Sensata Technologies, Inc.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

James M Maloof

Eric K Larson

Juan J Barrena

Jeffrey L Prunty

Patrick F McGrath

Methods and apparatuses to obtain increased performance and differentiation for an inductive position sensor through non-disruptive placement of multiloop coil interconnects are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a sense element includes at least one transmit coil and a first receive coil that includes a first plurality of arrayed loops. In this embodiment, two or more of the first plurality of arrayed loops are phase blended. The sense element also includes a first plurality of interconnects. In this embodiment, each of the first plurality of interconnects connects two of the first plurality of arrayed loops. In this embodiment, the first plurality of interconnects is disposed outside of a sensing area of the sense element.

Inductive position sensor

Methods and apparatuses to obtain increased performance and differentiation for an inductive position sensor through improvements to the sense element and target design are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a sense element includes a transmit coil, a first receive coil that includes a first plurality of arrayed loops, wherein two or more of the first plurality of arrayed loops are at least one of phase blended and amplitude arrayed, and a second receive coil that includes a second plurality of arrayed loops, wherein two or more of the second plurality of arrayed loops are at least one of phase blended and amplitude arrayed, and wherein the first receive coil and the second receive coil are phase shifted. The sense element coils are arrayed in several geometries and layouts, and the coil and target geometry are manipulated to compensate for inherent errors in the fundamental design of an inductive position sensor.

Inductive position sensors

An improved inductive sensor determines angular positions for rotating objects, such as rotors of synchronous electric motors. The inductive sensor includes an arcuate transmitter coil, one or more receiver coils, and a conductive target configured to rotate with the rotating object, relative to the transmitter coil and the receiver coil(s). The conductive target includes a plurality of lobes and individual of the lobes is split into multiple lobe portions.

Inductive sensor with split lobe target

An ice maker mechanism provides a position sensor sensing the position of the ice tray to allow control of absolute position of the ice tray without the need for motor stalling such as generates heat and wastes energy. An ice maker mechanism provides two motors for rotating the ice tray adapted for high torques low-speed rotation and low torque high-speed rotation the latter used for agitation of the water during freezing.

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Westwood, MA, United States of America

James M Maloof