Investigation of compact rotor position sensor technology

Abstract: Electric vehicles are increasing on the market and new technologies are being investigated because of the demand placed on electrified drivelines to provide maximum efficiency. Electric motors are expected to provide high efficiency and thus precise and compact designs of sensors for electric motors are requested. Market sensors offers a broad variety of sensors which are useful and optimal for different applications. Inductive sensors are investigated by industries because of their characteristics of having high accuracy, robustness, compact and flexible design and tolerant to harsh environments. This thesis is an investigation of inductive position sensors for automotive rotor applications,requested by one of Sweden’s largest companies within the automotive industry. The goal of the project is to design and implement theory of tradtional resolver technology on a printed circuit board (PCB) and conduct concept verifications of the system. Furthermore a new concept in the design is introduced and applied to the angular position sensor, working as a vernier scale and improve the resolution. Results and outcomes of this thesis are meant to facilitate future work and breakthroughs regarding inductive position sensors. This thesis aim to conduct a deep dive in electronics and signal processing and to derive the fundamentals of electromagnetism, from Maxwell’s equations to modern sensor design and to bring a new discussion to the table regarding the traditional measuring target used for rotor position in automotive industries. A new design working as rotor target design is presented and verified in this thesis and the results and outcomes are meant to facilitate future work and breakthroughs regarding inductive position sensors and potentially increase the accuracy and thus the efficiency of electric vehicles.