Patents by Inventor Jeffrey L. McCurley

Jeffrey L. McCurley 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).

  • Patent number: 6175233
    Abstract: A dual-axes position sensor 10 having an outer housing 12, an actuator 40, a linear Hall effect sensor assembly 20 for detecting position changes along a first (y) axis, and a linear Hall effect sensor assembly 30 for detecting position changes along a second (x) axis is disclosed. The housing 12 is preferably made out of a non-magnetic material such as plastic. Actuator 40 is rod shaped and coupled to a movable device or shaft (not shown) that is to have its position sensed. The linear Hall effect sensor assembly 20 is unattachably positioned to set on lip 52 of the housing 12, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 26, a magnet assembly 24 comprising an upper magnet 21 and a lower magnet 23 that are separated by an air gap 25. Magnet assembly 24 and pole piece 26 are positioned around a Hall sensor device support 14 in a“U” shaped configuration or form. Hall sensor device support 14 is fixedly attached to housing 12 via attachment area 54.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2001
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McCurley, James E. White, Craig A. Jarrard, Ronald C. Nonnenmacher, John Zdanys, Jr., Thomas R. Olson
  • Patent number: 6057682
    Abstract: A dual positional hall effect sensor 10 having an outer housing 12, an actuator 14, a linear movement sensor 20, and a rotational movement sensor device 22. The housing 12 includes a lower chamber 24 and an upper chamber 26, with a barrier wall 28 separating therebetween. The actuator 14 is made up of a coupling 32 for coupling to a movable device (not shown) that is to have its position sensed, a rod 34 that extends from the lower to the upper chamber, a collar 36 for retaining the actuator 14 within the lower chamber, and a key 38. The linear motion sensor 20 is unattachably positioned to set on collar 36, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 42 and a left and right magnets 44. The magnets 44 and pole piece 42 are positioned around the rod 34 in a "U" shaped configuration. The lower chamber 24 also includes a positionally fixed hall effect sensor 46 and a spring 48 positioned between the barrier wall 28 and the collar 36.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McCurley, James E. White, Craig A. Jarrard, Ronald C. Nonnenmacher, John Zdanys, Jr., Thomas R. Olson, Bret W. Shriver
  • Patent number: 6018241
    Abstract: An extremely reliable and effective position sensor is provided at low cost for determining the relative position of a mechanical linkage with respect to a reference point. The position sensor includes a rotor or bracket which is mechanically coupled to the linkage and contains at least two magnets on opposite walls adjacent a channel opening. The opposing magnets are formed with first and second sloped or ramped sections which produce produce variable magnetic fields as determined by the geometric profile of the magnets. One or more detectors are positioned in the air gap between the opposing magnets. As the linkage is moved, the rotor or bracket moves with respect to the detector causing a change in the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detector whereby the detector determines the position of the movable linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: James E. White, Jeffrey L. McCurley, John Zdanys, Jr., Craig A. Jarrard, Robert J. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5982170
    Abstract: An angular sensor has a shaped dual magnet structure carried upon a pole piece having a generally "c" shaped cross-section. The magnet and pole piece define a generally circular linear field which is concentric about the axis of rotation of the complete rotor. A Hall effect device is inserted into the open portion or gap between the two magnets and is exposed to a well defined field. Through the use of particular magnet materials and a magnet geometry extending from the axis of rotation to a point well beyond the Hall sensor, a precise and yet tolerant magnetic circuit is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McCurley, Robert J. Campbell, James E. White, Scott L. Spence
  • Patent number: 5955881
    Abstract: An extremely reliable and effective position sensor is provided at low cost for determining the relative position of a mechanical linkage with respect to a reference point. The position sensor includes a rotor or bracket which is mechanically coupled to the linkage and contains at least two magnets on opposite walls adjacent a channel opening. The opposing magnets are formed with first and second sloped or ramped sections which produce produce variable magnetic fields as determined by the geometric profile of the magnets. One or more detectors are positioned in the air gap between the opposing magnets. As the linkage is moved, the rotor or bracket moves with respect to the detector causing a change in the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detector, whereby the detector determines the position of the movable linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: James E. White, Jeffrey L. McCurley, John Zdanys, Jr., Robert J. Campbell, Craig A. Jarrard
  • Patent number: 5798639
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor having a dual magnet structure interconnected by a pole piece forming a varying dimension air gap. The magnets, the pole piece and the air gap between the magnets define a closed magnetic circuit. A Hall effect sensor is fixedly mounted in the air gap and is exposed to a well defined but varying magnetic field coupled between the magnets. Through the use of specific magnetic materials and sloping, curved surfaces, a precise yet tolerance friendly magnetic circuit is produced so that the sensor produces signals as a function of the angular positions of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McCurley, Robert J. Campbell, James E. White, Scott L. Spence
  • Patent number: 5757179
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor connected to the butterfly valve of an internal combustion engine, the sensor having a dual magnet structure interconnected by a pole piece having a generally C-shaped cross section forming a varying dimension air gap. The magnets, the pole piece and the air gap define a closed magnetic circuit. A Hall effect sensor is fixedly mounted in the air gap and is exposed to a well defined but varying magnetic field. Through the use of specific magnetic materials and sloping, curved surfaces, a precise yet tolerance friendly magnetic circuit is produced so that the sensor produces signals as a function of the angular positions of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McCurley, Robert J. Campbell, James E. White, Scott L. Spence
  • Patent number: 5712561
    Abstract: A position sensor has a shaped dual magnet structure carried upon a pole piece having a generally "c" shaped cross-section. The magnet and pole piece define a generally circular linear field which is concentric about the axis of rotation of the complete rotor. A Hall effect device is inserted into the open portion or gap between the two magnets and is exposed to a well defined field. Through the use of selected geometries and particular magnet materials, a precise, compact and yet tolerant magnetic circuit is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. McCurley, James E. White, Mike Guthrie