Patents Examined by Reena Aurora
  • Patent number: 11598826
    Abstract: The magnetic detection device includes: a first magnetic rotary body which rotates about a rotation shaft and has an outer circumferential portion which is a magnetic body; a second magnetic rotary body has an outer circumferential portion which is a magnetic body; a magnet which has a magnetization direction along the axial direction; a first magneto-resistive element provided on another side in the axial direction of the magnet; a second magneto-resistive element provided on one side in the axial direction of the magnet; a first magnetic guide provided between the magnet and the first magneto-resistive element; and a second magnetic guide provided between the magnet and the second magneto-resistive element, wherein the outer circumferential portion of the first magnetic rotary body and the outer circumferential portion of the second magnetic rotary body cause different magnetic fields between the magnet and the respective outer circumferential portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Cornoration
    Inventors: Tetsuo Amano, Hideki Shimauchi, Masahiro Yokotani, Yoshinori Tatenuma, Akira Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 11592317
    Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Gael Close, Eric Lahaye, Lionel Tombez
  • Patent number: 11592280
    Abstract: A method for compensating interference in a measured angle signal of a magnetic angle sensor of an electrical machine, wherein the method includes: receiving a measured angle signal, estimating a current error and/or a misalignment error in the measured angle signal, calculating an expected rotor angle from the measured angle signal, taking into account the estimated current error and/or the estimated misalignment error, such as during operation of the electrical machine. The present invention furthermore relates to a microcontroller for calculating interference in a measured angle signal of a magnetic angle sensor of an electrical machine, to an electrical machine having a magnetic angle sensor and a microcontroller and to a computer program product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Moritz Märgner, Aitor Cortabarria, Norbert Fröhlich
  • Patent number: 11579209
    Abstract: A three-axis magnetic sensor apparatus is described that is processed together into a single chip, with high performance, low cost, as well as small size. The three-axis magnetic sensor apparatus include a substrate, a two-axis magnetic sensing structure and a single-axis sensing structure. The two-axis sensing magnetic structure consisting of two shielded Wheatstone bridge configurations in conjunction with an annular or semi annular magnetic flux-guiding structure, and the single-axis sensing structure consisting of a push-pull Wheatstone bridge in conjunction with a flux guide that is capable of generating a fringe field whose horizontal component is proportional to the vertical component of an external magnetic field. The two-axis magnetic sensing structure and the single-axis structure are processed together into a single chip, and can be used to measure respectively X, Y and Z components of external magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventors: Zhenghong Qian, Ru Bai
  • Patent number: 11579331
    Abstract: Buried utility locator systems, including a camera, for detecting buried utilities and determining information therefrom based on sensing electromagnetic emissions from the buried utilities are disclosed. Images and/or video captured by the camera are stored in association with the determined information in a non-transitory memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SEESCAN, INC.
    Inventors: Mark S. Olsson, Paul G. Stuart, David A. Cox, Ray Merewether, Dawn E. Shaffer, Ryan B. Levin, Michael J. Martin
  • Patent number: 11573099
    Abstract: A module for detecting a rotating handle intended to be attached on a tube of a handlebar of a vehicle next to the handle includes a cylindrical magnet, a probe for detecting the magnetic field produced by the magnet, a support for the probe, a printed circuit board whereon the probe is secured, a support for the magnet and a flange used as a housing for the module. The magneto-sensitive probe detects rotation of the magnetic field emitted by the magnet and is secured to the handlebar, with the magnet and magnet holder being secured to the handle. The magnet and magnet holder form a cavity so that the inner radial surface of the magnet is positioned outside and opposite the magneto-sensitive probe. The magnet has a continuously variable magnetization direction so that the total rotation of the angle of the magnetic field generated by the magnet at the measuring point during the mechanical rotation of the handle is greater than 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies
    Inventors: Michaël Delbaere, Yannick Ronnat
  • Patent number: 11561235
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the axial position of a rotating shaft includes a phonic wheel mounted coaxially to the shaft for rotation with a circumferential row of teeth. The system includes a sensor configured to detect the passage of the teeth by generating an alternating measurement signal. First and second portions of the teeth alternate around the row and contribute respective first and second components to the alternating measurement signal. The first portion of teeth vary in height in an axial direction of the wheel such that the relative height of the first and second portions varies with axial distance across the phonic wheel, and the sensor is positioned relative to the phonic wheel such that axial displacement of the shaft causes the signal to vary the first component's amplitude relative to the second component's amplitude due to the height variation, to monitor the axial position of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: Robert N Shepherd, Kevin E Gapper
