DEVICE FOR THE DETECTION OF AN ACTUATION ANGLE OF AN ELEMENT ROTATABLE ABOUT A SHAFT
A device for detecting an actuation angle of an element rotatable or pivotable about a shaft of the mentioned type. The device includes a sensor unit configured to emit an electrical signal depending on an angle of rotation and including an annular permanent magnet non-movably connected to the rotatable or pivotable element. The sensor includes a stationary Hall sensor array having two or more Hall sensors disposed at an angular distance about the annular permanent magnet, wherein an individual Hall sensor located in a linear zone defined by the movement of the rotatable or pivotable element is selected by a microcontroller according to a current position of the rotatable or pivotable element.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A device for detecting an actuation angle of more than 180° of an element rotatable or pivotable about a shaft comprising:
a sensor unit configured to emit an electrical signal depending on an angle of rotation and including an annular permanent magnet non-movably connected to the rotatable or pivotable element, characterized in that the sensor device comprises:
a stationary Hall sensor array having two or more Hall sensors disposed at an angular distance about the annular permanent magnet, wherein an individual Hall sensor located in a linear zone defined by the movement of the rotatable or pivotable element is selected by a microcontroller according to a current position of the rotatable or pivotable element.
22 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the selected Hall sensor which lies within the linear zone is selected consecutively by said microcontroller such that a resulting overall or output remains linear during an actuation angle range from 0° to 360°.
23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein a maximum actuation angle range from about 210° to 220° is selected between any linear characteristics of two Hall sensors.
24 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the annular permanent magnet is diametrically magnetized.
25 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the sensor array comprises Hall sensors which are disposed such that they are uniformly angularly distributed about the annular permanent magnet.
26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the sensor array comprises two Hall sensors spaced apart by an angle of 80°.
27 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the rotatable or pivotable element is supported on the shaft by a slide bushing, wherein the slide bushing is axially divided.
28 . The device of claim 27 , wherein the shaft is made of steel and the slide bushing is made of bronze.
29 . The device of claim 28 , wherein the rotatable or pivotable element contains the annular permanent magnet.
30 . The device of claim 29 , wherein the permanent magnet is adhesively retained on the rotatable or pivotable element.
31 . The device of claim 30 , wherein the rotatable or pivotable element comprises an annular flange, the flange comprising:
a radially inner side which is connected to the slide bushing, and a radially outer side on which the annular permanent magnet is retained in a centering manner.
32 . The device of claim 21 , wherein the rotatable or pivotable element is formed as an input wheel.
33 . The device of claim 21 , further comprising a sensor retainer comprising chambers configured to receive the Hall sensors at an irregular angular distance.
34 . The device of claim 33 , wherein an individual. Hall sensor is retained in position in a respective chamber of the sensor retainer.
35 . The device of claim 34 , further comprising crimping ribs in the chamber on at least two sides.
36 . The device of claim 34 , wherein the sensor retainer is fixedly connected to the shaft.
37 . The device of claim 36 , further comprising a flange on the shaft, wherein the flange is insert-molded with the sensor retainer.
38 . The device of claim 34 , wherein the sensor retainer is hood-shaped and configured to radially engage between the annular permanent magnet and an outer circumference rim of the rotatable or pivotable element or input wheel, wherein a lateral surface of the sensor retainer includes the chambers.
39 . The device of claim 21 , further comprising a printed circuit board on which the Hall sensors are retained by a plurality of electrical terminals.
40 . The device of claim 39 , wherein the plurality of electrical terminals are guided by the sensor retainer to the printed circuit board.