Cts Corporation

Craig Allen Jarrard

John Zdanys

James E White

Jeffrey L McCurley

Ronald C Nonnenmacher

John S Duesler

Robert L Newman

David S Pfaffenberger

Robert J Campbell

Thomas R Olson

David J Miller

Kurt Etherington

Bret W Shriver

A sensor for sensing the position of an object includes a magnet and a magnetic flux sensor. The magnet has dimensions that include a length, a width and a height. The magnet is adapted to generate a flux field. The flux field has a magnitude of flux and a flux direction. The flux direction changes along at least one of the dimensions. The magnetic flux sensor is mounted adjacent the magnet. The magnet provides a rotating magnetic field vector. A method for magnetizing a magnet to create the rotating magnetic field vector is also disclosed.

Non-contacting position sensor using a rotating magnetic vector

A combination Hall effect position sensor and switch for sensing the position of a moveable object. The sensor has a magnet that is attachable to the moveable object. The magnet has a pair of ends and a central portion. A linear magnetic flux sensor is positioned about the central portion of the magnet. The linear magnetic flux sensor generates an electrical signal indicative of a specific position of the movable object. A switch type magnetic flux sensor is positioned about one of the ends of the magnet. The switch type magnetic flux sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of the movable object reaching a pre-determined location.

Combination hall effect position sensor and switch

A non-contacting linear position sensor having bipolar tapered magnets. A pair of magnets are positioned adjacent each other and attached to a movable object. Each magnet has a central portion that is thinner than both ends of the magnets. A pair of pole pieces has ends that are arranged spaced apart in parallel relationship about the central portion. The other ends of the pole pieces are located spaced apart with a magnetic flux sensor located between. The magnetic flux sensor senses a variable magnetic field representative of the position of the attached movable object as the magnets move. The magnets have opposite polarities on either sides of the central portion.

Linear position sensor

A non-contacting position sensor having radial bipolar tapered magnets. The sensor has a semicircular first plate and a second plate. Four semicircular magnets are affixed to the first plate and second plate. Each magnet has a thick end and a thin end. Two magnets generate a linearly varying magnetic field having a first polarity, while the other two magnets generate a linearly varying magnetic field having a second polarity. An air gap is formed in the space between the four magnets. A magnetic flux sensor is positioned within the air gap. The object whose position is to be monitored is rigidly attached to the magnet assembly, causing the magnetic flux sensor to move relative to the magnets within the air gap as the component moves. A varying magnetic field is detected by the magnetic flux sensor, resulting in an electrical signal from the magnetic flux sensor that varies according to its position relative to the four magnets.

Non-contacting position sensor using radial bipolar tapered magnets

In accordance with the present invention, a non-contacting position sensor using bipolar tapered magnets is provided. A non-contacting position sensor in accordance with the preferred embodiment uses a pole piece having a first plate and a second plate. Four magnets are affixed to the first plate and second plate. Each magnet has a thick end and a thin end. Two magnets generate a linearly varying magnetic field having a first polarity, while the other two magnets generate a linearly varying magnetic filed having a second polarity. An air gap is formed in the space between the four magnets. A magnetic flux sensor is positioned within the air gap. The component whose position is to be monitored is rigidly attached to either the pole piece or the magnetic flux sensor, causing the magnetic flux sensor to move relative to the magnets within the air gap as the component moves. A varying magnetic field is detected by the magnetic flux sensor, resulting in a signal from the magnetic flux sensor that varies according to its position relative to the four magnets. The signal from the magnetic flux sensor is used to provide an indication of the position of the component to be monitored.

