Abstract: A throttle control cartridge has a circuit board carrying a Hall-effect sensor, the position of which is fixed in a housing carrying a cam. A shaft carrying a magnet is rotatably and translatably disposed with respect to the housing and carries a cam follower that engages the cam and translates the shaft with respect to the housing when the shaft is rotated with respect to the housing in at least one of two opposed angular directions. The cam and the cam follower have at least first and second pairs of cam surfaces in which a first cam surface is disposed at a different cam or helix angle then the second cam surface. A redundant stop is cooperatively formed between the cam follower and splines on the shaft to limit axial translation of the cam follower in one direction of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.

Abstract: A piston holder for a vehicle sensor including a diaphragm deflectable under fluid pressure to move a piston includes a unitary body that in turn defines a cylindrical outer body portion configured for surrounding the piston. The body has an open upper end circumscribed by an outwardly-flared flange and a rounded annular elbow opposite the flange for contacting the diaphragm. An annular skirt extends from the elbow. The skirt includes a first portion oriented radially inwardly and upwardly at an oblique angle to the vertical dimension defined by the outer body portion. An inner bump is formed in the first portion for establishing a contact point with the diaphragm when the holder is deformed, and a second portion extends from the first portion and is oriented parallel to the axial dimension for engaging a channel of the piston.

Abstract: A vehicle camshaft/crankshaft sensor has a plastic terminal assembly defining a connector and a plastic housing and bracket assembly engaged with the terminal assembly and defining a plastic bracket. Various structures are disclosed for establishing one of plural discrete orientations between the bracket and the connector.

Abstract: A non-contact pressure switch assembly for sensing pressure in, e.g., a vehicle. A piston with integrated magnet in a housing is moved under fluid pressure to change a magnetic field in which a Hall sensor is disposed inside the housing. The field changes polarity at the Hall sensor at a predetermined piston position.

Abstract: A throttle control cartridge has a circuit board carrying a Hall-effect sensor, the position of which is fixed in a housing carrying a cam. A shaft carrying a magnet is rotatably and translatably disposed with respect to the housing and carries a cam follower that engages the cam and translates the shaft with respect to the housing when the shaft is rotated with respect to the housing in at least one of two opposed angular directions. The cam and the cam follower have at least first and second pairs of cam surfaces in which a first cam surface is disposed at a different cam or helix angle then the second cam surface. A redundant stop is cooperatively formed between the cam follower and splines on the shaft to limit axial translation of the cam follower in one direction of rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.

Abstract: Linear velocity sensor and method for reducing non-linearity in the output signal of the sensor are provided. The sensor comprises a ferromagnetic housing including an opening. The sensor further comprises a spool disposed in the housing. The spool includes a bore for receiving a slidable ferromagnetic rod. The ferromagnetic rod may be extendable through the opening in the housing. A magnet is mounted at the one end of the rod distal from the opening when the rod is substantially inserted in the bore. A coil is wound on the spool. The number of turns of the coil is arranged to taperingly increase as the coil progresses from an end of the spool proximate the opening in the housing to the opposite end of the spool. The tapering arrangement for the number of turns of the coil is selected to reduce non-linearity of an output signal of the coil indicative of linear velocity.

Abstract: A sensor package and method of making the same is disclosed in which the sensor package includes a sensor component for electromagnetic sensing having a sensor body with a sensor tip at one end. A sensor housing having a cavity for receiving the sensor component is disposed in a substrate and is aligned with an object to be sensed. The housing further includes a snap-fit interface with the sensor component that is configured to admit and secure the sensor tip during assembly thereof. A bracket is mechanically fixable to the substrate at a first end and is in operable communication with the sensor tip at a second end. The bracket is configured to bias the sensor tip towards the object to be sensed for elimination of an internal air gap between the sensor tip and housing formed during assembly thereof.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor assembly includes a housing, a slider slidably received within the housing, wherein the slider is configured for movement between a first position and a second position within the housing, and a first and second magnet associated with the slider for slidable movement therewith. The first and the second magnets are positioned side by side with opposite polarization. A hall effect device is fixed relative to the housing and protrudes between the first and the second magnets when the slider is in the second position. The hall effect device is configured to produce an output signal, the output signal being indicative of a seat belt tension of a seat belt as applied to the sensor assembly. A biasing member provides an urging force to the slider, the urging force urging the slider into the first position.

