Patents Assigned to SMC LTD.
  • Patent number: 11374477
    Abstract: A pulse generator comprises a mounting to hold two bodies in proximity to each other. Two magnetic elements may be movably placed in the mounting, and the magnetic elements will align with each other in one of two stable states. A coil surrounds the magnetic elements in the mounting, and a force application device applies a force to the first magnetic element to cause the first magnetic element to break the current alignment and thereby make the first and second magnetic elements realign to the other stable state. The movement of the magnets generates a pulse in the coil which may be detected by suitable circuitry and used. The device may be used inter alia to count rotations or linear movements, or to provide switching or remote control without the need for a separate power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Servosense (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yves Villaret, Alex Matskin, Nadav Reinberg
  • Patent number: 10876864
    Abstract: A high resolution encoder device using a number of static sensors distributed on a circumference, and a rotating disc, having several sections of two different properties on an annular track according to a predefined pattern, placed so that the sensors can sense the properties of the sections of track in proximity. An auxiliary unit is also provided and by itself or in combination with the sensor signal values, provides a first low resolution position value. In a first processing step, the signals of each sensor are compared to a threshold, and bit values zero or one for each sensor are set according to the comparison result. All bits are then set in a digital word, in order to create a code number, which in combination with the output of the auxiliary unit, is characteristic of a first low resolution position value. For each low resolution position value, a mathematical combination of signals values is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Servosense (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yves Villaret, Alexander Puzev
  • Patent number: 10845219
    Abstract: A linear encoder has a stationary part and a moving part, and measures and encodes a relative displacement between the stationary part and the moving part along a linear extent of displacement. The encoder comprises multiple machine sensible elements arranged on one of the parts in a predetermined, pattern; and multiple evenly placed sensors arranged along the other part along the entire linear extent, thereby to measure and encode the displacement. The encoder may be an absolute encoder and may be based on magnetic or optical or any other kind of sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Servosense (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus Erlich, Yves Villaret
  • Publication number: 20190386554
    Abstract: A pulse generator comprises a mounting to hold two bodies in proximity to each other. Two magnetic elements may be movably placed in the mounting, and the magnetic elements will align with each other in one of two stable states. A coil surrounds the magnetic elements in the mounting, and a force application device applies a force to the first magnetic element to cause the first magnetic element to break the current alignment and thereby make the first and second magnetic elements realign to the other stable state. The movement of the magnets generates a pulse in the coil which may be detected by suitable circuitry and used. The device may be used inter alia to count rotations or linear movements, or to provide switching or remote control without the need for a separate power source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Servosense (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yves VILLARET, Alex MATSKIN, Nadav REINBERG
  • Publication number: 20190056247
    Abstract: A linear encoder has a stationary part and a moving part, and measures and encodes a relative displacement between the stationary part and the moving part along a linear extent of displacement. The encoder comprises multiple machine sensible elements arranged on one of the parts in a predetermined, pattern; and multiple evenly placed sensors arranged along the other part along the entire linear extent, thereby to measure and encode the displacement. The encoder may be an absolute encoder and may be based on magnetic or optical or any other kind of sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Servosense (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventors: Markus ERLICH, Yves VILLARET
  • Patent number: 9007057
    Abstract: The device to measure the absolute rotation angle of a rotating shaft includes a rotating disc, fixed to the shaft. A group of permanent magnets of different sizes and polarities is disposed on a circular track. Further, a group of Hall sensors, fixed to a static part of the device, are disposed on a circular path, in proximity of the rotating disc magnets tracks, and generate electric signals proportional to the strength of the magnetic field produced by the magnets in proximity. The signs of these electric signals are used to calculate a code characteristic of a low resolution absolute angular position. Two analog signals are associated to the obtained code, according to a predefined table. The associated analog signal having the closest value to zero is used as an entry to a pre-recorded table containing the correspondent angular position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Servosence (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventor: Yves Villaret
  • Publication number: 20150070001
    Abstract: The device to measure the absolute rotation angle of a rotating shaft includes a rotating disc, fixed to the shaft. A group of permanent magnets of different sizes and polarities is disposed on a circular track. Further, a group of Hall sensors, fixed to a static part of the device, are disposed on a circular path, in proximity of the rotating disc magnets tracks, and generate electric signals proportional to the strength of the magnetic field produced by the magnets in proximity. The signs of these electric signals are used to calculate a code characteristic of a low resolution absolute angular position. Two analog signals are associated to the obtained code, according to a pre-defined table. The associated analog signal having the closest value to zero is used as an entry to a pre-recorded table containing the correspondent angular position of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Servosense (SMC) Ltd.
    Inventor: Yves Villaret
  • Publication number: 20130018417
    Abstract: An adjustable head and neck support device with an adjustable head rest assembly and an adjustable neck rest assembly that attach to and move with respect to a base. The adjustable neck rest assembly is configured to move and non-fixedly lock on a z-axis and to rotate about non-fixedly lock on a y-axis. The head rest support assembly rotates about non-fixedly lock on an x-axis. The adjustable head rest assembly is configured to move and non-fixedly lock on the z-axis and to rotate about the x-axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SMC LTD.
    Inventors: David Goldberg, Jason Belton, Craig Rae