Permanent Magnet Type Patents (Class 324/174)
  • Patent number: 9103844
    Abstract: A pulse-type rotation speed transducer and a method for manufacturing the same are described. The pulse-type rotation speed transducer has, as inductive components, a central pole pin, a coil coaxially disposed as a pickup winding around the pole pin and measurement leads, a permanent magnet that is in effective connection with the pole pin, and a sleeve disposed coaxially around the pole pin and the coil. Spacers of an intermediate product ensure coaxial disposition in the context of testing cycles and measurement cycles, cavities within the sleeve being filled with a plastic compound in the context of the final product, accompanied by embedding of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NEUTZFAHRZEUGE GMBH
    Inventor: Mathias Schleyer
  • Patent number: 9035647
    Abstract: An encoder is configured for detection of rotational movement of a rotatable shaft in relation to a part of a machine, and a method is provided for generating a reference signal by an encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: LEINE & LINDE AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Gustafsson, Lars Peter Johan Kjellqvist
  • Patent number: 9030191
    Abstract: A sensor subassembly for a vehicle has at least one sensor unit arranged in a cap-shaped plastic part. The cap-shaped plastic part is carried by a retaining bush and seals off the retaining bush at one end. An associated device is configured to measure rotational movement of a wheel bearing. A resilient sealing and compensating element in pressed in between the-shaped plastic part and the retaining bush, in a first sealing area for sealing off a first leakage path, so that the cap-like plastic part, in conjunction with the sealing and compensating element, seals off the retaining bush tightly at one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kenichi Ninomiya, Matthias Waibler, Anwar Hegazi, Andreas Fink, Mirko Scheer
  • Patent number: 9024628
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft an electric motor that assists a steering component; a torque detection device that generates a first detection signal according to a steering torque; and a compensation sensor that generates a second detection signal according to a magnetic flux around the steering shaft and its surrounding structure. In the steering system, an output signal, in which an influence of the magnetic field around the steering shaft and its surrounding structure is reduced, is generated based on a signal correction computing equation based on information on correlation between the first detection signal and the second detection signal. Then, in the steering system, the electric motor is driven based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masahide Nakamura, Masafumi Kajitani, Zijin Wu, Jianchao Jiang
  • Patent number: 9013197
    Abstract: A chip on glass substrate includes a substrate, first, second, and third pads that are arranged on the substrate and that are electrically connected to an IC device, and first to fourth conductive patterns. A first conductive pattern is arranged on the substrate, has one end electrically connected to the first pad, and has another end that is electrically floated. Second and third conductive patterns are arranged on the substrate, each have one end electrically connected to the second pad, and each have another end that is electrically floated. A fourth conductive pattern is arranged on the substrate, has one end electrically connected to the third pad, and has another end that is electrically floated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dae Geun Lee
  • Patent number: 8957669
    Abstract: A magnet held in a magnet holder is constrained against radial or axial instability, or against both, by a shape on either component in contact with complementary shape on the other component, the shaped components generally defining a tab-and-slot arrangement. The magnet component may be a bonded magnet and in one embodiment may be formed in place by injection molding. The magnet also will exhibit improved magnet properties when magnetized to have lines of polarity matching a path defined by the bulk of the magnetic material as governed by the location of tabs on the magnet. The invention is useful in magnet-sensor assemblies found in industrial applications and in automotive applications such as power steering systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Stanley Byron Musselman, Viswanathan Panchanathan, Mitchell L Spencer
  • Patent number: 8957675
    Abstract: Upon detecting a peak value from output signals of one of either a first or a second magnetic sensor, an rotation angle computation device identifies, on basis of an amplitude compensation table corresponding to the one magnetic sensor for which the peak value was detected, a pole number of a magnetic pole sensed by the magnetic sensor. Then, based on the identified pole number and a magnetic pole identification table, a pole number of a magnetic pole sensed by the other magnetic sensor is identified. The pole numbers of the magnetic poles sensed by the respective magnetic sensors are thus identified, and the rotation angle computation device compensates the output signals of the respective magnetic sensors using amplitude compensation gains corresponding to the sensed magnetic poles (magnetic pole pair).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ueda, Hayato Komatsu, Minoru Sentoku
