Inductive position sensor

Abstract

A resonant rotor, for use in an inductive position sensor, includes a rotor core, a first rotor coil, and a rotor capacitor. The first rotor coil includes a first twisted rotor loop drawn about the rotor core and the rotor capacitor is connected in series with the first rotor coil. For a second embodiment, the first rotor coil includes a second twisted rotor loop. The first rotor coil has a first symmetry and the inductive position sensor includes a stator. An excitation coil is drawn on the stator and has a second symmetry. The first symmetry substantially corresponds to the second symmetry. A method for determining a position of an object using an inductive position sensor includes generating three electromagnetic fields using respective excitation coils, inducing voltages, respectively, in three receive coils, and determining based on voltages a position of an object coupled to a resonant rotor. The voltages being based on mutual inductances arising between the rotor with each of the excitation and receive coils, and the elimination, by the resonant rotor, of mutual inductances arising between the excitation and receive coils.