Having Particular Sensed Object Patents (Class 324/207.22)
  • Patent number: 11933641
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and associated systems are provided. A plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors are arranged in an array, each anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor comprising a magnetic field transducer and a sensor signal conditioning circuit. A central processor in electrical communication with each anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor is provided. The central processor is configured to compare processed signals received from at least two of the plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors to determine a position of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Lamar Floyd Ricks
  • Patent number: 11768505
    Abstract: A ride system includes a first ride vehicle having a first magnet exposed along a first exterior side of the first ride vehicle and a first additional magnet exposed along a first additional exterior side of the first ride vehicle. The ride system includes a second ride vehicle having a second magnet exposed along a second exterior side of the second ride vehicle and a second additional magnet exposed along a second additional exterior side of the second ride vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
    Inventors: Nathanael G. White, Kevin B. Primm, Daniel Freedman
  • Patent number: 11714133
    Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an electrical switching device that includes an electromagnetic actuator that includes a coil. The method includes: measuring electric current flowing through the coil; measuring supply electrical voltage of a control circuit for the actuator; injecting an electric current pulse into the coil; identifying a first time corresponding to a time for which the current flowing through the coil reaches a predetermined threshold value when the current increases following the injection of the pulse; and identifying a second time corresponding to a time for which the current flowing through the coil again reaches the predetermined threshold value when the current decreases after a spike. The method further includes estimating a resistance of the coil on the basis of a ratio of a sum of the values of the voltage that are measured between the second time and the first time, to a sum of the values of the current that are measured between the second time and the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Stéphane Delbaere, Rémy Orban, Philippe Guibert, Christian Jarrige
  • Patent number: 11650081
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for providing a position sensing component are disclosed herein. An example position sensing component may comprise: a sensing coil; a moveable core disposed within the sensing coil; an oscillator circuit; and a feedback control circuit coupled to the oscillator circuit, wherein the position sensing component is configured to: maintain a fixed amplitude voltage in response to a variable current signal provided by the oscillator circuit in conjunction with the feedback control circuit, and generate an oscillator circuit output signal that is linearly proportional to a position of the moveable core with respect to the sensing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Walling, John Jerred, Keith D. Larson, Michael Fettig, Stephen William Tillotson
  • Patent number: 11512899
    Abstract: Disclosed is a blast furnace apparatus includes: a rotating chute; a plurality of tuyeres; a profile measurement device configured to measure surface profiles of a burden charged into the blast furnace through the rotating chute; and a blowing amount controller configured to control a blowing amount of at least one of hot blast or pulverized coal in each of the plurality of tuyeres, in which the profile measurement device includes: a radio wave distance meter installed on the blast furnace top and configured to measure the distance to the surface of the burden charged; and an arithmetic unit configured to derive the surface profiles of the burden on a basis of distance data for the entire blast furnace related to distances to the surface of the burden obtained by scanning a detection wave of the radio wave distance meter in the blast furnace in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Kashihara, Yuki Okamoto, Natsuo Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 11357160
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of automatically calibrating a liquid treatment system in a seed treater. The method is performed by pumping a seed treatment liquid using a seed treater pump, receiving the seed treatment liquid in a container, detecting when a predetermined volume of seed treatment liquid has filled the container using a first level sensor and a second level sensor and automatically adjusting a flow rate of the liquid in response to a time required to fill the container. Adjusting the flow rate may be done by adjusting a speed of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: AG GROWTH INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Dan Bardi, Michael Dehaan, Jared Marr
  • Patent number: 11169116
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a probe for a nondestructive testing device using a crossed gradient induced current and a method of manufacturing an induction coil for a nondestructive testing device. The probe for a nondestructive testing device using a crossed gradient induced current includes an induction coil formed to have a predetermined width and to generate first and second induced currents in a direction crossing each other when a current is applied from a power supply, and a magnetic sensor part installed adjacent to the induction coil so as to measure the first and second induced currents induced from the induction coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Chosun University
