Abstract: An inductor sensor assembly for determining to position of object includes a layer of ferrite overlaying exciting and receiving coils formed on a substrate. A magnet attached to the target produces a virtual coupler in an area of ferrite overlaying the coils. An application for a shock absorber includes a sensor module mounted in a recess in a dust cover and a magnet mounted to a cylinder tube of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A torque sensor for a steering mechanism having an input shaft joined to an output shaft by a torsion bar. A first coupler is connected to the input shaft while a second coupler is connected to the output shaft. A first and second receiving coils, each having a plurality of oppositely wound loops, are arranged adjacent the first and second coils, respectively, while a circuit determines the angular offset between the couplers.

Abstract: An inductor sensor assembly for determining to position of object includes a layer of ferrite overlaying exciting and receiving coils formed on a substrate. A magnet attached to the target produces a virtual coupler in an area of ferrite overlaying the coils. An application for a shock absorber includes a sensor module mounted in a recess in a dust cover and a magnet mounted to a cylinder tube of the shock absorber.

Abstract: The present invention uses a sensor to determine when a pressure plate and a clutch plate of a dual clutch transmission system are in contact with one another. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of pistons connected to both the clutch plate and pressure plate. The pistons contain either magnets or couplers and are positioned adjacent one another separated by either a Hall effect sensor or an inductive sensor. As the pressure plates and clutch plates come into contact with one another the pistons move within the housing and said movement is detected by the sensor. The sensor determines if the pressure plate is in contact with the clutch plate and if the clutch plate or the pressure plate has traveled any linear distance.

Abstract: A torque sensor for a steering mechanism having an input shaft joined to an output shaft by a torsion bar. A first coupler is connected to the input shaft while a second coupler is connected to the output shaft. A first and second receiving coils, each having a plurality of oppositely wound loops, are arranged adjacent the first and second coils, respectively, while a circuit determines the angular offset between the couplers.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle electronic braking system including a housing, at least one linear sensor, the at least one sensor contained within the housing, the linear sensor adapted to measure the linear distance traveled of a brake pedal. The assembly further includes a rotary sensor, the rotary sensor also contained within the same housing, the rotary sensor adapted to measure rotary motion of a DC motor in an the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor and the at least one linear sensor each in communication with a brake control unit. The at least one linear sensor and the at least one rotary sensor is encapsulated, either together or separately. The at least one linear sensor is a Hall-effect sensor. A wake up switch circuit is integrated with at least one of the linear sensors to wake up the system when the driver depresses the brake pedal in the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor is an inductive sensor.

Abstract: The present invention uses a sensor to determine when a pressure plate and a clutch plate of a dual clutch transmission system are in contact with one another. The assembly includes a housing having a plurality of pistons connected to both the clutch plate and pressure plate. The pistons contain either magnets or couplers and are positioned adjacent one another separated by either a Hall effect sensor or an inductive sensor. As the pressure plates and clutch plates come into contact with one another the pistons move within the housing and said movement is detected by the sensor. The sensor determines if the pressure plate is in contact with the clutch plate and if the clutch plate or the pressure plate has traveled any linear distance.

Abstract: A sensor circuit for use with a shaft assembly rotatably mounted in a housing and having an input shaft, an output shaft and a torsion bar which connects the input and output shafts together. A CR coil mounted to the housing around the shaft assembly is energized and generates an electromagnetic field. An RX coil is mounted to and rotates with the shaft assembly and has an output connected to a power circuit to generate electrical energy when excited by the electromagnetic field from the first coil. The power circuit powers an angle sensor which transmits a signal back to the first coil representative of the angle between the input and output shafts.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle electronic braking system including a housing, at least one linear sensor, the at least one sensor contained within the housing, the linear sensor adapted to measure the linear distance traveled of a brake pedal. The assembly further includes a rotary sensor, the rotary sensor also contained within the same housing, the rotary sensor adapted to measure rotary motion of a DC motor in an the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor and the at least one linear sensor each in communication with a brake control unit. The at least one linear sensor and the at least one rotary sensor is encapsulated, either together or separately. The at least one linear sensor is a Hall-effect sensor. A wake up switch circuit is integrated with at least one of the linear sensors to wake up the system when the driver depresses the brake pedal in the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor is an inductive sensor.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor having a transmitter coil excited by a high frequency signal source. A first and second receiver coil, each having at least two oppositely wound loops, are rotatably positioned electrically 90 degrees relative to each other. The receiver coils are positioned so as to be inductively coupled with the transmitter coil while a coupler constructed of an electrically conductive material is rotatably positioned over and inductively coupled with the first and second receiver coils. The outputs from the first and second receiver coils are coupled through a high pass filter and a low pass filter, respectively, thus creating a 90° phase shift in the resultant signals. These signals are summed together and coupled as an input signal to a PWM circuit together with a signal from the transmitter coil.

