Riverside, Calif. — Bourns, Inc. has introduced its latest generation of semi-absolute and absolute, non-contacting steering angle sensing technology. The new technology supports low-cost solutions that require accurate steering feedback for interfacing with automotive applications such as electronic stability control (ESC), active suspension, and electro power steering (EPS).
Based on anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) technology, the customized steering angle sensors can also be used with electronic self parking (E-Park), lane departure warning (LDW), and advanced front lighting systems (AFLS) applications. The electronics used in Bourns’ customized steering angle sensors can be packaged in dimensions as small as 60 x 78 x 14 mm with printed-circuit-board (PCB) dimensions as small as 50 x 20 mm.
Johneric Leach, product line manager for steering and vehicle stability sensors at Bourns said the AMR technology allows the sensors to be less sensitive to temperature fluctuations, shock and vibrations and enables the devices to withstand large variations in the gap between the sensor and magnet.
The steering angle sensors feature a Bourns-patented device that minimizes the hysteresis associated with the steering column’s mechanical tolerances and is available in either single- or dual-redundant designs. The customized sensors are typically equipped with a CAN interface to allow resolutions close to 16 bit and accuracies down to below 0.5 degrees. The sensors also feature a complete self-diagnostic capability. A customized design is available that supports full active steering.
Resources: Automotive sensors.