Abstract: A system and method for determining a position and or speed of a rotating shaft includes a target wheel for securement to a rotatable shaft, the target wheel including a plurality of North/South pole pairs, each pole of each North/South pole pairs being essentially the same size; and a sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first magnetic sensor array for sensing the pole pairs to provide a cosine signal and a sine signal and a second magnetic sensor array for sensing the pole pairs to provide a cosine signal and a sine signal, wherein the second magnetic sensor array is disposed transverse to the first magnetic sensor array. An electronic processor is configured to receive inputs from the first magnetic sensor array and the second magnetic sensor array, and to determine a position and/or speed of the shaft.

Abstract: A system for determining an absolute position of a device includes a high resolution track, a sensor and processing unit associated with the high resolution track, a reference track having a plurality of pole pairs arranged to define a plurality of single-track Gray code segments, and an array of Hall effect sensors associated with the reference track to output a reference signal to the sensor and processing unit indicative of the coarse absolute position of the device over the Gray code segments. A third track has at least one pole pair. At least one sensor associated with the third track outputs a signal used to determine a location within one of the plurality of Gray code segments. The sensor and processing unit combines the third track signal, the reference signal, and the position of the device over the high resolution track to determine an initial, fine absolute position.

Abstract: A system for determining an absolute position of a device includes a high resolution track, a sensor and processing unit associated with the high resolution track, a reference track having a plurality of pole pairs arranged to define a plurality of single-track Gray code segments, and an array of Hall effect sensors associated with the reference track to output a reference signal to the sensor and processing unit indicative of the coarse absolute position of the device over the Gray code segments. A third track has at least one pole pair. At least one sensor associated with the third track outputs a signal used to determine a location within one of the plurality of Gray code segments. The sensor and processing unit combines the third track signal, the reference signal, and the position of the device over the high resolution track to determine an initial, fine absolute position.

Abstract: A system for determining an absolute position of a device includes a high resolution track (14), a sensor and processing unit (22) associated with the high resolution track (14), a reference track (18) having a plurality of pole pairs arranged to define a single-track Gray code segment, and an array of Hall effect sensors (26) associated with the reference track to output a reference signal to the sensor and processing unit indicative of the coarse absolute position of the device over the single-track Gray code segment. The sensor and processing unit (22) combines the reference signal with the position of the device over the high resolution track to determine an initial, fine absolute position of the device. An up/down hardware counter (34) increments the initial fine absolute position using a signal generated from the high resolution track, and without any further software-based processing, to maintain and continuously update the fine absolute position of the device.

Abstract: A system for determining an absolute position of a device includes a high resolution track (14), a sensor and processing unit (22) associated with the high resolution track (14), a reference track (18) having a plurality of pole pairs arranged to define a single-track Gray code segment, and an array of Hall effect sensors (26) associated with the reference track to output a reference signal to the sensor and processing unit indicative of the coarse absolute position of the device over the single-track Gray code segment. The sensor and processing unit (22) combines the reference signal with the position of the device over the high resolution track to determine an initial, fine absolute position of the device. An up/down hardware counter (34) increments the initial fine absolute position using a signal generated from the high resolution track, and without any further software-based processing, to maintain and continuously update the fine absolute position of the device.

Abstract: A system for determining an absolute position of a motor. The system includes first and second multi-polar magnetic rings, first and second processing units, and at least one external sensor. The first multi-polar magnetic ring is concentrically positioned around the motor, and has a plurality of pole pairs. The second multi-polar magnetic ring is concentrically positioned around the first multi-polar magnetic ring, and has at least one pole pair. The first processing unit is positioned near the first multi-polar magnetic ring to determine an angular position over one of the pole pairs of the first multi-polar magnetic ring. The sensor is positioned external to the processing unit and over the second multi-polar magnetic ring to indicate a state of the pole pair of the second multi-polar magnetic ring. The second processing unit generates an absolute position of the motor based on the angular position and the state.

Abstract: An absolute position magnetic encoder includes a first magnetic track configured for a binary output, a second magnetic track configured for a decimal output, a first magnetic sensor positioned proximate the first magnetic track to detect the magnetic field of the first magnetic track, and a second magnetic sensor positioned proximate the second magnetic track to detect the magnetic field of the second magnetic track. The encoder is selectively operable to provide one of the binary output and the decimal output.

Abstract: A method of managing power consumed by a circuit that can output a signal. The method includes determining a time duration after which the signal is valid, and determining an update rate of the signal. The method also includes supplying power to the circuit based on the time duration and the update rate, and latching the signal at the update rate.

Abstract: A device for sensing the input shaft speed of an automotive automatic transmission that is driven by the engine through the fluid coupling of a torque converter. The speed sensor device includes circumferentially spaced markings about the transmission input shaft and a speed sensor that is placed at close proximity to the circumferentially spaced markings through a hole in the torque converter stator shaft. An electronic control unit (ECU) analyzes the sensor output signal and in the case of an active speed sensor it also functions as its power source. During vehicle operation, the transmission input shaft rotates the target wheel in front of the speed sensor causing modulation of its output signal. The electronic control unit analyzes the signal modulation and calculates the input shaft rotational speed. A variety of sensor/target-wheel options and sensor mounting techniques could be used depending on the application constraints.

Abstract: An absolute position magnetic encoder includes a first magnetic track configured for a binary output, a second magnetic track configured for a decimal output, a first magnetic sensor positioned proximate the first magnetic track to detect the magnetic field of the first magnetic track, and a second magnetic sensor positioned proximate the second magnetic track to detect the magnetic field of the second magnetic track. The encoder is selectively operable to provide one of the binary output and the decimal output.

Abstract: A system for determining an absolute position of a motor. The system includes first and second multi-polar magnetic rings, first and second processing units, and at least one external sensor The first multi-polar magnetic ring is concentrically positioned around the motor, and has a plurality of pole pairs. The second multi-polar magnetic ring is concentrically positioned around the first multi-polar magnetic ring, and has at least one pole pair. The first processing unit is positioned near the first multi-polar magnetic ring to determine an angular position over one of the pole pairs of the first multi-polar magnetic ring. The sensor is positioned external to the processing unit and over the second multi-polar magnetic ring to indicate a state of the pole pair of the second multi-polar magnetic ring. The second processing unit generates an absolute position of the motor based on the angular position and the state.

Abstract: A device for sensing the input shaft speed of an automotive automatic transmission that is driven by the engine through the fluid coupling of a torque converter. The speed sensor device includes circumferentially spaced markings about the transmission input shaft and a speed sensor that is placed at close proximity to the circumferentially spaced markings through a hole in the torque converter stator shaft. An electronic control unit (ECU) analyzes the sensor output signal and in the case of an active speed sensor it also functions as its power source. During vehicle operation, the transmission input shaft rotates the target wheel in front of the speed sensor causing modulation of its output signal. The electronic control unit analyzes the signal modulation and calculates the input shaft rotational speed. A variety of sensor/target-wheel options and sensor mounting techniques could be used depending on the application constraints.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing provided with an annular means generating magnetic pulses and with a device for detecting these pulses, wherein the detection device comprises a plurality of aligned sensitive elements.