Patent Description:
A magnetoelastic torque sensor assembly measures applied torque. The magnetoelastic torque sensor assembly comprises a shaft which receives the applied torque. The shaft comprises magnetoelastic regions, the magnetic characteristics of which change in response to the applied torque. A plurality of sensors are disposed along the shaft, near the magnetoelastic regions, and measure the magnetic fields generated by the magnetoelastic regions. In this way, the torque sensor assembly is able to detect changes in applied torque via the measured magnetic fields.

<CIT> discloses a torque sensor assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, and a method of operating a torque sensor assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

One example of a torque sensor assembly is provided as defined in independent claim <NUM>. A shaft configured to receive an applied torque. The shaft includes at least one region being magnetoelastic and configured to generate a magnetic field in response to the applied torque. The torque sensor assembly includes a plurality of sensors, circumferentially positioned around the at least one region, that are configured to generate a plurality of signals that are indicative of the magnetic field. Each of the plurality of signals includes multiple harmonic components. The torque sensor assembly includes a controller connected with the plurality of sensors and being configured to receive the plurality of signals and determine (i) an average of the plurality of signals in order to cancel at least one of the harmonic components of the multiple harmonic components for each of the plurality of signals, and (ii) a magnitude of the applied torque based on the average of the plurality of signals. The torque sensor assembly is characterized in that the controller is further configured to calculate an error for the average of the plurality of signals, wherein the error for the average of the plurality of signals is expressed as a function of a number of the plurality of sensors.

One example of a method of operating a torque sensor assembly is provided as defined in independent claim <NUM>. The torque sensor assembly comprising a shaft that is configured to receive an applied torque. The shaft includes at least one region being magnetoelastic, a plurality of sensors circumferentially positioned around the at least one region and being spaced equidistant from each other, and a controller connected with the plurality of sensors. The method includes sensing a magnetic field in response to the applied torque. The method further includes generating a plurality of signals that are indicative of the magnetic field. Each of the plurality of signals includes multiple harmonic components. The method further includes receiving the plurality of signals. The method further includes determining an average of the plurality of signals in order to cancel at least one of the harmonic components of the multiple harmonic components for each of the plurality of signals. The method further includes determining a magnitude of the applied torque based on the average of the plurality of signals. The method is characterized by calculating an error for the average of the plurality of signals, wherein the error for the average of the plurality of signals is expressed as a function of a number of the plurality of sensors.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims, and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Other advantages of the present disclosure will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:.

<FIG> illustrates a perspective view of a torque sensor assembly <NUM> for measuring a magnitude of the applied torque <NUM>. The torque sensor assembly <NUM> may be utilized in a suitable component or system where an applied torque <NUM> is measured. For example, the torque sensor assembly <NUM> may be utilized in, but not limited to, vehicular systems, such as electric power steering systems.

With reference to <FIG>, the shaft <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM> includes a magnetoelastic region <NUM> and non-magnetoelastic regions <NUM>. A region is magnetoelastic if it generates a change in a magnetic field under mechanical stress. A region may not be magnetoelastic if it generates a negligible change in a magnetic field under mechanical stress. A plurality of sensors <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM> is disposed next to the magnetoelastic region <NUM> and is configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of the magnitude of the magnetic field generated by the magnetoelastic region <NUM>.

Under optimal circumstances, the magnetic field would be uniform across the circumference of the shaft <NUM> when there is no applied torque or when there is a constant torque applied. However, for a variety of different factors, the magnetoelastic region <NUM> may generate a magnetic field signal <NUM> that is non-uniform and has an offset angle that is dependent on an angular position of the plurality of sensors <NUM>. The non-uniformity of the magnetic field signal <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) may be caused by the manufacturing process of the shaft <NUM>, the microstructure of material of the shaft <NUM>, or caused during the magnetization process of the magnetoelastic region <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>.

A magnetic error can be defined as the difference between the ideal waveform of the magnetic field detected by the plurality of sensors <NUM> and the actual waveform for the magnetic field detected by the plurality of sensors <NUM>. The magnetic error may be caused by the non-uniformity of the magnetic field signal <NUM>. According to the teachings of the present disclosure, a torque sensor assembly <NUM> is provided that reduces the magnetic error by removing one or more harmonic components from the magnetic field signal <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM> which is discussed in more detail herewith.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the torque sensor assembly <NUM> may be used in an example vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> may be a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) such as a four wheeler or a three wheeler, a motorcycle, a standard car, a full size or standard size truck, a semitruck, etc. While examples of the vehicle <NUM> are provided, the vehicle <NUM> is not limited to these examples, the vehicle <NUM> may be another suitable type of vehicle.

