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:
Apr. 21, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 07, 2006
Steven R Stuve, Lake Mills, WI (US);
Steven R Stuve, Lake Mills, WI (US);
Key Safety Systems, Inc., Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Abstract
A linear sensor uses four spaced apart magnets arranged in a rectangular array and has an axis of symmetry. Each magnet has a staircase shape of at least two steps ascending towards a centerline. Each magnet of the array has a single N-S with magnets arranged as mirror images about the axis of symmetry having opposed poles, and magnets located on diagonals defined by the rectangular array having the same pole facing the axis of symmetry. The linear sensor employs a magnetic field sensor such as a programmable Hall effect sensor that is mounted for movement relative to the magnetic array along the axis of symmetry. The height of the steps defining the staircase shape of the magnets is selected to produce a magnetic field of selected linearity along a selected portion of the axis of symmetry.