Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Sigma Powertrain, Inc.

Means Industries, Inc.

Jeffrey L Viola

John W Kimes

William T Moore

John Francis Laidlaw

Leon Bogdanov

A position sensing assembly for sensing a position of a ferromagnetic element. The position sensing assembly includes a magnet creating a magnetic field. A position transducer is disposed within the magnetic field created by the magnet. A housing defines an interior for housing the magnet and the position transducer therein. The housing defines a housing body and a transducer protrusion extending out from the housing body. The position transducer is housed within the transducer protrusion allowing the position transducer to extend out and away from the magnet while maintaining a parallel orientation with the magnet.

Position sensor assembly

A driveline disconnect assembly disconnects a wheel hub from a drive shaft supported by a grounding component, such as a suspension knuckle. The driveline disconnect assembly includes a support frame that is fixedly secured to the grounding component. The support frame extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft and extends between first and second support frame sides. The support frame defines a central axis. A linear actuator is fixedly secured to the support frame and extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft. The linear actuator includes a shift sleeve moving axially relative to the support frame. The shift sleeve extends around at least a portion of the drive shaft to selectively engage and disengage the wheel hub to connect and disconnect the wheel hub from the drive shaft, respectively.

Driveline disconnect assembly

A rotational control assembly controls at least one locking element used to lock a race with respect to a housing. The rotational control assembly includes a speed sensor disposed adjacent the race. The speed sensor senses a rotational speed of the race and generating a rotational speed signal. A controller is electrically connected to the speed sensor for receiving the rotational speed signal. The controller includes a comparator to compare the rotational speed signal to a threshold speed level. A lockout switch is electrically connected to the controller. The lockout switch prevents activation of the at least one locking element when the rotational speed signal exceeds the threshold speed level. This assembly prevents attempts to synchronize or lock races when the speeds are too high. This assembly can also be used to facilitate park and hill-hold functions.

Rotational control assembly for a vehicle transmission

A magnetic system for controlling the operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly and an overrunning coupling and magnetic control assembly including the system are provided. The system includes a control member mounted for controlled shifting movement and a translator structure supported for travelling along a path between first and second end positions. The structure is coupled to the control member for selective, small displacement, control member movement upon experiencing a net translational force. The translator structure supports a pair of spaced apart magnetic or ferromagnetic targets for movement therewith. A magnetic field sensor is disposed adjacent and stationary with respect to the translator structure between the first and second end positions of travel for sensing magnetic flux to produce an output signal which is based on position of the translator structure. A variable magnetic field is generated in response to travel of the translator structure.

Magnetic system for controlling an operating mode of an overrunning coupling assembly and overrunning coupling and magnetic control assembly including the system

A fluxgate magnetometer including a fluxgate and a digital processor. The digital processor includes an analog to digital converter for digitizing the back EMF from the fluxgate and a signal generator to generate the fluxgate driving signal. Further, a current sourcing circuit is provided to receive the fluxgate driving signal from the signal generator and transmit a current amplified driver signal to the fluxgate capable of driving the fluxgate in and out of saturation. The signal generator is a pulse width modulator used in conjunction with a voltage shaper and driver to create a triangle-shaped driving signal to excite the fluxgate. The digital processor is further configured to reverse the sign of the digital back EMF signal at a frequency corresponding to two times the frequency of the fluxgate driving signal thereby capturing only the second harmonic of the back EMF signal.

Digital signal conditioning solution for a magnetometer circuit

There is provided a torsion shaft for the electronic power-assisted steering ('EPAS') system of a vehicle. The torsion shaft designed for the EPAS system is made up of a shaft, where a first portion of the shaft is magnetized, and a second portion of the shaft is non-magnetized. The torsion shaft further includes a torsion cap attached to the shaft. Also provided is a torsion shaft for an EPAS system made up of a discreet first shaft portion and a discreet second shaft portion operatively joined together, where the first shaft portion is magnetized, and a second shaft portion is non-magnetized. The torsion shaft further includes a torsion cap attached to the shaft. Further provided is a method for making a torsion shaft where at least two portions of a torsion shaft are provided. At least one portion is magnetized, and at least one portion is left free of magnetization. The portions are then joined.

