Rotary Patents (Class 324/207.25)
  • Patent number: 11359938
    Abstract: An exemplary encoder assembly includes a substrate, a first encoder, and a second encoder. The substrate has two or more position sensors, each position sensor being configured for detecting a rotary position of a shaft or other rotating element of a machine. The first encoder includes at least one first position sensor of the two or more position sensors. The at least one first position sensor is disposed on the substrate for off-axis alignment with the shaft or other rotating element of the machine. The second encoder includes a second position sensor of the two or more position sensors, the second position sensor being disposed on the substrate for on-axis or off-axis alignment with the shaft or other rotating element of the machine. Each position sensor is configured to detect different or common signal types, and a signal type of the second position sensor excludes optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HARMONIC DRIVE SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Brian Coyne, Yuki Katoh
  • Patent number: 11353526
    Abstract: A rotational angle detection device includes a magnet with n pole pairs (where n?3) provided to be integrally rotatable with a rotating body; magnetic detection parts including first and second magnetic detection parts; a corrected signal generation part generating first and second corrected signals; and a rotational angle detection part detecting the rotational angle of the rotating body based on the first and second corrected signals. The waveform of the first and second detection signals have a phase difference of 90° from each other. The corrected signal generation part adds the first sensor signals and adds the second sensor signals. The region at the perimeter of the magnet includes first through nth regions, and at least two of the first and second magnetic sensor parts are positioned in different regions from each other among the first through nth regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Antoku, Hiroyuki Hirano, Teiichiro Oka
  • Patent number: 11346686
    Abstract: A rotation detection device that detects a rotational speed of a rotating member by using a magnetic sensor, includes a detected member mounted to the rotating member, and a sensor section mounted to a stationary member not rotating with rotation of the rotating member. A through-hole that penetrates in a direction intersecting with a rotational axis of the rotating member is formed at the stationary member. The sensor section includes the magnetic sensors each including a detection section that includes a magnetism detection element and a cover covering the magnetism detection element, and a housing portion coating the magnetic sensors. The housing portion is inserted into the through-hole in the direction intersecting with the rotational axis. The detection sections are arranged at a position shifted from the rotational axis along the detected member in a direction intersecting with an inserting direction that inserts the housing portion into the through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Onimoto, Teruyoshi Shirota
  • Patent number: 11335185
    Abstract: Provided herein are examples of a remote control device that provides a retrofit solution for an existing switched control system. The remote control device may comprise a control circuit, a rotatable portion, a magnetic ring coupled to the rotatable portion, and first and second Hall-effect sensor circuits configured to generate respective first and second sensor control signals in response to magnetic fields generated by the magnetic elements. The control circuit may operate in a normal mode when the rotatable portion is being rotated, and in a reduced-power mode when the rotatable portion is not being rotated. The control circuit may disable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in the reduced-power mode. The control circuit may detect movement of the rotatable portion in response to the first sensor control signal in the reduced-power mode and enable the second Hall-effect sensor circuit in response to detecting movement of the rotatable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventors: Matthew V. Harte, Jeffrey S. Hayes, Stephen M. Ludwig, Jr., Robert C. Newman, Jr., Jaykrishna A. Shukla
  • Patent number: 11320285
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic field conversion unit, a magnetic field detection unit, and two shields. The magnetic field conversion unit includes a plurality of yokes. Each yoke is shaped to be long in a Y direction, and is configured to receive an input magnetic field and output an output magnetic field. The input magnetic field contains an input magnetic field component in a direction parallel to a Z direction, and a magnetic field component in a direction parallel to the Y direction. The output magnetic field contains an output magnetic field component in a direction parallel to an X direction. The magnetic field detection unit generates a detection value according to the output magnetic field component. Each shield has such a shape that its maximum dimension in the Y direction is smaller than its maximum dimension in the X direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 11303239
