Patents by Inventor Didier Frachon
Didier Frachon 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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Publication number: 20220146346Abstract: A position sensor, in particular, intended for detecting the torsion of a steering column, includes a first magnetized rotor structure comprising magnets, a second stator structure comprising two rings extended by teeth that are axially oriented and interlocked, and a third stationary collector structure including two flux collection parts that define at least one air gap in which at least one magnet-sensitive element is placed. The flux collection parts and the ring gears define a magnetic permeance independent of the relative radial and angular position of the second stator structure with respect to the third collector structure. The collection parts comprise an angular collection sector and a primary collection zone continued by a prolongation having a secondary collection zone. The secondary collection zones end in flat extensions forming two poles of the air gap. The transverse median plane of the air gap intersects at least one of the prolongations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: May 12, 2022Inventor: Didier Frachon
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Publication number: 20220136918Abstract: A position sensor, designed, in particular, for detecting torsion in a steering column, includes a first magnetized magnetic rotor structure comprising a plurality of magnets, two flux-collecting components, which define at least one air gap in which at least one magnetically sensitive element is positioned. Each collecting component has at least one primary collecting zone extended by at least one extension having at least one secondary collecting zone. The secondary collecting zones end in flattened shoes that form the two poles of the air gap. The transverse mid-plane of the air gap intersects at least one of the extensions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventor: Didier Frachon
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Patent number: 10041780Abstract: The disclosure relates in particular to a method for parameterizing a system for measuring an absolute position, the system including a permanent magnet, at least one probe that is mobile relative to the magnet over a given path, and a controller providing position information calculated on the basis of the arctangent of the ratio, wherein a correction coefficient G is assigned, between the output signals of the probe, wherein the signals are pseudo-sinusoidal and squared. The method includes an optimization operation that involves selecting the value of the coefficient G that minimizes the errors of the measurement system resulting from the pseudo-sinusoidal character of the signals output from the probe.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT)Inventors: Mickaël Delbaere, Thierry Dorge, Didier Frachon, Gérald Masson
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Patent number: 9207100Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic position sensor with field direction measurement and a flux collector. The disclosure proposes to measure two magnetic induction components at one and the same point, harmonizing the amplitude of the two magnetic induction components using flux collectors so as to have a ratio of the amplitudes of these two components close to one. For this purpose, the disclosure provides a contactless position sensor including at least one permanent magnet, emitting a magnetic field, at least one detection element sensitive to the direction of the magnetic field, and at least one pair of flux collectors, the permanent magnet being capable of moving in a direction of displacement and having a direction of magnetization that can be continuously varied according to the direction of displacement. Each flux collector has at least one portion, provided with an end, extending substantially along the direction of displacement of the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventors: Didier Frachon, Gérald Masson, Stéphane Biwersi
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Patent number: 9116018Abstract: The disclosure relates to a contactless magnetic sensor for measuring the angular or linear movement of a ferromagnetic target. The purpose of the disclosure is to make a position sensor having reduced dimensions and capable of detecting a piece of position information as soon as the sensor is powered without degrading the performance thereof. To this end, the disclosure relates to a mobile sensor that includes at least one permanent magnet, at least one ferromagnetic member at least one magnetically sensitive member, the permanent magnet having an upper surface opposite the ferromagnetic target, wherein the permanent magnet has a substantially cylindrical or parallelepiped shape and includes a cavity, the ferromagnetic member being arranged inside the cavity and the magnetically sensitive member being arranged inside the cavity above the ferromagnetic member and below the upper surface of the magnet.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2009Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventor: Didier Frachon
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Patent number: 8963541Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless magnetic sensor for detecting a linear or angular position, comprising a moveable ferromagnetic element (1) the position of which is detected, and a stator assembly (2) itself, comprising two ferromagnetic parts (3, 4), defining with the moveable ferromagnetic element (1) two respective air gaps (7, 8), a permanent magnet (5) and a magneto-sensitive element (6) subjected to a magnetic field that depends on the position of the moveable ferromagnetic element (1) and designed to deliver a measurement signal that depends on the magnetic field to which it is subjected. According to the invention, the two ferromagnetic parts (3, 4) define therebetween a third air gap (9), the permanent magnet (5) being rigidly connected only to the first ferromagnetic part (3) and the magneto-sensitive element (6) being placed in the third air gap (9).Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT)Inventors: Didier Frachon, Stephane Biwersi
