Abstract: The rotation-angle and torsion sensor has two gears that are connected so as not to turn with shaft sections, which [gears] mesh with gears. On one of the gears a unipolar or multipolar magnet is attached. On the other gear, magnetic flux guides matching to number of poles are attached, that are configured as L shapes. One leg of the flux tranducers points in the direction of the multipolar magnet while the other legs run parallel to the gear and in fact one on one side and the other on the other side of the gear, with these legs enclosing a second sensor between them that is situated in the gear.

Abstract: A magnetically-based position sensor. The sensor includes a magnet, a first collector, a second collector, and a magnetic sensing element. The magnet has at least two poles, and moves along a path. The first collector has a first end and a second end and is configured to collect a magnetic flux. In addition, the first collector is positioned at an angle relative to an axis running parallel to the path and perpendicular to the magnet. The second collector is configured to collect a magnetic flux, and is positioned at an angle relative to the axis running parallel to the path and perpendicular to the magnet, and parallel to the first collector. The magnetic sensing element is coupled to the first and second collectors. A magnetic flux is collected by the first and second collectors, and varies as the magnet moves along the path such that the magnetic flux collected by the first and second collectors indicates a position of the magnet along the path.

Abstract: A rotary connector assembly includes a connector housing sized to mate with a mating adapter and a lock ring. The connector housing includes at least one flexible tab. The lock ring is disposed over at least a portion of the connector housing. One of the connector housing and the lock ring includes a guide pin and the other includes a guide member disposed between the guide pin and the flexible tab. A rotation of the lock ring in a first direction flexes the tab radially inwards into a first position to secure the mating adapter in the connector housing, and a rotation of the lock ring in a second direction into a second position flexes the tab radially outwards to release the mating adapter from the connector housing.

Abstract: A rotary connector assembly includes a connector housing sized to mate with a mating adapter and a lock ring. The connector housing includes at least one flexible tab. The lock ring is disposed over at least a portion of the connector housing. One of the connector housing and the lock ring includes a guide pin and the other includes a guide member disposed between the guide pin and the flexible tab. A rotation of the lock ring in a first direction flexes the tab radially inwards into a first position to secure the mating adapter in the connector housing, and a rotation of the lock ring in a second direction into a second position flexes the tab radially outwards to release the mating adapter from the connector housing. The guide pin translates relative to the guide member as the lock ring rotates between the first and second positions.

Abstract: The rotation angle and torsion angle sensor detects both the rotational position of a shaft and a torque applied to the shaft torque. The shaft a first shaft part and a second shaft part, which are interconnected by a torsion bar. A sensor disc is coupled via a rigid circumferentially and axially flexible membrane with the first shaft part. The sensor disc is coupled to a drive wheel via a coupling device, in such a way that the sensor disc is displaced in the axial direction upon relative rotation of the two shaft parts against each other, wherein the membrane bends in the axial direction.

Abstract: A magnetically-based position sensor. The sensor includes a magnet assembly that moves along a path, a common collector, one or more magnetic sensing elements, a first variable collector, and a second variable collector. The one or more magnetic sensing elements are coupled to the common collector. The first and second variable collectors are coupled to one of the one or more magnetic sensors and are configured to collect a magnetic field. The first and second variable collectors are positioned to transmit some of the magnetic flux generated by the magnet assembly as the magnet assembly moves along the path. The first variable collector and the second variable collector have a geometry and orientation such that the flux collected by the first and second variable collectors varies as the magnet moves along the path.

Abstract: A small angle sensor for measuring steering shaft torque. The sensor includes a multi-pole magnet and one or more stators. Each of the one or more stators encompasses the outer circumference of the multi-pole magnet. Each of the one or more stators has a horizontal ring section having an inner circumference and an outer circumference; and a plurality of teeth. Each tooth extends in a vertical direction from the inner circumference of the horizontal ring section; and a lip extends in a vertical direction from the outer circumference of the horizontal ring section. The sensor also includes one or more collectors. Each of the one or more collectors encompasses only a portion of the lip of the one or more stators. The sensor includes one or more magnetic sensing elements. Each of the one or more magnetic sensing elements located proximate to the one or more collectors.