  • Patent number: 8922197
    Abstract: A speed sensor has a static part and a dynamic part arranged concentrically inside the static part. The static part has two permanent magnets and the dynamic part has two further permanent magnets. The magnet is oriented reversely to the further magnets. The magnets are tuned to each other so that gravity on the dynamic part is counteracted by the magnetic force on the dynamic part. As a result, the weight of the dynamic part need not be carried by springs and the dynamic part can move freely so that the full stroke can be used for measuring accelerations and the natural frequency is low. The static part further includes a measuring coil for measuring the displacement of the dynamic part and for the radial positioning of the dynamic part this part is connected to the static part by means of leaf springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Magnetic Innovations, B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Adrianus Antonius Theodorus Dams, Lambertus Gerardus Cornelis Van Den Broek
  • Patent number: 8890512
    Abstract: A device for visually indicating a change in the operational state of a proximity sensor. The device includes a transparent housing having a cavity and a magnet device for generating a magnetic field. In addition, a sleeve is attached to the housing. The magnet device is concealed within the sleeve in a first position to indicate a first operational state. When a target is positioned adjacent the sensor end, magnetic attraction occurs between the target and the magnet device due to the magnetic field to cause movement of the magnet device to a second position within the cavity wherein the magnetic field does not act on the proximity sensor to change the operational state from the first operational state to a second operational state. Further, the magnet device is visible in the second position to indicate the second operational state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Pentair Flow Services AG
    Inventors: Leo Minervini, Kevin Connell
  • Patent number: 8833166
    Abstract: A rotation detecting apparatus includes core member having a receiving hole, an inner member that is rotatably supported by the core member, and an outer member that constitutes a wheel bearing device. The rotation detecting apparatus also includes a rotation detecting sensor, an external lead cable that is drawn out from an inner space through the receiving hole in the core member and a sealing member that is secured to an outer peripheral surface of the external lead cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Yamashita, Moriyuki Shimizu, Kyungwoo Kim
  • Patent number: 8836322
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein provide a magnetic sensor interface capable of adjusting signal conditioning dynamically using a speed signal of a target such that the true positive and negative peaks of the input signal are maintained for the given target across its entire speed range (0-Max rpm), therefore increasing the signal to noise ratio at low speeds and avoiding clipping or distortion at high speeds. In one aspect, a method comprises receiving an alternating differential voltage signal from a sensor. The differential voltage signal has an amplitude that changes relative to a change in speed of a target. The alternating differential voltage signal is converted to an attenuated single-ended voltage signal that can be dynamically scaled. The attenuated single-ended voltage signal can be scaled by multiplying the attenuated single-ended voltage signal by a scaling factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Merrill Roylance, Daniel Zahi Abawi, Biplab Deb
  • Patent number: 8836321
    Abstract: The motor speed detection apparatus detects rotational speed of a motor. The apparatus includes an FG coil (21) and a magnet (22) to be relatively moved with rotation of the motor, the FG coil outputting an alternating-current signal to be sampled by the apparatus, an A/D converter (1) to convert the alternating-current signal into a digital signal, an integrator (2) to perform time integration on the digital signal, a first determiner (3, 9) to determine which one of plural threshold ranges includes an integration value obtained by the integrator, a second determiner (3, 8) to determine whether change of the integration value is increase or decrease, and a logical product calculator (3, 10) to produce a binary signal showing a logical product of determination results of the first and second determiners. The apparatus calculates the rotational speed based on a production cycle of the binary signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Precision Inc.