  • Patent number: 11561112
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a current sensor having an elongate current conductor having an input and an output and a longitudinal axis. First, second, third and fourth magnetic field sensing elements are coupled in a bridge configuration and positioned in a plane parallel to a surface of the current conductor such that the second and fourth magnetic field sensing elements comprise inner elements and the first and third magnetic field sensing elements comprise outer elements. Embodiments of the sensor reduce the effects of stray fields on the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Briano, Paul A. David
  • Patent number: 11561115
    Abstract: Sensor devices and corresponding methods are provided. When a signal path output (COMP OUT) indicates no threshold crossings, diagnosis is performed with a timing based on a clock. In case threshold crossings are indicated, diagnosis is performed with a timing based on threshold crossings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dragos Vocurek, Hans-Joerg Wagner
  • Patent number: 11555869
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor capable of reducing noise caused by an interference magnetic field and capable of outputting a highly accurate signal in accordance with changes in a detected magnetic field includes a magnetic detection element, a first magnetic body having a first surface and a second surface, which is opposite to the first surface, and a second magnetic body positioned approximately in the center of the first magnetic body in the short direction on the first surface of the first magnetic body. The magnetic detection element is provided to be opposite to the second magnetic body with the first magnetic body interposed in between and positioned approximately in the center of the first magnetic body in the short direction. The magnetic sensing direction of the magnetic detection element is a direction approximately parallel to the short direction of the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body, and a width W1 of the first magnetic body is larger than a width W2 of the second magnetic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Yongfu Cai
  • Patent number: 11555868
    Abstract: An electronic circuit can have a first plurality of vertical Hall elements and a second plurality of vertical Hall elements all disposed on a substrate having a plurality of crystal unit cells, wherein the first plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed within five degrees of parallel to an edge of the crystal unit cells, and wherein the second plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed between eighty-five and ninety-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axes of the first plurality of vertical Hall elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hernán D. Romero, Gerardo A. Monreal, Juan Manuel Cesaretti
  • Patent number: 11555870
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor device includes a magnetic sensor detecting a detection-target magnetic field, and a soft magnetic structure near the sensor. In an orthogonal coordinate system having two orthogonal axes for representing an applied field strength and a magnetization-corresponding value, coordinates representing the applied field strength and the magnetization-corresponding value move along a minor loop not in contact with a major loop as the strength of an external magnetic field including the detection-target magnetic field varies within a variable range, where the applied field strength is a strength of a magnetic field applied to the soft magnetic structure, the magnetization-corresponding value is a value corresponding to magnetization of the soft magnetic structure, and the major loop is, among loops traced by a path of the coordinates as the applied field strength is varied, a loop that is the largest in terms of area of the region enclosed by the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Watanabe, Hirokazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11549960
    Abstract: A top drive system comprising a drilling rig, and a top drive unit operatively associated with the drilling rig. The top drive includes a top drive housing, and a rotatable member having a first member portion within the top drive housing, and a second member portion extending outward from the top drive housing. There is a sensor assembly disposed within the top drive housing, the assembly comprising a sensor configured to provide an output signal associated with an at least one parameter of the top drive. The first member portion is configured with a profile sensed by the sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Larry G. Keast
  • Patent number: 11543466
    Abstract: A sensor comprises a housing; and a lead frame comprising at least three elongated leads having an exterior portion extending from the housing; and a magnetic sensor circuit disposed in the housing and connected to the lead frame. The housing comprising at least two recesses or at least two lateral protrusions arranged on two opposite sides of the housing, for allowing the sensor to be mounted to the support. A component assembly comprising said sensor mounted on a support, the support comprising a plurality of first and second posts and a plurality of electrical contacts. A method of producing said component assembly, comprising the step of arranging said sensor with its elongated leads adjacent the first posts, and arranging its lateral protrusions and/or lateral recesses adjacent the second posts, and connecting the elongated leads to the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Matthijs Pardoen, Arnaud Laville, Orlin Gueorguiev Saradjov
