Texas Instruments Corporation

Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Dale R Sogge

Edward F O'Brien

Thomas J Charboneau

David A Czarn

Karl H Werner

Thomas Richard Maher

Gary A Baker

Douglas B Strott

Edward M Gonsalves

Neal Pugh

Albert Ferdinand Zwijze

Norman E LeComte

Charles M Anastasia

Kai L Keasey

Keith Crowe

Alan M Sadler

Jeffrey Peter Silveria

Yoshihiko Mikawa

Masashi Matsutomo

Yasushi Yamabayashi

Hironari Ishiguro

Nallan C Suresh

Murad M Vosgershian

Mitchell H Berkson

Ethan J Coulson

Thomas A Perkins

Edward F Racca

Magnetic proximity sensor, comprising a magnetic sensor element, and a magnet assembly having a first pole surface and a second pole surface, wherein the first pole surface of the magnet assembly is positioned adjacent to a sensor target surface of the magnetic proximity sensor, and the sensor element is positioned at a first distance from the second pole surface of the magnet assembly remote from the sensor target surface.

Magnetic proximity sensor having improved capabilities and efficiency

A switch system () for use with vehicular transmissions for providing an indication of transmission operation in which an electrically insulating ramp plate () is fixedly mounted on a face surface of an electrically conductive detent plate (). Detent plate () has a shaft receiving bore () formed in a hub () that extends from a face surface and interfits with hub () of the actuator plate. The detent plate is fixedly mounted to a rotatable shaft received in the bore of hub () and is rotatably mounted relative to actuator plate (). Ramp plate () has a plurality of openings each defined by a lifting ramp at two opposite ends and conductive leads mounted on the actuator plate, as by insert molding, extend into cut-outs formed in the actuator plate. These cut-outs are alignable with the openings in the ramp plate and the conductive leads have free ends biased toward the detent plate so that rotation of the actuator plate will selectively close or open circuits between the conductive leads and the detent plate. In an additional embodiment, a locking feature is provided for locking the switch system in a selected orientation during shipment to an OEM by using a pin () that is only partially inserted through a bore aligned with a reference feature () of the actuator plate.

Position sensor responsive to gear selection of vehicular transmission

A magnetic position sensor has a stator () formed of magnetic material and a pair of magnets () rotatably mounted about the stator and movable between opposite angular extremities and spaced from the stator by a primary cylindrical air gap (). A secondary air gap () is formed in a stationary member at a location at which the magnetic field varies with the angular position of the magnets. A first Hall Effect sensor () is disposed in the secondary air gap to measure the magnetic field there-across as an indication of the angular position of the magnets. A second reference sensor () is provided to detect the magnetic decay of the magnets. The second sensor can be a Hall Effect sensor disposed at a location at which the magnetic field is relatively constant, independent of the angular position of the magnets. The reference sensor output can be used as a diagnostic indicator or as a correction for the first sensor output.

Magnetic position sensor apparatus and method

A port fitting is formed with a closed, pedestal end forming a diaphragm on which a strain gauge sensor is mounted. A support member is received on the pedestal end and is formed with a flat end wall having an aperture aligned with the sensor. A portion of a flexible circuit assembly is bonded to the flat end wall with a connector disposed over the support member. A tubular outer housing is fitted over the several components and its bottom portion is welded to the port fitting while its top portion places a selected load on an O-ring received about the connector as well as internal components of the transducer. In one embodiment, a loading washer ( ) is disposed over the O-ring on a first portion ( ) of a two portion connector ( ) and retained by a second connector portion ( ). Protrusions ( ) formed on the tubular housing ( ) pass through cut-outs in the second connector portion to place a load on the loading washer. To facilitate assembly, the connector is attachable to the support member in one embodiment by legs of an EMC shield ( ), with the shield coupled to the connector by wedging tabs ( ) and in another embodiment by direct engagement of legs of the connector. In one embodiment a shroud ( ) is removably received on the connector to protect elongated terminals extending therefrom. One embodiment is provided with an enhanced environmental seal including a resilient grommet ( ) retained by a snap cap ( ).

