Abstract: A linear variable displacement transformer (LVDT) position sensor. The position sensor comprises a bobbin, a primary coil of wire wound on the bobbin, a first secondary coil wound in stepped layers on the bobbin, and a second secondary coil wound in stepped layers on the bobbin. The first secondary coil comprises a plurality of booster windings at an end of the first secondary coil. The second secondary coil comprises a plurality of booster windings at an end of the second secondary coil opposite the end of the first secondary coil booster windings. The stepped windings of the second secondary coil are complementary to the stepped windings of the first secondary coil.

Abstract: Included are an element having a magnetic tunnel junction structure configured such that an insulating layer is sandwiched between a pinned layer having a fixed magnetization direction and a free layer having a magnetization direction that varies freely, a magnet, and a rotating magnetic moving body having an irregular shape that induces change in the magnetic field. When, using the element as a reference, the magnetization direction of the pinned layer is set as an X axis direction, a direction perpendicular to the X axis direction and perpendicular to a plane of the pinned layer is set as a Z axis direction, and a direction perpendicular to an XZ plane constituted by the X axis direction and the Z axis direction is set as a Y axis direction, the magnetic moving body is disposed opposite the element in the Y axis direction via a gap relative to the element.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor may include a first sensing element and a second sensing element. The first sensing element may be capable of sensing a first component of a magnetic field that is non-parallel to an axis formed by an intersection of a first plane and a second plane. The first plane may be a plane in which a tooth wheel rotates, and the second plane may include a first surface of the first sensing element and a second surface of the second sensing element. The first component of the magnetic field may be on the second plane. The second sensing element may be capable of sensing a second component of the magnetic field. The second component of the magnetic field may be on the second plane.

Abstract: A method of path measurement uses eddy current principles and a sensor which interacts with a measuring object. The sensor has an electrical connector and a sensor coil. In accordance with the method, an operating voltage is applied to the sensor such that a magnetic field is built up by an oscillator in cooperation with the sensor coil. A measuring object may be moved in the vicinity of the sensor coil through an opening in the sensor coil to produce field strength changes adjacent to the coil and the oscillator. The field strength changes are detected by an evaluation circuit and transmitted to a microcontroller. The microcontroller processes the signals of the evaluation circuit and provides the evaluation circuit with said signals via an output and protection circuit. The sensor coil consists of a plurality of windings constructed in a planar manner.

Abstract: A transconductor converts voltage on an inductive sensor to a proportional current using two “coupling” capacitors. Responsive to movement of an electrically conductive target from the null position a resonant current is formed between the two sensor coils. A single differential transistor pair switched by periodic drive signals commutes the net alternating current at the single input to direct current.

Abstract: The present invention regards a probe for deep brain stimulation (DBS), with high overall impedance, but low overall resistance. This is achieved since the probe comprises a structure comprising at least two interconnected spirals, wherein said two spirals have different direction of rotation. A system for deep brain stimulation comprising the probe, a power source and an electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A microtechnical component for a magnetic sensor device or a magnetic actuator includes: a magnetic core oriented along an axis; a first drive coil having windings arranged in a first direction of rotation about the magnetic core; a contact, via which a first current flow is created in a first current direction through the first drive coil; and a second drive coil having windings arranged in a second direction of rotation about the magnetic core, the first and second directions of rotation differing from one another. Simultaneously with the first current flow, a second current flow is created via the contact in a second current direction opposite the first current direction through the second drive coil.

Abstract: A non-contact sensing module includes a coil printed circuit board in which a reference pattern coil may be formed at an upper surface and in which a sensing pattern coil may be formed at a lower surface and that has a mounting hole at the center, and a main printed circuit board that may be coupled to the mounting hole and that may be vertically disposed at an upper surface of the coil printed circuit board and that may be electrically connected to the reference pattern coil and the sensing pattern coil.

