Balluff Gmbh

Gebhard Balluff Gmbh & Co.

Gebhard Balluff Fabrik Feinmechanischer Erzeugnisse Gmbh & Co.

Novotechnik Kg Offterdinger & Co.

Waters Manufacturing, Inc.

Novotechnik Gmbh

Ernst Gass

Sorin Fericean

Ernst Ehling

Martin Kurz

Heinz Kammerer

Walter Roth

Michael Friedrich

Såndor Pali

Andreas Ullrich

Michael Fritton

Josef Mayer

Bernd Fingerle

Joszef Geisz

Årpad Melles

An inductive displacement sensor having a displaceable or rotatable, magnetically permeable measuring head, at least one measuring loop whose geometric shape varies in response to the longitudinal/rotary displacement of the measuring head, and at least one excitation loop by which a magnetic flux can be generated in the measuring head. The flux penetrates the at least one measuring loop at any point of the longitudinal/rotary displacement, essentially in the region of the measuring head, and inducing an electric measuring signal (i). A resonant circuit, which is electrically decoupled from the outside, is arranged on the measuring head and is excited in correct phase relation by a short voltage pulse after a number of, preferably, 10 to 20 free oscillations.

Inductive displacement sensor with a measuring head comprising a passive resonant circuit

A sensor has a housing, in which there is arranged a thermosetting molding compound which is encapsulated in a linear region in the longitudinal direction of the housing by a thermoplastic molding compound. The two molding compounds meet at a conical contact surface. An electrical terminal element is electrically connected to a printed-circuit board via lines. The printed-circuit board is embedded into the two molding compounds at the level of the center line, the thermosetting molding compound enclosing all the electrically active components and conductor tracks of the printed-circuit board. Annular grooves are arranged on the outer side of the thermosetting molding compound. Due to the encapsulation, the thermoplastic molding compound engages in these annular grooves in a positively and non-positively engaging manner. The groove arrangement has the advantage that effective sealing is ensured both when there is an increase in the temperature and when there is a decrease in the temperature of the sensor, since either the one groove surfaces or the other groove surfaces provide effective sealing on account of the respectively differing material expansion of the two molding compounds.

Hermetically encapsulated sensor and process for its production

A method and apparatus for calibrating the output signal of a linear position detector without accessing the interior of the detector housing is provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, a magnet is selectively movable toward and away from the exterior of the electronics housing, and a sensor is provided within the housing for sensing the presence of the magnet. According to this embodiment, the linear position detector is calibrated by setting a movable marker at the desired position and pushing the magnet toward the housing. The sensor then detects the presence of the magnet, and a processor saves the position of the marker as a reference point. All future positions of the marker can then be scaled based upon the reference point. Thus, the linear position detector can be calibrated without the need for opening the electronics housing and potentially exposing the electronics components to moisture, contaminants, and/or static electricity. Preferably, the magnet is connected to a push button on a base, and the base includes an attachment mechanism, such as a clip for example, to attach the base to the position detector.

Method and apparatus for calibrating the output signal of a linear position detector

An apparatus and method for automatically and periodically tuning a signal having a gain element, a variable impedance associated with the gain element, and a control device. The gain element has an input for receiving the signal and an output for providing an output signal and is preferably an operational amplifier with a feedback path extending from the output to the input. The variable impedance is preferably connected in series in the feedback path and includes a plurality of resistors connected in series and a plurality of switches, each switch being connected in parallel with one of the resistors. The control device receives the gain element output signal and generates a control signal in response to the amplitude of the gain element output signal. The control signal is transmitted to the variable impedance for regulating the setting of the impedance. Preferably, the control device also includes a pair of comparators for evaluating the gain element output signal and a field programmable gate array for receiving the outputs of the comparators and generating the control signal. The control signal preferably comprises a plurality of switching signals, each signal being connected to one of the switches for controlling the state of the switch.

Apparatus and method for automatically tuning the gain of an amplifier

For appropriately polarity recognition and corresponding switchover of a output stage of a proximity switch or the like connected to a supply voltage (VB), even while continuously activated, when a change in load polarity occurs, the proximity switch having in each case a high side driver and a low side driver, it is proposed to define on the output-side voltage axis between the positive supply voltage (+VB) and the negative pole or ground an upper and a lower detection window which sense the load configuration, each at a distance from the working points (which remain in a steady state) of each output stage driver, such that when a change in load configuration occurs, the potential of the output connection, to which the load configuration detection stage is connected, passes only briefly through these detection windows, and such that the transient signal changes which result therefrom in each window region are used for appropriately polarized switchover to the respective correct output stage circuit section based on a switchover of the load configuration detection stage.