Unshunted collarless torsion shaft for electronic power-assisted steering systems

A torsion shaft for a vehicle includes an elongated inner shaft, and an outer sleeve attached to the inner shaft which fits over the inner shaft. A torsion cap is further attached to the inner shaft and outer sleeve. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an elongated inner shaft and an outer casing attached to the inner shaft which fits over the inner shaft. A torsion cap is further attached to the inner shaft and outer sleeve. A method for making a torsion shaft is also provided. An inner shaft and a magnetized outer sleeve are provided. The inner shaft is inserted into the outer sleeve, and the two are joined together.

Shunted collarless torsion shaft for electronic power-assisted steering systems

A torque sensor for magnetically detecting torque transmitted to a rotatable shaft without directly contacting the shaft comprises a magnetic alloy and one or more sensing elements about the magnetic alloy to measure a magnetic field emanating from the magnetic alloy without being affected by anomalies in magnetic alloy.

Magnetoelastic torque sensor for mitigating non-axisymmetric inhomogeneities in emanating fields

An apparatus and method for magnetizing a shaft in a circumferential direction is provided in which electrical current is applied to one or more electrical current conduction tubes and is directed through the tube to at least one coupler having an internal diameter sized so as to circumferentially contact the exterior diameter of a part of the shaft to be magnetized. An electric current pulse is applied to the electrical current conduction tube and radially enters the shaft from the coupler associated with the tube at a substantially 90&deg; degree angle to the axis of the shaft. The current is forced axially along the length of the shaft in the direction of at least a second coupler to magnetize one or more bands along the shaft in a circumferential direction. The current exits the shaft by way of the second coupler and a second electrical conduction tube.

Fixtures and processes for magnetizing magnetoelastic shafts circumferentially

A magnetoelastic torque sensor assembly is provided for sensing torsion load of a shaft, such as an automotive steering column. The assembly includes a molded plastic body that defines an axial channel and includes an axial opening. The assembly also includes a U-shaped lead frame that is embedded within the molded plastic body and includes side portions that extend within side sections of the molded plastic body about the channel. Magnetic flux sensors are embedded in the side sections of the molded plastic body and connected to the lead frame. For use, the shaft is radially received through the axial opening in the molded plastic body and coaxially positioned within the channel. The magnetic flux sensors are positioned about the shaft in a predetermined and fixed arrangement. The sensor array preferably includes sensors that are disposed in a plane through the axis, either diametrically opposed or axially spaced.

Magnetoelastic torque sensor assembly

An sensor for sensing electrical current flowing in a conductor includes a housing for retaining a toroidal core formed of a ferric material and having a slot defining an air gap, and a Hall Effect sensor integrated circuit chip positioned in the air gap for sensing electrical current flowing in a conductor received in a central aperture of the core. The central aperture is defined by an annular portion of the housing formed by inner and outer walls joined by a floor and retaining the core. A tab in the annular portion extends into the core slot to limit movement of the core and protect the integrated circuit chip.

Housing with retainer tab for positioning a current sensor magnetic field concentrating core

An angular position sensor is provided including a rotatable magnet and at least one magnetically sensitive device. The at least one magnetically sensitive device is preferably a plurality of Hall effect sensors disposed on a circuit board for processing the generated electrical signals. The present invention includes a pair of focusing members designed to transmit and uniformly focus a magnetic field across the magnetically sensitive device, wherein the focusing members are tailored to be substantially planar and provide a uniform magnetic field gradient across the magnetically sensitive device. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also includes at least one shielding member. The angular position sensor may be adapted for use in a control system for the electronic monitoring and control of the throttle plate position in a motor vehicle.

Magnetic circuit for a rotary position sensor

An apparatus for sensing electrical current flowing in a conductor includes a toroidal core formed of a ferric material and having a slot defining an air gap, a Hall Effect sensor integrated circuit positioned in the air gap for sensing electrical current flowing in a conductor received in a central aperture of the core, and a housing enclosing the core and the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit can be programmed to set functions such as output offset, gain, temperature compensation and a current sensing range.

Growing community of inventors

Berkley, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey L Viola