Abstract: A differential transformer type magnetic sensor is disclosed. The drive coil includes a planar coil arranged on a substrate. The first differential coil includes a planar coil arranged on the substrate. The second differential coil includes a planar coil arranged on the substrate and connected to the first differential coil. The first selector unit is used for a zero adjustment of a differential transformer. The first differential coil includes a plurality of first branch lines formed by branching a wire material forming the outermost turn of the first differential coil. The plurality of first branch lines are so arranged that the amount of magnetic fluxes passing along the plurality of respective first branch lines differ when the drive coil is driven. The first selector unit is capable of selecting any one of the plurality of first branch lines and arranged on the substrate.

Abstract: A magnitude and direction of at least one of a reset current and a second stabilization current (that produces a reset field and a second stabilization field, respectively) is determined that, when applied to an array of magnetic sense elements, minimizes the total required stabilization field and reset field during the operation of the magnetic sensor and the measurement of the external field. Therefore, the low field sensor operates optimally (with the highest sensitivity and the lowest power consumption) around the fixed external field operating point. The fixed external field is created by other components in the sensor device housing (such as speaker magnets) which have a high but static field with respect to the low (earth's) magnetic field that describes orientation information.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor circuit which can amplify a sensor signal at high speed and with a high amplification factor without increasing the current consumption. The sensor circuit includes a primary amplifier for amplifying in advance a differential output signal which is a current signal of a sensor element, a secondary amplifier for amplifying the amplified differential output signal, a constant voltage generating circuit for maintaining a sensor element driving current to be constant, and a feedback circuit for feeding back a feedback signal to adjust an amplification factor. Most of the currents which pass through the primary amplifier are bias currents of the sensor element.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor assembly for measuring an angular direction of a sensed magnetic field relative to the assembly is disclosed. The sensor assembly includes a sensor of a first type configured to sense an orientation of the sensed magnetic field, a sensor of a second type configured to measure an orientation and a direction of the sensed magnetic field and processing circuitry connected to each of the magnetic field sensors. The processing circuitry being configured to process output signals from the sensor of the first type to determine an uncorrected sensed magnetic field angle and to apply an offset angle to the uncorrected magnetic field angle dependent on a logical combination of signs of output signals from the sensors of the first and second types.

Abstract: An electromagnetic induction type absolute position measuring encoder having two or more rows of scale coils, each of the rows having a scale pitch different from that of another row; a transmitter coil and a receiver coil arranged on a grid that is movable relative to the scale in the measuring direction so as to face the scale coils; and the track is constituted by the scale coils, the transmitter coil and the receiver coil. The encoder is capable of measuring an absolute position of the grid with respect to the scale from a flux change detected at the receiver coil via the scale coils when the transmitter coil is excited, in which at least one loop-shaped additional scale coil is added between the scale coils in at least one of the tracks.

Abstract: An object is set to move back and forth between a first position and a second position in a cylinder. A measurement point between the first position and the second position is preset. A counted period indicating a duration that the object moves from the first position to the first measurement point is obtained. Then a movement behavior parameter is obtained according to the counted period. Whether the movement behavior parameter of the object matches a specified condition is determined. If matching occurs, a warning message is generated.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor assembly (401a, 401b) for measuring an angular direction (?) of a sensed magnetic field (Happl) relative to the assembly, the sensor assembly comprising: a sensor (404a, 404b) of a first type configured to sense an orientation of the sensed magnetic field; a sensor (402, 406) of a second type configured to measure an orientation and a direction of the sensed magnetic field; and processing circuitry (403, 405) connected to each of the magnetic field sensors, the processing circuitry being configured to process output signals from the sensor of the first type to determine an uncorrected sensed magnetic field angle and to apply an offset angle to the uncorrected magnetic field angle dependent on a logical combination of signs of output signals from the sensors of the first and second types.