The torque sensor assembly <NUM> may be utilized in a steering assembly <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, an example steering assembly <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> is shown. The steering assembly <NUM> additionally includes a power steering system <NUM>. The power steering system <NUM> is an electric power steering system. However, it is contemplated that the power steering system <NUM> may be any power steering system. The power steering system <NUM> includes a controller <NUM> which may receive and deliver various inputs and outputs to and from various portions of the vehicle <NUM>. The controller may be configured to communicate with various components in the vehicle <NUM> using a communication protocol such as a local interconnect network (LIN), a controller area network (CAN), or another suitable communication protocol. Additionally, the controller <NUM> may be configured to control the torque sensor assembly <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may perform various control operations in order to determine an amount of applied torque, as described in more detail herewith.

The steering assembly <NUM> includes a steering column <NUM> coupled to a steering rack <NUM> which is coupled to ground engaging members <NUM>. It is also contemplated that the steering assembly <NUM> may comprise any mechanical link between the steering column <NUM> and the ground engaging members <NUM>, but not limited to, linkages. The ground engaging members <NUM> may include a sled or tire, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, or another suitable ground engaging members. Generally, the ground engaging members <NUM> are coupled to steering rods <NUM>. Movement of a user operated steering element <NUM>, such as a steering wheel <NUM> in <FIG> or handlebars <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, on the vehicle <NUM> causes movement of the steering rods <NUM> which turn the ground engaging members <NUM>. It is additionally contemplated that the steering assembly <NUM> may be another suitable user operated steering assembly <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, a diagrammatic view of one example of a magnetoelastic torque sensor assembly <NUM> according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The applied torque <NUM> having magnitude τ is applied to a first end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM>. However, the applied torque <NUM> may be applied to any section of the torque sensor assembly <NUM>. For example, the applied torque <NUM> may be applied to a second end <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM> or at any point between ends <NUM>, <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM>. Furthermore, the applied torque <NUM> may be applied to more than one section of the torque sensor assembly <NUM>. Additionally, the applied torque <NUM> may be applied in clockwise or counterclockwise direction when looking at the first end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>. Depending on the system that utilizes the torque sensor assembly <NUM>, the applied torque <NUM> may be applied in either or both directions.

Although the shaft <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, has a cylindrical configuration, the shaft <NUM> may have any suitable shape defining any suitable cross-sectional area (e.g. a square, a triangle, an oval, an octagon, etc.) for enabling the torque sensor assembly <NUM> to properly function. Additionally, in other embodiments, the shaft <NUM> may be hollow or solid. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the shaft <NUM> may be stationary and fixed at ends <NUM>, <NUM> to a larger system, which enables application of the applied torque <NUM> to deform the shaft <NUM>. In other embodiments, the shaft <NUM> may rotate upon application of the applied torque <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the shaft <NUM> includes the magnetoelastic region <NUM> that may be magnetized to generate a magnetic field in response to the applied torque <NUM> being applied to the shaft <NUM>. In some embodiments, the magnetoelastic region <NUM> may be magnetized circumferentially to carry a positive or negative polarity. The magnetoelastic region <NUM> may generate a magnetic field <NUM>, which may be composed of an axial magnetic field component and a radial magnetic field component. When the applied torque <NUM> is applied to the shaft <NUM>, the applied torque <NUM> may alter a magnitude of the axial and radial components of the magnetic field in proportion to the magnitude of the applied torque <NUM>. The shaft <NUM> may include multiple sequences of the magnetoelastic region <NUM> and multiple sequences of non-magnetoelastic portions as discussed in further detail with respect to <FIG>.

