Having Particular Sensor Means Patents (Class 324/207.13)
  • Patent number: 7791331
    Abstract: According to the intended use, an electrical conductor (1) having a magnetically sensitive surface (10) subjected to the magnetic force of a permanent magnet (11) is produced, the area of this surface varying according to its relative position with respect to the magnet, said relative position between the magnet and the magnetically sensitive surface is varied, which causes at least one physical characteristic of this conductor, to vary, and said variation in physical characteristic(s) of the electrical conductor is recorded, this variation being in correlation with the position of the magnet (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventor: Eric Servel
  • Patent number: 7791462
    Abstract: An occupant detecting apparatus includes a detecting portion detecting whether an occupant is seated on a seat, and a judging portion judging whether the occupant occupies the seat on the basis of information detected by the detecting portion. The judging portion judges that the seat is unoccupied by the occupant when a state where a detection that the occupant is not seated on the seat by the detecting portion continues for a judgment time after the detecting portion detects that the seat is occupied by the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Morio Sakai
  • Publication number: 20100219811
    Abstract: An encoded scale body for a position/displacement measuring system is provided, which comprises a support band, at least one encoding layer made of encoding material, which is arranged on the support band, and a cover band which covers the encoding material towards an outside space, the cover band being formed by the support band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUF GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bauch, Thomas Burkhardt, Roland Holder, Torsten Beutler, Karl Blessing, Bernhard Hahn
  • Publication number: 20100219812
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive application probe is disclosed wherein the probe includes a preassembled sensor element mounted as an application housing installation as an installable unit. The modular nature allows interchanging with various electronic assemblies, and may be an explosion proof installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Barr, Michael L. Gloden, Arnold Fred Sprecher, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100213927
    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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Walter MEHNERT, Thomas Theil
  • Publication number: 20100207608
    Abstract: A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element disposed on an outside surface of a chamber. The chamber comprises an inside surface configured to receive a piston, and the piston is configured to move a value X within the chamber without physically contacting the first sensor element. The non-contact sensor system further comprises a second sensor element disposed on the piston and separated from the first sensor element by a wall of the chamber. The first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing the value X. The non-contact sensor system may be configured to sense velocity, acceleration, volume, and other values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Staffan Erickson, Eric Cahill, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20100207609
    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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Staffan Erickson, Eric Cahill, Harald Klode
  • Publication number: 20100207610
    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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Hans-Guenter Benner, Bernd Pauer
  • Publication number: 20100176800
    Abstract: A simple position determination is enabled by a device and a method to determine the position of a local coil in a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein at least one signal emitted by at least one transmission coil is received by the local coil and is evaluated with a position determination device in order to determine the position of the local coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Stephan Biber, Thorsten Feiweier, Wolfgang Renz
  • Patent number: 7755349
    Abstract: Method and apparatus improve sensing accuracy and reduce bias shift in anisotropic magneto-resistive sensors using paired integrators and sampling switches for processing outputs of the sensor on applied set and reset signals with high immunity to temperature variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: MEMSIC, Inc.
    Inventor: John J James
  • Publication number: 20100171490
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring the bending of a shaft, particularly a shaft in a mixing kneader, the shaft having a bearing at least on one side. In a first step, the deviation of the shaft from the radial position is measured on at least one position different from the bearing of the shaft. In a further step, a reference value is optionally determined from the measured deviation from the radial position. In a third step, the deviation from the radial position as measured in the first step or the reference value found in the second step is compared with a predetermined limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Huanmin Wei, Wilfried Heide, Annemarie Hillebrecht, Oskar Stephan, Asif Karim
  • Publication number: 20100171489
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprises a read head, a position identification scale and a motion identification scale. The read head is provided with a position sensing unit opposite the position identification scale, and a motion sensing unit opposite the motion identification scale. The read head is further provided with a signal processing unit that is connected with the position sensing unit and the motion sensing unit. By such arrangements, the sensing accuracy can be improved, and the material cost can be relatively reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventor: Chih-Mao SHIAO
  • Publication number: 20100171488
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for measuring the alignment error of two axles provided with a first and a second coupling part by means of a biaxial orthogonal magnetic sensor system comprising a sensor and a magnet, wherein said sensor is designed to be placed on the first coupling part with its one direction of sensing oriented in one direction of magnetization of said magnet, which magnet is designed to be placed on the other coupling part and means for reading off an angle error and offset error independently of each other during the rotation of the axles on-line. The system moreover includes a reference sensor for determining said angle error and offset error orientation relative to a known direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: ELOS FIXTURLASER AB
