Hughes Aircraft Company

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Manfred W Reissmueller

Thomas Arthur Perry

Thomas Hubert Van Steenkiste

John Robert Bradley

Jeffrey A Sell

Martin Stephen Meyer

Rudolf F Zurcher

Frank J Bohac, Jr

Richard Earl Teets

Hiro Yamasaki

Everett K Shelton

Dozier: James R

Jerry S Roach

This invention relates to an apparatus for sensing a vehicle steering wheel position. A permanent magnet target wheel having a global axial magnetic field normal to a first surface is attached to a steering shaft which is rotated by the steering wheel. Multiple regions equally spaced along a common radius on the first surface are magnetically altered and sensed by magnetically responsive sensors positioned adjacent the first radius. A single region positioned within a finite radius along a second radius on the first surface is magnetically altered and sensed by a magnetically responsive sensor positioned adjacent the second radius. The magnetic sensors are responsive to passage of the multiple regions and single region as the target wheel is rotated. Detection of each of the multiple regions corresponds to rotation of the target wheel by an incremental number of degrees. Detection of the single region corresponds to a target wheel position within a predetermined angular range, referred to as the center position. A turn counter is utilized to determine which of the center positions corresponds to the steering wheel neutral position.

Vehicle steering wheel position sensing apparatus

A digital watch has a face mounted local pulse sensor unit which is coupled to infrared plethysmograph electronics within the watch. The local pulse sensor includes transmitter and receiver photodiodes connected to the electronics by a plurality of moveable contact fingers. A connector at one end of a flat cable is insertable into a slotted opening on the side of the local pulse sensor and between the contact fingers and the two local photodiodes to disconnect the photodiodes from the electronics. Simultaneously, a remote pulse sensor unit at the other end of the cable is electrically coupled to the contact fingers by the connector for enabling the wearer's pulse at his finger to be sensed. A loop about the connector end of the cable maintains the connector in position when inserted into the local pulse sensor receptacle. A cuff at the remote sensor end of the cable secures the sensor to a wearer's finger for pulse monitoring.

Digital watch/infrared plethysmograph having a quick release remote

Growing community of inventors

Orange, CA, United States of America

Manfred W Reissmueller