Patent ID: 6492807
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: F16H,G01D

Abstract:
An angular position sensor system for determining the absolute position of a rotating member, the sensor system comprising:a drive assembly coupled to the rotating member, the drive assembly including: a wave generator having an elliptical shape coupled to the rotating member; a flex spline coupled to the wave generator, the flex spline having an exterior surface with teeth; a circular spline having a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the flex spline and an interior surface with teeth which interlock with the teeth of the flex spline, wherein the circular spline rotates at a proportional angle of rotation when the rotating member is rotated a full revolution; and a position sensor operatively coupled to the drive assembly which senses the angular position of the circular spline and which outputs the angular absolute position of the rotating member as a function of the angular position of the circular spline.