Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a sensor that is placed near a target wheel. The sensor includes a magnet to create a flux and a sensing element to sense changes in the flux as the target wheel rotates. The target wheel is alternatingly formed with multiple teeth and multiple slots. Each tooth includes a flat portion that is parallel to the bottom of the sensor and a chamfered portion contiguous to the flat portion. The chamfered portion forms an angle, &agr;, with the bottom of the sensor. As the target wheel rotates, the shape of the teeth in conjunction with the slots cause the sensor to output an asymmetric signal. The shape of the signal is used to determine the direction of motion of the target wheel.

Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a target wheel, a magnet, and two or more sensing elements placed therebetween. The magnet and the sensing elements are configured so that as the target wheel rotates each of the sensing elements outputs a respective asymmetric signal relative to the direction of rotation of the target wheel or an object mechanically connected to the wheel. Each of these asymmetric signals is differentially combined with one another to determine the direction of motion of the target wheel, and, if optionally desired, the position of the target wheel.

Abstract: In one method for controlling an electric motor, current turn-on and turn-off rotor-position angles for each motor phase are chosen to substantially maximize the absolute value of average motor torque when the motor is operating in two different quadrants of motor torque and motor speed. The first quadrant has positive motor torque and positive motor speed. The second quadrant has negative torque and positive speed. The third quadrant has negative torque and negative speed. The fourth quadrant has positive torque and negative speed. In another method, the motor is operated in at least one of the first and third quadrants and in at least one of the second and fourth quadrants, wherein the absolute value of motor speed is limited when the motor is operating in the first or third quadrants but not in the second or fourth quadrants. In one example, the motor operates a vehicle brake caliper.

Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a target wheel, a magnet, and a sensing element placed therebetween. The magnet and the sensing element are configured so that as the target wheel rotates the sensing element outputs an asymmetric signal. This asymmetric signal is used to determine the position of the target wheel as it rotates and the direction of motion of the target wheel.

Abstract: An analog angle encoder having a simply constructed magnet assembly, wherein rotation of a magnetic field relative to a magnetosensitive device provides a varying output of the magnetosensitive device that varies sinusoidally with the angle of relative rotation. The simply constructed magnet assembly is of a closed-path geometry composed of a single piece of magnetic material wherein only a first portion thereof is magnetized for providing the aforesaid magnetic field for the sensor. The remaining portion of the magnet material (the second portion) remains unmagnetized and does not substantially influence the magnetic field produced by the first portion any more than, for example, air would cause.

Abstract: Described is a method of optimizing performance parameters of a switched reluctance motor comprising ascertaining the parameters of at least three objectives of the motor selected from the group consisting of firing angles, power on the shaft of the motor, drive efficiency, torque ripple coefficient, output torque, torque per rms current per cycle, torque per mean ampere, energy consumption, phase target current level, hysteresis band size, duty cycle, DC voltage and zero-volt control loop; plotting the parameters on an x-y or x-y-z chart; and mapping all of the parameters on to one chart and thereby ascertaining the optimum performance of the at least three parameters.

Abstract: A linear position sensor assembly includes a moving target and a stationary magnet. A magnetic sensor is placed adjacent to the magnet and senses changes in the magnetic flux density caused by the target moving within a magnetic field generated by the stationary magnet. The magnetic sensor outputs a signal that is linear over nearly the entire length of the target.

Abstract: A device for implementing a method for controlling a switched-reluctance motor having a rotor and excitable phases is disclosed. The device comprises a controller and an interface for implementing a master control routine including a pre-alignment stage, a preliminary stage, and a primary stage. During the pre-alignment stage, the rotor is rotated to an initial position corresponding to one the phases being aligned. During the preliminary stage, the rotor is rotated from the initial position is rotated in a desired direction. During the primary stage, any operational losses are minimized when the rotor is positioned in a holding position.

Abstract: An analog angle encoder having a simply constructed magnet assembly, wherein rotation of a magnetic field relative to a magnetosensitive device provides a varying output of the magnetosensitive device that varies sinusoidally with the angle of relative rotation. The simply constructed magnet assembly is of a closed-path geometry composed of a single piece of magnetic material wherein only a first portion thereof is magnetized for providing the aforesaid magnetic field for the sensor. The remaining portion of the magnet material (the second portion) remains unmagnetized and does not substantially influence the magnetic field produced by the first portion any more than, for example, air would cause.

Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a sensor that is placed near a target wheel. The sensor includes a magnet to create a flux and a sensing element to sense changes in the flux as the target wheel rotates. The target wheel is alternatingly formed with multiple teeth and multiple slots. Each tooth includes a flat portion that is parallel to the bottom of the sensor and a chamfered portion contiguous to the flat portion. The chamfered portion forms an angle, &agr;, with the bottom of the sensor. As the target wheel rotates, the shape of the teeth in conjunction with the slots cause the sensor to output an asymmetric signal. The shape of the signal is used to determine the direction of motion of the target wheel.

Abstract: A linear position sensor assembly includes a moving target and a stationary magnet. A magnetic sensor is placed adjacent to the magnet and senses changes in the magnetic flux density caused by the target moving within a magnetic field generated by the stationary magnet. The magnetic sensor outputs a signal that is linear over nearly the entire length of the target.

Abstract: An analog angle encoder includes a non-magnetic stator which is cup-shaped, having a central post carrying at least one magnetosensitive device, and further including a rotor in the form of a ring captured by the stator, the rotor carrying at least one permanent magnet, wherein the rotor is rotatable relative to the stator. As the rotor rotates relative to the stator, the angle of the incident magnetic field changes relative to the magnetosensitive device, thereby causing the output from the device to vary sinusoidally with angular position. It is preferred to use magnetic configurations other than simple six sided magnets in order to achieve a more uniform magnetic field at the magnetosensitive device, as for example by utilizing cylindrical magnets, arcuate (concave faced) magnets, flat ferromagnetic layer pole pieces, arcuate (concave faced) ferromagnetic layer pole pieces, and ferromagnetic return paths.

Abstract: Described is a method of optimizing performance parameters of a switched reluctance motor comprising ascertaining the parameters of at least three objectives of the motor selected from the group consisting of firing angles, power on the shaft of the motor, drive efficiency, torque ripple coefficient, output torque, torque per rms current per cycle, torque per mean ampere, energy consumption, phase target current level, hysteresis band size, duty cycle, DC voltage and zero-volt control loop;

Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a target wheel, a magnet, a magnetic piece, and a coil to sense changes in the magnetic field caused by the rotation of the target wheel. The magnet, the magnetic piece and the coil are configured so that as the target wheel rotates, the coil outputs an asymmetric signal. This asymmetric signal is used to determine the position and direction of motion of the target wheel as it rotates.

Abstract: A target wheel sensor assembly includes a target wheel, a magnet, and a sensing element placed therebetween. The magnet and the sensing element are configured so that as the target wheel rotates the sensing element outputs an asymmetric signal. This asymmetric signal is used to determine the position of the target wheel as it rotates and the direction of motion of the target wheel.