    Abstract: A magnetic pole initial position detection device includes: a direct-current excitation command generation section configured to generate a first command for causing a constant excitation current with a current phase fixed to a first phase to flow through the synchronous motor; a torque-zero determination section configured to determine whether a torque generated in the rotor of the synchronous motor is zero when the excitation current based on the first command flows through the synchronous motor; and a magnetic pole initial position acquisition section configured to acquire the magnetic pole initial position of the rotor of the synchronous motor on a basis of a rotor actual position at or near a point in time when the torque-zero determination section determines that the torque is zero; a number of pole pairs of the synchronous motor; and an excitation phase during direct-current excitation under the first command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Fanuc Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Takahashi, Yuuki Morita
  • Patent number: 11300160
    Abstract: A bearing providing a first ring and a second ring capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, at least one annular groove being formed on the second ring and oriented towards the first ring. The bearing further providing at least one target element engaged inside the groove of the second ring while being freely gliding inside the groove in the circumferential direction, the target element protruding into a hole formed on the first ring so that the target element is blocked in rotation by the first ring when the second ring rotates and the first ring is fixed, and at least one sensor mounted on the first ring and facing the target element to detect axial positions of the target element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Franck Landrieve
  • Patent number: 11287487
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor 1 includes: a thin film magnet 20 which is constituted by a hard magnetic material layer 103 and has magnetic anisotropy in an in-plane direction; and a sensitive part 30 including a sensitive element 31 sensing a magnetic field by a magnetic impedance effect, the sensitive element 31 being constituted by a soft magnetic material layer 105 laminated on the hard magnetic material layer 103, having a longitudinal direction and a short direction, and having uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction, in which the longitudinal direction faces in the direction of a magnetic field generated by the thin film magnet 20. The thin film magnet 20 and the sensitive element 31 are provided to constitute a magnetic circuit with a facing member provided outside to face one of magnetic poles of the thin film magnet 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventor: Daizo Endo
  • Patent number: 11280636
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises a first structure and a second structure. The first structure is rotatably coupled to the second structure by means of a bearing having a rotation axis. A dipole magnet is attached to the first structure with a direction of magnetic moment perpendicular to the rotation axis and a sensing unit is attached to the second structure and configured to measure the absolute position of the dipole magnet's rotation angle. The first structure comprises an alignment characteristic which is detectable on the outside of the rotary position sensor. The dipole magnet is attached to the first structure such that the alignment characteristic and direction of the magnetic moment of the dipole magnet have a defined angle of rotation relation on the first structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert Ferdinand Zwijze, Paulus Thomas Johannes Gennissen, Sietse Abel Michiel Hendriks
  • Patent number: 11277057
    Abstract: An annular sensor magnet to be fixed to a motor shaft by a press-fit includes an annular portion having magnetic poles alternately formed in an outer peripheral portion. The annular sensor magnet also includes a fixing portion extending from an inner peripheral portion of the annular portion toward a center to support and fix the motor shaft having been press-fit, and a stress reducing portion for reducing stress caused in a contact portion of the fixing portion that contacts the motor shaft when the motor shaft is press-fit onto the fixing portion. The sensor magnet includes a bonded magnet in which a magnetic material is dispersed in a plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: MABUCHI MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Satoshi Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 11268803
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a position detection device including an IC package, a terminal line and a sensor housing. The IC package includes a magnetic detection element, a sealing portion sealing the magnetic detection element, and a lead line protruding from the sealing portion and electrically connected to the magnetic detection element. The lead line is fixed to the terminal line. The sensor housing is formed separately from the IC package and supports the terminal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuma Uchida, Yoshiyuki Kono
  • Patent number: 11255999
    Abstract: A method for operating a magnetic field sensor and an associated magnetic field sensor system. The method includes: detecting an output signal of the magnetic field sensor that describes a magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor; establishing an adaptive filter function of an adaptive filter based on a model that describes an influence of specific objects on the output signal; filtering the output signal with the aid of the adaptive filter; ascertaining a deviation between the output signal and the output signal filtered with the aid of the adaptive filter; and detecting a presence of an object to be detected, based on the ascertained deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Bakucz
  • Patent number: 11257643
