Abstract: A magnetic rotary position sensor including a base (20) upon which a plurality of radially extending magnetic sensing elements (22) are mounted. Interleaved with the sensing elements (22) are a plurality of uniformly spaced magnetic concentrators (30). The sensor assembly (18) is placed in a uniform magnetic field created, for example, by opposite polarity magnets (32, 34) mounted on opposite sides of the sensor assembly, and rotatable relative to it. The relative rotary position of the sensor assembly to the magnetic field is determined by comparing the relative values of the sensor elements (22) in the array to each other.

Abstract: A position sensor assembly for detecting linear movement of a transmission manual valve is comprised of a set of permanent magnets mounted on a movable carrier and an array of GMR elements located between the juxtaposed magnet poles. The magnet set establishes a high and low magnetic flux field pattern across the GMR elements whose resistance values decrease as they are subjected to the moving magnetic field. The change in resistance is converted to a linear position output signal corresponding to the displacement of the transmission manual valve. The magnet set is moved transversely to the direction of movement of the manual valve. The magnet set is assembled on a magnet carrier that is mechanically linked to the transmission manual valve for which linear position signal is desired.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor having redundant sensing including a base (20) upon which a plurality of radially extending magnetic sensing elements (22) are mounted to form two sets (74, 76) of sensors. Interleaved with the sensing elements (22) are a plurality of uniformly spaced magnetic concentrators (30). The sensor assembly (18) is placed in a uniform magnetic field created, for example, by a flat plate magnet (432) mounted adjacent the sensor assembly, and rotatable relative to it. The relative rotary position of the sensor assembly to the magnetic field is determined by comparing the relative values of the sensor elements (22) in the array to each other. Also, failure of the sensor assembly is determined by comparing the rotary position calculated for the first set 74 to the rotary position calculated for the second set 76.

Abstract: A rotational position sensor assembly (10) includes a wheel (20) having a ferromagnetic hub portion (22) and a resistor support member (24) on which an array of magneto resistor elements (28) are mounted. Surrounding the wheel (20) and rotatable relative to it is a magnetic return element (12) on which are mounted permanent magnets (18). The magnetic field created is tangential to the particular MR element(s) (28) aligned with this field, causing a change in resistance that indicates the relative rotational position of the magnetic return element (12) relative to the wheel (20).

Abstract: A sensing method continuously scans an array of sensing elements and determines positions by converting array peak amplitude information to a time based function. An array of magneto resistive elements responds to a relatively moving magnetic field. The process of scanning the magneto resistive elements is independent of the relatively moving magnetic field. Instead of using only one voltage source to power both the driving logic circuitry and the sensing element array, a separate voltage source for powering the sensing element array is used in conjunction with the solid switch array, thus excluding unwanted noise that originates in the driving logic circuitry.

Abstract: A capacitive throttle position sensor includes an electrode board having at least three electrodes, a driver for selectively driving the electrodes, and a rotary member including a dielectric that provides capacitive path to an output electrode. Preferably, a logical driver provides incrementally sequenced charges to the driver electrodes. The output electrode is coupled to a signal processor that prepares the signal for comparison in a logical decoder with respect to an initiating driver electrode signal. Preferably, the phase difference between the output and input of the capacitive sensor provides an output signal which is not dependent upon the absolute capacitance of the element, and thus provides an output signal which can be adapted to a number of formats for motor vehicle control. Both two piece and three piece versions of the stationary and rotary parts are disclosed, and the capacitive gap may be axially or radially aligned between the stationary and rotary components.