IP Library Granted Patent US 7,532,005
Granted Patent B2
US 7,532,005 · App. 11/730,478 · Granted May 12, 2009

Rotation angle detection apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,532,005
App. No.
11/730,478
Granted
May 12, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rotation angle detection apparatus includes a main rotatable body, a pair of sub rotatable bodies, and a control circuit. The sub rotatable bodies are rotated in a linked motion with the rotation of the main rotatable body and are overlapped with each other. The control circuit detects a rotation angle from a rotation of one of the sub rotatable bodies, and detects a rotation phase difference between the rotation of one sub rotatable body and the rotation of the other sub rotatable body of the pair of the sub rotatable bodies. From the two detected signals, the control circuit calculates a rotation angle of the main rotatable body.

Claims (36)

1. A rotation angle detection apparatus comprising:

a main rotatable body;

a first sub rotatable body and a second sub rotatable body which are rotated in a linked motion with a rotation of the main body, and are overlapped with each other;

an angle detection part for detecting a rotation angle of the first sub rotatable body;

a phase difference detection part for detecting a phase difference between a rotation of the first sub rotatable body and a rotation of the second sub rotatable body; and

a control circuit for carrying out processing of a signal transmitted from the angle detection part and a signal transmitted from the phase difference detection part, and calculating a rotation angle of the main rotatable body;

wherein the angle detection part comprises

a magnet attached to the first sub rotatable body, and

a first magnetic sensor facing the magnet; and

wherein the phase difference detection part comprises

the magnet, and

a second magnetic sensor attached to the second sub rotatable body and facing the magnet.

2. The rotation angle detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the main rotatable body, the first sub rotatable body and the second sub rotatable body have gears on the peripheries thereof;

a number of teeth of the gear of the first sub rotatable body is different from a number of teeth of the gear of the second sub rotatable body; and

the gear of the main rotatable body meshes with the gears of the first sub rotatable body and the second sub rotatable body.

3. The rotation angle detection apparatus of claim 2 , wherein

the main rotatable body has two stages of gears having different outer diameters on the outer periphery of the main rotatable body,

the gear of the first sub rotatable body meshes with one gear of the main rotatable body, and

the gear of the second sub rotatable body meshes with an other another gear of the main rotatable body.

4. The rotation angle detection apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the first sub rotatable body and the second sub rotatable body have a same outer diameter and have a common rotation axis.

5. The rotation angle detection apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a transmit antenna placed on the second sub rotatable body and coupled to the second magnetic sensor.

6. A rotation angle detection apparatus comprising:

a main rotatable body;

a first sub rotatable body and a second sub rotatable body which are rotated in a linked motion with a rotation of the main body, and are overlapped with each other;

an angle detection part for detecting a rotation angle of the first sub rotatable body;

a phase difference detection part for detecting a phase difference between a rotation of the first sub rotatable body and a rotation of the second sub rotatable body; and

a control circuit for carrying out processing of a signal transmitted from the angle detection part and a signal transmitted from the phase difference detection part, and calculating a rotation angle of the main rotatable body;

wherein the main rotatable body, the first sub rotatable body and the second sub rotatable body have gears on the peripheries thereof;

wherein a number of teeth of the gear of the first sub rotatable body is different from a number of teeth of the gear of the second sub rotatable body;

wherein the gear of the main rotatable body meshes with the gears of the first sub rotatable body and the second sub rotatable body;

wherein the main rotatable body has two stages of gears having different outer diameters on the outer periphery of the main rotatable body;

wherein the gear of the first sub rotatable body meshes with one gear of the main rotatable body; and

wherein the gear of the second sub rotatable body meshes with another gear of the main rotatable body.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2007
From: ARAKAWA, TORU; SHIMIZU, MASARU; SEGAWA, MASAMI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 020027/0217 →