The torque sensor assembly <NUM> may also include a plurality of sensors <NUM> disposed surrounding the magnetoelastic region <NUM>. The plurality of sensors <NUM> may include any suitable sensor for sensing a magnetic field. For example, the plurality of sensors <NUM> may include at least one of a Hall Effect sensor, a giant magnetoresistance magnetometer, an AMR magnetometer, a magneto-optical sensor, a search coil magnetic field sensor, a magnetodiode, a fluxgate magnetometer, or any other sensor suitable for sensing a magnetic field.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> is configured to sense the magnetic field <NUM> generated by the magnetoelastic region <NUM>. As shown, the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be configured to sense the magnitude of the axial magnetic field component of the magnetic field <NUM>. It should be noted that, in other embodiments, the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be configured to sense the magnitude of the radial component of the magnetic field <NUM> or the axial and radial components of the magnetic field <NUM>. As such, the plurality of sensors <NUM> is configured to produce a reading of the magnetic field <NUM>. The plurality of sensors <NUM> may also be configured to sense the magnitude of the ambient magnetic field in addition to the magnetic fields <NUM>. As such, the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be configured to produce a reading of the ambient magnetic field in addition to a reading of the magnetic field <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an alternative configuration of the shaft <NUM> of the torque sensor assembly <NUM> is shown. <FIG> shows that the toque sensor assembly <NUM> may include multiple sequences of the magnetoelastic region <NUM> and multiple sequences of the non-magnetoelastic regions <NUM>. In <FIG>, the shaft <NUM> includes three non-magnetized regions <NUM> and two magnetoelastic regions <NUM>.

The non-magnetized regions <NUM> are configured to generate a substantially negligible magnetic field in response to the applied torque <NUM>. In other words, the magnetic field may be minimal when compared to the magnetic field generated by the magnetoelastic portions <NUM> and may be treated as negligible when determining the applied torque <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors need not be directly connected to the shaft <NUM>. For example, in one embodiment, the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be disposed in a housing that may be adjacent to, but spaced from, the shaft <NUM>. As such, the plurality of sensors <NUM> and the housing do not influence the applied torque <NUM> through friction. The plurality of sensors <NUM> may include any number of sensors, in particular three and four sensors as described with respect to <FIG> and <FIG>, and may be configured to sense a magnetic field of any polarity.

In some embodiments, the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be configured to sense an ambient magnetic field. The ambient magnetic field may be generated by sources external to the torque sensor assembly <NUM>, such that the applied torque <NUM> has a minimal effect on the ambient magnetic field. For example, in an embodiment where the torque sensor assembly <NUM> may be utilized by an electric power steering unit, the ambient magnetic field may be a magnetic field generated by components of the electric power steering unit not including the torque sensor assembly <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an example implementation of the torque sensor assembly <NUM> is shown. While <FIG> shows a different configuration of the magnetoelastic region <NUM>, the remainder of the disclosure will be discussed in terms of a single magnetoelastic region <NUM>; however, it is understood that the teachings disclosed hereinafter are applicable to the various configurations disclosed in <FIG> and may be extended to any configuration of the shaft <NUM>.

The plurality of sensors <NUM> includes a first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, a second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, a third sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, and a fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM> that are positioned at substantially equal distances circumferentially surrounding the shaft <NUM>. The first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be diametrically opposed to each other while the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and the fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may also be diametrically opposed to each other. For example, the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be positioned at <NUM>°, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be positioned at <NUM>°, the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be positioned at <NUM>°, and the fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM> may be positioned at <NUM>°. The spacing or distance between each sensor of the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be defined as follows: <MAT> where DS is the distance in degrees between each sensor and n is equal to a number of the plurality of sensors <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an implementation is shown where the plurality of sensors <NUM> includes three sensors. For example, the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM> are shown spaced equidistance from each other at <NUM>° apart. The first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> is positioned at <NUM>°, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> is positioned at <NUM>°, and the third sensor is positioned at <NUM>°.

Referring back to <FIG>, the plurality of sensors <NUM> output a plurality of signals indicative of the detected magnetic field <NUM>. For example, the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> outputs a first signal that is indicative of the magnetic field <NUM> as detected by the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>. The second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> outputs a second signal that is indicative of the magnetic field <NUM> as detected by the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>. The third sensor <NUM>-<NUM> outputs a third signal that is indicative of the magnetic field <NUM> as detected by the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM>. The fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM> outputs a fourth signal that is indicative of the magnetic field <NUM> as detected by the fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM>.

The controller <NUM> determines an amount of applied torque <NUM> based on the plurality of first signals. The controller may include an averaging module and a torque determination module. The remainder of the disclosure describes various embodiments of the controller <NUM> in terms of the plurality of sensors <NUM> and the magnetic field <NUM>; however, it is understood that the various embodiments as described hereinafter are equally applicable to the different configurations described above.

Each of the plurality of signals includes multiple harmonics components. The multiple harmonics components of each of the plurality of signals generally result in distortion of each the plurality of signals and are undesirable. The magnetic error, as previously discussed, may be defined as the difference between the ideal waveform for each of the plurality of signals and the actual waveform for each of the plurality of signals. The multiple harmonics components may be exacerbated by the non-uniformity of the magnetoelastic region <NUM> of the shaft <NUM>.

