Nartron Corporation

Mark R Wheeler

Stephen R Cooper

John M Washeleski

Mario P Boisvert

Ronald D Ingraham

David W Bull

Daniel Wilheim

Anne Gebauer

Several embodiments of a rotational position sensor having a variable coupling transformer are disclosed. Each sensor employs at least one magnetically permeable transformer core and a primary and secondary coil. The primary coil in coupled to a time varying electrical signal and is mechanically coupled through a transmission to a rotatable shaft whose position is to be measured. As the shaft is rotationally displaced, the primary coil changes orientation thereby changing an output signal induced in the secondary. A detector is coupled to the secondary coil to monitor the output signal and correlate the signal to the shaft's rotational displacement.

Rotational position sensor having variable coupling transformer

A multi-turn rotational position sensor. A spirally wound conductor has an inner end coupled to a rotatable shall through a transmission. As the shaft rotates, the spirally wound conductor changes shape. The spirally wound conductor is inductively coupled to a transfcrmer secondary and the transformer coupling between the spirally wound conductor changes as the shaft rotates. An output from the transformer secondary is used to determine the shaft's rotational position.

Multi-turn position sensor having variable coupling transformer

A controller for energizing a power window or panel such as a power sunroof. The disclosed controller senses both hard and soft obstructions and deactivates a motor that moves the sunroof when an obstruction is detected. The controller also senses obstructions during start-up of the motor and regulates the speed of the window or panel by pulse width modulating motor energization signals.

Power window or panel controller

A non-contacting type sensor and method for sensing angular position are provided for sensing the angular position of a body such as a throttle valve. The sensor includes a stator assembly and a rotor assembly adapted to be coupled to the body for rotation relative to the stator assembly. The rotor assembly includes a closed-loop magnetic flux concentrator which defines a controlled electromagnetic cavity and generating means for generating a first magnetic field within the cavity. The stator assembly includes a semiconductor device disposed within the cavity and having an electrical property which is a function of the orientation and strength of a resultant magnetic field. The stator assembly further includes a coil wound about the device for producing a second magnetic field which substantially cancels the effects of the first magnetic field on the device so as to obtain the resultant magnetic field. The electrical current in the coil required to produce the second magnetic field provides an indication of the angular position of the body.

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Caditlor, MI, United States of America

Mark R Wheeler