    Inventor: Jin Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 11149589
    Abstract: In assembling a turbine including: a casing consisting of an upper half part and a lower half part fastened together by bolts; a stationary body accommodated in the casing and supported by the lower half part; and a rotary body supported by a plurality of bearings so as to be situated on the inner side of the stationary body, there are executed: a procedure of reading a finite element model of the three-dimensional configuration of the turbine; a reading procedure of reading actual measurement information on the three-dimensional configuration of the upper half part and the lower half part of the casing in the open state; a model correction procedure of reflecting actual measurement information of an evaluated portion that is a specific part of the casing in the finite element model and generating a correction model obtained through correction of the finite element model; a deformation amount estimation procedure of estimating the movement amount of the evaluated portion generated when the upper half part and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Power, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yashirodai, Shunsuke Mizumi, Koji Ishibashi, Jie Huang, Juichi Kodera
  • Patent number: 11044848
    Abstract: A bearing coupler assembly that has a bearing housing sized to at least partially receive a bearing assembly, the bearing housing defining a bearing axis therethrough, a shaft positioned at least partially through the bearing housing along the bearing axis, the shaft defining a shaft lip and a fastener end, the bearing assembly coupling the shaft to the bearing housing so the shaft can rotate about the bearing axis relative to the bearing housing, a fastener configured to be coupled to the fastener end of the shaft, a tone wheel positioned axially along the bearing axis between the fastener and the bearing assembly, the tone wheel having at least one indicator, a sensor coupled to the bearing housing and configured to identify when the indicator passes thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander C. Reiners, John A. Dighton, Guy Burch, Blake C. Gettig, Surfraj Fattepur, Todd J. Rodrigue
  • Patent number: 11029370
    Abstract: A sensor configured to generate a sensor output signal at a sensor output coupled to a pull up voltage through a pull up resistor includes a sensing element configured to generate a sensing element output signal indicative of a sensed parameter and a processor responsive to the sensing element output signal and configured to generate a processor output signal indicative of the sensed parameter. A digital output controller is responsive to the processor output signal and to a digital feedback signal and is configured to generate a controller output signal. An analog output driver is responsive to the controller output signal and configured to generate the sensor output signal at a first predetermined level or at a second predetermined level and a feedback circuit coupled between the sensor output and the digital output controller is configured to generate the digital feedback signal in response to the sensor output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan Zimmermann, Steven E. Snyder, Pablo Daniel Pareja Obregón
  • Patent number: 10952412
    Abstract: A multi-sensor system for monitoring water parameters, the system including a first metallic layer; a dielectric layer formed on the first metallic layer; a second metallic layer formed on the dielectric layer; a power source electrically connected to the second metallic layer; a computing device electrically connected to the second metallic layer; and a stretchable outer layer that encapsulates the first metallic layer, the dielectric layer, the second metallic layer, the power source and the computing device. The multi-sensor system is stretchable and flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, Joanna Mohammad Nassar, Sherjeel Khan, Seneca Jackson Velling
  • Patent number: 10837521
    Abstract: In an electric actuator, an output shaft has a housing recess. An end of a motor shaft is housed in the housing recess. A first bearing supports the motor shaft in the housing recess. The motor shaft has an eccentric shaft. A deceleration mechanism includes an external gear connected to the eccentric shaft via a second bearing, an internal gear engaged with the external gear, a flange part expanding from the output shaft, and protrusions protruding from the flange part and disposed along the circumferential direction. The external gear has holes recessed on the other side in the axial direction. The holes are disposed along the circumferential direction and each have an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion. The protrusions are inserted into the holes respectively and support the external gear to be swingable around the central axis via the inner surfaces of the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC TOSOKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akira Kamiya, Hiroshi Yamashita, Nan Wu
  • Patent number: 10820068
    Abstract: A sensor system can include a sensor configured to output raw sensor data, a plurality of processing modules configured to process the raw sensor data from the sensor to output processed sensor data, a state module for each processing module operative to cause a respective processing module to receive and/or process the sensor data, and a control module configured to receive a bitmask and to operate each state module based on the bitmask to control which processing modules process the sensor data and/or an order of processing. The bitmask can include a plurality of discrete bits. Each state module and/or processing module can be associated with at least one discrete bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Henck, Matthew B. Burleigh, Travis Gang, Peter J. Carini
