Method and rotary encoder for measuring the absolute angular position

The Invention relates to a method for detecting an absolute angular position a rotatable component, in particular a shaft 3, in which in a first stationary unit, which evaluation electronics 5 has, at least two independent magneto-resistive sensor pairs 6, 7, 8 are premagnetized by at least one magnetic field source, wherein the sensor pairs 6, 7, 8 arranged in the immediate vicinity of the magnetic field source and wherein in a second rotatable with the component unit at least one modulator 9, the position-dependent magnetic flux the magnetic field source at the location of the sensor pairs 6, 7, 8 in density and / or direction changed covers periodically due to its rotation with the component sensors and their excitement influences, the sensors in each case one sensor pair 6, 7, 8 are arranged so that they through the overlapping elements of the modulator 9 covered with an angle difference of a quarter of coverage period be, and an angle sensor 1 for implementing the method.The signal quality the angle sensor signal is determined by positioning the sensors, type the Vormagentisierung the sensors as well as material properties and geometric shape of the modulator 9 controls.