrated circuit (e.g., integrated circuit 120, integrated circuit 238, or integrated circuit 338, but not limited to) may generate output signal 1304 as an output signal (e.g., output signal 122, output signal 240, or output signal 340, but not limited to) indicative of an angular position (e.g., angular position 124, angular position 242, or angular position 342) of a target (e.g., target 114, target 236, or target 336, but not limited to).

As used herein, the term "substantially" with reference to a given parameter, attribute, or condition refers to and includes that the given parameter, attribute, or condition is met with some degree of variability, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the substantially satisfied parameter may be at least about 90% satisfied, at least about 95% satisfied, or even at least about 99% satisfied.

As used in this disclosure, the term "module" or "component" may refer to a particular hardware implementation that may execute actions of a module or component or software object or software routine that may be stored on or executed by general purpose hardware of a computing system (e.g., without limitation, a computer readable medium, a processing device). In one or more examples, the different components, modules, engines, and services described in this disclosure may be implemented as objects or processes executing on a computing system (e.g., as separate threads, but are not limited to). While some of the systems and methods described in this disclosure are generally described as being implemented in software (stored on or executed by general purpose hardware), specific hardware implementations, or combinations of software and specific hardware implementations, are also possible and contemplated.

As used in this disclosure, the term "combination" referring to a plurality of elements may include a combination of all elements or any of a variety of different sub-combinations of certain elements. For example, the phrase "A, B, C, D or a combination thereof" may refer to either A, B, C or D; A. a combination of each of B, C and D; and A, B, C or any subcombination of D, such as A, B and C; A. b and D; A. c and D; B. c and D; a and B; a and C; a and D; b and C; b and D; or C and D.

The terms used in the present disclosure, particularly in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims), are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be construed as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be construed as "having at least," the term "including" should be construed as "including but not limited to," but not limited to). As used herein, "each" means "some or all". As used herein, "each" refers to "all".

In addition, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to examples containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" or "an" may be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations.

In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifying elements, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Further, where conventional examples similar to at least one of "A, B and C are used, but not limited to, one or more of" or "A, B and C, but not limited to, such constructions are generally intended to include a alone a, a alone B, a alone C, A and B together, a and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together, but not limited thereto.

Furthermore, any separate words or phrases presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims or drawings, should be understood to include the possibility of including one, either or both of the terms. For example, the phrase "a or B" should be understood to include the possibilities of "a" or "B" or "a and B".

Additional non-limiting examples of the present disclosure may include:

Example 1. An apparatus, comprising: a support structure; and a first electrically conductive material arranged at the support structure to define a first continuous path for current flow between the first location and the second location, the first continuous path comprising: a first path portion defining a first generally clockwise path for the flow of electrical current about a first axis, the first path portion including a first inner peripheral portion and a first outer peripheral portion, the first inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to the central axis than the first outer peripheral portion, a radius of curvature of the first inner peripheral portion being greater than a radius of curvature of the first outer peripheral portion; and a second path portion defining a first generally counterclockwise path for current flow about a second axis, the first and second path portions being arranged circumferentially about the central axis.

Example 2 the apparatus of example 1, wherein the first path portion defines two radial portions between the first inner peripheral portion and the first outer peripheral portion, the radial portions being substantially straight.

Example 3 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 and 2, wherein the second path portion includes a second inner peripheral portion and a second outer peripheral portion, the second inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to the central axis than the second outer peripheral portion, a third radius of curvature of the second inner peripheral portion being greater than a fourth radius of curvature of the second outer peripheral portion.

Example 4 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 3, wherein the first continuous path comprises: a third path portion defining a second generally clockwise path for current flow about a third axis; and a fourth path portion defining a second generally counterclockwise path for the flow of electrical current about the fourth axis, and wherein the first path portion, the second path portion, the third path portion, and the fourth path portion are disposed circumferentially about the central axis, wherein the second path portion is disposed between the first path portion and the third path portion, and the third path portion is disposed between the second path portion and the fourth path portion.

Example 5 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 4, wherein the first path portion, the second path portion, the third path portion, and the fourth path portion are all disposed substantially in a first plane, the first continuous path comprising: a fifth path portion defining a third generally clockwise path for current flow about the first axis, the fifth path portion being substantially above or below the first path portion in the second plane; and a sixth path portion defining a third generally counterclockwise path for current flow about the second axis, the sixth path portion being substantially above or below the second path portion in the second plane.

