Bourns Automotive has launched a new steering torque and angle sensor. The results of R&D at its Auburn Hills, USA and Munich, Germany locations, the new device for EPS steering systems does away with the clock spring of earlier designs, thereby making the sensor easier to mount and removing the associated electronic noise.
The unit has in- and outputs for connection to ESC systems, too, so is suitable for applications where steering correction is automatically applied or suggested. It entered production in Europe in September 2011 for high-volume, B-segment vehicles; production in China is due to start later in 2012 at the Xiamen factory.