    Inventor: Masaya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8828178
    Abstract: A sealing device which comprises a slinger fixedly fitted to the rotary side member, a core member fixedly fitted to the stationary side member, and an elastic sealing member fixed to the core member and having a seal lip which elastically and slidably contacts the slinger. The slinger comprises a fitting cylindrical portion to be fitted into the rotary side member, a brim portion extending its radial direction at one end of its outside relative to a sealed portion of the fitting cylindrical portion, and a rotary side fixing member fixed to the brim portion. Further, the slinger is made in such a manner that an adhesive layer is formed on its whole surface including a contacting side surface where the seal lip contacts by applying adhesive agent thereon, then the fixing member is integrally fixed thereto, thereafter the adhesive layer is partially removed only in the contacting side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Hironori Yamamoto, Koki Ishida, Tatsuo Katayama, Tadashi Kasamoto, Yoshihiko Yamaguchi, Chihiro Asanuma
  • Patent number: 8818685
    Abstract: A rotation detecting device and a rotation detecting method determines normal rotation/reverse rotation of a rotating shaft based on a rotation signal different between the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of the rotating shaft. The rotation signal is set to have a pulse width different between the normal rotation and the reverse rotation of a crankshaft that is an output shaft of an internal combustion engine. By determining whether or not the pulse width is greater than a threshold value, the normal rotation or the reverse rotation of the crankshaft is detected. Whether or not the crankshaft is rotating normally is determined based on engine rotating speed, a cylinder in which a piston is in a predetermined position, an engine load, a starter switch, intake pressure, battery voltage, and the like. When the condition for the normal rotation is satisfied, the threshold of the pulse width is set based on a pulse width of a rotation signal measured at this time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8779935
    Abstract: A movement warning system for notifying a proximal entity of the approach of a vehicle comprising a sensor system, a controlling mobile device, and a signal generator system. The sensor system generates motion data indicative of movement of the vehicle. The controlling mobile device generates at least one warning signal based on the motion data. The signal generator system generates at least one warning based on the to at least one warning signal. The signal generator generates the warning such that the proximal entity perceives the warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Vladimir Savchenko
  • Patent number: 8749227
    Abstract: A method of providing a magnetic sensor with a signal inversion module coupled to a signal generation module for inverting a first waveform and a second waveform, wherein the signal inversion module outputs the first and second waveforms in a first region spanning a first range of angular position of the magnet and outputs the first and second inverted waveforms in a second region spanning a second range of angular position of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Monica J. Thomas, Michael C. Doogue, Hooman Bustani
  • Patent number: 8723512
    Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object includes a magnetic field sensing element for generating a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object and a motion detector to generate a motion signal indicative of the movement of the object. The motion detector includes a peak identifying circuit to provide a peak signal and a peak sample selection module that selects a sample associated with one or more prior cycles of a magnetic field signal to generate a selected peak signal. The motion detector further includes a threshold generator to generate a threshold signal as a function of the selected peak signal and a comparator to compare the threshold signal with the magnetic field signal to generate the motion signal. Peak samples from prior magnetic field signal cycles may be averaged for use to establish the threshold signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Burdette, James M. Bailey, Daniel S. Dwyer, Jeff Eagen, Glenn A. Forrest, Christine Graham, Eric Shoemaker, P. Karl Scheller
  • Patent number: 8698489
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for a non-driven wheel includes a rotating wheel hub with a shaft portion supporting a bearing inner race. A magnetic encoder is mounted for rotation with the shaft portion. A non-rotating component radially surrounds the shaft portion and has a bearing outer race. A cap is secured to the non-rotating component and covers the outer and inner races, the shaft portion and the magnetic encoder inboard of the races to seal an inboard side of the outer and inner races. A sensor is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle steering member externally to, not covered by, and not extending through the cap. The sensor is configured to deflect to be biased into continuous contact with an outer surface of the cap to read the magnetic encoder through the cap without extending through the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Todd D. Albertson, Vincent R. Sicilia, Josef Mack, Phanu Amatyakul, William P. Job, Robert G. Sutherlin, Michael L. Holly, Douglas N. Reed
  • Patent number: 8698488
    Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement for detecting rotational speed of a wheel or any other rotating body by a sensor (1, 6), which is coupled via a magnetic field to an encoder (23) that rotates with the rotating body. If a slot between sensor element (S1, S2) and encoder (23) becomes too small in the prior art arrangements, flipping and, hence, doubling of the measured rotational speed of the wheel can occur. This caused problems in safety devices of a vehicle, which require a correct indication of the wheel rotational speed for proper operation. To improve the tolerance with respect to the mounting position of the known arrangements, two separated signal paths (S1, f1; S2, f2) are provided with sensor elements (S1, S2) of differing sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Peter Lohberg, Wolfgang Fritz, Klaus Rink
