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:
Aug. 12, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 08, 2000
Luc Jansseune, Venerque, FR;
Bernard Genot, Saint Marcel Paulel, FR;
Yves Dordet, Fonsorbes, FR;
Guy Bonhomme, Frouzins, FR;
Michel Boucard, Tournefeuille, FR;
Laurent Satge, Ramonville Saint Agne, FR;
Siemens VDO Automotive Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
A sensor system includes a coil positioned on a thin substrate sandwiched to a layer of mumeta, a high magnetic permeability material. The mumetal acts as an amplifier for the inductance L measured at the terminals of the coil. When a magnet passes in front a sheet of mumetal, its magnetic field locally saturates the mumetal whose magnetic permeability collapses on the saturated surface. The result is a reduction of the inductance factor (L) in proportion with that area of the coil covered by the saturated mumetal. This reduction in inductance is measured at the coil terminals to provide an estimation of that area of the coil that has been covered. By determining a particular layout of the coil, mumetal, and magnet, a predetermined electrical signal of inductance or coupling variations corresponding to movement of the magnet is provided.