Having Particular Sensor Means Patents (Class 324/207.13)
  • Patent number: 8442180
    Abstract: A control rod position detector including a permanent magnet that is attached on a control rod inserted in a reactor pressure vessel, where the permanent magnet is capable of moving together with the control rod, and a plurality of reed switch mechanisms that are arranged in the reactor pressure vessel at regular intervals in an insertion direction of the control rod. Each of the reed switch mechanisms is provided with a pair of reed switches that are placed so as to overlap with each other in the insertion direction of the control rod. The pair of reed switches are connected to a common wiring. The common wiring is connected to a detector that detects a position of the control rod based on signals from the reed switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Nakamura, Tsukasa Suwazono, Yoshikazu Ui, Yutaka Sosa, Goro Yanase, Kazuhiro Kawagoe, Shinichi Ishizato, Norimitsu Komai
  • Publication number: 20130106404
    Abstract: A first and a second magnet are provided on a movable member so as to oppose to each other across a virtual plane. Each magnet is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the movable member, so that the same magnetic poles of the magnets are opposed to each other. A hall IC is provided at a position more remote from the movable member than the magnets so as to be movable on the virtual plane relative to the movable member. A Y-parallel area is formed in a space equally distanced from the first and the second magnets, in which magnetic fields of the first and the second magnet rebel against each other, so that directions of the magnetic fields are so made to be in parallel to a stroke direction of the movable member. Robustness for a position gap between the magnets and the hall IC is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: DENSO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8432163
    Abstract: The method for cancellation of low frequency noise in a magneto-resistive mixed sensor (1) comprising at least a superconducting loop with at least one constriction and at least one magneto-resistive element (6) comprises a set of measuring steps with at least one measuring step being conducted with the normal running of the mixed sensor and at least another measuring step being conducted whilst an additional super-current is temporarily injected in the at least one constriction of the at least one superconducting loop of the mixed sensor (1) up to a critical super-current of the constriction so that the result of the at least another measuring step is used as a reference level of the at least one magneto-resistive element (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Claude Fermon, Hedwige Polovy, Myriam Pannetier-Lecoeur
  • Patent number: 8427137
    Abstract: A transducer senses repetitive pulses on a magnetostrictive element and provides transducer output bursts. A transducer circuit detects the transducer output bursts. An energy storage device couples to a power input of the transducer circuit. A switching power supply couples to the energy storage device and has repetitive suppressed states during which switching in the switching power supply is suppressed. A sequence circuit provides synchronization of the repetitive suppressed states of the switching power supply with the transducer output bursts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Uwe Viola, Aleksey Minin, Frank Kraehe
  • Patent number: 8423228
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a decrease in air pressure of a tire attached to a vehicle includes a rotation speed detection means for periodically detecting rotation speeds of tires of respective wheels of the vehicle; a rotation wheel speed ratio calculation means for calculating a rotation wheel speed ratio between front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle; a wheel torque calculation means for calculating a wheel torque of the vehicle; an initialization means for obtaining a relation at a normal internal pressure between the wheel torque and the rotation wheel speed ratio; a comparison means for comparing the rotation wheel speed ratio with the rotation wheel speed ratio at a normal internal pressure obtained from the wheel torque and the relation; and a determination means for correcting the comparison result by a front-to-rear direction acceleration and determining whether there is a tire having a decreased air pressure or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
  • Patent number: 8423319
    Abstract: A process of mapping piping systems associated with a refinery and petrochemical facilities is disclosed, which maps piping systems, which interconnect facility operating units with other operating units, utilities, distribution facilities and storage units. A system for aiding in the isolation of piping systems, operating units and other facility components is also disclosed. The system includes a search database having representations of the piping systems and its related components. A method of isolating an event within a facility is also disclosed. The method includes identifying the location of an event in the facility, performing a search to identify the impacted piping systems and related components, and identifying measures to isolate the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Susan C. Hill, Elvis L. Calhoun, William Castro
  • Patent number: 8398044
