Shaft-integrated angle sensing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245674-A1
Application number	US-201615058497-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 2, 2016
Priority date	May 30, 2007
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor arrangement includes a sensor element and a magnet module. The sensor element is configured to measure a magnetic field and is positioned within a shaft. The shaft is configured to shield the magnet module and the sensor element. The magnet module is configured to generate the magnetic field. The sensor element is at least partially positioned within the shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sensor arrangement comprising:
a rotatable driving shaft extending along a rotation axis and comprising a bore extending from a first end face of the shaft along the rotation axis; a magnet module arranged within the bore and coupled to the driving shaft, the magnet module configured to generate a magnetic field within the bore; and a sensing element configured to sense a rotation of the magnetic field in response to rotation of the driving shaft.

2 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element has a sensitive spot, the sensitive spot being arranged within the bore and exposed to the rotating magnetic field.

3 . The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member couplable to the driving shaft to cover the bore, the sealing member separating the sensing element arranged inside the bore from an outside of the bore.

4 . The arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the sealing member is coupled to a circumferential face of the end portion of the driving shaft.

5 . The arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the sealing member is coupled to the first end face of the driving shaft.

6 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the driving shaft is configured to transmit a high torque of at least tens of Newton meters, preferably several hundreds of Newton meters.

7 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the driving shaft is configured to transmit rotational movement for propulsion of a vehicle.

8 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is implemented as a semiconductor device comprising at least one die.

9 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the magnet arrangement provides a magnetic field being mainly contained within an outer circumference of the magnet arrangement.

10 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the driving shaft comprises a soft-magnetic or ferrous material shielding magnetic disturbances from the sensing element.

11 . The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein a dimension of the magnet arrangement in axial direction is larger than an inner diameter of the magnet arrangement, preferably larger than an outer diameter of the magnet arrangement.

12 . The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the magnet arrangement is implemented as a unitary member.

13 . The arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the magnet arrangement is of substantially annular shape comprising a homogeneous distribution of magnetic flux within a center region of the magnet arrangement.

14 . The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the magnet arrangement inside the bore at a defined position along the axial direction.

15 . The arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the magnet arrangement inside the bore at a defined azimuthal position relative to the axial direction.

16 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the bore tapers from a first diameter at the first end face of the driving shaft to a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

17 . The arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the sealing member comprises a sealed bearing, the sealed bearing.

18 . The arrangement of claim 3 , wherein the sealing member is fixedly arranged relative to the driving shaft.

19 . The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is a magnetic pill.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Ausserlechner Udo

Classifications

• G01D5/145

  influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06) · CPC title

• G01D5/14

  influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage · CPC title

• G01D11/245 Primary

  Housings for sensors · CPC title

• G01D11/24

  Housings {; Casings for instruments} · CPC title

• G01D5/12 Primary

  using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) · CPC title