    Abstract: A rotary button system for use in a domestic apparatus, comprising: a ferromagnetic plate; a button removably mountable at a predefined first distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a first side of said plate, and rotatable about a virtual rotation axis substantially perpendicular to said plate, and comprising a permanent magnet magnetised in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a magnetic sensor device mounted at a predefined second distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side, and comprising one or more magnetic sensors for measuring one or more magnetic field components or field gradients, and configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said one or more field components and/or field gradients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Hao Wang
  • Patent number: 11241957
    Abstract: An accelerator device includes a housing, a rotary shaft, and an operating member. The operating member is configured to move in an opening direction and a closing direction. The operating member includes a first contact portion arranged at a first distance from the rotary shaft and a second contact portion arranged at a second distance from the rotary shaft. When the first contact portion has an initial shape and the operating member is located at the accelerator idle position, the second contact portion is arranged at a predetermined distance from the inner wall. When the first contact portion is deformed more than a predetermined volume from the initial shape and the operating member is located at the accelerator idle position, the second contact portion is in contact with the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuto Kita
  • Patent number: 11233442
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor comprising a rotatable patterned ring magnet, which in one embodiment is mounted on the output shaft of an actuator, and includes a plurality of pairs of North and South Pole sections extending around the circumference of the ring magnet in an alternating relationship and defining a plurality of circumferentially extending magnetic field switch points spaced predetermined distances on the ring magnet corresponding to a plurality of predetermined unique positions of the ring magnet adapted for sensing by a switch such as Hall Effect switch. In one embodiment, the ring magnet includes a plurality of pairs of North and South Pole sections and switch points on the ring magnet of different predetermined lengths and predetermined locations respectively corresponding to a plurality of predetermined ring magnet positions to be sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin C. Wolschlager
  • Patent number: 11204364
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring a rotation speed of a magnetic encoder includes a first magnetic detector detecting a magnetic field induced from the magnetic encoder and outputting a strength value of the magnetic field as a first electrical signal, a second magnetic detector detecting the magnetic field induced from the magnetic encoder and outputting a strength value of the magnetic field as a second electrical signal, a first output signal generator for generating and outputting first rotation data including information indicating a rotation speed of a wheel based on the first electrical signal, and a second output signal generator configured to generate second rotation data including information indicating a rotation speed of the wheel based on the second electrical signal. The information indicating the rotation speed in the second rotation data may have a higher resolution than the information indicating the rotation speed in the first rotation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ILJIN GLOBAL CO., LTD
    Inventors: Chan Goo Jeon, Young Tae Kim, Jae Wan Lim, Joung Woo Hur
  • Patent number: 11187516
    Abstract: An angle measuring device includes first and second component groups and a bearing. The first component group includes a scale element having first and second graduations. The second component group has a first modular unit, having a position sensor, a second modular unit, having first to sixth position transducers, and a compensation coupling. To determine the relative angular position between the component groups, the first graduation is scannable with the aid of the position sensor. Using the first to third position transducers, the first graduation or a further graduation disposed on the scale element is scannable to determine a displacement of the scale element in a plane. Using the fourth to sixth position transducers, the second graduation is scannable to determine tilting of the scale element about a tilting axis, the position sensor being situated in a torsionally stiff but axially and radially flexible manner relative to the position transducers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Johann Mitterreiter
  • Patent number: 11181393
    Abstract: By configuring an encoder scale as a varying scale with successively increasing or decreasing pitch, sensors in a travel path of the scale can detect a phase difference to determine an absolute position of the scale for use in an industrial control system. Due to the successively increasing or decreasing pitch, each sensor can detect successively increasing or decreasing properties (such as magnetic fields) from the scale in a uniquely identifiable pattern. By taking the difference between readings of adjacent sensors, each sensor detecting properties of the scale, an absolute position of the scale between the sensors can be determined. The principle for feedback for the encoder system is analogous to a Nonius or Vernier principle to determine absolute position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Smit, Xikai Sun, Jadav Das
  • Patent number: 11169223
