초록 ▼

A system for determining the absolute position of a multi-turn shaft is disclosed. The shaft is mounted in an elliptically shaped wave generator. The wave generator is coupled to a flex spline which is deformed to match the wave generator. The exterior surface of the flex spline has a number of gear

A system for determining the absolute position of a multi-turn shaft is disclosed. The shaft is mounted in an elliptically shaped wave generator. The wave generator is coupled to a flex spline which is deformed to match the wave generator. The exterior surface of the flex spline has a number of gear teeth. The flex spline is installed within a cylindrical, circular spline. The circular spline has an interior diameter which is slightly larger than the largest diameter of the flex spline. The interior surface of the circular spline has a number of teeth which interlock with the teeth of the flex spline. In such a manner, the rotation of the shaft will cause an angular displacement of the circular spline. A position sensor is located on the circular spline and serves to track the position of the circular spline which is proportional to the absolute position of the shaft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An angular position sensor system for determining the absolute position of a rotating member, the sensor system comprising:a drive assembly coupled to the rotating member, the drive assembly including: a wave generator having an elliptical shape coupled to the rotating member; a flex spline coupl

1. An angular position sensor system for determining the absolute position of a rotating member, the sensor system comprising:a drive assembly coupled to the rotating member, the drive assembly including: a wave generator having an elliptical shape coupled to the rotating member; a flex spline coupled to the wave generator, the flex spline having an exterior surface with teeth; a circular spline having a diameter larger than the largest diameter of the flex spline and an interior surface with teeth which interlock with the teeth of the flex spline, wherein the circular spline rotates at a proportional angle of rotation when the rotating member is rotated a full revolution; and a position sensor operatively coupled to the drive assembly which senses the angular position of the circular spline and which outputs the angular absolute position of the rotating member as a function of the angular position of the circular spline.