Abstract: A control system for use in safety critical human/machine control interfaces is described, more particularly a joystick type control system and particularly a joystick type control system utilizing magnetic positional sensing. The control system provides a control input device having a movable magnet, a pole-piece frame arrangement positioned about the magnet, at least three magnetic flux sensors being positioned in said pole-piece frame arrangement and a monitoring arrangement for monitoring the output signal of each of said at least three sensors.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for determining a temporal change of an output voltage of a half-bridge circuit during a dead time. In one embodiment, the circuit arrangement includes a first input for applying the output voltage. A capacitive network is provided having a first and a second circuit node capacitively coupled to the input, and having a terminal for a reference potential. A recharging circuit is configured, during the switched-on phase of one of a first and second switching elements, to adjust electrical potentials of the first and second nodes, the electrical potentials each being different from the reference potential. A comparator arrangement is provided that is configured during the dead time to determine a time difference between such times at which the electrical potentials at the first and second node each assume a given potential value, the time difference being a measure for the change with time of the output voltage.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor capable of detecting a magnetic field with high sensitivity is provided. The magnetic sensor includes a bridge circuit having a plurality of magneto resistive effect elements connected with each other, and is capable of detecting a differential voltage between predetermined connecting points. The magneto resistive effect elements output resistance values which vary in accordance with a direction of a magnetic field to be input, and are arranged such that fixed magnetization directions of all magneto resistive effect elements are in the same direction. Further, a magnetic body which changes the direction of the magnetic field to be input to the magneto resistive effect elements is also provided in the vicinity of the bridge circuit.

Abstract: A method for restoring navigation failure information in a fluoroscopy-based imaging system is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a plurality of receiver navigation information using a calibration target rigidly attached to a supporting member of the imaging system. The calibration target may include a plurality of receivers providing navigation information and the supporting member may be a C-arm. The method identifies a navigation failure and corresponding to the navigation failure a calibrated receiver navigation information is generated. The calibrated receiver navigation information is generated using a calibration information and a C-arm imaging position obtained during navigation failure. A receiver navigation information corresponding to the navigation failure is estimated using the calibrated receiver navigation information, and a transmitter navigation information.

Abstract: An actuator having a fixed part, a movable part movable with respect to the fixed part in a travelling direction, and a non-contact position sensor connected to the movable part to read the position of the movable part. The position sensor has a reading device connected to the fixed part and having a ferromagnetic core; and a magnetic cursor, which is integrated in the movable part, is defined by a magnetized portion of the movable part, and is so magnetized as to locally saturate the ferromagnetic core at the magnetic cursor.

Abstract: A system for communicating information from a detection device is provided through a waterproof and wireless interface. The system generally includes a communication member having an inductor and coupled to the detection device. An interface including another inductor is in communicating relation with the communication member. Upon a signal from the detection device, a magnetic field is produced by the inductor of the communication member and is transmitted to the inductor of the interface.

Abstract: A method for predicting bearing failure of a differential bearing including an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner and outer race. The method includes coupling a strain gage to the differential bearing, generating a bearing performance model, receiving a signal from the strain gage, and comparing the strain gage signal to the bearing performance model to predict a differential bearing failure.

Abstract: A seat occupancy sensor has at least two pressure-activatable switch elements, which are assigned to two areas of a seat and are spaced a distance apart from one another and connected in a logic AND operation arrangement. An electric resistance element is connected in parallel to each switch element, its resistance value being between the resistance values when the switch element is activated and when the switch element is not activated. Each switch element can have a plurality of parallel connected sensor cells interconnected in a logic OR operation arrangement and distributed over a zone of the seat so that occupancy at any location within this zone is recognized as seat occupancy by one of the sensor's switch elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor array for detecting travel of a movable member, especially a positioning element that is movable using an actuator. Said sensor array comprises a stationary coil arrangement (18) that is provided with an active coil (18.1) and at least one passive coil (26.1, 26.2) located a distance therefrom. The coil arrangement (18) is connected to a power supply unit (30) and a signal-detecting device (29). The inventive sensor array further comprises an axially movable rod-shaped sensor part (17) that is made of a preferably magnetizable material, is connected to the positioning element which is movable fore and aft in an axial direction, and is provided with at least one short circuit element (23, 23.0). Said at least one short circuit element (23, 23.0) is made of an electrically conducting material having low ohmic resistance, is delimited by a final edge (23.1, 23.