Example 6 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 5, wherein a first count of passages around a first axis of the first generally clockwise path is greater than or less than a second count of passages around a second axis of the first generally counterclockwise path.

Example 7 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 6, wherein a third count of the passages around a third axis of the second generally clockwise path is the same as the first count of the passages, and wherein a fourth count of the passages around a fourth axis of the second generally counterclockwise path is the same as the second count of the passages.

Example 8 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 7, wherein the first count of passages around a first axis of the first generally clockwise path is greater than or less than the second count of passages around a second axis of the first generally counterclockwise path.

Example 9 the apparatus of any one of examples 1 to 8, comprising: an oscillator coil to carry an excitation signal to induce a sense signal in the first conductive material; a target to rotate about the central axis and affect magnetic coupling between the excitation signal and the sense signal; and an integrated circuit to generate an output signal indicative of an angular position of the target at least partially in response to the sense signal.

Example 10 an apparatus, comprising: a support structure; a first sensing coil comprising a first conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a first continuous path for a first current to flow between a first position and a second position, the first continuous path comprising: a plurality of respective first path portions defining respective substantially clockwise paths for a first current to flow about a plurality of respective first axes; and a plurality of respective second path portions defining respective substantially counterclockwise paths for the first current to flow about a plurality of respective second axes, the plurality of respective first path portions and the plurality of respective second path portions of the first continuous path being circumferentially alternating about the central axis; and a second sensing coil comprising a second conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a second continuous path for a second current to flow between a third position and a fourth position, the second continuous path comprising: a plurality of respective first path portions defining respective substantially clockwise paths for the second current to flow about a plurality of respective third axes; and a plurality of respective second path portions defining respective substantially counterclockwise paths for the flow of a second current about a plurality of respective fourth axes, the plurality of respective first path portions and the plurality of respective second path portions of the second continuous path being circumferentially alternating about the central axis.

Example 11 the apparatus of example 10, wherein the first continuous path is disposed in a first plane and a second plane, wherein the second continuous path is disposed in a third plane and a fourth plane, and wherein the third plane and the fourth plane are between the first plane and the second plane.

Example 12 the apparatus of any one of examples 10 and 11, wherein the first continuous path includes two respective first path portions and two respective second path portions, and the second continuous path includes two respective first path portions and two respective second path portions.

Example 13 the apparatus of any one of examples 10 to 12, wherein the respective first and second path portions of the first and second continuous paths include respective inner and outer peripheral portions, respectively, the respective inner peripheral portions being positioned closer to the central axis than the respective outer peripheral portions, the respective radius of curvature of the inner peripheral portions being greater than the respective radius of curvature of the outer peripheral portions.

Example 14. An apparatus, comprising: a support structure; an electrically conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a continuous path for current flow between the first location and the second location, the continuous path comprising: a first path portion defining a generally clockwise path for the flow of electrical current about a first axis, the first path portion including an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to the central axis than the outer peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion having a radius of curvature greater than the outer peripheral portion; and a second path portion defining a generally counterclockwise path for current flow about a second axis, the first and second path portions being arranged circumferentially about the central axis; an oscillator coil disposed about a central axis; a target arranged to rotate about a central axis; and an integrated circuit to generate an output signal indicative of the angular position of the target.

Example 15 the apparatus of example 14, wherein the target comprises an extension above the continuous path.

Example 16 the apparatus of any one of examples 14 and 15, wherein the extension is above more than half of the continuous path.

Example 17 the apparatus of any one of examples 14 to 16, wherein the target is coupled to a shaft that extends through an aperture defined by the support structure.

Example 18 the apparatus of any one of examples 14 to 17, wherein the oscillator coil is substantially above or below an outer peripheral portion of the first path portion.

Example 19 the apparatus of any one of examples 14 to 18, wherein the oscillator coil is center tapped.

While the present disclosure has been described with respect to certain illustrated examples, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that the invention is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications may be made to the illustrated examples and described examples without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed and its legal equivalents. In addition, features from one example may be combined with features of another example while still being included within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the inventors.