Abstract: A vibration damping feature for a sensor assembly, particularly a variable reluctance position sensor including a spool assembly, a harness assembly mechanically and electrically joined to the spool assembly, and a cap which sealingly encloses the spool and harness assemblies. The vibration damping feature preferably is in the form of a plurality of crush ribs provided on the periphery of an upper disk of the spool assembly adjacent the joints. The crush ribs contactingly abut the cap sidewall so as to positively locate, in a fixed relationship, the spool assembly relative to the cap adjacent the joints.

Abstract: A mechanism for de-lashing a gear assembly includes a first gear rotatable about a first axis and a first center rotatably fixed to the first axis and a first conical teeth portion. The gear assembly includes a second gear rotatable about a second axis and a second center rotatably fixed to said second axis and a second conical teeth portion configured to meshingly engage first conical teeth portion when the first and second gears are aligned substantially coplanarly. A biasing means operably biases the second conical teeth portion of the second gear against the first conical teeth portion of the first gear to reduce any lash therebetween. The biasing means is configured to bias the second gear in an axial direction while maintaining a fixed center distance between the first and second axes. The first gear is rotatably fixed about the fixed first axis such that the first gear is prevented from translation along the fixed first axis.

Abstract: A vibration damping feature for a sensor assembly, particularly a variable reluctance position sensor including a spool assembly, a harness assembly mechanically and electrically joined to the spool assembly, and a cap which sealingly encloses the spool and harness assemblies. The vibration damping feature preferably is in the form of a plurality of crush ribs provided on the periphery of an upper disk of the spool assembly adjacent the joints. The crush ribs contactingly abut the cap sidewall so as to positively locate, in a fixed relationship, the spool assembly relative to the cap adjacent the joints.

Abstract: A sensor package and method of making the same is disclosed in which the sensor package includes a sensor component for electromagnetic sensing having a holder assembly with the sensor component disposed at one end and sensor terminals in electrical communication with the sensor component extending from an opposite end. A harness assembly having a harness head configured with harness terminals extending therefrom for electrical connection with corresponding sensor terminals. The holder assembly and harness head are configured with a means for snap-fit assembly that provides space to mechanically connect corresponding sensor terminals and harness terminals with each other forming a resultant subassembly for insertion into a sensor housing. The housing further includes a heat-staked interface with the harness head that secures the subassembly relative to the sensor housing.

Abstract: Linear velocity sensor and method for reducing non-linearity in the output signal of the sensor are provided. The sensor comprises a ferromagnetic housing including an opening. The sensor further comprises a spool disposed in the housing. The spool includes a bore for receiving a slidable ferromagnetic rod. The ferromagnetic rod may be extendable through the opening in the housing. A magnet is mounted at the one end of the rod distal from the opening when the rod is substantially inserted in the bore. A coil is wound on the spool. The number of turns of the coil is arranged to taperingly increase as the coil progresses from an end of the spool proximate the opening in the housing to the opposite end of the spool. The tapering arrangement for the number of turns of the coil is selected to reduce non-linearity of an output signal of the coil indicative of linear velocity.

