EP4367480A1 - Rotational position sensor - Google Patents

Rotational position sensor

Info

Publication number
EP4367480A1
EP4367480A1 EP21783053.8A EP21783053A EP4367480A1 EP 4367480 A1 EP4367480 A1 EP 4367480A1 EP 21783053 A EP21783053 A EP 21783053A EP 4367480 A1 EP4367480 A1 EP 4367480A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
windings
distance
coil
sensor
winding
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21783053.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Sina FELLA
Jorge Miguel NUNES DOS SANTOS CABRAL
Luís Alexandre MACHADO DA ROCHA
José António AZEVEDO GONÇALVES
Débora Cláudia SIMÕES PEREIRA
Carlos Daniel ARAÚJO FERREIRA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Universidade do Minho
Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal SA
Original Assignee
Universidade do Minho
Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universidade do Minho, Bosch Car Multimedia Portugal SA filed Critical Universidade do Minho
Publication of EP4367480A1 publication Critical patent/EP4367480A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01D—MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G01D5/00—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable
    • G01D5/12—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means
    • G01D5/14—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage
    • G01D5/20—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature
    • G01D5/2006—Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable using electric or magnetic means influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature by influencing the self-induction of one or more coils

Definitions

  • the present application describes a position sensor that , due to its technical characteristics , features low harmonic signal content .
  • the resulting measuring signal comes from a frequency change of a resonant circuit (LC oscillator ) , whose measuring coil faces an electrically conductive target .
  • the electrically conductive target comprises several "holes" , meaning that the area covering the measuring coil with respect to the electrically conductive track changes when the target moves .
  • the measuring coil induces eddy currents in the conductive target , which, vice versa, leads to an inductance change of the measuring coil .
  • the coils of the sensor can be planar coils , printed in one or more layers on a Printed Circuit Board .
  • the distances between in-plane neighboring coil windings within a PCB layer are always the same , being constant in both radial and tangential direction .
  • Such coil layout can be found, for example , in document WO2016055348A1 which discloses a sensor arrangement for the contactless sensing of angles of rotation on a rotating part , said rotating part being coupled to a disk-shaped target which includes at least one metal area and generates , in combination with a coil arrangement comprising at least one flat detection coil , at least one piece of information to determine the current angle of rotation of the rotating part .
  • the present invention describes a rotational sensor comprising a stator comprised of at least one row of coil windings radially disposed in a circular arrangement ; wherein each coil winding comprises a set of windings whose winding distance between neighboring windings comprises inplane adapted distances .
  • the winding distance between neighboring windings comprises a tangential distance and a radial distance, wherein the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance .
  • the winding distance between neighboring windings is the same along the circular arrangement , but di f ferent in the perpendicular distance with regard to the circular arrangement .
  • the at least one row of coil windings comprises at least two sets of two radially disposed and opposed coil windings .
  • the two radially disposed and opposed coil windings are connected in series . Yet in another proposed embodiment of present invention, the two radially disposed and opposed coil windings produce an output signal with low harmonic content .
  • the present application describes a position sensor that , due to its technical characteristics , features low harmonic signal content .
  • the now disclosed adapted coil design allows to obtain a signal output that is linearly optimi zed, making it poss ible to calibrate the sensor that comprises said coil arrangement in a simpler, cheaper and more accurate procedure , leading to a smaller calibration error .
  • a rotor positioning sensor with high linearity output signal can be obtained, which is a key requirement to obtain a good, noiseless regulation and high comfort motor .
  • the set of coil windings of the sensor is characteri zed by the fact that the distance between the windings arranged in the same in-plane layer a printed circuit board ( PCB ) is adapted in a way that the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance .
  • PCB printed circuit board
  • each winding distance within the PCB layer is preferably the same along the movement direction, but different in the perpendicular distance with regard to the linear movement direction.
  • the shape of the output signal can be tuned very efficiently to get sinusoidal (or nearly sinusoidal) shapes.
  • Fig. 1 - illustrates present disclosed invention where the proposed sensor (100) comprises a set of coil windings (101) with adapted distances between in-plane neighboring windings (102) .
  • the inside distance between the coil windings (102) i.e., the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance.
  • Fig. 2 - illustrates present disclosed invention with regard to the output signals of the sensor, comparing its linear behavior.
  • the resulting output signal (200) is represented in both examples, a) and b) , as well as the sine (300) fits.
  • the proposed sensor (100) comprises a stator with a set of coil windings (101) characterized by the fact that the distance between each winding (102) in the same in-plane layer of the PCB is adapted in a way that the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance.
  • An optimization is done via FEM simulations.
  • the proposed sensor (100) in one of the proposed embodiments, is arranged in a multilayer printed circuit board with at least two layers.
  • the proposed technology is intended to be used in any sensor developed to detect linear or rotor position.
  • Each sensor (100) comprises at least two sets of two coil windings (101) radially disposed in a circular arrangement. Each coil winding (101) of each set, is connected in series with the opposite arranged coil winding (101) over the circular arrangement of the sensor.
  • the number of sets of two coil windings (101) arranged in the circular sensor (100) is defined by the requirements of the final application, wherein the greater the number of paired in series coil windings (101) , greater the amplitude of the sensor (100) .
  • the inner and outer radius are given by the final product and application, and the number of windings (102) of each coil winding (101) is given by the required signal to noise ratio of the sensor (100) . As last optimization step, the optimization ratio between trace distances allows to get low harmonic content.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention describes a position sensor that, due to its technical characteristics, features low harmonic signal content. The proposed rotational sensor (100) comprises a stator comprised of at least one row of coil windings (101) radially disposed in a circular arrangement; wherein each coil winding comprises a set of windings whose winding distance between neighboring windings (102) comprises in-plane adapted distances.

