Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Xiaofeng Sean Gong

Wei Qian

Weihua Chen

Frank J Liao

Qiang Jacky Jin

Present techniques provide an inductive proximity sensor having a multi-receiver coil assembly and an evaluator circuit configured to receive a differential signal from the multi-receiver coil assembly to determine the presence of a target. The multi-receiver coil assembly includes two receiver coils in a differential coil arrangement and a transmitter coil configured to emit an electromagnetic field and induce a voltage on each of the receiver coils. The voltage difference between the two receiver coils is transmitted as a differential signal to the evaluator circuit. Targets which approach the inductive proximity sensor disrupt the electromagnetic field and change the induced voltages on each of the receiver coils, thereby changing the differential signal. The evaluator circuit processes the differential signal to determine whether the changes indicate that a target is present.

Inductive proximity sensor

An inductive proximity sensor and related method for sensing a presence/position of a target, with mounting effect compensation, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing a proximity sensor having first and second coils that are both at least indirectly in communication with control circuitry. The method also includes receiving respective first and second signals at least indirectly indicative of respective first and second electromagnetic field components respectively experienced by the first coil as influenced both by a target and a structure supporting the sensor and the second coil as influenced by the supporting structure. The method further includes determining by way of the circuitry a third signal based at least in part upon the first signal, as modified based at least in part upon the second signal, whereby the third signal is indicative of the presence or position of the target relative to the sensor.

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Shanghai, China

Xiaofeng Sean Gong