  • Patent number: 11543267
    Abstract: A position sensing mechanism provided by the invention comprises an encoding element as a sensing signal source, a reading element for sensing signals of the signal source, and a processing unit for receiving and analyzing sensing signals output by the reading element, the position sensing mechanism has a main technical feature lying in a magneto-resistive unit in the reading element for sensing signals of the signal source being a tunneling magneto-resistor (TMR), and two layers of magnetic moments of a reference layer and a free layer of the tunneling magneto-resistor being perpendicular to each other, and in the reference layer and the free layer with the magnetic moments being perpendicular to each other, the magnetic moment of one of the layers is parallel to a film surface, and the magnetic moment of the other layer is perpendicular to the film surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HIWIN MIKROSYSTEM CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Huang Lai, Chia-Chang Lee, Zhi-Hao Xu, Heng-Sheng Hsiao
  • Patent number: 11536785
    Abstract: A magnetic card reader comprising a groove for shifting of a magnetic card and a magnetic read head mounted on a first printed-circuit board so as to enable reading of a magnetic stripe of the magnetic card. The magnetic read head has a tunnel magnetoresistance sensor called a TMR magnetic sensor positioned in a recess of a side wall of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: BANKS AND ACQUIRERS INTERNATIONAL HOLDING
    Inventors: Alain Soubirane, André Carabelli, Thierry Marsaud, Alain Coussieu, Stéphane Pavageau
  • Patent number: 11536587
    Abstract: A position sensor device includes position sensor elements for generating analog sense signals. A digitization circuit is provided for a digital signal representative of the input phase based on the analog sense signals and a digital processing unit. An output signal is indicative of the position based on the first output of the processing unit. The processing unit comprises an error signal generator for computing an error signal indicative of a phase difference between the digital signal and a feedback signal. A digital filter filters the error signal to generate the first output. A feedback path provides the feedback signal based on the first output and a filter selector to select a filter to be applied from different filters. At least one input on which a common filter circuit operates is scaled differently for each of the different filters to select different filter bandwidths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Eric Sachse, Gael Close
  • Patent number: 11525661
    Abstract: A position detection apparatus includes a magnetic unit and a sensor. The magnetic unit includes a magnetic member and a retainer. The magnetic member includes a magnet and a first magnetic yoke. The magnet extends in an axial direction and has a cross-section orthogonal to the axial direction, and a first maximum outer diameter in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The cross-section has a substantially constant area in the axial direction. The first magnetic yoke is disposed adjacent to the magnet in the axial direction and has a second maximum outer diameter in the radial direction. The second maximum outer diameter is greater than the first maximum outer diameter. The retainer extends in the axial direction and retains the magnetic member. The sensor detects a magnetic field that changes in association with a movement of the magnetic unit along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hirano, Teiichiro Oka, Seiji Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 11525702
    Abstract: A sensor system for determining at least one rotation characteristic of an element rotating about at least one rotation axis includes at least one sensor wheel having a profile and being connectable to the rotating element; and at least one inductive position sensor including at least one coil arrangement that includes at least one excitation coil and at least two receiver coils, where at least in sections of the at least two receiver coils have a sinusoidal shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dayo Oshinubi, Fabian Utermoehlen
  • Patent number: 11525663
    Abstract: A rotation angle measurement system for detecting a rotation of a shaft. The rotation angle measurement system includes the shaft which extends in an axial direction, a rotor unit having a sensor magnet, a stationary stator unit having a multi-turn sensor unit which is arranged radially spaced apart from the shaft and which has a Wiegand sensor, and a magnetic shielding arrangement for the Wiegand sensor. The rotor unit is connected to the shaft to rotate therewith and radially surrounds the shaft. The multi-turn sensor unit functionally interacts with the sensor magnet to detect revolutions thereof. The magnetic shielding arrangement is made from a material having a high magnetic permeability. The magnetic shielding arrangement includes shielding elements which are arranged to surround the Wiegand sensor on a radial inside, on a radial outside, on a first axial side, and on a second axial side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: FRABA B.V.
    Inventors: Michael Loeken, Florian Hallermann, Hanno Volker