Abstract: Transient blocking unit reset capability is improved by adding one or more transistors in parallel to one of the main blocking transistors of the circuit. These additional transistors switch off at higher voltages than their corresponding main blocking transistor, and have higher on-resistances than their corresponding main blocking transistor. The resulting transient blocking unit characteristic has two or more different slopes in the negative differential resistance part of the circuit I-V characteristic. This piecewise linear behavior can be exploited to ensure that the circuit I-V characteristic only has a single intersection with a normal load characteristic. By satisfying this condition, automatic reset is ensured, because the combination of the transient blocking unit with any load that is consistent with the normal load characteristic will have only one stable operating point.

Abstract: Surface-mountable conductive polymer devices include a conductive polymer layer between first and second electrodes, on which are disposed first and second insulation layers, respectively. First and second planar conductive terminals are on the second insulation layer. A first cross-conductor connects the second electrode to the first terminal, and is separated from the first electrode by a portion of the first insulation layer. A second cross-conductor connects the first electrode to the second terminal, and is separated from the second electrode by a portion of the second insulation layer. In some embodiments, at least one cross-conductor includes a beveled portion through the first insulation layer to provide enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor and the first insulation layer, while allowing greater thermal expansion without undue stress.

Abstract: Surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices include at least one conductive polymer active layer laminated between upper and lower electrodes. Upper and lower insulation layers, respectively, sandwich the upper and lower electrodes. First and second planar conductive terminals are formed on the lower insulation layer. First and second cross-conductors are provided by plated through-hole vias, whereby the cross-conductors connect each of the electrodes to one of the terminals. Certain embodiments include two or more active layers, arranged in a vertically-stacked configuration and electrically connected by the cross-conductors and electrodes in parallel. Several embodiments include at least one cross-conductor having a chamfered or beveled entry hole through the upper insulation layer to provide enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor and the insulation layer. Several methods for manufacturing the present surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices are also provided.

Abstract: A small angle sensor for measuring steering shaft torque. The sensor includes a multi-pole magnet and one or more stators. Each of the one or more stators encompasses the outer circumference of the multi-pole magnet. Each of the one or more stators has a horizontal ring section having an inner circumference and an outer circumference; and a plurality of teeth. Each tooth extends in a vertical direction from the inner circumference of the horizontal ring section; and a lip extends in a vertical direction from the outer circumference of the horizontal ring section. The sensor also includes one or more collectors. Each of the one or more collectors encompasses only a portion of the lip of the one or more stators. The sensor includes one or more magnetic sensing elements. Each of the one or more magnetic sensing elements located proximate to the one or more collectors.

Abstract: The rotation-angle and torsion sensor has two gears that are connected so as not to turn with shaft sections, which [gears] mesh with gears. On one of the gears a unipolar or multipolar magnet is attached. On the other gear, magnetic flux guides matching to number of poles are attached, that are configured as L shapes. One leg of the flux tranducers points in the direction of the multipolar magnet while the other legs run parallel to the gear and in fact one on one side and the other on the other side of the gear, with these legs enclosing a second sensor between them that is situated in the gear.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for measuring multi-turn position of a shaft with high resolution and in a non-contact manner. In some embodiments, a multi-turn sensing apparatus can include a rotation counter configured to determine a number of turns made by a shaft, and an angular position sensor configured to measure an angular position of the shaft within a given turn. The number of turns can be determined with an M-bit resolution, and the angular position per turn can be measured with an N-bit resolution. Selected appropriately, the rotation counter can be configured to operate as a relatively low resolution; and yet the multi-turn sensing apparatus can maintain the N-bit per-turn angular resolution throughout the full range. Accordingly, the multi-turn sensing apparatus can have an effective resolution of M+N bits.