Abstract: An inductive sensor includes a sensor package and a coupler package. The sensor package includes a signal processor, an integrated capacitor, a ferrite layer, a transmitter coil, a two part receiving coil, and a plurality of discrete components. The coupler package includes an integrated capacitor, a ferrite layer, and a coupler coil. The transmitter coil in the sensor package is energized by an external power source which in turn energizes the coupler coil in the coupler package. The sensor then measures the rotational position of the coupler package relative to the sensor package by detecting and measuring, with the two part receiving coil, the signal returned by the coupler coil. The signal processor calculates the position of the coupler package relative to the sensor package by comparing the coupling factors between the coupler package and the sensor package.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor having a transmitter coil energized by a high frequency current source. A first receiver coil includes an even number N of loops wherein adjacent loops of the first receiver coil are oppositely wound. A second receiver coil also includes N loops where adjacent loops are oppositely wound. Furthermore, the second receiver coil is angularly offset from the first receiver coil by 180/N degrees. A noncircular coupler constructed of an electrically conductive material is rotatably mounted relative to the coils so that the coupler element overlies at least a portion of the first and second receiver coils. A circuit processes the output signals from the first and second receiver coils and generates an output signal representative of the rotational position of the coupler.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor having a transmitter coil excited by a high frequency signal source. A first and second receiver coil, each having at least two oppositely wound loops, are rotatably positioned electrically 90 degrees relative to each other. The receiver coils are positioned so as to be inductively coupled with the transmitter coil while a coupler constructed of an electrically conductive material is rotatably positioned over and inductively coupled with the first and second receiver coils. The outputs from the first and second receiver coils are coupled through a high pass filter and a low pass filter, respectively, thus creating a 90° phase shift in the resultant signals. These signals are summed together and coupled as an input signal to a PWM circuit together with a signal from the transmitter coil.

Abstract: A sensor circuit for use with a shaft assembly rotatably mounted in a housing and having an input shaft, an output shaft and a torsion bar which connects the input and output shafts together. A CR coil mounted to the housing around the shaft assembly is energized and generates an electromagnetic field. An RX coil is mounted to and rotates with the shaft assembly and has an output connected to a power circuit to generate electrical energy when excited by the electromagnetic field from the first coil. The power circuit powers an angle sensor which transmits a signal back to the first coil representative of the angle between the input and output shafts.

Abstract: A linear position sensor having a transmitter coil which generates electromagnetic radiation when excited by a source of electrical energy and wound in a first direction. A receiver coil is contained within the transmitter coil and the receiver coil includes both a first loop wound in a first direction and a second loop wound in the opposite direction. A coupler element linearly moves along a first direction relative to the transmitter coil which varies the inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil as a function of the linear position of the coupler element to thereby vary the electrical output signal from the receiver coil when excited by the transmitter coil. The first and second loops of the receiver coil are linearly aligned with each other along the first direction.

Abstract: A rotary position sensor having a transmitter coil energized by a high frequency current source. A first receiver coil includes an even number N of loops wherein adjacent loops of the first receiver coil are oppositely wound. A second receiver coil also includes N loops where adjacent loops are oppositely wound. Furthermore, the second receiver coil is angularly offset from the first receiver coil by 180/N degrees. A noncircular coupler constructed of an electrically conductive material is rotatably mounted relative to the coils so that the coupler element overlies at least a portion of the first and second receiver coils. A circuit processes the output signals from the first and second receiver coils and generates an output signal representative of the rotational position of the coupler.

Abstract: A linear position sensor having a transmitter coil which generates electromagnetic radiation when excited by a source of electrical energy and wound in a first direction. A receiver coil is contained within the transmitter coil and the receiver coil includes both a first loop wound in a first direction and a second loop wound in the opposite direction. A coupler element linearly moves along a first direction relative to the transmitter coil which varies the inductive coupling between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil as a function of the linear position of the coupler element to thereby vary the electrical output signal from the receiver coil when excited by the transmitter coil. The first and second loops of the receiver coil are linearly aligned with each other along the first direction.