Steering input position sensing apparatuses, systems, and methods

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to apparatuses and systems for and methods of sensing steering input position.

1 . An apparatus for measuring a position, relative to a steering input-support body mountable to a vehicle, of a steering input supported by the steering input-support body for movement relative to the steering input-support body and configured to move an intermediate linkage to move a steering device of the vehicle relative to the vehicle to steer the vehicle in response to movement of the steering input relative to the steering input-support body, the apparatus comprising:
 a position sensor configured to be coupled to the steering input and configured to measure the position of the steering input independently of the steering device and independently of the intermediate linkage.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the position sensor comprises a rotation sensor configured to measure a rotational position of the steering input, relative to the steering input-support body, around a steering axis of the steering input. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein:
 the rotation sensor comprises a sensor input shaft having a sensor input axis, the sensor input shaft rotatable around the sensor input axis; and 
 the sensor input shaft is rotationally couplable to the steering input. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein:
 the rotation sensor further comprises a sensor output shaft having a sensor output axis, the sensor output shaft rotatable around the sensor output axis; 
 the sensor output shaft is rotationally coupled to the sensor input shaft; and 
 the rotation sensor is configured to measure the rotational position of the steering input by measuring a rotational position of the sensor output shaft, 
 wherein the rotational position of the sensor output shaft is adjustable from outside of the position sensor when the position sensor is coupled to the steering input. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein at least a portion of the sensor output shaft is accessible from outside of the position sensor when the position sensor is coupled to the steering input. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the at least a portion of the sensor output shaft accessible from outside of the position sensor comprises a torque transfer interface engageable with a driver to enable the driver to rotate the sensor output shaft around the sensor output. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the position sensor is magnetically couplable to the steering input, magnetic coupling between the steering input and the position sensor configured to transfer movement of the steering input to the position sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the sensor input shaft comprises a sensor input shaft magnet rotationally couplable to a steering shaft magnet of a steering shaft of the steering input. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the position sensor further comprises an external shell sealing an interior of the position sensor, the interior of the position sensor comprising the rotation sensor. 
     
     
         10 . A steering system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a steering input-support body mountable to the vehicle;   a steering input supported by the steering input-support body for movement relative to the steering input-support body, the steering input configured to move an intermediate linkage to move a steering device of the vehicle relative to the vehicle to steer the vehicle in response to movement of the steering input relative to the steering input-support body; and   the apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the position sensor is coupled to the steering input and configured to measure the position of the steering input independently of the steering device and independently of the intermediate linkage.   
     
     
         11 . A steering system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a steering input-support body mountable to the vehicle;   a steering input supported by the steering input-support body for movement relative to the steering input-support body, the steering input configured to move an intermediate linkage to move a steering device of the vehicle relative to the vehicle to steer the vehicle in response to movement of the steering input relative to the steering input-support body; and   a position sensor configured to measure a position of the steering input independently of the steering device and independently of the intermediate linkage.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein:
 the steering input is rotatable, relative to the steering input-support body, around a steering axis of the steering input and is configured to move the steering device relative to the vehicle in response to rotation of the steering input, relative to the steering input-support body, around the steering axis; 
 the position sensor comprises a rotation sensor configured to measure a rotational position of the steering input, relative to the steering input-support body, around the steering axis; 
 the rotation sensor comprises a sensor input shaft having a sensor input axis, the sensor input shaft rotatable around the sensor input axis; 
 the sensor input shaft is rotationally coupled to the steering input; 
 the rotation sensor further comprises a sensor output shaft having a sensor output axis, the sensor output shaft rotatable around the sensor output axis; 
 the sensor output shaft is rotationally coupled to the sensor input shaft; 
 the rotation sensor is configured to measure the rotational position of the steering input by measuring a rotational position of the sensor output shaft; and 
 the rotational position of the sensor output shaft is adjustable from outside of the position sensor when the position sensor is coupled to the steering input. 
 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least a portion of the sensor output shaft is accessible from outside of the position sensor when the position sensor is coupled to the steering input. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a magnetic coupling between the steering input and the position sensor and operable to transfer movement of the steering input to the position sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein:
 the steering input comprises a steering shaft; 
 the steering shaft comprises a steering shaft magnet; 
 the sensor input shaft comprises a sensor input shaft magnet; and 
 the sensor input shaft magnet is rotationally coupled to the steering shaft magnet. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the position sensor further comprises an external shell sealing an interior of the position sensor, the interior of the position sensor comprising the rotation sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the steering device comprises a rudder. 
     
     
         18 . The steering system of  claim 11  wherein the vehicle is a watercraft. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle comprising the steering system of  claim 11 . wherein the vehicle is a watercraft, and wherein the watercraft comprises a helm separated from the steering device. the helm comprising the steering input, and the position sensor attached to the helm. 
     
     
         20 . The vehicle of  claim 19  wherein the position sensor is in a boat dash of the watercraft.