The sensor averaging module includes an error module that may calculate an error for each of the plurality of signals. The error module calculates a total error for the average of the plurality of signals which corresponds to the average magnetic field. The total error for the average magnetic field is expressed as a function of the number of sensors used to detect the magnetic field. For example, the total error for the average magnetic field of the plurality of sensors <NUM> may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT> where S is the number of sensors, n is the order of harmonics, and an is the amplitude of the harmonic error.

Using the Equation <NUM>, the total error (e<NUM>) when a single sensor, such as the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, is used to detect the magnetic field <NUM>, may expressed as follows: <MAT> where the first term represents the error due to the first harmonic component, the second term represents the error due to the second harmonic component, the third term represents the error due to the third harmonic component, the fourth term represents the error due to the fourth harmonic component, and the fifth term represents the error due to the fifth harmonic component.

<FIG> shows the multiple harmonic components of magnetic error for the first signal in terms of the error amplitude (volts) relative to phase angle (θ). The magnetic error for the first signal includes a first harmonic component <NUM>, a second harmonic component <NUM>, a third harmonic component <NUM>, a fourth harmonic component <NUM>, and a fifth harmonic component <NUM>. Each of the plurality of signals may include higher order harmonics than the fifth order, but for the purposes of this disclosure, the effect of each harmonic component after the fifth order may be neglected since with each increase in order of harmonics after the fifth order, the distortion effect may be considered to be minimal.

<FIG> shows the magnetic error expressed in terms of error amplitude (volts) relative to phase angle (θ) for different configurations of the plurality of sensors <NUM>. A first error signal (ET1) <NUM> is the error that results when only a single sensor, such as the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, is used to sense the magnetic field <NUM>. A second error signal (ET2) <NUM> is the error that results when the plurality of sensors <NUM> includes two sensors, such as the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> and the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, to sense the magnetic field <NUM>. A third error signal (ET3) <NUM> is the error that results when the plurality of sensors <NUM> includes three sensors, such as the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, to sense the magnetic field <NUM>. A fourth error signal (ET4) <NUM> is the error that results when the plurality of sensors <NUM> includes four sensors, such as the first <NUM>-<NUM>, the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, and the fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM>, to sense the magnetic field <NUM>.

The sensor averaging module determines the average magnetic field based on the plurality of signals. The sensor averaging module may include one or more circuits (e.g., a passive average circuit, a noninverting summing circuit, an inverting summing circuit, a voltage divider, etc.) and/or software code or instructions for outputting the average of the plurality of signals. The average of the plurality of signals is indicative of the magnetic field <NUM> with the multiple harmonic components of the plurality of signals removed.

For example, when the plurality of sensors <NUM> includes four sensors, the magnetic error (i.e., the fourth error signal (ET4) <NUM>) of the average magnetic field signal includes only the fourth harmonic component <NUM>. Using Equation <NUM>, the fourth error signal (ET4) <NUM> may be expressed by the following equation: <MAT> <MAT> <MAT> <MAT> <MAT> where e<NUM>, e<NUM>, e<NUM>, and e<NUM> represent the total error in the first signal generated by the first sensor <NUM>-<NUM> positioned at <NUM>° (i.e., θ), the second signal generated by the second sensor <NUM>-<NUM> positioned at <NUM>° (i.e., θ + π/<NUM>), the third signal generated by the third sensor <NUM>-<NUM> positioned at <NUM>° (i.e., θ + π), and the fourth signal generated by the fourth sensor <NUM>-<NUM> positioned at <NUM>° (i.e., θ + 3π/<NUM>). After simplifying using trigonometric equivalencies, the total error (ET) of the average magnetic field signal simples to: <MAT>.

The sensor averaging module may also include a comparison module, an analog-to-digital converter (AC/DC), and a fast fourier transform (FFT) module. In some implementations, the FFT module may perform a FFT of one or more signals in order to identify the various harmonic components of the one or more signals. For example, the FFT module may perform an FFT of the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, the fourth signal, and/or the average magnetic field signal.

The comparison module may compare one or more characteristics of the FFT of the average magnetic field with the FFT of the first signal, the FFT of the second signal, the FFT of the third signal, the FFT of the fourth signal and/or another calculated parameter such as the calculated total error in order to verify that at least one of the harmonic components have been removed. A fault signal may be generated when the FFT of the average magnetic field includes one or more unwanted harmonic components. For example, when the plurality of sensors <NUM> includes the four sensor configuration, the presence of the second or third harmonic components may indicate a fault has occurred.

