Trw Limited

Bourns Incorporated

Other

Don Blandino

James Gregory Stanley

Joseph D Miller

Philip H Berger

Kenneth R Turner

Leonid V Bogdanov

Jay Jamshid Khazaai

Eoin Paul O'Regan

Michael J Medora

Erland K Persson

Michael J Boyer

Lutz Axel May

Chris Mantjios

Richard Wotherspoon

A system for detecting a characteristic of a fluid. In one example, the system includes a tube, a float, a sensor, and a controller. The tube is configured to receive the fluid. The float is located within the tube. The sensor is configured to sense a position of the float. The controller is configured to receive, from the sensor, the position of the float, and determine a characteristic of the fluid based on the position of the float. The characteristic may be a density or a concentration.

Detecting fluid characteristics via a float

A fluid sensor including a guide, a float, a permanent magnet, and a magnetic angle sensor. In one example, the float is constrained at least in part by the guide to move along a vertical axis. The permanent magnet is mechanically coupled to the float. The magnetic angle sensor is configured to measure an angle of a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet and is positioned such that movement of the float along the vertical axis varies the angle of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet through the magnetic angle sensor.

Detecting fluid level via a float

A torque sensor ( ) for a power assist steering system ( ) for sensing applied torque between relatively rotatable input and output shafts ( ) which are connected by a torsion element ( ) comprises an input transformer (T ) and a rotary transmitter ( ) connected for rotation with the input shaft. The rotary transmitter ( ) has a plurality of transmitter pole segments ( ) defined by a plurality of slots ( ). The rotary transmitter ( ) includes a transmitter coil ( ) electrically connected with the input transformer (T ). The transmitter coil ( ) completely encircles each of the transmitter pole segments ( ) individually and has two sections disposed in each of the plurality of slots ( ). A rotary receiver ( ) is axially spaced from the rotary transmitter ( ) and is connected for rotation with the output shaft ( ). The rotary receiver ( ) includes a pair of one receiver coils ( ). Output transformers (T , T ) are respectively electrically connected with the receiver coils ( ).

Torque sensor for a power assist steering system

A power steering mechanism ( ) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle comprises a rotatable input member ( ), a rotatable output member ( ), and a torsion bar ( ) connecting the input member and the output member. The torsion bar ( ) is fixedly connected to the output member ( ) and twists upon relative rotation between the input member ( ) and the output member. The torsion bar ( ) is made of a magnetoelastic material and has a defined surface area ( ) which carries a magnetic field, which magnetic field varies upon twisting of the torsion bar, magnetic field detector ( ) is located to sense variance in the magnetic field. The input member ( ) is interposed between the torsion bar ( ) and the magnetic field detector ( ) and is made of a non-magnetic material.

Power steering mechanism with magnetoelastic torsion bar

A torque sensing apparatus (,) includes first and second sensor elements (,) which are substantially diametrically opposed relative to a central axis extending between the first and second sensor elements. Each of the sensor elements (,) is operative to provide an electrical signal (,) that varies as a function of the relative position between first and second parts of the respective sensor elements. The electrical signals (,) of the first and second sensor elements (,) vary in inverse relationship in response to non-rotational relative movement between the first and second parts of the respective sensor elements.

Torque sensing apparatus for an electric assist steering system

A system (10) for compensating torque steer in a vehicle power assist steering system for a front wheel drive vehicle includes an engine speed sensor (60) or a road wheel drive torque sensor (61). A torque sensor (32) senses applied steering torque. A steering assist motor (28) provides power assist to assist the vehicle operator in steering the vehicle. A controller (62) controls the power assist motor in response to the sensed applied steering torque and in response to one of the sensed engine speed or the road wheel drive torque to compensate for torque steer.

Method and apparatus for compensating torque steer

An apparatus for sensing the relative rotational position between a stator (28) and a rotor (32) in a variable reluctance motor (26) includes a transmitting ring (40) mounted to the rotor (32) and having a transmitting coil (46) mounted thereon. A receiving ring (42) is mounted to stator (46) and has a receiving coil (56) mounted thereon. The receiving coil includes three conductor patterns (56a, 56b, 56c) having the same shape, each of said conductor patterns being electrically insulated from each other, and each conductor pattern being offset from adjacent conductor patterns by 120 electrical degrees. A drive signal is coupled to the transmitting coil. The apparatus further includes a controller (76) for monitoring the outputs from the receiving coil patterns and for determining the relative rotation between the rotor and the stator from the monitored outputs. The receiving coil patterns are each arranged in a circumferentially varying square wave pattern.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Don Blandino