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Abstract

We describe an inductive sensor system for an electric machine for detecting a health parameter of the electric machine. The sensor system comprises a conductive non-magnetic target, one or more transmitting coils for generating an alternating electro-magnetic field, one or more receiving coils configured to interact with the electro-magnetic fields generated by the transmitting coils to generate a sensing signal, and a controller coupled to the transmitting and receiving coils. The target is mounted, in use, on a rotor of the electric machine. The transmission coils and receiving coils are mounted to a substrate that is mounted, in use, to a stationary housing of the electric machine spaced axially away from the target such that the target interacts with electro-magnetic fields generated by the transmitting coils. The controller is configured to generate an alternating electro-magnetic field and to receive sensing signals from the plurality of receiving coils over a period of time. Since the received sensing signals are dependent on the presence of the target within the alternating electro-magnetic field, the controller is configured to detect a health parameter of the electric machine using the received sensing signal.

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First Claim