Claims (19)

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

A support structure; and

A first electrically conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a first continuous path for current flow between a first location and a second location, the first continuous path comprising:

A first path portion defining a first generally clockwise path for the current to flow about a first axis, the first path portion including a first inner peripheral portion and a first outer peripheral portion, the first inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to a central axis than the first outer peripheral portion, a radius of curvature of the first inner peripheral portion being greater than a radius of curvature of the first outer peripheral portion; and

A second path portion defining a first generally counterclockwise path for the flow of the electrical current about a second axis, the first and second path portions being arranged circumferentially about the central axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first path portion defines two radial portions between the first inner peripheral portion and the first outer peripheral portion, the radial portions being substantially straight.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second path portion comprises a second inner peripheral portion and a second outer peripheral portion, the second inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to the central axis than the second outer peripheral portion, a third radius of curvature of the second inner peripheral portion being greater than a fourth radius of curvature of the second outer peripheral portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first continuous path comprises:

A third path portion defining a second generally clockwise path for the current to flow about a third axis; and

A fourth path portion defining a second generally counterclockwise path for the current to flow about a fourth axis, an

Wherein the first, second, third and fourth path portions are arranged circumferentially about the central axis, wherein the second path portion is arranged between the first and third path portions and the third path portion is arranged between the second and fourth path portions.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first path portion, the second path portion, the third path portion, and the fourth path portion are all disposed substantially in a first plane, the first continuous path comprising:

A fifth path portion defining a third generally clockwise path for the current to flow about the first axis, the fifth path portion being substantially above or below the first path portion in a second plane; and

A sixth path portion defining a third generally counterclockwise path for the current to flow about the second axis, the sixth path portion being substantially above or below the second path portion in the second plane.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a first count of passages around a first axis of the first generally clockwise path is greater than or less than a second count of passages around a second axis of the first generally counterclockwise path.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a third count of passages around a third axis of the second generally clockwise path is the same as the first count of passages, and wherein a fourth count of passages around a fourth axis of the second generally counterclockwise path is the same as the second count of passages.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first count of passages around a first axis of the first generally clockwise path is greater than or less than a second count of passages around a second axis of the first generally counterclockwise path.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising:

An oscillator coil for carrying an excitation signal to induce a sensing signal in the first conductive material;

A target to rotate about the central axis and affect a magnetic coupling between the excitation signal and the sense signal; and

An integrated circuit to generate an output signal indicative of an angular position of the target at least partially in response to the sense signal.

10. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

A support structure;

A first sensing coil comprising a first conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a first continuous path for a first current to flow between a first position and a second position, the first continuous path comprising:

a plurality of respective first path portions defining respective substantially clockwise paths for the first current to flow about a plurality of respective first axes; and

A plurality of respective second path portions defining respective substantially counterclockwise paths for the first current to flow about a plurality of respective second axes, the plurality of respective first path portions and the plurality of respective second path portions of the first continuous path being alternately arranged circumferentially about the central axis; and

A second sensing coil comprising a second conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a second continuous path for a second current to flow between a third position and a fourth position, the second continuous path comprising:

a plurality of respective first path portions defining respective substantially clockwise paths for the second current to flow about a plurality of respective third axes; and

A plurality of respective second path portions defining respective substantially counterclockwise paths for the second current to flow about a plurality of respective fourth axes, the plurality of respective first path portions and the plurality of respective second path portions of the second continuous path being alternately arranged circumferentially about the central axis.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first continuous path is disposed in a first plane and a second plane, wherein the second continuous path is disposed in a third plane and a fourth plane, and wherein the third plane and the fourth plane are between the first plane and the second plane.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first continuous path comprises two respective first path portions and two respective second path portions, and the second continuous path comprises two respective first path portions and two respective second path portions.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the respective first and second path portions of the first and second continuous paths include respective inner and outer peripheral portions, respectively, the respective inner peripheral portions being positioned closer to the central axis than the respective outer peripheral portions, the respective radii of curvature of the inner peripheral portions being greater than the respective radii of curvature of the outer peripheral portions.

14. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

A support structure;

A conductive material disposed at the support structure to define a continuous path for current flow between a first location and a second location, the continuous path comprising:

A first path portion defining a generally clockwise path for the current to flow about a first axis, the first path portion including an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion, the inner peripheral portion being positioned closer to a central axis than the outer peripheral portion, a radius of curvature of the inner peripheral portion being greater than a radius of curvature of the outer peripheral portion; and

A second path portion defining a generally counterclockwise path for the flow of the electrical current about a second axis, the first and second path portions being arranged circumferentially about the central axis;

An oscillator coil disposed about the central axis;

A target arranged to rotate about the central axis; and

An integrated circuit to generate an output signal indicative of an angular position of the target.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the target comprises an extension above the continuous path.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the extension is above more than half of the continuous path.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the target is coupled to a shaft extending through an aperture defined by the support structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the oscillator coil is substantially above or below an outer peripheral portion of the first path portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the oscillator coil is center tapped.