Abstract: A system for detecting position that is capable of self-monitoring for connectivity faults. In one embodiment, the system comprises a transformer, an excitation potential source, a bias potential source, and a processor.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting movement of a control element moved by an electromagnetic actuator comprises a fixed coil arrangement having at least one coil connected to a current supply and to a signal detection device. A housing circumferentially encloses the fixed coil arrangement. The housing comprises a magnetically conductive material with poor electrical conductivity. An axially movable rod-shaped sensor part of a magnetizable material is connected to the control element. A short circuit element comprised of an electrically conductive material with low ohmic resistance is disposed on the rod-shaped element and is delimited in a longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped element by two outer edge regions. The short circuit element is dimensioned in the movement direction of the rod-shaped element so that only one of the outer edge regions of the short circuit element is always positioned inside the fixed coil arrangement during the back and forth movement in a stroke region of the fixed coil arrangement.

Abstract: A hybrid speed and or proximity sensor may include a variable reluctance sensor with an added excitation circuit. Similarly, a hybrid speed and or proximity sensor may include a variable inductance proximity sensor having a magnet and a magnetically permeable pole piece added in the sensor. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for recording the movement of an armature on an electromagnetic actuator for operating a control element, in particular for operating a gas exchange valve of an internal combustion engine, has an axially displaceable bar-like sensor piece, made from a soft magnetic material, having a ring of electrically conducting material of low ohmic resistance. The sensor piece is connected to the control element and to a fixed coil arrangement surrounding the bar-like sensor arrangement at least over a partial length, the coil arrangement comprising at least two coils, arranged one behind the other and connected to a voltage supply and a signal recorder in the form of a carrier frequency measuring bridge, whereby the bar-like sensor piece reduces interfering voltages.

Abstract: Six magneto-resistance segments are formed by film-forming on a signal processing circuit part consisting of an IC chip and are disposed in a predetermined rotation direction of a magnetic moving body, symmetrically about the centerline of a magnet perpendicular to that rotation direction. Two pairs of magneto-resistance segments, whose pitch centers are positioned symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the magnet, form first and second bridge circuits, and the remaining pair of magneto-resistance segments, which has its pitch center on the centerline of the magnet, forms a third bridge circuit.

Abstract: A device for contactless measurement of a displacement path, especially for the detection of position and movement, includes a sensor electronics system for the provision of an alternating current and the evaluation of alterations therein, in addition to an inductive sensor including at least one flat coil. Each coil is configured with a helicoidal conductor disposed on a plane and one of the two flat surfaces thereof forms a measuring surface which variously covers a measuring object, arranged at a distance, according to the movement thereof parallel to the measuring surface.

Abstract: An inductive bridge circuit using mutual inductances to transform impedances is used for detection of wall-thinning defects in metals. The bridge circuit has a first test coil placed adjacent to a good metal section and a second test coil placed adjacent to a metal to be tested. The bridge circuit compares the inductance in the first coil and inductance in the second test coil to compare wall thinning defects. The apparatus may also include first and second measuring transformers which are connected between the bridge circuit and the test coils where the transformers provide for impedance matching and reduced current requirements in the bridge. The circuit may also include one or more potentiometer circuits connected across the bridge which are used for compensating for imbalance of impedance between the first and second test coils when the coils both have known good metal sections adjacent to them.

Abstract: What is described is a sensor array with at least two sub-bridges, which are coupled together to form at least one Wheatstone bridge and which are equipped, in each of the sub-bridges, with at least two magnetoresistive sensor elements, wherein the sensor elements are sensitive to the magnetic field strength of an applied magnetic field along a measurement direction, and the sub-bridges are designed to deliver a measurement signal as a function of a field component of the magnetic field, designated a measurement field, measured in the measurement direction, wherein, further, in a first of the sub-bridges at least two of the sensor elements exhibit barber pole structures with differing alignments, in a second of the sub-bridges at least two of the sensor elements are designed without barber pole structures, and the measurement signals of the first sub-bridge at least largely coincide with the measurement signals of the second sub-bridge in a specified range of values around a zero point of the magnetic field s

Abstract: An electric system utilizes dynamic impedance changes in windings of an electric motor to measure/monitor mechanical position. The method employs a bridge amplifier to measure voltage at a center node or windings against a voltage derived from a reference network. When a winding of the motor is driven, the winding forms a voltage divider across the center node. Impedance changes in windings occur as rotor poles pass by stator poles. The center node voltage varies with these impedance changes in legs on either side; this variation with respect to the reference network corresponds to measurement of rotational position. These measurements provide position/velocity feedback to a servo controller as long as current runs through a winding. This position sensing also applies to controlling commutation for brushless DC motor. Impedance measurement use normal motor-drive current for excitation without additional sensing signals, extra “sense” windings, or external sensors.

