Patent ID: 8326570
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A position sensor assembly for determining an angular position of a motor vehicle steering wheel rotatable through a fixed number of revolutions from one end of travel to another, the position sensor assembly comprising: a housing; an input gear supported by the housing, the input gear driven by rotations of the steering wheel through angular positions over the fixed number of revolutions; a pickup gear supported by the housing, the pickup gear being coupled to the input gear by means of meshing gear teeth; a first position sensor and a first magnet associated with the pickup gear, wherein the first magnet forms a magnetic interaction with the first position sensor such that rotation of the pickup gear provides an output signal from the first position sensor; a cam having a spiroidal profile generated about the rotational axis of the input gear and rotatable with the input gear; a cam follower supported by the housing and engaging the spiroidal profile, wherein rotation of the spiroidal profile as the input gear turns causes the cam follower to move to a unique position for each angular position over the fixed number of revolutions; a second position sensor and a second magnet associated with the cam follower, wherein the second magnet forms a magnetic interaction with the second position sensor such that motion of the cam follower provides an output signal from the second position sensor; and a processor for receiving output signals from the first and second position sensors to produce a signal related to the angular position of the input gear.