Description

ROTATIONAL POSITION SENSOR
Technical Field
The present application describes a position sensor that , due to its technical characteristics , features low harmonic signal content .
Background art
Presently it is known the existence of position sensors based on the eddy currents principle . Usually, the resulting measuring signal comes from a frequency change of a resonant circuit ( LC oscillator ) , whose measuring coil faces an electrically conductive target . The electrically conductive target comprises several "holes" , meaning that the area covering the measuring coil with respect to the electrically conductive track changes when the target moves . The measuring coil induces eddy currents in the conductive target , which, vice versa, leads to an inductance change of the measuring coil .
The coils of the sensor can be planar coils , printed in one or more layers on a Printed Circuit Board . Up to now, the distances between in-plane neighboring coil windings within a PCB layer are always the same , being constant in both radial and tangential direction .
Such coil layout can be found, for example , in document WO2016055348A1 which discloses a sensor arrangement for the contactless sensing of angles of rotation on a rotating part , said rotating part being coupled to a disk-shaped target which includes at least one metal area and generates , in combination with a coil arrangement comprising at least one flat detection coil , at least one piece of information to determine the current angle of rotation of the rotating part .
Summary
The present invention describes a rotational sensor comprising a stator comprised of at least one row of coil windings radially disposed in a circular arrangement ; wherein each coil winding comprises a set of windings whose winding distance between neighboring windings comprises inplane adapted distances .
In a proposed embodiment of present invention, the winding distance between neighboring windings comprises a tangential distance and a radial distance, wherein the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance .
Yet in another proposed embodiment of present invention, the winding distance between neighboring windings is the same along the circular arrangement , but di f ferent in the perpendicular distance with regard to the circular arrangement .
Yet in another proposed embodiment of present invention, the at least one row of coil windings comprises at least two sets of two radially disposed and opposed coil windings .
Yet in another proposed embodiment of present invention, the two radially disposed and opposed coil windings are connected in series . Yet in another proposed embodiment of present invention, the two radially disposed and opposed coil windings produce an output signal with low harmonic content .
General Description
The present application describes a position sensor that , due to its technical characteristics , features low harmonic signal content .
Current document discloses a sensor that comprises a new coil design for the stator of a position sensor, with an arrangement that improves the output signal in terms of linearity .
The now disclosed adapted coil design allows to obtain a signal output that is linearly optimi zed, making it poss ible to calibrate the sensor that comprises said coil arrangement in a simpler, cheaper and more accurate procedure , leading to a smaller calibration error . With the proposed layout , a rotor positioning sensor with high linearity output signal can be obtained, which is a key requirement to obtain a good, noiseless regulation and high comfort motor .
The set of coil windings of the sensor is characteri zed by the fact that the distance between the windings arranged in the same in-plane layer a printed circuit board ( PCB ) is adapted in a way that the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance .
The proposed approach i s intended to use both on linear position sensors , as well as in rotor positioning sensors . For the linear position sensors, and in each set of windings, each winding distance within the PCB layer is preferably the same along the movement direction, but different in the perpendicular distance with regard to the linear movement direction. With the disclosed arrangement, even with a target with linear shape (like a triangle) , which can be fabricated easily, the inductance change of a coil can be tuned to depend more linearly on measurement position. This tunning can also be performed to get a sine and cosine output and then take ATAN of two coils, same as for the rotor position sensor .
In case of rotor position sensors, by adapting the distances in radial and tangential direction, the shape of the output signal can be tuned very efficiently to get sinusoidal (or nearly sinusoidal) shapes.
Brief description of the drawings
For better understanding of the present application, figures representing preferred embodiments are herein attached which, however, are not intended to limit the technique disclosed herein.
Fig. 1 - illustrates present disclosed invention where the proposed sensor (100) comprises a set of coil windings (101) with adapted distances between in-plane neighboring windings (102) . In the proposed layout, the inside distance between the coil windings (102) , i.e., the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance. Fig. 2 - illustrates present disclosed invention with regard to the output signals of the sensor, comparing its linear behavior. The resulting output signal (200) is represented in both examples, a) and b) , as well as the sine (300) fits. In the a) graphical representation it is illustrated the output signal (200) of a state-of-the-art rotor position sensor wherein the distance between each winding is the same. In b) graphical representation it is illustrated the output signal (200) of the proposed sensor (100) wherein the distance between each winding (102) is adapted accordingly with the proposed embodiments.
Description of Embodiments
With reference to the figures, some embodiments are now described in more detail, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present application.
As disclosed on Figure 1, the proposed sensor (100) comprises a stator with a set of coil windings (101) characterized by the fact that the distance between each winding (102) in the same in-plane layer of the PCB is adapted in a way that the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance. An optimization is done via FEM simulations.
Through the analysis of Figure 2, it is possible to conclude that the proposed coil layout design, depicted in Figure 1, with adapted radial and tangential distance between windings (102) leads to a more representative sinusoidal output signal curve (200) with less content of higher harmonics distortion. The resulting nearly sinusoidal output signal (200) can be used to calculate a quasi-linear relationship between the actual rotational angle of the sensor (300) and the measured signal via the ATAN function (200) .
The proposed sensor (100) , in one of the proposed embodiments, is arranged in a multilayer printed circuit board with at least two layers. The proposed technology is intended to be used in any sensor developed to detect linear or rotor position.
Each sensor (100) comprises at least two sets of two coil windings (101) radially disposed in a circular arrangement. Each coil winding (101) of each set, is connected in series with the opposite arranged coil winding (101) over the circular arrangement of the sensor. The number of sets of two coil windings (101) arranged in the circular sensor (100) is defined by the requirements of the final application, wherein the greater the number of paired in series coil windings (101) , greater the amplitude of the sensor (100) . The inner and outer radius are given by the final product and application, and the number of windings (102) of each coil winding (101) is given by the required signal to noise ratio of the sensor (100) . As last optimization step, the optimization ratio between trace distances allows to get low harmonic content.