    Abstract: A longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat (3) has a first seat rail (5) fixed to the vehicle structure and arranged on a vehicle floor (10) and a second seat rail (8) fixed to the seat and displaceable in relation to the first seat rail (5) and guided in same. A position detection device (20) is provided with a sensor (24), having a magnet and a Hall element. The sensor (24) is arranged in the interior of the second seat rail (8) and aligned with a flat area associated with the first seat rail (5) in which one end of the flat area corresponds to the end of the rail and the flat area forms a detection area. The sensor (24) is used to detect an end of the detection area. The sensor (24) has a certain detection range and the distance between the sensor (24) and the detection area lies within the certain detection range of the sensor (24). The distance between the sensor (24) and the vehicle floor (10) lies outside of the certain detection range of the sensor (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Keiper GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Christoffel, Norbert Heeg, Wolfgang Pluta
  • Patent number: 8398543
    Abstract: A capsule endoscope that includes a capsule-shaped casing and a detecting unit that is provided inside the casing to detect a magnetic field orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the casing, the endoscope being activated when the detecting unit detects a magnetic field of a threshold or more; a capsule container that houses the endoscope; a route portion in which a route is formed on which the container moves on a planar face; an activation magnetic field generating unit that is arranged at an interval along the route, and includes magnets for generating magnetic fields in a direction vertical to a direction in which the container moves on the route, the magnets being arranged such that respective magnetization directions are different; and a response unit that has a magnetization direction orthogonal respectively to a center axis direction of the longitudinal direction and a direction of the detected magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Masaki Takahashi, Hironao Kawano
  • Publication number: 20130063134
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor includes a member with a shaft associated with the member such that movement of the member rotates the shaft. An arc-shaped permanent magnet is coupled to a periphery of the shaft for rotation therewith. First and second adjacent magnetic field concentrators define a gap there-between. Sensor structure is disposed in the gap. Upon movement of the member causing rotation of the shaft and magnet, the concentrators and sensor structure remain stationary, with the magnet providing a magnetic pole that changes the magnetic field in the gap. The sensor structure is constructed and arranged to respond to the changes in the magnetic field to identify a position of the member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Kane, John Lackey
  • Patent number: 8384375
    Abstract: A non-contact position sensor includes a magnet, magnetoresistive elements arranged on a line extending in a predetermined direction on a pole surface of the magnet with predetermined intervals, and an object made of magnetic material displaceable in the predetermined direction. The magnetoresistive elements are connected serially between a power supply and a ground. A first magnetoresistive element is connected to the second magnetoresistive element at a first node. A second magnetoresistive element is connected to a third magnetoresistive element at a second node. The object includes a projection and a shaft connected to the projection. The projection can face the first to third magnetoresistive elements. The shaft is located away from the pole surface by a distance longer than a distance between the projection and the pole surface of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mikihiro Ohshima, Motoki Ogata, Yoshinori Takashima
  • Patent number: 8378664
    Abstract: In order to reduce the dimensions of the mechanical components and the number and size of the sensory and electronic components in an arrangement comprising a magnetic-field-dependent angle sensor which is effectively connected to a magnetic transmitter which is arranged such that it can rotate with respect to the angle sensor, while maintaining or improving the resolution of the output signal, the angle sensor is formed by at least one magnetoelectric converter, the electrical properties of which are dependent on the magnetic field strength but independent of the polarity of the magnetic field acting on the at least one converter. The magnetic field strength is selected such that the at least one converter is controlled in saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Michael Hinz
  • Publication number: 20130038320
    Abstract: This disclosure provides a method and system for extending the capability of a proximity detection system that is based on use of low frequency magnetic fields, to avoid conflicts in crowded work sites. The improvement is attained by combining the advantages of these low frequency magnetic fields with the advantages of much higher frequency, radiated (RF) signals that are controlled to be produced at the same time, concurrent with each other, in a coordinated and/or synchronous manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Inventor: Larry D. Frederick
  • Publication number: 20130033259
    Abstract: A permanent magnet is fixed to a stationary portion. A yoke made of magnetic material is provided to a rotating portion. The yoke is tube-shaped to surround the permanent magnet and has a chord portion into which a magnetic flux generated by the permanent magnet preferentially flows. The chord portion is arranged in such a manner as to be close to the permanent magnet. A Hall element is arranged at a specified position of the stationary portion relative to the permanent magnet 20. The Hall element outputs a signal which corresponds to a density and an angle of a magnetic flux generated between the chord portion and the permanent magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Hara, Yoshiyuki Kono, Toru Shimizu, Takamitsu Kubota