Magnetic position sensor having opposed tapered magnets

A dual-axes position sensor,having an outer housing,, an actuator,, a linear Hall effect sensor assembly,for detecting position changes along a first (y) axis, and a linear Hall effect sensor assembly,for detecting position changes along a second (x) axis is disclosed. The housing,is preferably made out of a non-magnetic material such as plastic. Actuator,is rod shaped and coupled to a movable device or shaft (not shown) that is to have its position sensed. The linear Hall effect sensor assembly,is unattachably positioned to set on lip,of the housing,, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece,, a magnet assembly,comprising an upper magnet,and a lower magnet,that are separated by an air gap,. Magnet assembly,and pole piece,are positioned around a Hall sensor device support,in a&ldquo;U&rdquo; shaped configuration or form. Hall sensor device support,is fixedly attached to housing,via attachment area,. Linear Hall effect sensor assembly,also includes a positionally fixed Hall effect sensor element,attached to Hall sensor device support,on surface,. Linear Hall effect sensor assembly,is positioned approximately 90 degrees from and to linear Hall effect sensor assembly

Two axis position sensor using sloped magnets to generate a variable magnetic field and hall effect sensors to detect the variable magnetic field

A magnet molding tool for controlling the orientation of magnetic particles in a polymer bonded magnet during injection molding. A magnet mold has a mold cavity. A flux generator is connected to the magnet mold for applying a magnetic field in the cavity. An upper plate is attached to the magnet mold to modify the magnetic field in the cavity such that the orientation of the magnetic particles varies proportionally to the dimensions of the plate.

Variable orientation magnet molding tool

A magnet molding tool for controlling the orientation of magnetic particles in a polymer bonded magnet during injection molding. The tool has magnet mold having a mold cavity. A flux generator is connected to the magnet mold. The flux generator applies a magnetic field in the cavity. A non-magnetic cap is attached to the magnet mold and is dimensioned to modify the magnetic field in the cavity such that the orientation of the magnetic particles in the cavity varies proportionally to the dimensions of the non-magnetic cap. In an alternative embodiment, a slot is formed in the magnet mold and dimensioned to modify the magnetic field in the cavity.

A dual positional hall effect sensor 10 having an outer housing 12, an actuator 14, a linear movement sensor 20, and a rotational movement sensor device 22. The housing 12 includes a lower chamber 24 and an upper chamber 26, with a barrier wall 28 separating therebetween. The actuator 14 is made up of a coupling 32 for coupling to a movable device (not shown) that is to have its position sensed, a rod 34 that extends from the lower to the upper chamber, a collar 36 for retaining the actuator 14 within the lower chamber, and a key 38. The linear motion sensor 20 is unattachably positioned to set on collar 36, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 42 and a left and right magnets 44. The magnets 44 and pole piece 42 are positioned around the rod 34 in a 'U' shaped configuration. The lower chamber 24 also includes a positionally fixed hall effect sensor 46 and a spring 48 positioned between the barrier wall 28 and the collar 36. The rotational movement sensor 22, located in the upper chamber 26, includes a sensor housing structure 52 that has a groove or slide 54 for insertion and sliding of the key 38. The sensor 22 further includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 56 and a top and bottom magnet 58. A hall sensor 60 is positioned between the two parts of the magnet 58 and fixed in position relative to any rotational movement of the rotational sensor 22.

Dual rotational and linear position sensor

An extremely reliable and effective position sensor is provided at low cost for determining the relative position of a mechanical linkage with respect to a reference point. The position sensor includes a rotor or bracket which is mechanically coupled to the linkage and contains at least two magnets on opposite walls adjacent a channel opening. The opposing magnets are formed with first and second sloped or ramped sections which produce produce variable magnetic fields as determined by the geometric profile of the magnets. One or more detectors are positioned in the air gap between the opposing magnets. As the linkage is moved, the rotor or bracket moves with respect to the detector causing a change in the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detector whereby the detector determines the position of the movable linkage.

Linkage of position sensor

An extremely reliable and effective position sensor is provided at low cost for determining the relative position of a mechanical linkage with respect to a reference point. The position sensor includes a rotor or bracket which is mechanically coupled to the linkage and contains at least two magnets on opposite walls adjacent a channel opening. The opposing magnets are formed with first and second sloped or ramped sections which produce produce variable magnetic fields as determined by the geometric profile of the magnets. One or more detectors are positioned in the air gap between the opposing magnets. As the linkage is moved, the rotor or bracket moves with respect to the detector causing a change in the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detector, whereby the detector determines the position of the movable linkage.

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Middlebury, IN, United States of America

Craig Allen Jarrard