Hermetic pressure transducer

A capacitive transducer (10) has a housing (12) which receives a variable capacitor (14) in a fluid pressure receiving chamber (12e). A support (20) is received on an annular shoulder (12j) formed in the sidewall (12h) of the housing. The support has inner and outer concentric ring shaped lands (20k, 20l) with the inner ring shaped land engaging the variable capacitor (14) inboard of the outer peripheral edge of the capacitor. A shelf (20d) is formed on the sidewall of the support which receives a first relatively rigid substrate (26a) of a circuit board which has a second relatively rigid substrate (26b) bent through a connecting flexible strip so that the second substrate overlies the first substrate within a circuit receiving chamber (20c). A ratiometric signal conditioning circuit portion 28a and voltage regulating circuit portion 28b are mounted on the circuit board. The voltage regulating circuit is used to convert the transducer into a variable supply/fixed output device and includes a precision voltage regulator (U2) having an input capability of a portion of the range of the variable supply voltage, an NPN transistor (Q1) to provide a variable resistance in the primary current path, a zener diode D3, a current regulating diode (D2) to bias the transistor and the zener diode, a blocking diode (D1) and associated capacitors (C13, C14, C15).

Voltage regulated pressure transducer apparatus

A fluid pressure sensor (10) having a capacitive pressure transducer (12) having a thin, relatively flexible ceramic diaphragm (14) mounted in closely spaced apart relation to a rigid ceramic substrate (16) by a glass annulus (18) mounted in a housing (46) having a port (46a) for fluid whose pressure is to be sensed to be received on an outer face of the diaphragm. An electronic circuit (50) is mounted in a chamber (38) formed between a connector (36) and an outer face (12b) of the substrate. A source capacitor plate (20) and source trace (20b) are printed on the diaphragm and a detect plate (22) and detect trace (22b) are printed on a substrate with a guard plate (28, 28', 28'; 30, 30') printed on both the diaphragm and substrate completely surrounding the source and detect plates and traces.

Capacitive pressure transducer having reduced output error

An internal vehicular transmission range switch (10) has a movable contact support (20) which slides along a straight path in a recess formed between a housing having a base member (12) and cover (14) between first and second extremities in dependence upon the movement of the manual valve (4) to which it is coupled by an arm (18) extending from the support through a slot (16) formed in the housing. An elongated slider having a lower (20e) and upper (20d) blade portions received in respective channels (12a, 14a) formed in the housing integrally attached to the movable contact support blocks ingress of contaminant particles into the recess while permitting fluid flow into and out of the recess. A second embodiment (10') has a generally U-shaped member (18') having one leg (18a') attached to the movable contact support and extending through an O-ring (24) in an end wall of the housing and a manual valve coupling arm (18c') formed at the distal end of a second leg (18b'). A third embodiment has an endless track (26) in which an elongated, flexible band (28) having opposite ends attached to the movable contact support (20) on opposite sides of manual valve coupling arm (18) blocks entry of contaminant particles through slot (16') in the housing through which arm (18) extends.

Internal transmission range switch system

A normally open pressure responsive electrical switch is shown having upper and lower body members with a combination terminal and disc seat member sandwiched therebetween. An electrically conductive snap acting disc is disposed on the disc seat and is adapted to snap through a centrally disposed aperture in the terminal into electrical engagement with an electrical contact disposed on a terminal mounted in the lower body member. The upper body member has a bore extending therethrough and slidably mounts a pressure converter adapted to convert pressure from a pressure source to a force and apply the force to the disc. A flexible membrane is disposed over the bore with an O-ring received on an O-ring seat adjacent the bore in the upper body member. A wall extending around the seal seat is deformed to capture the O-ring at its seat.

Normally open pressure responsive switch

A monolithic capacitive differential pressure transducer (68, 156, 170) is shown composed of ceramic material having first and second cavities formed adjacent to opposed face surfaces to form first and second flexible diaphragms (70, 72; 110, 140; 172, 174) and a motion transfer pin (74, 124/130, 202) attached to and extending between the diaphragms. Capacitor plates are disposed on opposed rigid platform members (76, 78; 100, 126; 184, 194). Component parts are first pressed from ceramic powder and assembled into a unit using one of several methods including a selected amount of pressure to press them together or using a combination of low pressure along with raising the temperature of the material to soften the binder in the ceramic material at surfaces of the parts which are to be joined together. Selected gaps, both along the x-y direction and along the z direction may be obtained using consumable spacer material which is sublimated in a debinderization cycle prior to sintering of the unit to form a monolithic body.