  • Publication number: 20120319679
    Abstract: A magnetic force microscope capable of measuring the absolute value of a magnetic field with high resolution without causing a change in magnetization state of the probe. The magnetic force microscope includes a cantilever, a probe, a displacement detector that detects a displacement of the probe, a specimen carrier, and various transfer units. The magnetic force microscope that measures an undulation distribution as well as a magnetic field distribution on the surface of a specimen placed on the specimen carrier is further provided with a magnetic-field impress-unit that impresses a magnetic field to the probe, and an output of the magnetic-field impress-unit is controlled such that a magnetic force impressed onto the probe 5 is turned zero to thereby measure a magnetic field distribution on the surface of the specimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Seiji HEIKE
  • Publication number: 20120313626
    Abstract: Identifying measurement subset comprising a disturbed measurement disturbed by a magnetic disturber includes emitting and measuring magnetic fields using mono-axial source/mono-axial transducer pairs to obtain real measurements distinguished by position of a source used to emit the field, position of transducer used to measure the field, and field frequency, a source being tied to a mobile object and the transducer tied to a frame of reference in which a position of the mobile object is to be expressed (or vice versa), estimating position of the object in the reference frame based on an observer and involving only a first subset of the measurements, estimating the measurements based at least in part on the estimated position Pi and on a direct model linking the object's position to the measurements, and determining whether or not the first measurement subset comprises a disturbed measurement by comparing the estimated and real measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventors: Viviane Cattin, Suzanne Lesecq, Nathalie Sprynski
  • Publication number: 20120313625
    Abstract: A device for visually indicating a change in the operational state of a proximity sensor. The device includes a transparent housing having a cavity and a magnet device for generating a magnetic field. In addition, a sleeve is attached to the housing. The magnet device is concealed within the sleeve in a first position to indicate a first operational state. When a target is positioned adjacent the sensor end, magnetic attraction occurs between the target and the magnet device due to the magnetic field to cause movement of the magnet device to a second position within the cavity wherein the magnetic field does not act on the proximity sensor to change the operational state from the first operational state to a second operational state. Further, the magnet device is visible in the second position to indicate the second operational state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: WESTLOCK CONTROLS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo Minervini, Kevin Connell
  • Publication number: 20120304964
    Abstract: A motor-driven throttle valve control device having high reliability and resistance to electrostatic noise from the gear cover connector is obtained by compactly forming an inductance-based noncontact rotation angle detecting device at the end of the throttle shaft. In the present invention, an excitation conductor is attached to the tip of the throttle shaft to which the throttle valve is attached. The gear cover is provided with a magnetic field exciting conductor and a signal detection conductor to face the excitation conductor. Further, an insulating member is arranged between the rotating shaft (throttle shaft) and the magnetic field exciting conductor and signal detection conductor. With this configuration, a motor-driven throttle valve control device having an inductance-based noncontact rotation angle detecting device, not affected by electrostatic noise and having high reliability, is realized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toyoshi NEMOTO, Hidefumi Hatsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8324891
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a sensing structure having a ring-shaped well, a plurality of contacts of equal size disposed along the ring-shaped well, a circuit having a plurality of electronic switches associated with the contacts of the sensing structure, a logic block for controlling the electronic switches, at least one current source, a voltage measuring device, a timing circuit providing a control signal for controlling the logic and providing a reference signal, wherein the logic block is configured to switch the switches under the control of the control signal so that a predetermined number of contacts of the plurality of contacts form a vertical Hall element supplied with current from the at least one current source and having two contacts connected to the voltage measuring device and circuitry configured to measure a phase shift between the reference signal and an output signal of the voltage measuring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL)
    Inventors: Pavel Kejik, Radivoje Popovic, Serge Reymond
  • Patent number: 8314607