  • Patent number: 10782127
    Abstract: Magnetic position sensors, systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a position sensing system includes a magnetic field source; and a sensor module spaced apart from the magnetic field source, at least one of the magnetic field source or the sensor module configured to move relative to the other along a path, the sensor module configured to determine a position of the magnetic field source relative to the sensor module from a nonlinear function of a ratio of a first component of a magnetic field of the magnetic field source to a second component of the magnetic field of the magnetic field source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Udo Ausserlechner, Armin Satz, Ferdinand Gastinger
  • Patent number: 10710205
    Abstract: Query unit for determining the status of moving or movable parts of a system part, particularly for determining the end positions of a clamping arm of a toggle lever clamping apparatus, has a sensor unit and an electroblock. The sensor unit has at least one sensor and a connector plug-in connection part for connecting the sensor unit with the electroblock and can be attached to the system part. The electroblock has at least one electrical connector element for connecting an outer, releasable connection cable, a connector plug-in connection part for connecting the electroblock with the sensor unit, and at least one screw passage opening for installation on an outer surface of the system part. The connector plug-in connection part of the sensor unit is connected in an opening of the system part, with shape fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Pepperl+Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Freund
  • Patent number: 10704925
    Abstract: An angle sensor includes a ring magnet adapted to be attached to a rotatable shaft. The ring magnet has an axis of rotation and an inner radius and an outer radius extending from the axis of rotation to define an annulus. A first magnetic sensor is situated proximate the ring magnet to measure magnetic field lines within the annulus, and a second magnetic sensor is situated proximate the ring magnet to measure magnetic field lines outside the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 10678147
    Abstract: A measurement system for measuring a position and/or displacement of an object (40), the measurement system comprising a sensor (20) and a target (45), the sensor comprising an electromagnet (21); a driving circuit (24) configured to drive the electromagnet to generate an alternating magnetic field (AMF); a measuring circuit (25) configured to measure an electrical impedance parameter of the electromagnet; the target being located on a surface (41) of the object that faces the sensor, wherein the target comprises a graphene layer (46), and wherein, in use, when the alternating magnetic field interacts with the target, the alternating magnetic field changes (RMF), altering the electrical impedance parameter of the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Stoyan Nihtianov
  • Patent number: 10635086
    Abstract: The invention is directed to maintaining the accuracy in the positional adjustment of a stationary part while shortening a turbine assembly period through the omission of the temporary assembly of a casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yashirodai, Juichi Kodera, Shunsuke Mizumi, Koji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 10591317
    Abstract: Provided is an encoder device capable of reducing interference between a magnetic field generated in a reference mark and a magnetic field generated in a scale. An encoder device is provided with a reference mark and a head. The reference mark has: a first scale coil; and a second scale coil electrically connected to the first scale coil. The head has: a transmission coil that transmits an electromagnetic wave without any contact to the first scale coil; a reception coil that receives an electromagnetic wave without any contact from the second scale coil; and electric circuits that generate a pulse for generating an origin signal from the electromagnetic wave received by the reception coil, if the transmission coil faces the first scale coil and the reception coil faces the second scale coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: THK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Moriyuki, Takashi Oshida
  • Patent number: 10436611
    Abstract: A rotation angle measuring apparatus and method are provided for measuring a rotation angle of a moving disk relative to a stationary disk, the moving disk being configured to rotate about an axis and the stationary disk being arranged opposite the moving disk. A magnet is arranged on the moving disk. A first magnetic sensor is arranged on the stationary disk, the first magnetic sensor generating an angle signal under the action of the magnet as the moving disk rotates. An incremental rotation angle of the moving disk is determined on the basis of an output of the receiving region, a period of the static electric field is determined on the basis of an angle signal generated by the first magnetic sensor, and an absolute rotation angle of the moving disk is determined on the basis of the period of the static electric field and the incremental rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ming Li, Yan Ling Lin
  • Patent number: 10436606
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic field sensor to detect an angular speed and an angular direction of a rotating magnetic structure. The magnetic field sensor includes at least two magnetic field sensing elements configured to sense changes in a magnetic field caused by rotation of the magnetic structure. The IC also includes an output port configured to provide an output signal of the magnetic field sensor. The output signal indicates the angular direction and the speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Kerdraon, Gary T. Pepka, Dominikus Maisl, Manfred Busch