  • Patent number: 8686720
    Abstract: A motion sensor has an output protocol processor configured to provide a validated output signal after a determined time period, wherein the determined time period is extended if a vibration is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Devon Fernandez, Eric Burdette
  • Patent number: 8680847
    Abstract: In a method for generating pulse edges, assigned synchronously to the movement of a mechanical part, a magnetic field is generated. At least two measuring signals phase-shifted to one another for the magnetic field are detected. The magnetic field is changed as a function of the movement of the mechanical part in such a way that the measuring signals are modulated. A first measuring signal is compared with at least one first reference value. A second measuring signal is compared with at least one second reference value and/or the value of the first measuring signal is compared with the value of the second measuring signal. When at least one of these comparisons produces an agreement or the result of the relevant comparison changes its sign, a pulse edge is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Franke, Klaus Heberle
  • Patent number: 8664941
    Abstract: A magnetic sensing system, including: a magnetic component proximate a movable mechanical component; and a magnetic sensor configured to determine a movement of the mechanical component based on a magnetic field produced by the magnetic component. The magnetic sensor includes: a low-offset magnetic sensing element; a high-sensitivity magnetic sensing element; and an offset compensation circuit configured to: determine a zero-crossing of a sensing field from an output of the low-offset magnetic sensing element; sample an offset value of the high-sensitivity magnetic sensing element at the zero-crossing; and subtract the offset value from an output of the high-sensitivity magnetic sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Fabio Sebastiano, Robert Hendrikus Margaretha van Veldhoven
  • Patent number: 8664946
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a sensor package includes a lead frame with a first portion extending and a second portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the first potion. The sensor package also includes an application specific integrated circuit and a magneto resistive sensor and a ferrite provided with a molding body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Paulus Martinus Catharina Hesen, Roelf Anco Jacob Groenhuis, Johannes Wilhelmus Dorotheus Bosch
  • Publication number: 20140009141
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for operating a speed sensing device including a magnetically operating speed encoder that is located on a rotatably mounted shaft and a fixed sensor configured to interact with the speed encoder. The speed encoder includes at least one encoder element configured to move past the fixed sensor upon a revolution of the shaft and thereby produces an electrical pulse. The sensing of the electrical pulses produced determines the speed of the shaft. For at least a plurality of successive electrical pulses, the respective time of a signal period for at least two successive electrical pulses is measured and stored, and the respective time of at least one selected test period for the signal periods is compared with (i) the time of the previous signal period, and (ii) with the time of the subsequent signal period in order to detect absent and/or incorrect electrical pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jacek Wiszniewski, Kamil Pogorzeiski
  • Patent number: 8598867
    Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object provides a threshold selection module that uses one or more threshold signals identified prior to a present cycle of magnetic field signal in order to establish a threshold signal used for a present cycle of the magnetic field signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Andreas P. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8575920
    Abstract: A system includes a magnet, a first magneto-resistive sensing element, and a second magneto-resistive sensing element. The magnet is configured to provide a magnetic field having a substantially non-diverging magnetic field line and diverging magnetic field lines. The first magneto-resistive sensing element is situated in the magnetic field. The second magneto-resistive sensing element is situated in the magnetic field. The first magneto-resistive sensing element is intersected at a centerline of the first magneto-resistive sensing element by the substantially non-diverging magnetic field line. The second magneto-resistive sensing element is intersected by only the diverging magnetic field lines of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Publication number: 20130285647
    Abstract: Apparatus for a self-powered wireless transmitter system. One such system includes an inductor, a delay circuit, and a transmitter with an antenna. The magnet interacting with the inductor generates both power and a trigger signal. The inductor generates sufficient power for the transmitter to transmit a wireless signal corresponding to when the magnet interacts with the inductor. Precise timing is insured by the inductor being connected to the trigger input of the transmitter unit and the delay circuit adding a short delay to the signal from the inductor with the delayed signal connected to the supply voltage connection of the transmitter. The transmitter transmits the wireless signal upon being energized through the delay circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Terry Pennisi
  • Patent number: 8564450