    Abstract: To provide a rotation angle detector, which is characterized in that the rotation angle detector is for detecting a rotation angle of a measurable rotation body, by which it becomes able to measure the rotation angle of the measurable rotation body with an accuracy as higher even in a case where there may be happened such as an axial backlash or the like on an axis of rotation in the measurable rotation body, and then such a rotation angle detector 1 comprises: a magnetic detecting element 40, for detecting a magnetic flux density of a magnet 10 that is designed to be attached onto the measurable rotation body and then to be rotated as integral with the measurable rotation body, wherein the magnetic detecting element 40 is arranged at a position as approximately intermediate in a path from a north pole to a south pole according to a line of magnetic force due to the magnet 10, and then thereby it becomes able to measure the rotation angle of the measurable rotation body with the accuracy as higher even in the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kengo Tanaka, Fumihiko Abe, Dongzhi Jin
  • Patent number: 8314608
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention a method of determining a distance to a ferrous material comprises providing a plurality of magnetometers spaced at varying distances from a ferrous material, detecting a ferrous material with each of the plurality of magnetometers individually, establishing one of the plurality of magnetometers as a primary magnetometer, obtaining sensor readings from each of the plurality of magnetometers, forming a first ratio of the differences in the sensory readings of the primary magnetometer to the sensory readings of the other magnetometers, forming a second ratio of the differences in inversely cubed distances to the ferrous material from the primary magnetometer to inversely cubed distances to the ferrous material from the other magnetometers, setting the first ratio and the second ratio equal to each other, and calculating the distance to the ferrous material from the plurality of magnetometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Inventors: David R. Hall, David C. Wahlquist, Huntington Tracy Hall
  • Patent number: 8305072
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the assembly of an elongated magnetostrictive sensor in an enveloping tight protective profile, the sensor unit according to the invention comprises a head piece which closes the face of the protective profile and which partially reaches into the protective profile, wherein the wave conductor unit and also the circuit board are initially connected form locked with the head piece and electrically connected therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: ASM Automation Sensorik Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Manfred Steinich
  • Patent number: 8305074
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive transducer that generates a large shear horizontal (SH) wave useful for non-destructive testing of a plate member, and method and apparatus for structural health monitoring by using the magnetostrictive transducer. The magnetostrictive transducer includes: a magnetostrictive patch array comprising a plurality of magnetostrictive patches that have different radii of curvature, and have the same center of curvature when arranged on a plate member and form an overall fan-shape; a static magnetic field forming unit comprising two magnets that are respectively installed on both sides of the magnetostrictive patch so that a magnetic field is formed in parallel to an arc direction of the magnetostrictive patch; and a dynamic magnetic field forming unit comprising a wound coil comprising a plurality of curved portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: SNU R&DB Foundation
    Inventors: Ju Seung Lee, Min Kyung Lee, Heung Son Lee, Yoon Young Kim
  • Patent number: 8299780
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hand and press-button dual-way manual pulse generator with built-in indicator lamps, which comprises a rotation pulse input unit and a CPU. The CPU is connected with a forward rotation indicator lamp and an inverse rotation indicator lamp. The rotation signal input unit and/or the press-button signal input unit transmit the output signal to the CPU. The rotation pulse input unit transmits the output signal to the CPU where the output signal is processed and the control signal is then output through the difference chip. Meanwhile, the CPU collects control signals through the feedback circuit to realize self-check when the machine is turned on. The pulse generator has a non-contact structure extending significantly its service life than the prior art, which makes it durable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Dalian Guangyang Science & Technology Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dehai Yu, Xingjia He, Fuzheng Sun, Hongqi Chen, Xicai Liu, Defeng Gao
  • Publication number: 20120268109
    Abstract: A method and an arrangement for performing the method for the error-free conversion of the counting values of a segment counter including Wiegand sensors and the position values of a fine position sensor into a total position value using the last magnetization direction of the Wiegand wire of a segment counter as part of the information for an absolute synchronization of counting and position values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: WALTER MEHNERT, THOMAS THEIL
  • Patent number: 8283914
    Abstract: An absolute magnetic position encoder includes a magnet carrier (2) which is fixedly connected to a body to be monitored and carries permanent magnets (5) which are spaced in the direction of motion and which in paired relationship form magnet segments, by the counting and resolution of which the position of the body is determined, stationary magnetosensitive sensors (7, 8) which serve for fine resolution of the magnet segments and for recognition of the direction of motion and of which one can be supplied at least at times in cyclic relationship with a minimum current, a stationary Wiegand element (9) which when at least each second pair of magnetic poles passes delivers an electrical pulse which is added to or subtracted from a count value stored in non-volatile mode by an electronic arrangement (12), having regard to the direction of motion, and a logic circuit (26) which calculates the position of the body from the count value and the signals of the magnetosensitive sensors, wherein a part of the electric