In some implementations, the AC/DC converter may convert the first signal, the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal from analog to digital signals prior to determining the average magnetic field. The AC/DC converter may sample the plurality of signals in accordance with the Nyquist Theorem in order to reduce aliasing. For example, the sampling rate may be set equal to at least twice the highest frequency component of the plurality of signals. In some implementations, the one or more circuits used to output the average of the plurality of signals may be bypassed and the sensor averaging module may be configured to calculate an average of the first, second, third, and fourth digital signals in any suitable manner.

The torque determination module may determine the amount of applied torque <NUM> based on the average magnetic field. The torque determination module may determine the amount of applied torque in any suitable manner. For example, the torque determination module may determine the applied torque <NUM> using one or more lookup tables that relates the average magnetic field to the amount of the applied torque <NUM>.

<FIG> demonstrates a method <NUM> of determining the magnitude of the applied torque <NUM>. The method <NUM> begins at step <NUM> where the applied torque <NUM> is received by the shaft <NUM>. At step <NUM>, the plurality of sensors <NUM> senses the magnetic field <NUM> and the ambient magnetic field. At step <NUM>, the plurality of signals indicative of the magnetic field are received by the controller. At step <NUM>, the controller determines the average magnetic field based on the plurality of signals. At <NUM>, the controller determines the magnitude of the applied torque <NUM> based on the average magnetic field, and the method ends. While the method <NUM> is described as ending after <NUM>, the method <NUM> may be a continuous control loop that is performed repeatedly.

Several embodiments have been discussed in the foregoing description. However, the embodiments discussed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. The terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "next to," "on top of," "above," "below," and "disposed. " Unless explicitly described as being "direct," when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements.

As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C. " The term subset does not necessarily require a proper subset. In other words, a first subset of a first set may be coextensive with (equal to) the first set.

In this application, including the definitions below, the term "module" or the term "controller" may be replaced with the term "circuit. " The term "module" may refer to, be part of, or include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital discrete circuit; a digital, analog, or mixed analog/digital integrated circuit; a combinational logic circuit; a field programmable gate array (FPGA); a processor circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that executes code; a memory circuit (shared, dedicated, or group) that stores code executed by the processor circuit; other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality; or a combination of some or all of the above, such as in a system-on-chip. In some examples, the interface circuit(s) may implement wired or wireless interfaces that connect to a local area network (LAN) or a wireless personal area network (WPAN).

The module may communicate with other modules using the interface circuit(s). Although the module may be depicted in the present disclosure as logically communicating directly with other modules, in various implementations the module may actually communicate via a communications system. The communications system includes physical and/or virtual networking equipment such as hubs, switches, routers, and gateways. In some implementations, the communications system connects to or traverses a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet. For example, the communications system may include multiple LANs connected to each other over the Internet or point-to-point leased lines using technologies including Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and virtual private networks (VPNs).

The term memory circuit is a subset of the term computer-readable medium. The term computer-readable medium, as used herein, does not encompass transitory electrical or electromagnetic signals propagating through a medium (such as on a carrier wave); the term computer-readable medium may therefore be considered tangible and non-transitory. Nonlimiting examples of a non-transitory computer-readable medium are nonvolatile memory circuits (such as a flash memory circuit, an erasable programmable read-only memory circuit, or a mask read-only memory circuit), volatile memory circuits (such as a static random access memory circuit or a dynamic random access memory circuit), magnetic storage media (such as an analog or digital magnetic tape or a hard disk drive), and optical storage media (such as a CD, a DVD, or a Blu-ray Disc).

The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks and flowchart elements described above serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

Claim 1:
A torque sensor assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a shaft (<NUM>) configured to receive an applied torque, wherein the shaft includes at least one region (<NUM>) being magnetoelastic and configured to generate a magnetic field in response to the applied torque;
a plurality of sensors (<NUM>), circumferentially positioned around the at least one region, are configured to generate a plurality of signals that are indicative of the magnetic field, wherein each of the plurality of signals includes multiple harmonic components; and
a controller (<NUM>) connected with the plurality of sensors (<NUM>) and being configured to:
receive the plurality of signals;
determine (i) an average of the plurality of signals in order to cancel at least one of the harmonic components of the multiple harmonic components for each of the plurality of signals, and (ii) a magnitude of the applied torque based on the average of the plurality of signals; characterized in that the controller (<NUM>) is further configured
to calculate an error for the average of the plurality of signals, wherein the error for the average of the plurality of signals is expressed as a function of a number of the plurality of sensors.