Abstract: An outer cylinder having patterns of open windows of first to fourth channels is formed of a magnetic-shielding or antimagnetic substance. An inner cylinder is inserted in the outer cylinder, is formed of a magnetic substance and has patterns of nonmagnetic windows of the first to fourth channels. First to fourth coils excitable by A.C. are provided for the first to fourth channels. For each of the channels, the pattern of the open window in the outer cylinder and the pattern of the nonmagnetic window in the inner cylinder are arranged to overlap with each other.

Abstract: A magnetic displacement sensor device includes a plurality of magnetic displacement sensors, each of the magnetic displacement sensors having at least one coil wound thereon, and a single common excitation oscillator connected to each of the coils wound on the respective magnetic displacement sensors. Each of the coils are excited at the same oscillatory frequency and in the same phase by the single common excitation oscillator.

Abstract: The novel sensor assembly is comprised of a threaded housing with pressure relief tracks through the threads that terminate at a hole through the housing and a displacement sensor. In the preferred embodiment, we have included an integral connector, a super-elastic core carrier and a Differential Variable Reluctance Transducer. Other sensor types could be used to construct a pressure equalized displacement sensor as described herein, these may include: capacitive, resistive, Hall effect, eddy current, and differential variable transformer. The sensor is attached to a keyed connector and the entire assembly is potted into the housing. A temperature probe can also be potted with this assembly to allow for multiple tasks t1o be performed by this one housing. The housing is threaded on one end to allow for easy mounting. A hole is drilled through the housing just in back of the sensor and two tracks run perpendicular to and slightly deeper than the threads. The tracks connect to the through hole.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the position and/or the speed of motion of a control element which can be moved back and forth between a first and second switching position. According to said method, an immersion body which is connected to the control element is guided through at least one stationary plunger coil, synchronously with the motion of said control element. The voltage that is generated as a result of the immersion body moving in relation to a permanent magnet and/or a permanent magnet moving in relation to the plunger coil is detected as a signal for the speed of motion of the control clement. The changes in impedance and or a current that are caused as a result of the movement of the immersion body in the plunger coil are detected as a signal for the position of the control element.

Abstract: In a rotation angle detecting device, a circuit scale thereof is reduced and a manufacturing cost thereof is lowered.

Abstract: An inductance change detection circuit for detecting a change in inductance with a simple circuit design, having a series circuit having a resistor and a coil of which an inductance changes according to a position of an object; a pulse power supply 1 for applying a pulse voltage to the series circuit; a first signal generator for generating a first signal when an output voltage of the resistor in the series circuit becomes a specific voltage level; a second signal generator for generating a second signal responsive to a pulse voltage of the pulse power supply; and a comparison pulse generator for generating a pulse signal having a duty ratio responsive to the coil inductance based on the first signal and second signal.

Abstract: This micromachined inductive sensor is used to detect, without contact and through the intermediary of a radiated alternating magnetic field, the position and/or the movement of an object capable of modifying this magnetic field and including for this purpose at least one discontinuity. The sensor comprises a planar transmitter coil for transmitting the alternating magnetic field and planar receiver coils located so as to sense a determined portion of said field and the variations of this magnetic portion sensed due to the discontinuity of the object. The coils are disposed on a common substrate and obtained by selective photolithography operations. According to the invention, in the areas of the substrate in which the transmitter coil is contiguous with a receiver coil, there is provided at least one shielding band electrically independent of the coils and connected to a reference potential. The shielding band is formed from a metallization layer deposited on the substrate.