    Inventors: Jan Wipenmyr, Christer Johansson, Christian Jonasson
  • Patent number: 7746066
    Abstract: In order to be able to perform a measurement of the run time of an electrical impulse in a position sensor through a single slow timed timing generator, while still capable to achieve a high precision of the measurement result, the entire run time is determined, so that the number of the completely performed system timings is counted as a coarse time value, and the fractions thereof are counted as a fine time value, in which the electrical impulse is started at a fixed point in time of the system timing, e.g. at the beginning of the timing, and the difference value is measured between the end of the coarse time interval and the arrival of the wave as a fine time interval, which is then digitized and computed with the coarse time value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus Manfred Steinich, Peter Wirth
  • Publication number: 20100156399
    Abstract: A position detecting device includes a detected object that includes a circuit with an internal coil; a magnetic-field generator that includes a magnetic-field generating coil for generating a magnetic field with respect to a detection space of the detected object; detection coils that detect an induced magnetic field generated from the internal coil caused by the magnetic field; a magnetic-field-generating-coil switching unit that selects a magnetic-field generating coil from the magnetic-field generating coils in the magnetic-field generator; a storage unit that stores predetermined information for selecting a magnetic-field generating coil from the magnetic-field generating coils in the magnetic-field generator; and a control unit that controls the magnetic-field-generating-coil switching unit to select the magnetic-field generating coil to be operated among the magnetic-field generating coils in the first magnetic-field generator, based on at least one of a position and a direction of the detected object
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Atsushi CHIBA, Atsushi KIMURA, Ryoji SATO, Akio UCHIYAMA, Hironao KAWANO, Masaki TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20100156398
    Abstract: A magneto-strictive scanning unit is formed through an actuation pushrod disposed and guided on an outside of a tight housing of a position sensor, in which the delicate sensor is tightly encapsulated, and components of an actuation unit can be disassembled and repaired without opening the sensor housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Klaus Manfred Steinich
  • Publication number: 20100148762
    Abstract: A magnetic position sensor is disclosed for detecting the location of a component which can be moved along an actuating path. The sensor can be located along an actuating path for generating a magnetic field whose polarity changes along the actuating path. At least one galvanomagnetic detector is provided which is located in a region of action of the magnetic field with at least two measurement fields and which can be adjusted relative to the magnetic field along the actuating path, wherein the galvanomagnetic detector is made for vectorial evaluation of the magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: POLYCONTACT AG
    Inventors: Andreas IMHOF, Josua LANTER
  • Patent number: 7737684
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive application probe is disclosed wherein the probe includes a preassembled sensor element mounted as an application housing installation as an installable unit. The modular nature allows interchanging with various electronic assemblies, and may be an explosion proof installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney Barr, Michael L. Gloden, Arnold Fred Speecher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7719262
    Abstract: An inductive proximity sensor or switch and a method of using same. The sensor or switch includes an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”) and a plurality of external components. The ASIC is implemented in CMOS technology and has an oscillator. A switch point of the sensor or switch is predetermined by selection of a bias voltage to a potential node of the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: David Hardie
  • Publication number: 20100104275
    Abstract: An input device for zooming and shutter releasing includes a shutter release button; a pressing protrusion; a tact switch located on a substrate and configured to be pressed when the shutter release button is pressed downward; a rotary member rotatably supported at the periphery of the shutter release button; a magnet configured to be rotated in association with rotation of the rotary member, the magnet having a through hole at the center thereof, the pressing protrusion supported to extend through the through hole; and a magnetic sensor located at a position to face the through hole in the height direction and configured to detect a rotational magnetic field that is generated by the magnet because of the rotation of the rotary member, the tact switch and the magnetic sensor arranged side by side on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Takeya, Yasunori Sasaki, Takashi Onodera, Keiji Ito
  • Publication number: 20100102799
    Abstract: A cartridge (2) with a fill level detection system (10, 10?, 10?), the cartridge comprising a substantially rigid containing wall (4) having a tubular wall portion (12) surrounding a chamber (18) for receiving liquid therein, a plunger or piston (8) mounted inside the chamber and configured to seal one side of the chamber, the plunger or piston being displaceable in the chamber towards an outlet end (14) of the cartridge, characterised in that the fill level detection system comprises a plurality of discrete fixed electrodes (24, 24?) positioned along the tubular wall portion in a juxtaposed manner in a direction of displacement D of the plunger or piston (8), and a mobile electrode member (28) fixed to the plunger or piston and displaceable therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: JÜRG SCHNIDRIG
  • Patent number: 7705551
