Trw Limited

Trw Automotive U.S. LLC

Aaron M Mills

David L Becker

Phillip J Shandilis

An apparatus () for sensing the position of a vehicle seat () movable between a forward position and a rearward position includes a Hall effect device () and a magnet () that produces a magnetic field that acts on the Hall effect device. A member () is constructed of a ferromagnetic material and has a portion () positioned adjacent the magnet (). The portion () has a size that is unique for every different position of the vehicle seat () between the forward and rearward positions. The portion () of the member () alters the flux path of the magnetic field which varies the portion of the magnetic field acting on the Hall effect device () to a degree that depends on the size of the portion. The Hall effect device () provides a signal functionally related to the magnitude of the magnetic field acting on the Hall effect device.

Apparatus for sensing vehicle seat position

A sensor () for sensing the position of a ferromagnetic target () relative to the sensor includes a Hall effect device () responsive to a change in a magnetic field () acting on the Hall effect device. A magnet () produces a magnetic field () that acts on the Hall effect device (). The target () changes the magnetic field () acting on the Hall effect device () as the position of the target relative to the sensor () changes. First and second flux collectors (and) are located on one side () of the magnet () for concentrating the magnetic field () on the Hall effect device (). A third flux collector () is located on a second side () of the magnet () opposite the one side () for reducing the reluctance of a magnetic flux path through the target ().

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Dexter, MI, United States of America

Aaron M Mills