    Abstract: An object is set to move back and forth between a first position and a second position in a cylinder. A measurement point between the first position and the second position is preset. A counted period indicating a duration that the object moves from the first position to the first measurement point is obtained. Then a movement behavior parameter is obtained according to the counted period. Whether the movement behavior parameter of the object matches a specified condition is determined. If matching occurs, a warning message is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Wei-Chen Hsin, Ko-Wen Chiu
  • Patent number: 8558542
    Abstract: A magnetic detector includes a detecting section having a surface facing a magnetic body which moves and emits a magnetic flux. The detecting section includes plural magnetic sensors for detecting the magnetic flux. The magnetic sensors are arranged in a matrix form having three or more rows and three or more columns arranged along the surface of the detecting section. The magnetic detector provides an input device precisely detecting a moving direction and a moving amount of the magnetic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tamotsu Yamamoto, Hiroaki Nishiono, Noritaka Hayama, Hiroto Inoue, Kenji Kataoka
  • Patent number: 8531182
    Abstract: A control system for use in safety critical human/machine control interfaces is described, more particularly a joystick type control system and particularly a joystick type control system utilizing magnetic positional sensing. The control system provides a control input device having a movable magnet, a pole-piece frame arrangement positioned about the magnet, at least three magnetic flux sensors being positioned in said pole-piece frame arrangement and a monitoring arrangement for monitoring the output signal of each of said at least three sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Penny & Giles Controls Limited
    Inventor: Dev Kumar Banerjee
  • Patent number: 8521469
    Abstract: A relative bearing sensor for determining an orientation of a device. The relative bearing sensor including a ferromagnetic housing, and wherein the ferromagnetic housing includes a ferromagnetic ball configured to roll with respect to an orientation of the ferromagnetic housing, a magnetic flux sensor, a permanent magnet configured to emit a plurality of magnetic flux lines through the magnetic flux sensor, the plurality of magnetic flux lines steered by a location of the ferromagnetic ball, and a processor programmed. The processor is programmed to determine a flux angle of the plurality of magnetic flux lines, compare the determined flux angle with a predefined flux angle, and determine an orientation of the relative bearing sensor based on the comparing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Keith Robert Wootten
  • Patent number: 8461828
    Abstract: A wheel speed detecting device includes a countermeasure against the entrance of muddy water. An annular recess groove is provided in an outer circumference of an end portion of a hub on a sensor side. A cup-shaped flange portion extends from the sensor supporting member with the flange portion covering the annular recess groove while maintaining a predetermined gap T1 between the flange portion and the outer circumference of the end portion of the hub. Muddy water heads toward a multi-pole magnet ring by running through the gap T1 formed between the flange portion and the outer circumference of the hub. However, the entrance of muddy water can be effectively prevented by making the gap T1 small. Thus, muddy water that enters the gap T1 is trapped in the annular recess groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Ishida
  • Patent number: 8450996
    Abstract: A motion sensor has a magnetic field sensing element for generating a magnetic field signal and a state processor to identify a plurality of states corresponding to ranges of signal values of the magnetic field signal. The state processor includes a state peak logic module configured to generate states that have a reduced amount of state chatter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Devon Fernandez, Eric Burdette
  • Patent number: 8390276
    Abstract: A target magnet assembly configured to be secured to a rotating shaft of a steering gear assembly. The target magnet assembly includes an index hub with a mount and a magnet secured by the mount. The mount includes a tab with a protrusion extending from the tab, a finger, and a stop. The magnet includes an axial retention groove receiving the finger, a top surface abutting the stop, and a radial retention groove receiving the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bourns Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth McDonald, James Thomas, Kevin Laycock
  • Patent number: 8384376
    Abstract: In order to be able to measure over more than 360° with a magnetic angle sensor, it is proposed not to adjust the distance between the encoder magnet and the sensor element in addition to the rotation, e.g. by means of a thread, like in the prior art, but to maintain said distance constant, but instead to adjust a magnetic variator with respect to its axial distance from the sensor element, or also in transversal direction, which variator can be a flux conductor or also a secondary magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: ASM Automation Sensorik Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Manfred Steinich, Peter Wirth
  • Patent number: 8384377
    Abstract: A tachometer for supplying a signal representative of the rotational rate of a rotatable device includes a plurality of detection magnets, an index feature, and one or more non-rotationally mounted magnetic circuits. The detection magnets are coupled to, and spaced around, the device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated. The index feature is associated with the rotatable device, to thereby rotate with the device when the device is rotated. The index feature and the plurality of detection magnets are spaced evenly around the device. The magnetic circuits are spaced evenly around the device, and each magnetic circuit is configured to supply a first electrical signal each time one of the detection magnets rotates past the magnetic circuit and a second electrical signal each time the index feature rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Devlin M. Gualtieri, Dwayne Benson