Abstract: A mechanism for de-lashing a gear assembly includes a first gear rotatable about a first axis and a first center rotatably fixed to the first axis and a first conical teeth portion. The gear assembly includes a second gear rotatable about a second axis and a second center rotatably fixed to said second axis and a second conical teeth portion configured to meshingly engage first conical teeth portion when the first and second gears are aligned substantially coplanarly. A biasing means operably biases the second conical teeth portion of the second gear against the first conical teeth portion of the first gear to reduce any lash therebetween. The biasing means is configured to bias the second gear in an axial direction while maintaining a fixed center distance between the first and second axes. The first gear is rotatably fixed about the fixed first axis such that the first gear is prevented from translation along the fixed first axis.

Abstract: In an electronic sensor having a spool assembly and a housing cap, the spool assembly has a pair of grooves formed in the exterior surface and located diametrically opposed from each other. The housing cap has a pair of apertures configured and positioned in the cap to align with the grooves in the spool. The grooves and aperture are configured for receiving portions of a mounting bracket. When the mounting bracket is installed on the electronic sensor, a radial spring in communication with the spool assembly and housing cap maintains the mounting bracket in a locked relationship with the spool assembly and housing cap and minimizes the stack up tolerances from a reference surface to the tip of the electronic sensor.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a sensor at a fixed position with respect to a target is provided. The arrangement includes a housing for the sensor. A mount is provided spaced away from target having a bore. A fastener is provided for insertion into the bore. Fastener has a shank with a tapered portion. A looped bracket is provided having an eyelet for encircling the housing. The bracket has two opposite ends that are at least partially overlapping having generally aligned holes for reception of the shank. One of the bracket ends has a wedge tab. Upon insertion of the shank into the bore the wedge tab is contacted by the tapered portion of the shank to cause the bracket eyelet to close to capture the housing.

Abstract: A sensor package and method of making the same is disclosed in which the sensor package includes a sensor component for electromagnetic sensing having a holder assembly with the sensor component disposed at one end and sensor terminals in electrical communication with the sensor component extending from an opposite end. A harness assembly having a harness head configured with harness terminals extending therefrom for electrical connection with corresponding sensor terminals. The holder assembly and harness head are configured with a means for snap-fit assembly that provides space to mechanically connect corresponding sensor terminals and harness terminals with each other forming a resultant subassembly for insertion into a sensor housing. The housing further includes a heat-staked interface with the harness head that secures the subassembly relative to the sensor housing.

Abstract: In an electronic sensor having a spool assembly and a housing cap, the spool assembly has a pair of grooves formed in the exterior surface and located diametrically opposed from each other. The housing cap has a pair of apertures configured and positioned in the cap to align with the grooves in the spool. The grooves and aperture are configured for receiving portions of a mounting bracket. When the mounting bracket is installed on the electronic sensor, a radial spring in communication with the spool assembly and housing cap maintains the mounting bracket in a locked relationship with the spool assembly and housing cap and minimizes the stack up tolerances from a reference surface to the tip of the electronic sensor.

Abstract: A seat belt tension sensor assembly comprising a housing, a slider slidably received within said housing, said slider being configured for movement between a first position and a second position within said housing, a first and second magnet associated with said slider for slidable movement therewith, said first and said second magnets being positioned side by side with opposite polarization, a hall effect device being fixed relative to said housing and protruding between said first and said second magnets when said slider is in said second position, the hall effect device being configured to produce an output signal, said output signal being indicative of a seat belt tension of a seat belt as applied to said sensor assembly, and a biasing member for providing an urging force to said slider, the urging force urging said slider into said first position.

Abstract: A sensor package and method of making the same is disclosed in which the sensor package includes a sensor component for electromagnetic sensing having a sensor body with a sensor tip at one end. A sensor housing having a cavity for receiving the sensor component is disposed in a substrate and is aligned with an object to be sensed. The housing further includes a snap-fit interface with the sensor component that is configured to admit and secure the sensor tip during assembly thereof. A bracket is mechanically fixable to the substrate at a first end and is in operable communication with the sensor tip at a second end. The bracket is configured to bias the sensor tip towards the object to be sensed for elimination of an internal air gap between the sensor tip and housing formed during assembly thereof.