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Walter Mehnert, Thomas Theil
  • Publication number: 20120249126
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting object movement includes one or more predetermined threshold detectors, one or more tracking threshold detectors, and an output selector to generate an output signal related to at least one of an output of a predetermined threshold detector or an output of a tracking threshold detector based on a predetermined condition. A method of detecting object movement includes generating: a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object, a tracking signal to track peaks of the magnetic field signal, a predetermined threshold output signal responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a predetermined threshold, and a tracking threshold output signal responsive to the magnetic field signal and to the tracking signal, and providing an output signal related to a selected one of the predetermined threshold output signal or the tracking threshold output signal based upon a predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto, Ravi Vig
  • Publication number: 20120249125
    Abstract: Displacement of a moving diaphragm in an electroacoustic transducer is measured by modulating an electrical signal based on changes in capacitance between the voice coil assembly and the magnetic structure resulting from relative motion between the voice coil and the magnetic structure. The modulated electrical signal is demodulated to produce an output signal having a value proportional to the displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Paul G. Yamkovoy, Pericles Nicholas Bakalos, Ricardo F. Carreras, Daniel M. Gauger, JR.
  • Patent number: 8264217
    Abstract: A detection head is provided for a moving vehicle. The detection head includes a coil array defined by a plurality of coils arranged along a moving direction of the moving vehicle. Dummy coils are provided on both sides of the coil array. Based on a difference between outputs of the dummy coils, whether the moving vehicle is in a continuous segment where the magnetic marks are provided at a constant first pitch or a discrete segment where the magnetic marks are arranged at a pitch wider than the first pitch is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8258782
    Abstract: An angle detecting apparatus includes a rotor fixed to a rotating shaft, a pair of magnetic sensors arranged close to the outer periphery of the rotor so as to have a difference in angle (?/2) with respect to the center of rotation of the rotor, a differential operational circuit performing differential operation on detection signals output by the magnetic sensors to output a differential signal, and the angle calculating circuit calculating the angle of rotation of the rotating shaft based on the differential signal. The planar shape of the rotor is such that the sum of the distances between the center of rotation and the respective two points where two straight lines crossing at the center of rotation at a crossing angle of (?/2) cross the outer periphery of the rotor is constant, and the planar shape is symmetric with respect to a straight line passing through the center of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshio Kaita, Hirokazu Miyamoto, Toshinao Kido, Junya Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8253411
    Abstract: A configuration of a pair of inductor coils within a local measuring range which can comprise a position range or an angle range. For the coil configuration, a nominal distance to a damping part is predefined which comprises an eddy current damping part which covers the coils, to a certain degree. In the evaluation circuit, the coils are connected to a capacitor, forming an oscillator part, whose inductance and capacitance determine a resonant frequency. The characteristic curve, oscillator frequency as a function of the position or the angle is linear. The rectangular inductors of the pair of coils overlap within the measuring range. The linear characteristic curves have a common point of rotation, outside of the measuring range, which is independent from interferences by the measuring configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Andreas Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8240230
    Abstract: An electronic pedal assembly including a treadle, a pedal arm connected to the treadle, and a rotor assembly about which the pedal arm rotates. The assembly also includes one or more Hall sensors positioned within a cavity in the rotor assembly and one or more magnets that fixedly attached to the rotor assembly. The Hall sensors detect the position of the treadle by monitoring the positions of the magnets. Also, a method of monitoring an electronic pedal assembly using one or more magnets and one or more Hall sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Holding ASA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuck Peniston, Sean Rick, Jan Vondras
  • Patent number: 8232757