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Patent number: 8587294Abstract: The invention relates to an angular or linear magnetic position sensor that comprises a mobile member including at least one magnet (1) having a magnetization direction that varies linearly along the movement direction of the magnet in a surface defined by said movement direction and in a normal direction, at least four magneto-sensitive elements (2, 3 and 4, 5) and at least one processing circuit (6) providing a signal based on the absolute position of the mobile member, characterized in that a first set of magneto-sensitive elements (2, 3) and (4, 5) are located at a same point, the first couple of magneto-sensitive elements (2, 3) being spatially offset from a second couple of magneto-sensitive elements (4, 5) along the movement direction, and in that the magneto-sensitive elements (3 and 5) measure the tangential component of the magnetic field while the magneto-sensitive elements (2 and 4) measure the normal component of the magnetic field in order to provide, after algebraic combination of the componentType: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT)Inventors: Gérald Masson, Nikola Jerance, Didier Frachon, Richard Arlot, Thierry Dorge
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Patent number: 8519700Abstract: An angular position sensor includes a moving element consisting of at least one essentially cylindrical permanent magnet turning about it axis, at least two magnetosensitive elements and at least one processing circuit furnishing a signal dependent on the absolute position of the moving element The magnetosensitive elements are located essentially at the same point and in that they measure the tangential component of the magnetic field and the radial and/or axial component of the magnetic field for furnishing 2 sinusoidal signals that are essentially 90° out of phase.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: MMT SAInventors: Nikola Jerance, Didier Frachon
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Publication number: 20130179117Abstract: The disclosure relates in particular to a method for parameterizing a system for measuring an absolute position, the system including a permanent magnet, at least one probe that is mobile relative to the magnet over a given path, and a controller providing position information calculated on the basis of the arctangent of the ratio, wherein a correction coefficient G is assigned, between the output signals of the probe, wherein the signals are pseudo-sinusoidal and squared. The method includes an optimization operation that involves selecting the value of the coefficient G that minimizes the errors of the measurement system resulting from the pseudo-sinusoidal character of the signals output from the probe.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: July 11, 2013Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventors: Mickaël Delbaere, Thierry Dorge, Didier Frachon, Gérald Masson
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Publication number: 20130057258Abstract: The invention relates to a contactless magnetic sensor for detecting a linear or angular position, comprising a moveable ferromagnetic element (1) the position of which is detected, and a stator assembly (2) itself, comprising two ferromagnetic parts (3, 4), defining with the moveable ferromagnetic element (1) two respective air gaps (7, 8), a permanent magnet (5) and a magneto-sensitive element (6) subjected to a magnetic field that depends on the position of the moveable ferromagnetic element (1) and designed to deliver a measurement signal that depends on the magnetic field to which it is subjected. According to the invention, the two ferromagnetic parts (3, 4) define therebetween a third air gap (9), the permanent magnet (5) being rigidly connected only to the first ferromagnetic part (3) and the magneto-sensitive element (6) being placed in the third air gap (9).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2011Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventors: Didier Frachon, Stephane Biwersi
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Patent number: 8373410Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic angular or linear sensor including at least one permanent magnet defined in a cylindrical (r, Q & z) or Cartesian (x, y & z) coordinate system and at least two magneto-sensitive elements, in which the magnet can move in relation to said two magneto-sensitive elements. The invention is characterized in that at least one dimension of the magnet varies as a non-constant function and in that the magnetization of the magnets is oriented in a single direction, i.e. x, y or z in the case of a magnet defined in a Cartesian coordinate system or r, Q or z in the case of a magnet defined in a cylindrical coordinate system.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2007Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Moving Magnet TechnologiesInventor: Didier Frachon
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Publication number: 20120161755Abstract: The invention relates to an angular or linear magnetic position sensor that comprises a mobile member including at least one magnet (1) having a magnetisation direction that varies linearly along the movement direction of the magnet in a surface defined by said movement direction and in a normal direction, at least four magneto-sensitive elements (2, 3 and 4, 5) and at least one processing circuit (6) providing a signal based on the absolute position of the mobile member, characterised in that a first set of magneto-sensitive elements (2, 3) and (4, 5) are located at a same point, the first couple of magneto-sensitive elements (2, 3) being spatially offset from a second couple of magneto-sensitive elements (4, 5) along the movement direction, and in that the magneto-sensitive elements (3 and 5) measure the tangential component of the magnetic field while the magneto-sensitive elements (2 and 4) measure the normal component of the magnetic field in order to provide, after algebraic combination of the componentType: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2008Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventors: Gérald Masson, Nikola Jerance, Didier Frachon, Richard Arlot, Thierry Dorge
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Publication number: 20110267040Abstract: The disclosure relates to a contactless magnetic sensor for measuring the angular or linear movement of a ferromagnetic target. The purpose of the disclosure is to make a position sensor having reduced dimensions and capable of detecting a piece of position information as soon as the sensor is powered without degrading the performance thereof. To this end, the disclosure relates to a mobile sensor that includes at least one permanent magnet, at least one ferromagnetic member at least one magnetically sensitive member, the permanent magnet having an upper surface opposite the ferromagnetic target, wherein the permanent magnet has a substantially cylindrical or parallelepiped shape and includes a cavity, the ferromagnetic member being arranged inside the cavity and the magnetically sensitive member being arranged inside the cavity above the ferromagnetic member and below the upper surface of the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2009Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventor: Didier Frachon