    Abstract: An actuating device for actuators, such as switching, throttle or swirl flaps, in internal combustion engines for motor vehicles comprises a shaft connected with an actuating motor. The shaft is connected with an actuator, such as a switching flap or the like. In a predetermined position relative to the shaft two pin-type magnets are arranged and preferably connected with a partly toothed gearwheel. When the shaft is rotated, the pin-type magnets move relative to a preferably fixed magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor is a linear Hall sensor. Provision of a linear Hall sensor allows three different shaft positions to be determined. The positions are the two shaft positions defined by the pin-type magnets in which the magnets are arranged opposite the Hall sensor, and a position in which the location of the pin-type magnets does not allow the Hall sensor to detect a magnetic field. In the latter position the linear Hall sensor has a defined bridge voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Buerger, Norbert Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20100097050
    Abstract: A displacement measuring apparatus is provided, which comprises a measuring sensor, a housing, a first board, a second board and a third board, which boards are arranged in the housing and are circuit carriers, wherein the second board and the third board are in each case oriented transversely to the first board, the second board and the third board are connected by means of a first plug-in connection device and the combination of the second board and third board is connected to the first board by means of a second plug-in connection device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Wangler, Gerd Eckel
  • Publication number: 20100090687
    Abstract: Magnetic shift tracks or magnetic strips, to which application of a rotating magnetic field or by rotation of the strip itself allows accurate determination of domain wall movement. One particular embodiment is a method of determining a position of a domain wall in a magnetic strip. The method includes applying a rotating magnetic field to the magnetic strip, the magnetic field rotating around a longitudinal axis of the magnetic strip, and after applying the magnetic field, determining a displacement of the domain wall to a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Xiaobin Wang, Haiwen Xi, Yiran Chen, Yuan Yan, Jun Zheng
  • Publication number: 20100085038
    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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Hinz
  • Publication number: 20100045272
    Abstract: A position detector includes a magnet which moves in cooperation with movement of a detection subject. A magnetic sensor detects magnetic flux generated from the magnet and outputs first and second detection signals from two output terminals. A signal processing circuit differentially amplifies the detection signals to generate an analog signal. A control unit calculates movement of the detection subject based on the analog signal. An abnormality detection circuit includes a switching element which connects one of the output terminals of the magnetic sensor to ground. The control unit determines an abnormality in the magnetic sensor and the signal processing circuit by comparing the voltage level of the analog signal with a predetermined determination level, which is the voltage level of the analog signal when the first switching element is activated during normal operation of the magnetic sensor and the signal processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Seiji KONDO
  • Publication number: 20100045271
    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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: THE FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Kengo Tanaka, Fumihiko Abe, Dongzhi Jin
  • Publication number: 20100033168
    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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Dalian Guangyang Science & Technology Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dehai Yu, Xingjia He, Fuzheng Sun, Hongqi Chen, Xicai Liu, Defeng Gao
  • Publication number: 20100033167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic position sensor (1) consisting of a non-electroconductive, non-magnetic carrier (2) on which a resistive layer (3) is arranged, in addition to a pick-off layer (4) which is located at a distance from the resistive layer and at least partially overlaps the same. The distance between the two layers is selected in such a way that contact is established between the two layers by means of a magnetic device (5) that can be moved along the overlapping regions of the resistive layer (3) and the pick-off layer (4). According to the invention, the pick-off layer (4) is a film which consists of a ferromagnetic material and is electroconductive at least on one side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Gerhard Peter
  • Patent number: 7659712
    Abstract: Process measurement may be achieved by systems and techniques generating output signals based on the measured process. In certain implementations, process measurement systems and techniques may include the ability to generate a magnetic field and successively change the orientation of the magnetic field. The systems and techniques may also include the ability to sense the presence of at least a first orientation of the magnetic field with a magnetic field sensor including a conductor and at least two Wiegand-effect conductors as the magnetic field orientation is changed and to generate an electrical pulse in the conductor with each Wiegand-effect conductor when the first orientation of the magnetic field is sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Francisco M. Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20100026281
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor circuit of the present invention includes: a Hall device 10; selection switch circuit 20 switching a detection state of the Hall device 10 to either a first switch state or a second switch state; a comparator unit 60 performing comparison using a detection voltage of a magnetoelectric conversion device 10 aid a predetermined reference voltage to generate a comparison result signal COUT; a logic circuit 80 generating, based on an output signal OUT and the comparison result signal COUT, a logic operation signal LOUT for maintaining or inverting the logic of the output signal OUT; a latch circuit 70 latching the logic operation signal LOUT to output this as the output signal OUT; and a control circuit go determining, based on the output signal OUT, an order of switching the detection state of the Hall device 10 (from the first switch state to the second switch state, or from the second switch state to the first switch state).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7649283