Method and arrangement for appropriately polarity recognition and

In order to improve a non-contact proximity switch, and a method for programming it, with an resonant circuit that can be influenced by objects approaching from outside and an evaluation circuit to generate an output signal as a function of an output voltage of the resonant circuit that exceeds a predefined threshold value, and with standard terminals, in such a way that the proximity switch can be used at different temperatures and operates accurately independently of the ambient temperature and independently of other trouble influences, it is proposed that a temperature sensor be arranged in the vicinity of the resonant circuit; and that a compensation circuit comprise a circuit unit, downstream from the temperature sensor, which outputs a compensation quantity, dependent on the sensed temperature, that is delivered to a comparator to be compared with the output voltage of the oscillator circuit and, when identity exists, to enable the output signal; and that the compensation magnitude for compensating for the temperature dependence and for other influences be capable of being repeatedly modified in temperature-dependent fashion from outside using the 'teach-in' method by means of an external programming device that can be connected to the standard terminals of the proximity switch, and stored, with the proximity switch in its completely assembled state.

Non-contact proximity switch and method for programming it

A sensor and process for manufacturing same having an electrical circuit arranged on a carrier which is connected to an electrical connector and a sensor element. The carrier is disposed within a housing having one opening for the connector element and another opening for the sensor element. The sensor element and a first part of the carrier with the electrical circuit are embedded in a duroplastic molding compound. A second part of the carrier with the electrical circuit and the electrical connector are enclosed by a thermoplastic molding compound. A seal is arranged adjacent an intermediate space between the duroplastic molding compound and the housing.

Position sensor housing having duroplastic molding compound and

In order to improve a sensor for detecting an electrically conductive or netizable object with an oscillator comprising a resonant circuit including an inductance and a capacitance, the resonant circuit impedance depending on a damping distance between the inductance and the object and rising steeply in the range of small damping distances, further rising less steeply in the range of medium damping distances and substantially having a constant value in the range of large damping distances, and a closed adaptive loop stage supplying a loop current for the resonant circuit and generating a course of an amplitude value dependent on the damping distance, and an evaluation circuit detecting an oscillator voltage applied to the resonant circuit, such that the oscillator also oscillates in the range of small damping distances and has a characteristic curve, with which the oscillator voltage varies with the damping distance also in the range of small damping distances, it is suggested that the course of the amplitude value of the loop current in the range of small damping distances has at least one oscillation-maintaining segment, the gradient of which is smaller than the gradient of the course of the amplitude value in the range of medium damping distances.

Inductive sensor responsive to the distance to a conductive or

Tap or current collector for rotary or linear potentiometers, displacement pick-ups, variable resistances, brushes/collector junctions of electric motors, etc., wherein the tapping part on which the slider elements as such are mounted and which performs a relative movement with respect to the tapped path or collector carries the slider elements having individual resilient and freely movable slider fingers, at least in the contact area proper, and which are mounted on a mounting block in such a manner, relative to the sense of displacement, that irrespective of the sense in which the tap moves at any time, one of the slider elements is always pushed, and the other one is always pulled so that even the influences on the tapped or transmitted electric signal of dynamical effects developed by high accelerations are compensated. Further, the individual slider elements are pre-bent along their longitudinal extension so that they follow a pre-determined curve in the inoperative condition and assume a substantially straight shape when applied under resilient pressure to the path to be scanned, whereby the distance between the tap and the path can be minimized.

Tap or current collector for potentiometers, displacement pick-ups, etc.

A wiper for a potentiometer or other device having a surface with which sliding electrical contact is to be made in which the wiper includes a plurality of spring fingers formed from resilient sheet material or wire are supported in cantilever fashion from ends thereof remote from the contact ends and are encased over a portion of the lengths thereof from the supported ends in a covering of an elastomer which damps vibration of the fingers to prevent resonant oscillations thereof thus increasing the possible speed of operation of the instrument as well as its useful life.

Movable wiper for potentiometers

A potentiometer circuit by which a continuous, sawtooth 360 degree ramp output voltage is obtained from a single turn continuous rotation potentiometer having an annularly disposed resistance element and two angularly displaced rotatable wipers providing displaced voltages from the resistance element. The circuit includes comparator means responsive to one of the wiper voltages providing a comparator output signal and switch means responsive to the comparator output signal for switching between the wiper voltage outputs to provide a continuous, sawtooth 360 degree ramp analog output voltage. An analog-digital converter may be connected to it to provide a digital output voltage.

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Stuttgart, Germany

Ernst Gass