  • Patent number: 8378673
    Abstract: A derailleur cable detecting assembly for an electric-auxiliary bicycle has a body and a detecting device. The body is mounted on a frame of the electric-auxiliary bicycle, is connected to a derailleur cable and has a casing and a cover. The casing has a chamber and a through hole. The cover is detachably mounted on the casing to mount a cable wire of the derailleur cable in the body. The detecting device is mounted in the body, is connected to the derailleur cable and has a circuit board and a magnetic element. The circuit board is mounted in the chamber of the casing, faces the cable wire and has an electric wire and multiple magnetic sensors. The magnetic sensors are mounted on the circuit board at intervals. The magnetic element is mounted on the cable wire between the casing and the cover, facing the magnetic sensors of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Techway Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: San-I Huang, Chia-Hsin Hsiao, Sen-Hsien Fang, Cheng-Yuan Lin, Fu-Hsiang Chung
  • Patent number: 8368388
    Abstract: Disclosed is an arrangement for the intrinsically safe detection of movements of a body, such as a wheel. The arrangement includes a magnetic encoder (5, 25) and a sensor (26), the magnetic encoder (5, 25) moving with the body and is magnetically coupled to at least two sensor elements (S1, S2) of the sensor (26) via a magnetic air gap. The sensor (26) has at least two mutually separate signal paths (S1, fl; S2, f2) which have at least one of the sensor elements (S1, S2) and a signal conditioning stage (28, 29). A primary measuring signal path (S1, f1) is constructed so that during normal operation represents an output signal the basic frequency of the encoder movement or the temporal profile of the output signal have patterns. The temporal occurrence of the patterns correspond to the basic relative speed between the sensor (26) and the pole pairs of the encoder (5, 25) which are detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Peter Lohberg, Wolfgang Fritz
  • Patent number: 8303186
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. A sensor holder with an embedded wheel speed detecting sensor is mounted on an inner side end of the outer member. A pulser ring has an encoder with circumferential characteristics that alternately and equidistantly change. A metal core is press formed from a steel plate and insert-molded into the sensor holder. A sealing member is integrally bonded to the metal core. A connector for electrically connecting the wheel speed detecting sensor to a harness, connected to an electronic circuit, is mounted at a predetermined position on the circumference of the sensor holder. The connector projects radially outward from the circumference at a predetermined inclined. A recess is formed in the connector. The recess is fit onto an inner side end of the outer member in a manner to cover the inner side end, via a predetermined interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 8283913
    Abstract: A magnetic array sensor circuit to process an output from a magnetic sensor array including a plurality of magnetic sensor elements arranged in an array. The circuit includes a regulating circuit to reduce an offset variation of the output from the magnetic sensor elements arranged in the array. The regulating circuit includes a control circuit to operate the magnetic sensor element in a linear region. The control circuit includes a reference sensor element in the form of the magnetic sensor element short-circuited between two output terminals, a storage element to store a reference offset value read out from the reference sensor element, and a subtraction circuit to subtract the stored reference offset value from an output of the other magnetic sensor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Shoji Kawahito
  • Patent number: 8258782
    Abstract: An angle detecting apparatus includes a rotor fixed to a rotating shaft, a pair of magnetic sensors arranged close to the outer periphery of the rotor so as to have a difference in angle (?/2) with respect to the center of rotation of the rotor, a differential operational circuit performing differential operation on detection signals output by the magnetic sensors to output a differential signal, and the angle calculating circuit calculating the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft based on the differential signal. The planar shape of the rotor is such that the sum of the distances between the center of rotation and the respective two points where two straight lines crossing at the center of rotation at a crossing angle of (?/2) cross the outer periphery of the rotor is constant, and the planar shape is symmetric with respect to a straight line passing through the center of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Kaita, Hirokazu Miyamoto, Toshinao Kido, Junya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8253412
    Abstract: A rotation detector that can be assembled into a hub of a wheel without breakage of an object to be detected. The rotation detector has a housing (1) having an insertion section (1a) in which an axle (S) is inserted and that is placed between a hub (10a) of a front wheel (10) and a front fork, a magnet (3a) placed in the housing (1) and generating a magnetic field, and a magnetism detection element (3) provided in the housing (1) so as to be able to detect a change in the magnetic field and detecting the change in the magnetic field involved in the rotation of the object (5) to be detected. The object (5) to be detected is formed of a different magnetic material from the hub (10a) and has a portion (5a) to be detected that rotates in synchronous with the hub (10a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaru Iwahashi, Atsushi Kondo
  • Patent number: 8203334