    Abstract: In one aspect, an angle sensor includes a first Hall element disposed on a first axis, a second Hall element disposed on a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and a conduction path having a first portion extending parallel to the first axis and a second portion parallel to the second axis. The conduction path is configured to conduct a calibration current that generates a first magnetic flux density measured at the first Hall element and a second magnetic flux density measured at the second Hall element. The angle sensor also includes calibration circuitry configured to generate one or more compensation signals based on the first and second magnetic flux densities and to adjust an external magnetic flux density measured at the second Hall element due to an external magnetic field using the one or more compensation signals to reduce angle error of the angle sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Till-Jonas Ostermann, Dominik Geisler, Simon Rock, Fabian Winkler
  • Patent number: 11162820
    Abstract: An optical reflective component and an optical encoder using the same are disclosed. The optical reflective component includes a main body, an optical pattern, a first attaching portion and a second attaching portion. The main body has a first central axis and a reflective surface perpendicular to each other. The optical pattern is disposed on the reflective surface and centered at the central axis. The first attaching portion is centered at the first central axis of the main body and extends from the man body in a direction parallel to the first central axis. The first attaching portion has an inner wall. The second attaching portion has a plane perpendicular to the first central axis. The plane is connected to the inner wall. The main body, the first attaching portion and the second attaching portion are formed of a metal material and are integrally formed with the optical pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Horng-Jou Wang, Tsung-En Chan
  • Patent number: 11150111
    Abstract: A rotational angle sensor includes a stator element and rotor element. The stator element has a stator transmitting coil and stator receiving coil. The rotor element is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis, relative to the stator element, and has a rotor receiving coil and rotor transmitting coil electrically connected to each other. The rotor receiving coil is inductively coupled to the stator transmitting coil such that an electromagnetic field produced by the stator transmitting coil induces a current in the rotor receiving coil that flows through the rotor transmitting coil and causes the rotor transmitting coil to produce a further electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Utermoehlen, Andreas Merz, Stefan Leidich
  • Patent number: 11128241
    Abstract: A motor control system shorts motor windings of a motor by using enhancement metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) so that the motor generates braking torque when all or some electric control units of the motor are disabled or failed. The motor control system comprises: a motor comprising a plurality of motor phase terminals; a plurality of electric control units electrically connected to the motor and configured to control the motor, wherein the electric control units configured to output control signals, respectively; a plurality of power sources, each of the power sources electrically connected to a respective one of the electric control units; and a shorting circuit connected between the power sources and the motor, the shorting circuit configured to selectively short the motor phase terminals in response to one or more of the control signals of the electric control units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shakil Hossain, Lucas Ritter, Awab Ali, Tomy Sebastian, Kade Hudson
  • Patent number: 11125585
    Abstract: A rotation angle sensor system for an optical system that includes a rotor and a stator, includes a stator-based coil system having an inductance and for generating and transmitting a magnetic alternating field, and a rotor-based target that functions as an eddy current element for receiving the magnetic alternating field and generating a magnetic eddy current field. The coil system and the target are mounted or mountable fixedly, with respect to rotation, on the stator and the rotor, respectively, in such a way that different overlaps and/or spatial proximities between the coil system and the target, with correspondingly different effects on the magnetic alternating field of the coil system, result as a function of the rotation angle and/or of the orientation between the stator and the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Fabian Utermoehlen, Jan Sparbert, Remigius Has, Stefan Leidich
  • Patent number: 11112274
    Abstract: A position sensor according to some embodiments includes a first position sensor board having first sensor coils and a first transmit coil; a second position sensor board having second sensor coils stacked with, and separated from by a distance Z, the first position sensor; and at least one target positioned relative to the stacked first position sensor and second position sensor. A redundant position sensor according to some embodiments includes a plurality of stacked sensor boards, each of the plurality of sensor boards including sensor coils, wherein one of the plurality of stacked sensor boards includes an active transmit coil; and a target positioned over the plurality of stacked sensor boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Integrated Device Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gentjan Qama
  • Patent number: 11105376
