Low inertia rotary position detector and associated methods

1. A rotary position detector comprising:

a housing having an inner space;

a shaft extending into the housing inner space, the shaft rotatable about an axis thereof;

a light source positioned to emit light rays into the housing inner space;

a light detector positioned within the housing inner space in a spaced relation to the light source, the light detector comprising four segmented light sensors about the axis and comprising one “Cosine +” detector element, one “Cosine −” detector element, one “Sine +” detector element, and one “Sine −” detector element;

a light blocker positioned between the light detector and the light source, the light blocker comprising an opaque element rotatable with the shaft; and

a signal connection to the light detector for measuring an amount of light impinging on the segmented light sensors to thus measure an absolute rotary position of the shaft.

2. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the segmented light sensors are generally defined within a plane parallel to the axis.

3. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the segmented light sensors are generally defined within a plane perpendicular to the axis.

4. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein each of the segmented light sensors comprise an arcuate sector shape.

5. The rotary position detector according to claim 4 , wherein the arcuate shape comprises a substantially toroidal shape.

6. The rotary position detector according to claim 3 , wherein the light sensors have a rectangular surface receiving the light.

7. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the radial extent of the light blocker elements is substantially less than the radial extent of the light sensors.

8. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a unitary light source generally aligned with the axis.

9. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light sensors comprise a light sensor material responsive to light, and wherein an increase in light per unit area impinging thereon causes an increase in output signal.

10. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light blocker element comprises a blade.

11. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light blocker comprises a substantially transparent tube having imposed thereon the opaque elements.

12. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light blocker comprises a bottom portion of the motor shaft, the bottom portion comprising a generally cylindrical portion having an interior space positioned to receive the light rays from the light source, the light blocker element comprising a segment of the cylindrical portion separated by a spaced-apart opening extending from a bottom edge thereof.

13. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is operable with the shaft.

14. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the “Cosine +” detector element and the “Cosine −” detector element are connected in anti-parallel.

15. The rotary position detector according to claim 14 , further comprising an amplifier configured for amplifying a signal provided by the “Cosine +” and the “Cosine −” detector elements.

16. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the “Sine +” detector element and the “Sine −” detector element are connected in anti-parallel.

17. The rotary position detector according to claim 16 , further comprising an amplifier configured for amplifying a signal provided by the “Sine +” and “Sine −” detector elements.

18. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the “Cosine +” detector element and the “Cosine −” detector element are connected in anti-parallel, and further comprising a first amplifier configured for amplifying a signal produced by the “Cosine +” detector element, a second amplifier configured for amplifying a signal produced by the “Cosine −” detector element, and a third amplifier configured for amplifying a combined signal produced by the first and second amplifiers.

19. The rotary position detector according to claim 1 , wherein the “Sine +” detector element and the “Sine −” detector element are connected in anti-parallel, and further comprising a fourth amplifier configured for amplifying a signal produced by the “Sine +” detector element, a fifth amplifier configured for amplifying a signal produced by the “Sine −” detector element, and a sixth amplifier configured for amplifying a combined signal produced by the fourth and fifth amplifiers.

20. A method for determining a rotary position of a shaft, the method comprising:

transmitting light into an inner space of a housing having a shaft extending therethrough and rotatable about an axis thereof;

detecting at least a portion of the light with a light detector positioned within the inner space, the light detector comprising one “Cosine +” detector element, one “Cosine −” detector element, one “Sine +” detector element, and one “Sine −” detector element;

digitizing a Cosine output generated by the “Cosine +” and “Cosine −” detector elements;

digitizing a Sine output generated by the “Sine +” and Sine −” detector elements; and

calling a function a tan 2 (Sine, Cosine) to derive a sensor angle.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

computing a table with angle correction values;

comparing the sensor angle to an angle correction value in the table;

applying a correction to the sensor angle; and

outputting a corrected sensor angle as an absolute angle.