Abstract: A method for correcting a characteristic curve having values corresponding to displacement between a magnetic sensor element and a magnetic ruler of a sensor within a displacement range includes determining whether the characteristic curve has a jump discontinuity by comparing a first value at a first range end to a second value at a second range end and by comparing values between the range ends. Upon determining that the characteristic curve has a jump discontinuity, the method further includes determining the magnitude of the jump discontinuity, defining a decision threshold lying between the first and second values, identifying the values within the range which are lower than the decision threshold, and offsetting the identified values by the magnitude of the jump discontinuity such that the characteristic curve is corrected to eliminate the jump discontinuity, whereby subsequent measurements made by the MR sensor take into account the jump discontinuity magnitude offset.

Abstract: A motor vehicle optoelectronic monitoring device includes a sensor, imaging systems, a shutter, and a controller. Each sensor element outputs a sensor element signal based on the intensity of a light signal received by the sensor element. Each imaging system is associated with a sensor region and illuminates an object to monitor the object. Two sensor regions associated with two respective imaging systems partially overlap one another. Each imaging system illuminates the sensor elements of the associated sensor region with a light signal indicative of the object being monitored. The controller controls the shutter unit to selectively enable and disable illumination of the sensor by the imaging systems. The controller processes the sensor element electric signals output by the sensor elements in response to illumination by an imaging system to determine conditions of the object being monitored by the imaging system.

Abstract: An electric circuit arrangement and method for checking intactness of both a photodiode array and an electrical connection between an array output and a microprocessor input. The array output has a high resistance when the array is inactive and intact. In case of array error, the array output is connected via in each case a defined internal resistance to ground and supply voltages. The circuit arrangement enables at any time an assessment of the status of the connection and, if the connection is intact, enables an assessment of array intactness. This is achieved by connecting the array output via a first test resistor arranged in the spatial vicinity of the array to the ground voltage and by connecting the microprocessor input via a second test resistor arranged in the spatial vicinity of the microprocessor to a microprocessor port output which can be connected either to the ground or supply voltages.

Abstract: A torsion module includes first and second rings (9, 9′) and a spoked wheel (8). The first ring is attachable to a steering wheel (13). The spoked wheel is attached on top and bottom sides to the rings and has bending spokes which join a rim to a hub. The bending spokes bend in response to rotation angle offset between the hub and rim caused by torque on the steering wheel. A sensor, placed on a bending spoke, generates a signal indicative of bending experienced by the bending spoke in response to rotation angle offset between the hub and rim. The spoked wheel includes bending-resistant limit stop spokes each having a free end. The free ends engage the rim to limit rotation angle offset between the hub and rim. The rings have axially separated limit stops which enclose the free ends to prevent axial movement between the hub and rim.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a code signal generated by an encoder having code and reference tracks. The encoder is interposed between a light and a light sensor and moves relative to the light and the sensor such that the code and reference tracks transmit light from the light onto the sensor. The sensor generates the code signal as a function of the light transmitted by the code track which is received by sensor transducers. The method includes capturing and evaluating the amplitude of a reference signal generated as a function of the light transmitted by the reference track which is received by sensor transducers. A measurement parameter relevant for evaluating the amplitude of the code signal is then adapted on the basis of the evaluation of the amplitude of the reference signal in order to compensate the evaluation of the code signal to changing measurement conditions.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a signal generated by a position measuring system having an encoder with a code track. The encoder is interposed between a light source and a light sensor and moves relative to the light source and the sensor such that the code track transmits light from the light source onto the sensor. The light sensor generates the signal as a function of the light received by transducers of the sensor. The method includes determining brightness of a code track signal generated by sensor transducers assigned to a code track of the encoder and determining brightness of a non-code track signal generated by sensor transducers assigned to a non-code track of the encoder. The sensor transducers assigned to the code track of the encoder are then determined as being exposed to the light source as a function of the relative brightness between the code and non-code track signals.

Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor for sensing the angular position of a rotatable device includes an encoder disk and a sensor array. The disk has a coding operable to move along a movement direction in response to rotational device movement. The coding represents an optical oscillation structure extending transversely to the movement direction of the disk and having a frequency-related parameter which varies along the movement direction such that the parameter is indicative of angular position of the device. The array includes transducers for sensing the coding. The array is arranged transversely to the movement direction such that the transducers proportionally sense a respective portion of the coding at each angular device position. The transducers generate an intensity signal indicative of the parameter of a sensed portion of the coding at an angular device position. Based on the intensity signal, the angular device position is determined from the sensed coding portion parameter.

Abstract: A steering angle sensing system 1 for measuring the angle position of a vehicle steering wheel is disclosed which uses at least one position magnet 7, 8 coupled to the rotary movement of the steering wheel as a transducer, and a magnetostrictive transducer 4 as a measuring device. Magnetostrictive transducer 4 includes an elongated, magnetostrictive waveguide 9 extending over a defined arc section, with mode converter 10 for detecting magnetostrictively generated voltage pulses at one end. The waveguide 9 is stationary related to the rotary movement of at least one position magnet; 7, 8, so that, when turning the steering wheel, the magnet field of one position magnet 7, 8 is applied to waveguide 9 in different positions dependent of the position of the steering wheel.

Abstract: An optoelectronic position detecting device for determining the absolute path or angle of two bodies which are moved relative to each other, comprising a light source 3, a transmitter element 2 which is partially exposed to light by the light source 3 and comprises a coding and which transmitter element 2 is coupled to the movement of the movable body, wherein the coding is provided in the form of a scanning trace 6, which is produced by virtue of the exposure to light, and a reference trace 7, and comprising a photosensitive line sensor 4 which is disposed in a fixed manner with respect to the transmitter element 2 for the purpose of scanning the code traces 6, 7 of the transmitter element 2, which output signals of the line sensor 4 influence an electronic evalutating unit for the purpose of determining the absolute path or angle, is determined by virtue of the fact that the transmitter element 2 is formed as a light-guiding body, into whose edge peripheral surface are coupled the light beams emitted by the