    Abstract: In order to determine information about the generation of heat in a bearing (10) in a simple manner, a bearing (10) includes an outer ring (12) secured to a securing member, and an inner ring (11) provided on the inside of the outer ring (12) and secured to a shaft that rotates in the circumferential direction relative to the securing member. A thermal flow sensor (14) is provided as a coating on a securing-side surface that includes the outer ring (12), and generates a thermoelectromotive force including information about frictional heat generated with the rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignees: NEC CORPORATION, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Akihiro Kirihara, Masahiko Ishida, Koichi Terashima, Ryohto Sawada, Eiji Saitoh, Yasuyuki Oikawa, Ryo Iguchi, Masao Ono
  • Patent number: 11099035
    Abstract: A scanning unit for an angle-measuring device for scanning an angular scale, so that a relative angular position between the scanning unit and the angular scale about an axis of rotation can be determined, includes a substrate having a first surface, a detector configured to generate signals which are dependent on the angular position, evaluation electronics including electronic components surrounded by a potting compound, and an electrical interface configured to create a connection from the evaluation electronics to subsequent electronics. The detector, electronic components and electrical interface are disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The electronic components and the electrical interface are disposed further away from the axis of rotation than the detector. The potting compound is disposed on the first surface of the substrate circumferentially around the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Eder
  • Patent number: 11091139
    Abstract: A blocking device for an electromechanical service brake of a motor vehicle, wherein the electromechanical service brake comprises a ratchet gear, supported rotatably about a rotational axis, which ratchet gear is connected or is connectable torque-proof with a drive shaft, rotatable about the same rotational axis of a power train of the electromechanical service brake, and the blocking device comprises a blocking tappet which is axially movable along a displacement axis between a first position, in which the blocking tappet releases the ratchet gear, and a second position, in which the blocking tappet for the purpose of blocking engages into the ratchet gear, a moving system for moving the blocking tappet along the displacement axis, and a position determination system for determining the position of the blocking tappet and an electromechanical service brake for a motor vehicle with such a blocking device and to a motor vehicle with such an electromechanical service brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: IMS Gear SE & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Johannes Stohr, Klaus Fahrlander
  • Patent number: 11067460
    Abstract: A torque sensor mounted on a rotating element in a motor vehicle, including at least one strain gauge and emitting an electrical signal as a function of the torsion experienced by the rotating element, the torque sensor having a moving part intended to be driven in rotation with the rotating element and including the strain gauge and a fixed part including a first printed circuit board. The torque sensor also acts as an angular-position sensor, the moving part bearing angularly distributed targets passing in succession past a first annular sector borne by the first board including a secondary receiver winding generating a sine signal, a secondary receiver winding generating a cosine signal, and a primary emitter winding inducing a voltage in the receiver windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: Continental Automotive France, Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Simon-Didier Venzal, Philippe Grass
  • Patent number: 11054436
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a rotating body includes a cylindrical supporting member being connected to a rotating shaft, a unit to be detected including a first pattern portion provided in a first height region of the supporting member, and the first pattern portion including first patterns extended in a rotation direction of the rotating shaft and a second pattern portion provided in a second height region of the supporting member, extended in a rotation direction of the rotating shaft, and the second pattern portion including second patterns having an angle difference with the first patterns, and a sensor module including a first sensor disposed opposite to the first pattern portion and a second sensor disposed opposite to the second pattern portion, the first patterns and the second patterns are formed of a metallic material, and each of the first sensor and the second sensor includes a sensing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Yeol Lee, Soon Joung Yio, Jae Hyuk Jang, Hee Seung Kim, Young Seung Roh, Jae Sun Won
  • Patent number: 11041739
    Abstract: The rotation sensor includes a plurality of magnetic sensors for outputting a sine wave signal and a cosine wave signal corresponding to an electrical angle of rotation of the rotating body, and the magnetic sensors are arranged at equal intervals and in a circumferential direction of the rotating body apart from the outer periphery of the rotating body, and are fixed in position so as to detect a change in magnetic field caused by the change in the rotational position of the rotating body due to the rotation of the rotating body. The rotation sensor includes an arithmetic unit, which receives sine wave signals and cosine wave signals from a plurality of magnetic sensors, and adds and subtracts sine wave signals and cosine wave signals according to a predetermined rule, thereby cancels out the high-order components contained in sine wave signals and cosine wave signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ohmi, Michihiro Makita
