Patents by Inventor Rene Putinier
Rene Putinier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9803997Abstract: A sensor system determines an absolute angular position of a to-be-sensed rotating member. The sensor system may include a rotor with a first magnet coupled to the rotor and a shaft having threads thereon. The sensor system may further include a sleeve with a second magnet and threads complementary to the threads of a shaft. The sleeve may be configured to travel axially along the shaft as a function of rotation of the rotor. The sensor system may also include a first transducer configured to sense orientation of the first magnet and at least one second transducer configured to sense a location of the second magnet along the shaft. Through use of the sensor system, an absolute number of turns and, consequently absolute angular position, of the rotating member can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: BEI Sensors & Systems Company, Inc.Inventor: Rene Putinier
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Patent number: 9612294Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, devices, sensors, and other implementations, including a programmable sensor system that includes a variable voltage source (“VVS”) to receive an external input voltage and provide a variable output voltage from the input voltage, the VVS configured to be controlled to adjust behavior of the VVS, and a programmable sensor coupled to an output of the VVS to receive the variable output voltage. The sensor is configured to be programmed when a programming voltage of at least a predetermined level is provided by the VVS to power the sensor, and to perform regular sensor operations when regular-operation voltage is provided by the VVS to power the sensor. The sensor system further includes a controller to cause controllable adjustment of the VVS to provide the programming voltage for a predetermined period of time to power the sensor so as to cause the sensor to be programmed.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2012Date of Patent: April 4, 2017Assignee: SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Rene Putinier
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Patent number: 9465088Abstract: Non-contact positions sensors are desirable because they have lower failure rates than traditional potentiometers. However, using a Hall Effect sensor as a non-contact position sensor requires a particular input polarity. In an embodiment, a polarity insensitive Hall Effect sensor includes conversion sensors configured to produce outputs responsive to an input. The sensor also includes a semiconductor rectifier arranged to power a first conversion sensor and a second conversion sensor with a given polarity regardless of whether the input has a positive or negative polarity. The sensor also includes a semiconductor multiplexer circuit arranged to direct the first output to a common output port if the input has a positive polarity and direct the second output to the common output port if the input has a negative polarity. The polarity insensitive Hall Effect sensor provides an output representing a position without requiring a input polarity.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Rene Putinier
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System and method for converting output of sensors to absolute angular position of a rotating member
Patent number: 9389283Abstract: A sensor system determines an absolute angular position of a to-be-sensed rotating member. The sensor system may include a rotor with a first magnet coupled to the rotor and a shaft having threads thereon. The sensor system may further include a sleeve with a second magnet and threads complementary to the threads of a shaft. The sleeve may be configured to travel axially along the shaft as a function of rotation of the rotor. The sensor system may also include a first transducer configured to sense orientation of the first magnet and at least one second transducer configured to sense a location of the second magnet along the shaft. Through use of the sensor system, an absolute number of turns and, consequently absolute angular position, of the rotating member can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Rene Putinier -
Publication number: 20150212165Abstract: Non-contact positions sensors are desirable because they have lower failure rates than traditional potentiometers. However, using a Hall Effect sensor as a non-contact position sensor requires a particular input polarity. In an embodiment, a polarity insensitive Hall Effect sensor includes conversion sensors configured to produce outputs responsive to an input. The sensor also includes a semiconductor rectifier arranged to power a first conversion sensor and a second conversion sensor with a given polarity regardless of whether the input has a positive or negative polarity. The sensor also includes a semiconductor multiplexer circuit arranged to direct the first output to a common output port if the input has a positive polarity and direct the second output to the common output port if the input has a negative polarity. The polarity insensitive Hall Effect sensor provides an output representing a position without requiring a input polarity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2014Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventor: Rene Putinier
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Publication number: 20150028858Abstract: A sensor system determines an absolute angular position of a to-be-sensed rotating member. The sensor system may include a rotor with a first magnet coupled to the rotor and a shaft having threads thereon. The sensor system may further include a sleeve with a second magnet and threads complementary to the threads of a shaft. The sleeve may be configured to travel axially along the shaft as a function of rotation of the rotor. The sensor system may also include a first transducer configured to sense orientation of the first magnet and at least one second transducer configured to sense a location of the second magnet along the shaft. Through use of the sensor system, an absolute number of turns and, consequently absolute angular position, of the rotating member can be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventor: Rene Putinier
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Publication number: 20150028865Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, devices, sensors, and other implementations, including a programmable sensor system that includes a variable voltage source (“VVS”) to receive an external input voltage and provide a variable output voltage from the input voltage, the VVS configured to be controlled to adjust behavior of the VVS, and a programmable sensor coupled to an output of the VVS to receive the variable output voltage. The sensor is configured to be programmed when a programming voltage of at least a predetermined level is provided by the VVS to power the sensor, and to perform regular sensor operations when regular-operation voltage is provided by the VVS to power the sensor. The sensor system further includes a controller to cause controllable adjustment of the VVS to provide the programming voltage for a predetermined period of time to power the sensor so as to cause the sensor to be programmed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2012Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: BEI SENSORS & SYSTEMS COMPANY, INC.Inventor: Rene Putinier
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System and Method for Converting Output of Sensors to Absolute Angular Position of a Rotating Member
Publication number: 20150028856Abstract: A sensor system determines an absolute angular position of a to-be-sensed rotating member. The sensor system may include a rotor with a first magnet coupled to the rotor and a shaft having threads thereon. The sensor system may further include a sleeve with a second magnet and threads complementary to the threads of a shaft. The sleeve may be configured to travel axially along the shaft as a function of rotation of the rotor. The sensor system may also include a first transducer configured to sense orientation of the first magnet and at least one second transducer configured to sense a location of the second magnet along the shaft. Through use of the sensor system, an absolute number of turns and, consequently absolute angular position, of the rotating member can be determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: January 29, 2015Inventor: Rene Putinier -
Patent number: 8378666Abstract: Techniques are provided for measuring angles of rotation of a rotatable body, and, in particular, for measuring angles of rotation of a rotating member that can rotate greater than 360 degrees. One example of these techniques is multi-turn angular position sensor that includes a main gear configured to couple to and rotate, in response to rotation of a rotation member, over a main gear rotation range, a first sensor gear engaged with the main gear and configured to experience more angular rotation than the main gear in response to rotation of the main gear, and a second sensor gear engaged with the main gear and configured to experience more angular rotation than the main gear and less angular rotation than the first sensor gear in response to rotation of the main gear.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: BEI Duncan ElectronicsInventor: Rene Putinier
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Publication number: 20110089936Abstract: A multi-turn angular position sensor a main gear configured to couple to and rotate, in response to rotation of a rotation member, over a main gear rotation range, a first sensor gear engaged with the main gear and configured to experience more angular rotation than the main gear in response to rotation of the main gear, and a second sensor gear engaged with the main gear and configured to experience more angular rotation than the main gear and less angular rotation than the first sensor gear in response to rotation of the main gear. The angular position sensor also includes a first angular position sensor configured to sense rotation of the first sensor gear and to generate a first output signal indicative of rotation of the first sensor gear, and a second angular position sensor configured to sense rotation of the second sensor gear and to generate a second output signal indicative of rotation of the second sensor gear.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: BEI Duncan ElectronicsInventor: Rene Putinier