The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 14, 1997
Ronald J Wolf, Elkhart, IN (US);
Larry Hedeen, Howe, IN (US);
Durakool, Inc., Elkhart, IN (US);
Abstract
A gear tooth sensor having increased sensitivity and temperature tolerance enables relatively small ferrous targets to be detected, which lends itself for use in relatively compact applications, such as the sensing of an automotive cam shaft drive wheel. All of the embodiments include a magnet having opposing north and south pole faces and a single input Hall effect IC which defines a sensing plane, and may include one or more flux concentrators. In one embodiment the sensor is configured such that the magnet is disposed adjacent the periphery of the target wheel such that the magnetic axis is generally parallel to the direction of travel of the ferrous target at an instant when the ferrous target is adjacent the magnet. In this embodiment, the Hall effect IC and flux concentrator are disposed adjacent one side of the ferrous target wheel and at least partially below the magnet. In one alternate embodiment of the invention, the magnet, Hall effect IC and flux concentrator are all aligned and disposed such that the magnetic axis is generally parallel to the direction of travel of the ferrous target at an instant when the ferrous target is adjacent the magnet. As such, the alternate embodiment is adapted to be configured relative to the ferrous target wheel for different applications. In both embodiments, additional flux concentrators can be included for adjusting the operate points of the Hall effect IC's. In yet other embodiments, the sensor is configured such that the sensing plane of the IC is generally perpendicular to the magnetic axis.