  • Patent number: 11029176
    Abstract: A method of detecting a vibration comprises determining a vibration flag has been set during a running mode, entering a vibration mode, providing direction information for a target object during the vibration mode of the magnetic field sensor, holding onto positive peak values and negative peak values of the magnetic field signal during the vibration mode of the magnetic field sensor, and returning to the running mode after receiving at least two clock cycles of the magnetic field signal with no further vibration flags set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin Geiger, Cédric Gillet
  • Patent number: 11023118
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a motor configuration selection device comprising: a selection condition acquisition unit that acquires a selection condition for an encoder to be provided at a motor; and a selection making unit that makes a selection of an encoder to be provided at the motor based on the selection condition acquired by the selection condition acquisition unit and the specification of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Suguru Takamizawa
  • Patent number: 11002355
    Abstract: An actuator includes a motor including a first rotor rotatable in a circumferential direction about a center axis extending in a vertical direction, a second rotor including a sensor magnet and rotatable in the circumferential direction about the center axis, and a speed reducer that reduces rotation of the first rotor and transmits a torque to the second rotor. The motor includes a stationary portion including a stator facing the first rotor and a first bearing rotatably supporting the first rotor with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a sensor which faces a portion of a trajectory of the sensor magnet rotating in the circumferential direction and detects a rotation position of the sensor magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Nidec Corporation
    Inventors: Wataru Yamauchi, Shozo Osugi, Akihiro Toda, Teiichi Hirono
  • Patent number: 11005351
    Abstract: An automotive electric fluidic pump includes a brushless and electronically commutated electric drive motor. The electric drive motor includes a permanent-magnetic motor rotor which rotates around a rotation axis and includes rotor poles, stator-sided electro-magnetic coils, a printed circuit board with openings, at least two stator-sided Hall sensors arranged on a proximal side of the printed circuit board to face the permanent-magnetic motor rotor, and a ferromagnetic back iron member arranged at a distal side of the printed circuit board to provide a direct magnetic coupling of the Hall sensors with each other. The Hall sensors are arranged eccentrically to detect axial magnetic fields of the rotor poles. The ferromagnetic back iron member comprises axial protrusions. An axial protrusion extends into an opening of the printed circuit board. Each axial protrusion faces a Hall sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: PIERBURG PUMP TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Buerger, Martin Schumachers, Michael Haase, Harald Spiertz, Viktor Schroeder, Alessandro Malvasi, Andreas Wulf
  • Patent number: 10976221
    Abstract: A magnetic gas turbine sensor (25) for sensing the speed and/or torque of a shaft in a gas turbine engine, the sensor comprising a magnetically energisable pole piece (3), a magnet (2) associated with the pole piece and a conductive sensing element (4) wrapped or wound around the pole piece (3) and inductively coupled to the pole piece. The sensor includes a first sensor casing including a first inner fluid conduit (36) for fluid coolant, the first fluid conduit being inside the casing and running alongside and/or adjacent the pole piece, magnet and/or conductive sensing element, and the sensor also including a second sensor casing surrounding the first sensor casing and defining a second outer fluid conduit (37) for fluid coolant and at least partially surrounding the first fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: WESTON AEROSPACE LIMITED
    Inventors: Nigel Turner, Wojciech Konrad Kuiczyk, James Ewing
  • Patent number: 10972093
    Abstract: An auxiliary circuit for outputting a supplying voltage or a detection signal includes a normally-on device and a signal processing circuit. A drain terminal of the normally-on switching device is coupled to a first terminal, a gate terminal of the normally-on switching device is coupled to a second terminal. An input voltage between the first terminal and the second terminal switches between two different levels. The signal processing circuit is configured to output the supplying voltage or the detection signal according to a voltage at a source terminal of the normally-on switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventor: Po-Chin Chuang
  • Patent number: 10962385
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for positioning a magnetic field sensor IC package having a first channel for a planar magnetic field sensing element and a second channel for vertical magnetic field sensing element in relation to an axis of a ring magnet to provide a desired phase relationship between the first and second channels. In embodiments, positioning the sensor includes an offset angle and a displacement with respect to a centerline of the ring magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan J. Metivier, Yannick Vuillermet
