Abstract: A partially redundant, contactless pedal-travel sensor is used for controlling a vehicle. This pedal travel sensor generates at least two redundant signals using a contactless sensor and an electronic circuit. These signals are fed to a control and/or regulating unit, where they are subjected to a plausibility check to detect a faulty pedal-travel sensor. To improve safety during a failure of a pedal-travel sensor and to improve the diagnostic options, it is provided that a specific position of the pedal is detected by a switch and a signal is generated by the switch. Then a plausibility comparison of the signal generated by the switch with the signals generated by the pedal-travel sensor is performed.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for contactless detection of an angle of rotation comprises a magnetically nonconductive rotor, on which a magnet is disposed, and a stationary magnetically sensitive element for generating a measurement signal. The magnetically sensitive element has two sensitive faces spaced apart by a distance.

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for contactless detection of an angle of rotation comprises a carrier plate (52) consisting of a magnetically soft material that serves as a rotor. The stator of the sensor comprises at least two parts, the ends (18 and 17) of which terminate in two planes. The measuring gap (M1) containing an element (20) that is sensitive to a magnetic field is located between the ends (18, 17). Due to the fact that the ends (17, 18) of the two stator parts (13, 14) terminate in different planes, the measuring element (20) can be situated in a very small measuring gap (M1) in which the magnetic flux of the magnet (5) can be concentrated.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement (15) for detecting the actuation of an operator-controlled element (1) make possible a reliable detection of an operator-controlled function to be activated by the operator-controlled element (1) independently of environmental and wear conditions. The operator-controlled element (1) can be actuated with different adjustable degrees of actuation. Various operator-controlled functions of the operator-controlled element (1) are realized in dependence upon the degree of actuation. The operator-controlled element (1) is actuated against a spring force and at least two degrees of actuation are characterized by different spring constants. The at least one of the operator-controlled functions of the operator-controlled element (1) is detected in dependence upon the spring constant assigned to the instantaneous degree of actuation.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for contactless detection of a path c is comprised of a two-part (14, 15) base plate (11), a side plate (16), and a movable part (12). The movable part (12) has a support plate (25) which is guided through a slot (26) in the side plate (16). At one end (27) of the support plate (25), there is a permanent magnet (28) which is embodied as smaller than the path (c). The magnet (28) can be embodied in one piece or in several pieces. Through the disposition of the magnet (28), it is possible to produce different sections, e.g. plateaus or sections deviating form the linear measurement line, in the measurement curve detected by the measuring instrument.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for contactless detection of an angle of rotation &ggr; is comprised of a supporting plate (14) made of soft magnetic material, which serves as a rotor. Two segments (16, 17) that are separated by a slot (21) and a spacing gap (22) are disposed in a plane in relation to the supporting plate (14). The supporting plate (14) is attached to the axle (11), whose projection (12) or the axle (11) itself is comprised of magnetically conductive material. The supporting plate (14) has a magnet (15) disposed on it, which is embodied as smaller than the angle of rotation &ggr; to be measured. The magnet (15) can be embodied of one or several parts. Through the disposition of the magnet (15), it is possible to produce different sections in the measurement curve detected by the measurement instrument, e.g. plateaus or sections which deviate from the linear measurement line.

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A measuring instrument (10) for contactless detection of an angle of rotation comprises a magnetically nonconductive rotor (11), on which a magnet (6) is disposed, and a stationary magnetically sensitive element (1) for generating a measurement signal. The magnetically sensitive element (1) has two sensitive faces (2, 3) spaced apart by a distance (x).

Abstract: In a travel measuring instrument (10), a magnet (11) which is polarized in the movement direction (R) is disposed against a flux conducting part (12). The flux conducting part (12) has a surface (13), which is inclined and is embodied as oval, which is disposed opposite a magnetic field sensitive element (15) with an air gap (L1). When there is movement, the air gap (L1) changes so that the magnetic field sensitive element (15) generates an output signal proportional or linear to the movement direction R of the component to be monitored.

Abstract: A measuring travel instrument has a frame composed of a permeable material, a magnet situated inside the frame in a movable fashion, a magnetosensitive sensor situated in a slot of the frame that is situated in a closed magnetic circuit in such a fashion that a size of a magnetic flux of the magnet changes in it depending on a position of the magnet, a sled composed of a magnetically impermeable material and executing a sliding movement, the magnet being located in the sled, a guide member extending through a recess in the frame and connecting the sled with a component a movement of which is to be determined, the guide member composed of a permeable material and arranged in such a way that it forms a part of the frame conducting the magnetic flux of the magnet.

