Patent ID: 7323864

Claim:
A sensor for determining the absolute angular position of a rotating member over 360°, characterized in that it comprises: a rotating part ( 14 ), the rotation of which is linked to that of the rotating member, which rotating part creates a variable magnetic flux; a fixed part ( 16 ) for supporting probes; at least two probes ( 22 , 26 ) supported by the fixed part and each having an output current signal, the first ( 22 ) of the two probes being subjected to a first magnetic flux that can vary periodically with the rotation of the rotating part and having a binary output signal having two different constant current values between two angular ranges each covering 180°, and the second ( 26 ) of the two probes being subjected to a second magnetic flux that can vary periodically with the rotation of the rotating part, the variations of the second magnetic flux being shifted in phase by 90° relative to the variations of the first magnetic flux and having an output signal which is a continuous function of the magnetic flux and comprises two parts that vary linearly with the angle of rotation, these two parts having opposite slopes; and a device ( 30 ) for adding the currents from the two probes, which consists of the connection ( 30 ) of two wires ( 24 , 28 ) carrying the output signals from said probes and giving an output current signal not having the same value twice over 360° such that the range of variation of the output current from the first probe ( 22 ) is greater than the range of variation of the output current from the second probe ( 26 ).