  • Patent number: 10955051
    Abstract: In at least some implementations, a gear shift actuator assembly to cause gear changes in a vehicle transmission includes a drivetrain having a plurality of gears, a body that defines an output of the assembly, and a rotation sensor element coupled to the body. The body is driven by the drivetrain for rotation about an axis. The output has a coupling feature adapted to be connected to a transmission shift mechanism so that rotation of the output causes a transmission gear shift, and the coupling feature is located at an axial end of the body. The rotation sensor element is coupled to the body for rotation with the body, and the rotation sensor element is coupled to the body axially spaced from the coupling feature. In at least some implementations, the rotation sensor element includes a magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DURA Operating, LLC
    Inventors: Jinseok Jeon, Brian D. Howe
  • Patent number: 10921161
    Abstract: A differential angle sensor for measuring a differential angle between an input shaft and an output shaft includes a target assembly fixed to rotate with one of the shafts and a ring magnet with equidistantly spaced magnet segments fixed to rotate with the other one of the shafts. The target assembly includes four identical targets extending about the common axis parallel and axially spaced apart from one another, and each having a plurality of wedge-shaped teeth extending radially toward the ring magnet. A first magnetic field sensor is disposed between first and second targets for measuring a first magnetic field strength therebetween. A second magnetic field sensor is disposed between third and fourth targets for measuring a second magnetic field strength. The targets are all circumferentially offset relative to one another such that the magnetic field strengths each vary with the differential angle between the shafts and differently from one-another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Haimian Cai, Siqi Cheng, Changhe Huang, Thaddeus Schroeder, Christopher Mark Thrush
  • Patent number: 10913449
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a powertrain electronic control unit and an electronic stability control unit that is connected to the powertrain electronic control unit via a vehicle communication bus. The vehicle powertrain includes a wheel, a wheel speed sensor that is configured to detect a speed of the wheel, an electric motor that is configured to drive the wheel, and an electric motor speed sensor that is configured to detect the speed of the electric motor. If the wheel speed sensor is operating normally, the electronic stability control unit controls the vehicle based on an output of the wheel speed sensor. However, if the wheel speed sensor is not operating normally, the electronic stability control unit controls the vehicle based on an output of the electric motor speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: David Safstrom
  • Patent number: 10895495
    Abstract: Rotational speed of a rotating component is determined using frequency domain vibrational data. A time sequence of vibrational data of the rotating component is sensed and converted to the frequency domain vibrational data. A portion of the frequency domain vibrational data corresponding to an expected rotational speed of the rotating component is identified. A frequency bin index of the frequency domain vibrational data corresponding to a maximum vibration within the portion of the frequency domain vibrational data is identified. The maximum vibration at the identified frequency bin index and vibrations associated with adjacent frequency bin indices are fitted to a model curve. A floating point frequency bin index corresponding to a maximum of the model curve is identified, and the rotational speed of the rotating component is determined based on the frequency bin index corresponding to the maximum of the model curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan M. Duke
  • Patent number: 10895067
    Abstract: An operator control device for a water conducting sanitary fitting including a basic holder with an operating toggle disposed thereon, which toggle has a rotating operating part and a fixed operating part which are rotatable in relation to each other, wherein the rotating operating part is rotatable about a rotation axis on the basic holder. The operating toggle can be pushed in towards the basic holder along the rotation axis. At least one pusher magnet is disposed in the basic holder, and at least one magnetic field sensor is disposed in the operating toggle. An evaluation device for the magnetic field sensor is provided, in order to detect whether the sensor approaches the pusher magnet during pushing-in. At least one magnetic element is disposed in the rotating operating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Hansgrohe SE
    Inventors: Lars Baumstark, Aline Gebert
  • Patent number: 10859406
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to correcting for a phase shift between signals associated with an angle sensor and a multi-turn sensor that includes magnetoresistive elements. A processing circuit can determine a phase shift correction and generate position information based on at least the phase shift correction and a signal associated with the multi-turn sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Aude Richard, Peter James Tonge, Jochen Schmitt, Monsoon Dutt
  • Patent number: 10852161