Abstract: A measuring instrument for contactless detection of an angle of rotation is comprised of a supporting plate (14) made of soft magnetic material, which serves as a rotor. Two segments (16, 17, 16a) that are separated by a slot (21), a spacing gap (22), and a third gap (60) are disposed in a plane in relation to the supporting plate (14). The spacing gap (22) in this case is embodied in the segment (17) in the form of a recess. The gap (60), however, is disposed in the segment (16a), likewise in the form of a recess. The ratio of the size of the spacing gap (22) to the gap (60) can be modulated so that an offset shift of the characteristic curve is produced.

Abstract: A measuring instrument (10) for contactless ascertainment of a rotation angle is made up of a support plate (12) that is comprised of magnetically nonconductive material and serves as a rotor. A permanent magnet (15), which is embodied as planar, is disposed on the support plate (12) and its polarization direction is aligned diametrically to the axle (11). If the Hall element (20) is asymmetrically disposed, i.e. if the Hall element (20) describes an elliptical rotary motion in relation to the permanent magnet (15), then a steeply decreasing region and a flat region are produced in the curve of the output signal. No magnetic flux conducting parts are required in the measuring instrument (10). Furthermore, it is very small and relatively easy to incorporate into systems and devices.

Abstract: A measuring device for contactless determination of an angle of rotation between a stator and a rotor has at least one magnetic-field-sensitive element located in said at least one air gap in the stator; at least one segment of at least one permanent magnet disposed in the rotor so that a direction of polarization of the permanent magnet is oriented in an axial direction of the rotor, the stator being constructed of multiple parts at least one of which parts has no magnetically conductive connection with the other parts, said permanent magnet being formed at a maximum measurement signal it is located under only a first part of the stator, and at another maximum measurement signal it is located only under a second part of the stator.

Abstract: A measuring device for contactless detection of an angle of rotation is comprised of a supporting plate (14) made of soft magnetic material which is used as a rotor. In a plane in relation to the supporting plate (14), two segments (16, 17) are disposed, which are separated by means of a slot (21) and a spacer gap (22). The supporting plate (14) is fastened to an axle (11) whose extension (12) or the axle (11) itself is comprised of a magnetically conductive material. The extension (12) protrudes into one of the segments (16) of the stator. The axle (11), particularly its extension (12), the supporting element (14), and the segments (16, 17) control the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet (15) disposed on the supporting plate (14). Through the inclusion of the axle (11) into the magnetic flux, the measuring device is constructed in a relatively simple and space-saving manner.

Abstract: A measuring device for contactless detection of a rotational angle (&agr;) comprises a carrier plate (12), made of soft-magnetic material, which acts as a rotor. Two segments (15, 16) separated by a slit (17) are disposed in a plane parallel to the carrier plate (12). Disposed on one of the segments (16) is a short-circuit piece (20), and all these parts are of soft-magnetic material. The short-circuit piece (20) and the segments (15, 16) serve to guide the magnetic flux that is generated by a permanent magnet (13) disposed on the carrier plate (12). Since the short-circuit piece (20) protrudes past the carrier plate (12), or in a further feature the carrier plate (12) protrudes past the short-circuit piece (20), insensitivity to axial or radial play is possible. Furthermore, the measuring device is relatively simple and space-saving in design.

Abstract: The measuring device for contactless determination of a rotation angle includes a rotatable permanent magnet (22) arranged in a stator (10) made of magnetically conductive material and including two stator segments (13,14) and a surrounding cup-shaped housing part (11). One stator segment (14) is mounted directly on the bottom (15) of the housing part (11) so that a magnetically conductive connection exists. A layer (18) of magnetically nonconductive material is present between the other stator segment (13) and the bottom (15) so that no magnetic flux is possible there. The rotatable permanent magnet (22) is arranged so that it is movable in an air gap between the two stator segments (13,14) and the housing part (11) with the direction of magnetic polarization oriented radially, i.e. toward the stator segments (13,14) or in the opposite direction. The measuring element (20) is arranged in the slot (12) between the two stator segments (13,14).