    Abstract: A magnetically spirally encoded shaft and magnetic field detecting system includes first, second, third and fourth magnetically encoded bands spirally encircling a circumference of the shaft. Each band includes first magnetically encoded regions having a first magnetic polarity alternating with second magnetically encoded regions having a second magnetic polarity. Dead zones are defined in each band between successive first and second magnetically encoded regions. The shaft is for use with a first fixed magnetic field sensor for detecting magnetic fields in the force-sensitive regions, wherein one or more of rotational speed, shaft rotational position, bending forces, torque forces, stress forces and strain forces can be determined responsive to detected magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Marko Baller, Christof Sihler
  • Patent number: 8193748
    Abstract: An integrated brushless DC motor and controller including a brushless DC motor having a rotating shaft with a 2 pole permanent magnet affixed to the shaft for rotation thereby in a plane orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the shaft. An X-Y Hall Effect Sensor is carried by a controller mounted on a circuit board attached to the motor and the Hall Effect Sensor is positioned proximate the magnet with the Hall Effect Sensor producing the Sine and Cosine components of the magnetic field as the magnet is rotated by the motor shaft. The electronic controller includes software for determining the motor angle and commutation logic from the Sine and Cosine components generated by the Hall Effect Sensor response to the rotating magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: SMI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Deller, Robert C. Heagey
  • Patent number: 8174257
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly for supporting a wheel, which assembly includes an outer member having rolling surfaces and serving as a stationary member; an inner member having rolling surfaces; a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the respective rolling surfaces; a magnetic encoder fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the inner member at a location adjacent one end thereof; an annular sensor holder made of resin and fitted to the outer member through a core metal, the annular sensor holder having a built-in magnetic sensor with an axial gap intervening between it and the magnetic encoder; and a sealing unit arranged on an outer side axially outwardly of the encoder and the sensor for sealing a space between the sensor holder and the inner member. The magnetic encoder includes a plastic magnetic encoder having a plastic magnet defining a to-be-detected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Nakajima
  • Patent number: 8169214
    Abstract: An angular position sensor and method that relies on a stationary circular array of Hall sensors and a rotatable circular array of magnets arranged about a common axis. A periodic and simultaneous reading of all of the Hall sensor outputs is used to determine angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Zak
  • Patent number: 8146358
    Abstract: A turbocharger monitor including a sensor adapted and positioned with respect to a turbocharger housing to sense passing compressor blades, generating both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information. A controller is configured to receive the generated information from the blade sensor, and to establish rotor rotation speed and an indicator of bearing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Greentree
  • Patent number: 8148975
    Abstract: A pickup coil includes a sensing unit having an iron core, a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to a rear end position of the iron core, and a coil for sensing a change of magnetic flux occurring in the iron core; and a supporting frame member. The sensing unit is molded with a cup-shaped resin case. The sensing unit is integrally molded with the supporting frame member and is mounted on a mounting object via the supporting frame member. A plurality of weight units for adjusting a characteristic frequency of the coil is stored in a weight storage section formed inside the resin case at a position spaced away from the supporting frame member. The weight storage section is sized such that one or more weight units are accommodated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8120351
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor arrangement (1), having magnetically sensitive sensor elements (7, 8) whose electrical properties are changeable as a function of a magnetic field that a moving, passive transmitter element (11) is able to influence. The magnetic sensor arrangement (1) has two sensor elements (7, 8) in a gradiometer arrangement that are each respectively associated with one of two magnetic regions (4, 5) of a permanent magnet embodied in the form of a gap magnet (2; 20; 23), which regions are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance (sa). The regions (4, 5) and the gap magnet (2; 20; 23)—in terms of the for example wedge-shaped embodiment, the dimensions (h, b, t), the gap width (sa), the gap depth (st), and their positions in relation to the sensor elements (7, 8)—are situated so as to minimize the offset of the output signal of the sensor elements (7, 8) in the gradiometer arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Rasmus Rettig, Christian Bauer, Birgit Vogelgesang
  • Patent number: 8106648
    Abstract: There is provided a non-contact rotational detecting sensor comprising a ring-shaped permanent magnet which rotates integrally with a detection object of a rotational angle and of which a magnetic pole changes along the circumferential direction, a ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke for surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped permanent magnet in a constant gap, a ring-shaped outside magnetic flux collecting yoke for surrounding an outer peripheral surface of the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke in a constant gap, and a hole IC arranged in a gap formed in the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke, wherein an axial height of the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke is changed along a circumferential direction of the ring-shaped inside magnetic flux collecting yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shunichi Sato