    Abstract: Means and methods of remotely powering a plurality of sensor coils are described. The plurality of sensor coils can be inductively coupled to a single, primary coil so as to bias the active circuitry of the sensors. The primary and sensor coils can have a separation on the order of inches, such that the sensors can be mounted exterior to a vessel and the primary coil can be mounted interior to the vessel. In some embodiments, the primary coil can be a wire coil. In other embodiments, the primary coil can be a planar coil pattern etched onto a printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: David A. Tonn, Paul Medeiros
  • Patent number: 7650178
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor navigation system is disclosed, which includes: (a) a magnetic sensor array, including one or more magnetic non-Faradaic sensors; (b) a sensor interface operatively connected to receive a signal from each sensor of the array, wherein the sensor interface operates to generate a processed signal from one or more signals received from each sensor of the array; and (c) a processing and control unit connected to receive the processed signal, wherein the processing and control unit operates to calculate a spatial position of the sensor array using the processed signal when the sensor array is placed within a magnetic resonance environment of an MR scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: University of Basel
    Inventor: Klaus Scheffler
  • Publication number: 20090288513
    Abstract: An arrangement of position transmitters on a selector rod for automatic speed change transmissions in motor vehicles, which interact with housing-mounted position sensors of an electrical speed detection circuit, at least one selector rod on its end regions being movably supported in cross walls of the housing of the transmissions and being actuated by means of a preferably electrohydraulically controlled speed selection unit where the selector rod projects through a through an opening in a cross wall of the transmission, which wall separates the oil compartment into the gear chamber which holds at least the speed selection unit and the position sensors, and the position transmitters are attached directly to the selector rod such that the selector rod with the position transmitters can be mounted through the through the opening as a mounting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Christian Meixner, Mario Schenker, Johann Märkl
  • Patent number: 7619405
    Abstract: To improve the measurement precision and the robustness of the time measurement in spite of low installation size and cost, e.g. at a magnetostrictive position sensor, according to the invention a specific process for determining a time interval between a start impulse and a position impulse of a position sensor according to the travel time principle is proposed. The start impulse is generated by the position sensor and the position impulse is generated by a position magnet as response to the start impulse depending on the position of the position magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: ASM Automation Sensorik Messetechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Manfred Steinich, Peter Wirth
  • Patent number: 7612554
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive-based sensor is disclosed which obtains higher return signals through the use of multiple consecutive input pulses
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Arnold F. Sprecher
  • Publication number: 20090266977
    Abstract: A photonic proximity sensor and photonic sensor system are provided. The photonic proximity sensor includes a first light source, a second light source, and a magneto-optic device. The magneto-optic device receives light emitted from the first and second light sources, and is responsive to variations of a magnetic field to rotate the light from one of the sources significantly more than the light from the other light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Danial L. Kosht, Stephen M. Emo
  • Patent number: 7609055
    Abstract: A field-altering device for an inductive sensor has an elongated body with a substantially saw-tooth profile. The body is made of steel or other type ferrous material. With use in a Hall-effect sensor, the body moves relative to the sensor causing the field to vary periodically with time. The sensor generates an electrical signal in dependence on the field variations, the electrical signal having a saw-tooth pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Control Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard O. Glasson
  • Patent number: 7602173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for detecting a difference angle, comprising at least one magnet field-sensitive sensor element (12), with which the magnetic field information of a magnetic circuit, consisting of a magnetic pole wheel (10) and of ferromagnetic flux rings (14, 16) with teeth (18, 20), can he evaluated. The invention is characterized in that the teeth (18, 20) extend in a radial direction for radially tapping the magnetic field information of the magnetic pole wheel (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Reichert
  • Patent number: 7598732
    Abstract: A waveguide driving circuit for generating a current pulse in a waveguide includes a voltage source for providing a direct voltage, a choke the first terminal of which is coupled to a first terminal of the voltage source, a first switch the first terminal of which is coupled to a second terminal of the choke and the second terminal of which is coupled to a second terminal of the voltage source, the waveguide the first terminal of which at a first waveguide end is coupled to the first terminal of the first switch and the second terminal of which at the first waveguide end is coupled to a second terminal of the voltage source, and a controller implemented to open and close the first switch, to generate a current pulse at the terminals of the waveguide at the first waveguide end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Hackner, Elmar Herzer
  • Publication number: 20090224750