    Abstract: A motor rotational position detecting method detects the magnetic pole position of each phase of a three-phase AC servomotor, generates a three-phase square wave signal having a phase difference of 120 degrees, allocates data on the rotational position of a motor shaft to the edge of each square wave signal, calculates the rotational speed of the motor on the basis of the elapsed time from the previous edge detection point to this time edge detection point, and estimates the rotational position of the motor shaft at a certain period and outputs it on the basis of the rotational speed of the motor and the rotational position allocated to this time edge in the rotational section from this time edge detection point to the next edge detection point. As a result, a detection mechanism can be constructed with a small installation space and at low cost and the output of a high-resolution encoder can be obtained in a pseudo manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Harmonic Drive Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Kozo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8228028
    Abstract: Methods for accurately tracking position and orientation of a magnetic-field sensor in a tracking volume when a large magnetic-field distorter is present in the tracking volume. In some of the methods, magnetic field data is collected from within the tracking volume both with and without the large magnetic-field distorter present in the tracking volume. This data is used to obtain correction information that is subsequently used during real-time operation of the magnetic-field sensor to correct the position and orientation solutions for the sensor for magnetic-field distortions caused by the presence of the large magnetic-field distorter in the tracking volume. Others of the methods involve modeling the large magnetic-field distorter using dipole and multipole modeling. Magnetic tracking systems for implementing the methods include hardware and software for carrying out the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ascension Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Mark R. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120181876
    Abstract: A magnetic positioning system for use in inductive couplings. The magnetic positioning system having a magnet that provides sufficient magnetic force, but does not have enough electrical conductivity to overheat in the presence of the anticipated electromagnetic field. The magnet may be a bonded magnet or a shielded magnet. In another aspect a plurality of magnets are used to provide magnetic attraction forces and said magnetic repulsion forces that cooperate to align the inductive power supply and the remote device. In another aspect, a sensor allows differentiation between different positions of the remote device or inductive power supply. In another aspect, multiple magnets in the inductive power supply interact with multiple magnets in the remote device to position the remote device in different positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: ACCESS BUSINESS GROUP INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: David W. Baarman, Matthew J. Norconk, Brad A. Zylstra
  • Publication number: 20120182658
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus to perform a low power activation of a system by measuring the slope of a digital signal corresponding to a motion sensor measurement value. In one embodiment, a low power activation circuit is coupled to magnetic motion sensor configured to output a magnetic signal proportional to a measured magnetic field. The low power activation circuit may comprise a digital tracking circuit configured to provide a digital signal that tracks the magnetic field and a difference detector configured to detect a difference between a current digital signal and a prior digital signal stored in a digital storage means. If the detected difference is larger than a digital reference level, an activation signal is output to awaken a system from a sleep mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 8222888
    Abstract: A sensor having a power management mechanism controlled by an external trigger signal is presented. The sensor includes a magnetic field signal generating circuit and a control circuit coupled to the magnetic field signal generating circuit. The control circuit, responsive to an externally generated trigger signal, initiates a supply current pulse that activates the magnetic field signal generating circuit for a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David, Nevenka Kozomora, Gary T. Pepka
  • Patent number: 8222895
    Abstract: A compact sensing device capable of sensing a rotational angle and a rotational velocity, or a rectilinear moving distance and a moving velocity. A displacement sensing device that senses a rotational angle of a moving member rotation and a distance of a linear movement of the moving member, or senses an angular velocity of the moving member rotation and a velocity of a linear movement of the moving member, includes: a first movable member, moved together with the moving member by a linear movement of the moving member; a second movable member holding the first movable member in a rotatable manner, and rotated together with the moving member by rotation of the moving member; a first sensor outputting a signal in accordance with a linear movement of the first movable member; and a second sensor outputting a signal in accordance with a rotation of the second movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Norimi Asahara, Yukiko Nishida, Masahisa Niwa
  • Patent number: 8222889
    Abstract: An arrangement for detecting a movement of a body, in which the body (20?) is mounted in such a way that it can move in at least one direction and in which a magnet (200) is incorporated. Its poles are aligned substantially parallel to a primary plane. A detector system is furthermore provided that comprises at least four magnetic field sensors (10a to 10d) for the detection of a change in the magnetic field when the body (20?) moves. In addition, a further magnetic field sensor (11) is provided for generating a correction signal that depends on the magnetic field. An evaluation unit (20) is used to provide movement information relating to the body (20?) derived from signals from the four magnetic field sensors (10a to 10d) and the minimum of one further magnetic field sensor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Oberhoffner
