Patent ID: 6509734
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: G01B,G01D

Abstract:
A magnetic rotational position sensor for generating at least one voltage sensing signal representative of a sensing of each degree of rotation of a control shaft about a first rotational axis over a definable range of rotation, said magnetic rotational position sensor comprising:a magnetic circuit operable to generate a magnetic field, said magnetic circuit adjoined to the control shaft to synchronously rotate said magnetic field about a second rotational axis for each degree of rotation of the control shaft about the first rotational axis whereby each degree of rotation of the control shaft about the first rotational axis exclusively corresponds to a distinct degree of synchronized rotation of said magnetic field about said second rotational axis; a magnetic flux sensor operable to generate a first voltage sensing signal representative of a sensing of a magnitude of magnetic flux density passing through said magnetic flux sensor in response to a current drive signal and a voltage drive signal, said magnetic flux sensor disposed within said magnetic field to sense a different magnitude of magnetic flux density passing through said magnetic flux sensor for each degree of synchronous rotation of said magnetic field over the definable range of rotation whereby said first voltage sensing signal is also representative of each degree of rotation of the control shaft about the first rotational axis of the control shaft over the definable range of rotation; and a drive circuit including a voltage divider operable to provide a voltage reference signal, said voltage divider including at least three resistors electrically coupled in series, and a current amplifier operable to provide said current drive signal and said voltage drive signal to said magnetic flux sensor in response to said voltage reference signal.