Claims

1. Rotational sensor (100) comprising a stator comprised of at least one row of coil windings (101) radially disposed in a circular arrangement; wherein each coil winding (101) comprises a set of windings (102) whose winding distance between neighboring windings (102) comprises in-plane adapted distances.
2. Rotational sensor (100) according to the previous claim, wherein the winding distance between neighboring windings (102) comprises a tangential distance and a radial distance, wherein the tangential distance is enhanced when compared to the radial distance.
3. Rotational sensor (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the winding distance between neighboring windings (102) is the same along the circular arrangement, but different in the perpendicular distance with regard to the circular arrangement.
4. Rotational sensor (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one row of coil windings (101) comprises at least two sets of two radially disposed and opposed coil windings (101) .
5. Rotational sensor (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the two radially disposed and opposed coil windings (101) are connected in series.
6. Rotational sensor (100) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the two radially disposed and opposed coil windings (101) produce an output signal with low harmonic content .
EP21783053.8A 2021-09-10 2021-09-14 Rotational position sensor Pending EP4367480A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PT11745421 2021-09-10
PCT/IB2021/058369 WO2023037155A1 (en) 2021-09-10 2021-09-14 Rotational position sensor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4367480A1 true EP4367480A1 (en) 2024-05-15

Family

ID=85507411

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21783053.8A Pending EP4367480A1 (en) 2021-09-10 2021-09-14 Rotational position sensor

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4367480A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2023037155A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9607750D0 (en) * 1996-04-15 1996-06-19 Radiodetection Ltd Displacement sensors
GB2503006B (en) * 2012-06-13 2017-08-09 Cambridge Integrated Circuits Ltd Position sensing transducer
DE102014220446A1 (en) 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 Robert Bosch Gmbh Sensor arrangement for the contactless detection of angles of rotation on a rotating component
DE102018222569A1 (en) * 2018-12-20 2020-06-25 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Measuring device for determining a path and / or angle change between the measuring device and an opposite position element and measuring method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2023037155A1 (en) 2023-03-16

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