  • Patent number: 10276289
    Abstract: In a general aspect, a position detection system includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field. The magnetic field generator includes a carrier assembly that defines a first axis of rotation and comprises a permanent magnet having a center of mass. The magnetic field generator also includes a drive assembly that is coupled to the carrier assembly and configured to act on the carrier assembly to rotate the permanent magnet simultaneously about the first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation. The second axis of rotation intersects the first axis of rotation at an intersection that is offset from the center of mass of the permanent magnet. The position detection system additionally includes a computer device configured to determine a position of a sensor based on magnetic field measurements obtained by the sensor in the time-varying magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Ommo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonah William Kirby, Matthew Pickett, Minjie Zheng, Jonathan Feldkamp
  • Patent number: 10222242
    Abstract: Certain configurations described herein are directed to encoders and encoding methods. In some instances, an encoder can be used with an article support to identify an absolute position of the article support based on reading the code of the encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Health Sciences, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernst van de Kerkhof
  • Patent number: 10184456
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a wind turbine blade alignment method. A sensor provided on the blade at a blade station with a known twist angle is used to measure an installation angle of the blade station. The installation angle is adjusted if the installation angle measured by the sensor is not equal to the known twist angle. A wind turbine with such a sensor for measuring an installation angle used for blade alignment is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Xiaoming Liu, Xu Fu, Bruce Clark Busbey, Rong Li, Amir Riahi
  • Patent number: 10168182
    Abstract: A shaft encoder arrangement (1) provides high precision and at the same time can be used in harsh environments and is simple to mount. The shaft encoder arrangement (1) has at least one measuring device (2) for determining a rotary position of a rotatable body, for example, of a shaft (4) of a motor (6), with at least one magnetic dimensional scale (7) that can be mounted on the body and at least one sensor device (8) for scanning the magnetic dimensional scale (7). The sensor device (8) lies at least partially within a space (14) enclosed by the magnetic dimensional scale (7), and the magnetic dimensional scale (7) is enclosed by a circumferential magnetic shield (12). The magnetic shield permits use of the shaft encoder arrangement (1) even in harsh environments and even in strong magnetic interference fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Baumer Hübner GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Hanke, Bernhard Hiller
  • Patent number: 10077155
    Abstract: In an infrastructure that uses a mobile order fulfillment system, robotic drive units may be dispatched and instructed to bring inventory holders to a workstation where at least one of the inventory holders is packed and prepared for shipment. The robotic drive units are then instructed to move the prepared inventory holder to a transport vehicle such as a truck. Fiducial marks may be removably placed within the transport vehicle to aid navigation of the robotic drive units. At a destination facility, additional robotic drive units may be instructed to move the inventory holders from the truck and place the inventory holders at appropriate storage locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Cordell Mountz, Oleksandr Glazkov, Timothy Aaron Bragg, Matthew David Verminski, Jeremiah David Brazeau, Peter R. Wurman, John W. Cullen, Michael T. Barbehenn
  • Patent number: 10060760
    Abstract: A position detector has a Hall IC movably disposed on a mold within a gap between a first magnetic flux transmission part and a second magnetic flux transmission part for outputting a signal according to a density of a magnetic flux passing therethrough. Movement of the Hall IC relative to a rotating body is detected by the Hall IC. The Hall IC has a first flux collector and a second flux collector. A magnetic resistance of a first magnetic path between the first flux collector and a first flux transmission part and a magnetic resistance of a second magnetic path between the second flux collector and a second flux transmission part are configured so that the Hall IC is movable relative to the rotating body at a predetermined radial distance where the magnetic flux density decreases to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoaki Kouno, Tetsuji Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9989381
    Abstract: An angle sensor is disclosed. The angle sensor has a disc, a first magnetic pattern disposed on a side of the disc and including a number N1 of first portions of spirals regularly distributed in a first ring, and a second magnetic pattern disposed on a side of the disc and including a number N2 of second portions of spirals regularly distributed in a second ring. The numbers N1 and N2 are coprime and N1 is different from N2, N2?1, and N2+1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: TE Connectivity Germany GmbH, TE Connectivity Sensors Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Wolf, Martin Rieder, Michael Ludwig, Armin Meisenberg, Axel Bartos
  • Patent number: 9981124
