Rotor Position Sensor for Hybrid Drives and Electric Drives New Generation Eddy Current Position Sensor 2011-01-0441

Electrification of the power train will play a key role in the struggle for higher energy efficiencies and reduced emissions of vehicles. Optimized control of modern electric motors requires precise measurement of the rotor position. In most industrial applications optoelectronic or magnetic incremental sensors or inductive resolves are used for the position measurement. Deploying electric drives in cars, however, adds additional requirements concerning robustness, manufacturing costs, integration and operating safety which are difficult to satisfy with traditional sensor technology. The drawbacks of current sensor technologies like high costs or sensibility to EMI will not be acceptable any more when electric power trains go into mass production.

Electricfil has developed an Electric Motor Position Sensor (EMPOS) that provides a number of advantages over traditional sensors, including very high robustness to mechanical tolerances, a digital interface and low production costs [1]. After having validated the concept on prototypes, Electricfil is now working on the industrialisation of the product that will be ready for mass production by 2012.