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor that detects an angle of a target includes a first channel having first and second magnetic field sensing elements that are orthogonal with respect to each other and produce first and second magnetic field signals, and a second channel having third and fourth magnetic field sensing elements that are orthogonal with respect to each other and produce third and fourth magnetic field signals. The third sensing element is positioned at an angle (e.g., 45-degrees) with respect to the first sensing element. The magnetic field sensor includes a low power mode circuit that uses comparators to compare the first, second, third, and fourth magnetic field signals to a first, second, third, and fourth threshold, respectively. A processor is configured to use an output of the low power mode circuit to determine the angle of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cesaretti, Nicolas Rigoni, Jesse Lapomardo
  • Patent number: 10837808
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for testing the plausibility of signals of a rotary encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Lechner, Daniel Zirkel, Daniel Raichle, Michael Ungermann
  • Patent number: 10837980
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection device for a vehicle brake includes: a housing accommodating a magnetic detection unit; a rotation member supported to be rotatable relative to the housing; and a magnet held by the rotation member and rotating integrally with the rotation member, in which the magnetic detection unit includes a stroke detection unit and a switch detection unit, the stroke detection unit detects a rotation angle by which the rotation member has rotated from a reference position based on a magnetic force of the magnet, the switch detection unit detects that the rotation member has rotated from the reference position by a predetermined angle or more, and at least a portion of the stroke detection unit is disposed at a position where the portion overlaps with the magnet in an axial direction of a rotational axis of the rotation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hidenobu Muramatsu, Takashi Hara
  • Patent number: 10816360
    Abstract: A rotation detection device includes a detected member that is mounted to a rotating member and has a plurality of magnetic poles arranged in a circumferential direction about a rotational axis of the rotating member, and a sensor section that is mounted to a stationary member not rotating with rotation of the rotating member and is arranged to face the detected member. The sensor section includes plural magnetic sensors each including a plate-shaped detection section that includes a magnetism detection element for detecting a magnetic field from the detected member, a signal processing circuit for processing a signal output from the magnetism detection element, and a cover collectively covering the magnetism detection element and the signal processing circuit, and wherein the detection sections are stacked in a direction along which the sensor section and the detected member face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI METALS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Onimoto, Teruyoshi Shirota
  • Patent number: 10819909
    Abstract: A driving apparatus which is capable of detecting a position with a long stroke and ensuring large driving thrust. The driving apparatus has a fixed member, a movable member, a coil, a position detector that detects a position of the movable member, and a first magnet unit and a second magnet unit that are placed with the coil interposed therebetween. The position detector and the coil are placed on one of the fixed member and the movable member, and the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit are placed on the other one. The second magnet unit has a concave portion in a central part of a surface facing the position detector. The position detector is placed closer to the second magnet unit than to the first magnet unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kaori Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10800452
    Abstract: A power steering apparatus assists steering of a vehicle by conferring torque generated by an electric motor to a steering mechanism. The apparatus includes a steering column with linked upper and lower steering shafts. An angle sensor (AS) includes a gear and magnet to measure the steering shaft angle. A torque sensor (TS) measures the relative shift angle between the upper and lower steering shaft and includes a multi-pole ring magnet and a magnetic flux conductor. The TS and AS are arranged such that the AS magnet influences the TS measurement creating a steering shaft angle depending error signal. The steering mechanism is arranged such that a zero crossing of an envelope curve of the error signal is given for the neutral position of the steering apparatus or a range of the steering position in which the steering angle is less than a threshold angle limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP AG, THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventors: Tivadar Kristóf Tóth, Gergely Mihály Pavlisinec
  • Patent number: 10802133
    Abstract: A system may include a magnetic sensor to measure a magnetic field that is influenced by a magnetic property of a target object, and determine first characteristic information, associated with the target object, based on the magnetic field. The system may include a radar sensor to measure a radar signal that is influenced by a radar property of the target object, and determine second characteristic information, associated with the target object, based on the radar signal. The system may include a controller to determine a characteristic of the target object based on the first characteristic information and the second characteristic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Dirk Hammerschmidt, Robert Hermann