Abstract: A method for calibrating a rotational angle sensor having a rotor (12) coupled to a rotating shaft (10) in a manner which is faithful to the rotational angle, a stator (16), and a scanning means (14) arranged on the stator (16). The scanning means (14) scans a material measure of the rotor (12) and generates measured angle values associated with the rotational angle position of the rotor (12). A laser gyroscope (18) measures the angular velocity of the shaft (10). The signals from the laser gyroscope (18) which are dependent on the angular velocity of the shaft (10) are integrated over time with respect to the rotational angle. The measured angle values from the scanning means (14) are compared with reference angle values, and correction variables are formed from the differences. During measurement of the rotational angle, the measured angle values are corrected using the correction variable.

Abstract: A capacitive motion encoder, for sensing the position of a moving object relative to a stationary object, includes at least one stationary element, coupled to the stationary object and a moving element, coupled to the moving object and in proximity to the stationary element. A field transmitter generates an electrostatic field, which is modulated by a change in capacitance between the stationary and moving elements responsive to relative motion of the elements. A conductive shield, is electrically decoupled from both the moving and the stationary objects, and encloses the moving and stationary elements so as to shield the elements from external electrical interference. Processing circuitry is coupled to sense the modulated electrostatic field and to determine responsive thereto a measure of the position of the moving object.