Pressure transducer apparatus having a rigid member extending between

A vehicular transmission sensor having an electrical output responsive to gear selection is shown having a plurality of sealed electrical switches mounted within the transmission housing. In a first embodiment a cam plate is disposed on a face of the detent lever and is movable therewith relative to the switches. The switches are each provided with a follower which moves between switch contacts engaged and switch contacts disengaged positions in dependence on the angular position of the cam plate. In a second embodiment a switch arm mounting a plurality of first switch contacts is movable with the detent lever into and out of engagement with respective second switch contacts mounted in a sealed stationary housing.

Vehicular transmission sensor apparatus responsive to gear selection

A normally open pressure responsive electrical switch is shown having upper and lower body members with a combination terminal and disc seat member sandwiched therebetween. An electrically conductive snap acting disc is disposed on the disc seat and is adapted to snap through a centrally disposed aperture in the terminal into electrical engagement with an electrical contact disposed on a terminal mounted in the lower body member. The upper body member has a bore extending therethrough which slidably mounts a pressure converter adapted to convert pressure from a pressure source to a force and apply the force to the disc. A flexible membrane is disposed over the bore with an O-ring received on an O-ring seat adjacent the bore in the upper body member. A wall extending around the seal seat is deformed to capture the O-ring at its seat.

Seal apparatus for pressure responsive electrical switch

A pressure responsive switch having upper and lower contact assemblies with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The assemblies each include an insulating body with a hollow center and an electrically conductive member having a contact in the center portion and extending externally of the body. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally in engagement with the electrically conductive member of the upper assembly. When a pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap into its second stable state, the connection thereof with the electrically conductive member in the upper contact assembly is broken and connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. The switch is normally closed by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly which extends externally thereof. The switch can be provided as normally open by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the upper assembly which extends externally thereof. In accordance with another embodiment, the switch is provided for operation in conjunction with a printed circuit board. The switch comprises an electrically conductive contact member fixed to the board and having a contact bump and an air conducting passageway. An electrically conductive support for a flexible conductive member is secured to the board within the fixed conductive member the flexible member moving into and out of engagement with the bump in response to pressure changes.

Method for making pressure responsive switch

A pressure responsive switch having upper and lower contact assemblies with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The assemblies each include an insulating body with a hollow center and an electrically conductive member having a contact in the center portion and extending externally of the body. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally in engagement with the electrically conductive member of the upper assembly. When a pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap into its second stable state, the connection thereof with the electrically conductive member in the upper contact assembly is broken and connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. The switch is normally closed by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly which extends externally thereof. The switch can be provided normally open by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the upper assembly which extends externally thereof. In another embodiment, the switch is provided in conjunction with a printed circuit board. The switch comprises an electrically conductive contact member fixed to the board and having a contact bump and an air conducting passageway. An electrically conductive support for a flexible conductive member is secured to the board within the fixed conductive contact member, the flexible member moving into and out of engagement with the bump.

Pressure responsive switch particularly adaptable for operation as a

A dual function sensor particularly useful with vehicular coolant systems indicates when a coolant liquid becomes corrosive to such cooling system materials as well as when the liquid falls to a low level condition. A reference and a sense electrode are used to probe the condition of the coolant liquid. Integral electronics provide signal conditioning and transmitting to indicate both corrosive and low level coolant conditions. The sensor assembly mounts directly onto a tubular coupling on the vehicle radiator by pushing the assembly onto the coupling until a spring wire element snaps past a lip formed on the free distal end of the coupling. An electrical connector shroud extends from the assembly and accommodates a mating male connector which is pushed onto the shroud until a clip mounted on the male connector snaps over a locking tab located on the shroud. The male connector typically is connected to an engine control module (ECM).

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Wrentham, MA, United States of America

Dale R Sogge