    Abstract: A device includes a housing configured to be implanted in a patient. The device also includes a first magnetic field direction sensor located at a first location within the housing and configured to generate a signal representative of a first direction of a magnetic field at the first location, a second magnetic field direction sensor located at a second location within the housing and configured to generate a signal representative of a second direction of the magnetic field at the second location, and a magnetic field strength sensor configured to generate a signal representative of a strength of the magnetic field. The device further includes a control module configured to identify a source of the magnetic field based on at least one of the signal representative of the strength of the magnetic field and the signals representative of the first and second directions of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy A. Jenison, Larry C. McClure, Christopher C. Stancer
  • Patent number: 9874462
    Abstract: An encoding sequence is configured to detect the position and direction of motion of an actuator. The actuator includes at least two members where one of the members moves with respect to the other. Two sets of binary indicators are either affixed to or integrally assembled along one of the members. Each pair of indicators defines a position of the actuator and each binary indicator is configured to identify one of two states, such as a magnetic pole or a graphical mark where each state corresponds to a logical zero or a logical one. The indicators are arranged on the actuator such that at least one of the indicators transitions between one of the two states at each position along the actuator. At least one sensor is provided to detect the state of the binary indicators as the two members of the actuator move with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregoy J. Erker
  • Patent number: 9851273
    Abstract: A seal configured to seal a gap between a first component and a second component to at least partially retain a fluid on a first side of the seal in a space between the first component and the second component, the seal including a seal body having a radially outer periphery and a central opening configured to receive the first component or the second component, at least one sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the fluid and an adapter. The at least one sensor is disposed on the adapter, and the adapter has a first portion extending through the seal body at a location spaced from and radially between the radially outer periphery and the central opening and a second portion axially abutting the seal body on the first side of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Padelis Katsaros, Volker Wendt
  • Patent number: 9816798
    Abstract: A position detector has first and second magnets with a magnet width that is different from a gap width of a gap. As a result, the gap width and the magnet width are independent of each other. The gap width is minimized relative to a molding member that molds a Hall element. The first and second magnets have a specific magnet width that generates a required magnetic flux density without increasing the magnet width, which enables a volume reduction of the position detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoaki Kouno, Tetsuji Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9816841
    Abstract: An encoding sequence is configured to detect the position and direction of motion of an actuator. The actuator includes at least two members where one of the members moves with respect to the other. Two sets of binary indicators are either affixed to or integrally assembled along one of the members. Each pair of indicators defines a position of the actuator and each binary indicator is configured to identify one of two states, such as a magnetic pole or a graphical mark where each state corresponds to a logical zero or a logical one. The indicators are arranged on the actuator such that at least one of the indicators transitions between one of the two states at each position along the actuator. At least one sensor is provided to detect the state of the binary indicators as the two members of the actuator move with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: Gregoy J. Erker
  • Patent number: 9752617
    Abstract: An annular sensor holder (5) has an axial end (15) including a protrusion (18). The axial end (15) is fitted in a circumferential groove (7), such as a seal groove, of a bearing race (2) fitted to a stationary member (9) so that the sensor holder (5) can slide in the circumferential direction relative to the bearing race (2). In this state, the sensor holder (5) is coupled to the stationary member (9) by a fixing arrangement (19). Thus, when the bearing race (2) creeps, the sensor holder (5) slides relative to the bearing race (2) and does not rotate relative to the stationary member (9). This prevents breakage of connecting wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiichi Takada, Hiroyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 9739642
    Abstract: An encoder scale, displaced relative to a detector head, includes: an insulating substrate; a conductive adhesive layer that is formed on the insulating substrate; and conductive pattern layers that are formed on the adhesive layer in a shape enabling the detector head to detect a position, wherein: the adhesive layer electrically connects all the pattern layers and includes an out-of-detection-range pattern that extends outward from a position detection range of the detector head; and the out-of-detection-range pattern is grounded via a conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanori Otsuka, Taisuke Wakasa, Kouichi Yoshihara, Ryo Morita, Kazuhiko Kodama
  • Patent number: 9670961