  • Patent number: 8212566
    Abstract: A sensor for sensing an angular position of an instrument relative to a static magnetic field includes a flexible beam, an electromagnetic device, and a measuring device. The beam at one end may be coupled to the instrument, and lies along a sensor axis when the beam is in a non -flexed state. The electromagnetic device is coupled to the beam and is configured for generating a magnetic sensor field aligned with the sensor axis. The measuring device communicates with the beam and is configured for measuring a property of the beam related to an amount of flexure of the beam. The sensor may be utilized to set the instrument at a desired angle prior to operating the instrument, and to determine whether the instrument has deviated from the desired angle during operation. The instrument may include a probe spinning module such as may be utilized in magnetic resonance experiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Glen Mullen
  • Publication number: 20120165656
    Abstract: A method, consisting of generating, using a plurality of magnetic transmitters, a magnetic field in a region and introducing a field perturbing element into the region. The method includes characterizing multiple images of each magnetic transmitter in the field perturbing element, and calculating a reaction magnetic field in the region based on the characterized images. The method further includes positioning a probe in the region and measuring a perturbed magnetic field at the probe, and determining a location of the probe in response to the measured perturbed magnetic field and the calculated reaction magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Avram Dan Montag, Meir Bar-Tal, Tal Haim Bar-on
  • Patent number: 8203330
    Abstract: Distance measuring device comprising an emitter and a receiver, said emitter being arranged to produce a magnetic field by means of a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency, said receiver being arranged to pick up at said resonant frequency the magnetic field emitted by the emitter and convert the strength of the magnetic field picked up into a first signal having an energy value, said emitter being arranged to produce said magnetic field intermittently, each emission having a predetermined energy, said receiver being connected to a detector arranged to determine, by correlation of said first signal with a second predetermined signal having a waveform representative of a signal to be picked up by the receiver, a distance measurement signal representing the distance between the emitter and the receiver. The device finds its application in detectors for sleep disorders or other forms of illness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignees: Nomics (Societe Anonyme), Logistique Spatiale Wallonne-Wallonia Space Logistics- “W.S.L.” (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Pierre Ansay, Robert Poirrier, Bernard Beckers
  • Patent number: 8203331
    Abstract: A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element disposed on a stationary member, and a second sensor element disposed on a rotational member. The second sensor element is proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element. The rotational member is configured to facilitate selection of at least a first position and a second position, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing of the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Staffan Erickson, Eric Cahill, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20120139530
    Abstract: An electromagnetic array includes a plurality of axially spaced electromagnets deployed in a non-magnetic housing. The array further includes an electrical module, such as a diode bridge, configured to provide an electrical current having a fixed polarity to at least the first electromagnet in the array. The array may be configured to generate a magnetic field pattern having (i) a single magnetic dipole when the array is energized with an electrical current having a first polarity and (ii) at least one pair of opposing magnetic poles when the array is energized with an electrical current having the opposite polarity. The invention provides multiple independent ranging methodologies for determining the relative position between the wellbores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Graham A. McElhinney, Robert A. Moore
  • Patent number: 8188730
    Abstract: An inductive proximity sensor and related method for sensing a presence/position of a target, with mounting effect compensation, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing a proximity sensor having first and second coils that are both at least indirectly in communication with control circuitry. The method also includes receiving respective first and second signals at least indirectly indicative of respective first and second electromagnetic field components respectively experienced by the first coil as influenced both by a target and a structure supporting the sensor and the second coil as influenced by the supporting structure. The method further includes determining by way of the circuitry a third signal based at least in part upon the first signal, as modified based at least in part upon the second signal, whereby the third signal is indicative of the presence or position of the target relative to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaofeng Gong, Wei S. Qian, Weihua Chen
  • Patent number: 8179125