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Publication number: 20110254543Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic position sensor with field direction measurement and a flux collector. The disclosure proposes to measure two magnetic induction components at one and the same point, harmonizing the amplitude of the two magnetic induction components using flux collectors so as to have a ratio of the amplitudes of these two components close to one. For this purpose, the disclosure provides a contactless position sensor including at least one permanent magnet, emitting a magnetic field, at least one detection element sensitive to the direction of the magnetic field, and at least one pair of flux collectors, the permanent magnet being capable of moving in a direction of displacement and having a direction of magnetization that can be continuously varied according to the direction of displacement. Each flux collector has at least one portion, provided with an end, extending substantially along the direction of displacement of the magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2009Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: Moving Magnet Technologies (MMT)Inventors: Didier Frachon, Gérald Masson, Stéphane Biwersi
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Patent number: 7990136Abstract: A variable reluctance analog position device designed to determine the position variation of a target made from a ferromagnetic material. The device includes at least one magnet, the target and the magnet defining a gap therebetween. A magnetosensitive element detects induction variation produced in the gap by relative movement of the target relative to the magnet. The magnet is magnetized in a direction essentially perpendicular to the front surface of the magnet, which defines one edge of the gap. The magnet includes a cavity open at the front surface thereof and the magnetosensitive element is housed in the cavity. Moreover, the target is provided with a specific geometric configuration determined such that the induction variation according to the position of the target corresponds to a pre-defined function.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2010Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Moving Magent TechnologiesInventors: Didier Frachon, Pierre Gandel
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Publication number: 20110175600Abstract: The invention relates to an angular position sensor comprising a moving element consisting of at least one essentially cylindrical permanent magnet (1) turning about it axis, at least two magnetosensitive elements (2, 3) and at least one processing circuit (4) furnishing a signal dependent on the absolute position of the moving element, characterized in that the magnetosensitive elements (2, 3) are located essentially at the same point and in that they measure the tangential component of the magnetic field and the radial and/or axial component of the magnetic field for furnishing 2 sinusoidal signals that are essentially 90° out of phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2006Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Nikola Jerance, Didier Frachon
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Patent number: 7906959Abstract: A variable reluctance analog position device designed to determine the position variation of a target made from a ferromagnetic material. The device includes at least one magnet, the target and the magnet defining a gap therebetween. A magnetosensitive element detects induction variation produced in the gap by relative movement of the target relative to the magnet. The magnet is magnetized in a direction essentially perpendicular to the front surface of the magnet, which defines one edge of the gap. The magnet includes a cavity open at the front surface thereof and the magnetosensitive element is housed in the cavity. Moreover, the target is provided with a specific geometric configuration determined such that the induction variation according to the position of the target corresponds to a pre-defined function.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Moving Magnet TechnologiesInventors: Didier Frachon, Pierre Gandel
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Publication number: 20110043194Abstract: A variable reluctance analog position device designed to determine the position variation of a target made from a ferromagnetic material. The device includes at least one magnet, the target and the magnet defining a gap therebetween. A magnetosensitive element detects induction variation produced in the gap by relative movement of the target relative to the magnet. The magnet is magnetized in a direction essentially perpendicular to the front surface of the magnet, which defines one edge of the gap. The magnet includes a cavity open at the front surface thereof and the magnetosensitive element is housed in the cavity. Moreover, the target is provided with a specific geometric configuration determined such that the induction variation according to the position of the target corresponds to a pre-defined function.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIESInventors: Didier FRACHON, Pierre Gandel
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Publication number: 20100045275Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic angular or linear sensor including at least one permanent magnet defined in a cylindrical (r, Q & z) or Cartesian (x, y & z) coordinate system and at least two magneto-sensitive elements, in which the magnet can move in relation to said two magneto-sensitive elements. The invention is characterized in that at least one dimension of the magnet varies as a non-constant function and in that the magnetization of the magnets is oriented in a single direction, i.e. x, y or z in the case of a magnet defined in a Cartesian coordinate system or r, Q or z in the case of a magnet defined in a cylindrical coordinate system.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2007Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES (MMT)Inventor: Didier Frachon
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Patent number: 7391205Abstract: An angular-position magnetic-sensor device includes at least one stator and one rotor. A space between said stator and said rotor, defining over substantially 360°, is a main air gap including at least two movable magnetic poles of alternating polarities. The stator is provided with at least one secondary air gap in which there is placed at least one magnetosensitive element. The stator is composed of two pole shoes having angular widths that are substantially equal to 120° and 240° respectively, and the two magnetic poles each have an angular width substantially equal to 120°.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2003Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: MMT S.A.Inventors: Pierre Gandel, Daniel Prudham, Didier Frachon, Bruno Cavallier