    Abstract: An instrumented bearing, which includes an outer race and an inner race between which a rolling chamber is delimited. Rolling bodies are disposed in the rolling chamber. The bearing additionally includes a member isolating the rolling chamber from the outside; and a measuring device including at least one sensor adapted to measure at least one operating parameter of the instrumented bearing. At least one measuring device can be mounted to the member isolating the rolling chamber from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Frank Berens, Laurent Varnoux, Olivier Verbe
  • Patent number: 9618365
    Abstract: An angle sensor device includes first and second magnet tracks, a sensor component, and a control unit. The first and second magnet tracks are fixed to a rotatable object and are configured to generate a non-homogenous field. The rotatable object is configured to rotate about a rotation axis and the non-homogenous field has a smaller gradient of magnitude along a rotational direction than a perpendicular direction, which is perpendicular to the rotational direction. The sensor component is positioned off-axis and is configured to measure a magnetic field including the non-homogenous field and provide magnetic field measurements. The control unit is configured to determine angular information from the magnetic field measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Udo Ausserlechner, Mario Motz
  • Patent number: 9593970
    Abstract: A laboratory sample distribution system comprising a calibration device, a calibration device and a method for calibrating magnetic sensors are disclosed. Magnetic sensors used in a laboratory sample distribution system are calibrated in order to optimize driving of sample container carriers and in order to detect long-term variation in detection characteristics of the magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Achim Sinz
  • Patent number: 9587657
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for a rotatable element comprises two coils capable of being driven by oscillatory drive signals to generate electromagnetic fields. The coils are in different positions overlying a cylindrical portion of the rotatable element that has a target feature configured to interact with the generated electromagnetic fields when the target feature is aligned with the coils. Alignment between the target feature and the coils occurs at angular positions of the rotatable element that are offset for respective coils. Thus, by detecting a characteristic of the signals developed across the coils allowing derivation of an angular velocity signal representative of angular velocity. Also, the degree of interaction between the target feature and the electromagnetic fields varies with the axial position of the rotatable element, differentially between the coils, allowing derivation of an axial position signal representative of the axial position of the rotatable element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Martin Roy Harrison, Philip Samuel Pickles, Peter Wherritt
  • Patent number: 9379598
    Abstract: The present invention provides an absolute encoder device, including: a permanent magnet including a first magnetic pattern (bipolar) and a second magnetic pattern (multipolar); a first magnetic sensor for detecting a magnetic field of the first magnetic pattern; a second magnetic sensor for detecting a magnetic field of the second magnetic pattern; and a signal processing circuit for calculating an absolute rotation angle of a rotation shaft based on output signals of the first and second magnetic sensors. The first and second magnetic sensors and the signal processing circuit are fixed to a single substrate. The first magnetic pattern is formed on a plane extending in a direction crossing an axial direction inside the permanent magnet, and the second magnetic pattern is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Oriental Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Someya, Yoshio Hirasawa, Sakao Ozeki
  • Patent number: 9329025
    Abstract: Provided is a measuring device including a photoelectric conversion unit that receives a light beam emitted from a position measurement object by different optical path lengths and that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to intensity of the received light beam for each optical path length, and a measuring unit that measures a position of the position measurement object based on a ratio of two electrical signals out of the electrical signals by optical path lengths acquired from the photoelectric conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hotta
  • Patent number: 9234736
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for determining a spatial position of a first part relative to a second part has at least one magnet disposed on the first part. The magnet generates a magnetic field that extends to the second part. The sensor assembly further has a pair of magnetic field sensors arranged at a spatial distance from each other on the second part. The magnet is positioned in an interval defined by the spatial distance between the magnetic field sensors. The magnetic field sensors each produce an output signal depending on the magnetic field. The output signals of the two magnetic field sensors are combined to form a common sensor signal related to the spatial position of the first part relative to the second part. The output signals of the two magnetic field sensors essentially represent a direction of the magnetic field at the location of the respective magnetic field sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: CARL ZEISS INDUSTRIELLE MESSTECHNIK GMBH, SENSITEC GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Engel, Uwe Loreit
  • Patent number: 9041385