    Abstract: A magnetic passive position sensor including a base plate and a cover which form a housing, a magnet that can be moved outside the housing, a resistance network that has several individual electric contacts, and a plurality of contact spring elements that are arranged within the range of motion of the magnet, are interconnected by a common base, and consist of a bending zone and a contact zone. The contact spring elements face the contacts of the resistance network in such a way that the contact zones can be moved from the magnets against the contacts of the resistance network, the contact zones of at least two contact spring elements being assigned to each individual contact of the resistance network. Two adjoining contact spring elements are mechanically interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Guenter Benner, Bernd Pauer
  • Patent number: 8179124
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inductive proximity sensor for embedding in a mild steel mounting plate, comprising an enclosure with a front wall of synthetic material forming a sensing face at a front end of the enclosure, an oscillator comprising a sensor coil with a core made of a material with a relative magnetic permeability larger than 1, typically a ferrite, which is arranged within the enclosure behind the front wall so that an open side of the core is directed towards the sensing face in order to direct the magnetic field of the coil towards a target in front of the sensing face, a hollow cylindrical metal member arranged perpendicular to the sensing face and surrounding the core, and a measuring circuit for measuring an attenuation of the oscillator due to eddy currents. The core is radially surrounded by a metal layer with a low electrical resistivity of less than 15 ??·cm and with a thickness of less than 40 ?m, in order to improve the embeddability of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Optosys SA
    Inventors: Marc De Huu, Peter Heimlicher, Charles Rhême, Philippe Venier
  • Patent number: 8159214
    Abstract: A position detecting system includes a magnetic field generator, a detecting body, a magnetic field detector, a position/direction calculating unit, and a control unit. The magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field in a three-dimensional space. The detecting body is put into the three-dimensional space, and includes a resonance circuit for generating a resonance magnetic field. The position/direction calculating unit calculates a position/direction of the detecting body. If the resonance circuit is in the non-resonant state, the magnetic field detector detects an environmental magnetic field, and the control unit updates detection data of the environmental magnetic field. If the resonance circuit is in the resonant state, the magnetic field detector detects the spatial magnetic field in the three-dimensional space. The position/direction calculating unit executes processing using the detection data of the spatial magnetic field and updated detection data of the environmental magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Akio Uchiyama, Atsushi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8148978
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor array includes a first three-dimensional magnetic sensor secured to a substrate in a central location of the substrate. A number of second three-dimensional magnetic sensors are secured to the substrate at a first distance from the first magnetic sensor. Additionally, a number of one-dimensional magnetic sensors are secured to the substrate at a second distance from the first magnetic sensor greater than the first distance. Additional magnetic sensors of any dimension may also be included. The magnetic field sensitivity of the first and second three-dimensional magnetic sensors may be less than the magnetic field sensitivity of the one-dimensional magnetic sensors. The sensing range of the first and second three-dimensional magnetic sensors may be greater than the sensing range of the one-dimensional magnetic sensors. The magnetic sensor array may also include a processing circuit coupled to the magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: DePuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason T. Sherman, Mark R. DiSilvestro, Radivoje S. Popovic
  • Patent number: 8143883
    Abstract: A magnetic angular-position sensor is mounted between two carrier elements that are movable in rotation relative to each other about an axis of rotation. The sensor has firstly a magnetic body defining a working zone in which there extends a magnetic field having field lines perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and secondly a detector member having at least one probe extending in the working zone of the magnetic member in order to provide a signal as a function of the angular orientation of the probe relative to the field lines in the working zone. The magnetic member has two parallel magnet segments and two elongate pole pieces of ferromagnetic material extending perpendicularly to the magnet segments and covering the ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes de Controle Moteur
    Inventors: Christophe Maerky, Mahmoud Sfaxi
  • Patent number: 8138748
    Abstract: A position sensor (PS) that is in position to deliver data for evaluating positioning data of an axle (OS) over a specified number of turns, where two transmissions (G1, G2) are affixed to the axle (OS) for being in position to transmit each the position of the axle to a rotary encoder (RE), the transmission ratios being chosen such that over the specified number of turns of the axle (OS) both transmissions (G1, G2) at the output differ in one turn, as well as to an evaluation circuit, and to an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Bernd Malich, Dieter Moser, Bernd Egger