Abstract: A transient blocking unit (TBU) is an arrangement of two or more transistors connected to each other in series such that they automatically switch off when a TBU current passing through these transistors exceeds a predetermined threshold. Voltage turnoff capability is provided for a TBU by adding a voltage comparison circuit to the TBU. The voltage comparison circuit provides gate voltages to one or more of the TBU transistors that tend to turn off the TBU transistors, if the voltage at the TBU output (i.e., the protected device output voltage) falls outside a predetermined range. The voltage provided by the voltage comparison circuit adds constructively to the gate voltages provided by normal TBU operation. Accordingly, TBU switch off can be driven by an over-current condition (TBU current out of range) and/or by an over-voltage condition (TBU output voltage out of range).

Abstract: A current-limiting surge protection device is provided. The current-limiting surge protection device includes a pair of series connected normally on MOSFET's and a pair of voltage controlled normally off switches that are disposed to monitor a voltage across the normally on MOSFET pair. Here, the voltage controlled normally off switches close according to an excess threshold voltage across the MOSFET pair and reduces a gate drive potential of the normally on MOSFET pair to limit a current through the normally on MOSFET pair.

Abstract: An isolation device having normally off detection is provided. The isolation device having normally off detection includes a transient blocking unit (TBU) having at least one depletion mode device disposed between a pair of sense terminals, and at least one normally off transition element disposed to drive a gate of the depletion mode device in the TBU, where the normally off transition element transitions from a first resistive state to a second resistive state and one depletion mode device is connected to one sense terminal, and the normally off transition element transitions by detection of a current through the TBU. The TBU can be unidirectional or bidirectional.

Abstract: A torsion angle sensor for measuring the torsion angle of two shafts coupled with one another having two planetary gear sets coupled via a shared planet carrier, with the sun gear of each gear set being connected to one of the two shafts respectively; including an arrangement whereby when a torsion angle is created between the two shafts, a movable internal gear of one of the planetary gear sets is rotated corresponding to the torsion angle, with its outer surface driving a sensor gear, which is connected to a rotational position sensor, the output signal of which is proportional to the torsion angle.

Abstract: A transient blocking unit (TBU) is a circuit having series-connected transistors that normally conduct current, but automatically switch to a high-impedance current blocking state in response to an over-current condition. Here enhancement mode devices are used in the primary TBU current path, as opposed to the conventional use of depletion mode devices in this context. This approach provides two main advantages. The first advantage is that the dependence of TBU parameters on poorly controlled depletion mode device parameters can be reduced or eliminated. The second advantage is that such TBUs can provide over-voltage protection in addition to over-current protection.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for effectively sensing rotational position of an object. In certain embodiments, a rotational position sensor can include a shaft configured to couple with the rotating object. The shaft can be configured to couple with a magnet carrier such that rotation of the shaft yields translational motion of the carrier. A magnet mounted to the carrier also moves longitudinally with respect to the axis of the shaft, and relative to a magnetic field sensor configured to detect the magnet's longitudinal position. The detected longitudinal position can be in a range corresponding to a rotational range of the shaft, where the rotational range can be greater than one turn. In certain embodiments, the rotational position sensor can include a programmable capability to facilitate ease and flexibility in calibration and use in a wide range of applications.

Abstract: Surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices include at least one conductive polymer active layer laminated between upper and lower electrodes. Upper and lower insulation layers, respectively, sandwich the upper and lower electrodes. First and second planar conductive terminals are formed on the lower insulation layer. First and second cross-conductors are provided by plated through-hole vias, whereby the cross-conductors connect each of the electrodes to one of the terminals. Certain embodiments include two or more active layers, arranged in a vertically-stacked configuration and electrically connected by the cross-conductors and electrodes in parallel. Several embodiments include at least one cross-conductor having a chamfered or beveled entry hole through the upper insulation layer to provide enhanced adhesion between the cross-conductor and the insulation layer. Several methods for manufacturing the present surface-mountable conductive polymer electronic devices are also provided.