    Abstract: A position detecting device for detecting a positional relationship between a first component and a second component includes a marking arrangement which is provided on the first component and has an absolute track and an incremental track. The absolute track has a plurality of absolute markings from which a binary absolute code sequence can be read, and the incremental track has a plurality of incremental markings which are associated with the absolute markings and from which an alternating incremental sequence can be read. A sensor arrangement provided on the second component and is configured to scan the absolute markings and the incremental markings. The absolute code sequence is formed from a first and a second De Bruijn sequence of order N which follow one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HAMILTON BONADUZ AG
    Inventors: Vinzenz Kirste, Claudio Gian Köppel
  • Patent number: 8994367
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions
    Inventor: Yukihiro Aikawa
  • Patent number: 8988072
    Abstract: A vertical Hall sensor includes a Hall effect region and a plurality of contacts formed in or on a surface of the Hall effect region. The plurality of contacts are arranged in a sequence along a path extending between a first end and a second end of the Hall effect region. The plurality of contacts includes at least four spinning current contacts and at least two supply-only contacts. The spinning current contacts are configured to alternatingly function as supply contacts and sense contacts according to a spinning current scheme. The at least four spinning current contacts are arranged along a central portion of the path. The at least two supply-only contacts are arranged on both sides of the central portion in a distributed manner and are configured to supply electrical energy to the Hall effect region according to an extension of the spinning current scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Patent number: 8981765
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a motor function analyzing apparatus which simplifies a calibration measurement necessary before measuring a finger tapping motion, and which is capable of evaluating a motor function highly precisely. The present invention provides a motor function analyzing apparatus which simplifies a calibration measurement necessary before measuring a finger tapping motion, and which is capable of evaluating a motor function highly precisely by using a calibration point unique to each apparatus and a calibration point unique to each subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuko Sano, Akihiko Kandori, Tsuyoshi Miyashita, Katsuya Morohoshi, Kouichi Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8981767
    Abstract: Inductive sensor module comprising a coil arrangement and a carrier, on which electronic components are arranged, wherein the coil arrangement is arranged on a first side of the carrier and the electronic components are arranged on a second side of the carrier directed away from the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: BALLUFF GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Mahler, Martin Kohler, Matthias Kohler, Michael Frauchiger, Christian Gnaegi
  • Patent number: 8981764
    Abstract: A rolling bearing sensor, especially a rotational speed sensor, having a housing and a signal pick-up which is arranged in the housing in a manner secured against rotation and is arranged, with the housing, in a stationary receptacle in a stationary part of a rolling bearing or in a stationary component adjoining a rolling bearing, for example, an axle journal, where the housing has an outer design via which the rolling bearing sensor in the receptacle is secured against rotation in a form-fitting manner. The sensor may have a groove which runs in the axial direction and interacts with a screw or a projection. Alternatively, a securing element which predefines a defined angular position may be pushed onto the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marc-Andre Schaefer, Jens Heim
  • Publication number: 20150070003
    Abstract: A sensor assembly for a vehicle electronic braking system including a housing, at least one linear sensor, the at least one sensor contained within the housing, the linear sensor adapted to measure the linear distance traveled of a brake pedal. The assembly further includes a rotary sensor, the rotary sensor also contained within the same housing, the rotary sensor adapted to measure rotary motion of a DC motor in an the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor and the at least one linear sensor each in communication with a brake control unit. The at least one linear sensor and the at least one rotary sensor is encapsulated, either together or separately. The at least one linear sensor is a Hall-effect sensor. A wake up switch circuit is integrated with at least one of the linear sensors to wake up the system when the driver depresses the brake pedal in the electronic braking system. The rotary sensor is an inductive sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Ryan W. Elliott, Dan O'Neill, Lingmin Shao, Shaun Matthew Fuller, Jim Hartford
  • Patent number: 8965731
    Abstract: Methods and devices to determine a mobile device housing position are described. An example device disclosed herein includes a housing having a first portion movably coupled to a second portion, the second portion to have a first position, a second position, and at least one intermediate position relative to the first portion, wherein the intermediate position is between the first and second positions; a position detector in the first portion, the position detector to measure a transitional magnetic field when the second portion is in the intermediate position and to measure a second magnetic field; and a processor to determine that the second portion is in the first position or the second position based on the transitional magnetic field and the second magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Adam Louis Parco, Marc E. Holbein, Nazih Almalki, Christopher Harris Snow