    Abstract: An apparatus including a controller, a workpiece transport in communication with the controller having a movable portion and a transport path, and a multi-dimensional position measurement device including at least one field generating platen attached to the movable portion and at least one sensor group positioned along the transport path and in communication with the controller, the field generating platen is configured for position measurement and propelling the movable portion, each sensor in the at least one sensor group is configured to provide but one output signal along a single axis corresponding to a sensed field generated by the at least one field generating platen and the controller is configured calculate a multi-dimensional position of the movable portion based on the but one output signal of at least one of the sensors in the at least one sensor group, the multi-dimensional position including a planar position and a gap measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Christopher Hofmeister, John F. Zettler, Alexander Krupyshev, Sergei Syssoev, Krzystof Majczak
  • Publication number: 20090195240
    Abstract: A pickup coil includes a sensing unit having an iron core, a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to a rear end position of the iron core, and a coil for sensing a change of magnetic flux occurring in the iron core; and a supporting frame member. The sensing unit is molded with a cup-shaped resin case. The sensing unit is integrally molded with the supporting frame member and is mounted on a mounting object via the supporting frame member. A plurality of weight units for adjusting a characteristic frequency of the coil is stored in a weight storage section formed inside the resin case at a position spaced away from the supporting frame member. The weight storage section is sized such that one or more weight units are accommodated therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20090160433
    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: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventor: Gerhard Oberhoffner
  • Publication number: 20090153135
    Abstract: An assembly includes a magnetostrictive transducer that provides a transducer output. Amplifier circuitry receives the transducer output and generates a transducer output burst and a bias output burst. The transducer output burst and bias output burst overlap in time and differ by a phase difference. A burst processor receives the transducer output burst and the bias output burst. The burst processor provides a displacement output that is a function of a time when the transducer output burst and the bias output burst are at the same voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: MTS Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Uwe Viola, Vladimir Zubenko, Arnold Sprecher
  • Patent number: 7548057
    Abstract: A position sensor according to the transit time principle of a mechanical-elastic wave. The position sensor includes a waveguide made out of electrically conductive material, and a detector coil in a detector range being arranged coaxially on the waveguide. A position magnet moveable along the waveguide. A position magnet moves along the waveguide and a flux guide unit is assigned to the detector coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Klaus Manfred Steinich
  • Publication number: 20090146645
    Abstract: In order to be able to perform a measurement of the run time of an electrical impulse in a position sensor through a single slow timed timing generator, while still capable to achieve a high precision of the measurement result, the entire run time is determined, so that the number of the completely performed system timings is counted as a coarse time value, and the fractions thereof are counted as a fine time value, in which the electrical impulse is started at a fixed point in time of the system timing, e.g. at the beginning of the timing, and the difference value is measured between the end of the coarse time interval and the arrival of the wave as a fine time interval, which is then digitized and computed with the coarse time value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: ASM AUTOMATION SENSORIK MESSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Manfred Steinich, Peter Wirth
  • Publication number: 20090146646
    Abstract: The invention relates to 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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Bernd Malich, Dieter Moser, Bernd Egger
  • Publication number: 20090140726
    Abstract: A measuring device to measure a magnetic field having at least one measuring coil and at least one sensor to measure low-frequency magnetic fields, which measuring coil and which sensor have their planes of extension each positioned or positionable transverse to the flux direction of the magnetic field. The measuring coil and the sensor are connected to a signal processing device with which, depending on a first measurement signal provided by the measuring coil and a second measurement signal provided by the sensor, an output signal that essentially corresponds to the magnetic field can be generated. The measuring coil, the sensor, and the signal processing device are monolithically integrated into a semiconductor chip. The measuring coil may also be formed by means of traces of a printed circuit board on which the semiconductor chip that has the sensor and the signal processing device is located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Janke
  • Publication number: 20090128137
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (6) for measuring the distance between a stator and a rotor, which sensor is of the magnetic type and has a sensor body (8) to which is attached a sensor tip (10), The tip of the sensor (10) is connected to the sensor body (8) by a fixing arrangement (14) that has a locking device (16) that interacts with engaging devices (24) and a spring arrangement (34). The locking device (16) is pressed towards an attaching position (A) by the action of a spring force F1 exerted by means of the spring arrangement (34) against the engaging device (24), fixing the sensor body (8) and the tip of the sensor (10) in relation to each other. By the application of a force F2 on the sensor body (8) that is greater than the spring force F1, it is possible to move the sensor body and the tip of the sensor to a releasing position (D), releasing them in relation to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Bengt Akerblom, Jonas Ollmar
  • Publication number: 20090121709
    Abstract: A composition comprising a material at least partially enclosed by a tubular, spherical or planar nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of the plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of the 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Ramot At Tel Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Ehud Gazit, Meital Reches