Rotary Patents (Class 324/207.25)
  • Patent number: 8942952
    Abstract: A first third harmonic component removing portion calculates an approximate value (sin ?)n of a signal sin ? that is an output signal of a first magnetic sensor from which third harmonic components have been removed. A second third harmonic component removing portion calculates an approximate value (cos ?)n of a signal cos ? that is an output signal of a second magnetic sensor from which third harmonic components have been removed. A rotation angle calculation portion calculates a rotation angle ? of a rotor based on the approximate value (sin ?)n of sin ?, which has been calculated by the first third harmonic component removing portion and the approximate value (cos ?)n of cos ?, which has been calculated by the second third harmonic component removing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8941375
    Abstract: A contactless detection apparatus has a first magnet ring, a second magnet ring, a first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor and a controller. The two magnet rings are respectively mounted on two ends of a torsion shaft. When the torsion shaft rotates, the controller detects the magnetic fields of the two magnet rings through the two magnetic sensors. The controller calculates a twisting torque exerted on the torsion shaft and a rotational angle of the torsion shaft according to the detected magnetic fields at the same time. The detection apparatus of the invention has simple structure. The magnetic fields of both magnet rings do not interfere with each other, such that the detection result of the invention is accurate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Chau-Chih Yu, Tsung-Hua Hsu, Jin-Yan Hsu, Chih-Jung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8941374
    Abstract: A rotation detector component detects a rotational state of a rotor and sends a rotational detection signal. A signal transmission component is electrically connected with a lead frame of the rotation detector component to transmit the rotational detection signal to an external device. A body portion holds the rotation detector component and a part of the signal transmission component. The body portion is integrally molded of a first resin to cover a joint portion between the lead frame and the signal transmission component, the rotation detector component, and a part of the signal transmission component. A part of the rotation detector component forms an exposed portion exposed from the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Takasaki, Hiroyuki Tsuge
  • Publication number: 20150022192
    Abstract: A discrete magnetic angle sensor device according to an embodiment includes a first magnetic field gradiometer and a second magnetic field gradiometer. The first magnetic field gradiometer and the second magnetic field gradiometer are of different types of a group of gradiometer types. An embodiment may improve an accuracy of a determination of a rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Udo Ausserlechner
  • Publication number: 20150022911
    Abstract: The rotation detection apparatus includes a rotatable member rotatable with rotation of a motor and having multiple pattern element portions in its rotational direction, a signal outputter to output a detection signal changing in response to rotation of the pattern element portions, and a memory storing correction values each provided for each of the pattern element portions and used to perform correction of an error in a relation between rotational positions of the rotatable member and the change of the detection signal. A corrector performs the correction with reference to a reference position of the rotatable member in an origin state where a driven member driven by the motor is located at its origin position and by using each of the correction values for each change of the detection signal when the rotatable member is rotated from the reference position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Junki YOSHIMUTA
  • Patent number: 8937473
    Abstract: Sensor for continuously measuring the angular position of a shaft rotatably mounted relative to a housing. The sensor includes a stator, a rotor attachable to the shaft, and permanent magnets having alternating polarities located on a stator or a rotor capable of creating magnetic induction during the rotation of the rotor. A magnetic circuit channels the magnetic induction such that it is proportional to a sinusoidal function of the angle of the rotor. At least two electric transducers having linear output, each angularly offset one from the other relative to the stator, are located in the gaps arranged in the circuit. The magnetic circuit is toothed and includes at least one measuring unit having three teeth per pair of magnets, each tooth including a gap with a transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Sagem Defense Securite
    Inventor: Jérôme Piaton
  • Patent number: 8933691
    Abstract: A rotary position sensor for determining the rotary position of a rotary component may include a sensor and a magnet. The sensor may be responsive to a characteristic of a magnetic field that changes as the magnetic field moves. The magnet may be carried by the rotary component for rotation with the rotary component and have an anti-rotation feature to prevent rotation of the magnet relative to the rotary component to maintain a desired rotary position of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William E. Galka, Bradley J. Roche, David L. Speirs, Eric G. Zbytowski
  • Patent number: 8933690
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, an angle detection apparatus detects the angle of a rotation axis of a rotating device to generate a first signal and a second signal perpendicular to the first signal using the angle detection unit. The first AD conversion unit receives the first signal to perform an analog-to-digital conversion of the first signal. The second AD conversion unit receives the second signal to perform an analog-to-digital conversion of the second signal. The first offset correction unit receives a third signal output from the first AD conversion unit to perform an offset correction of the third signal when the third signal is outside a predetermined range. The second offset correction unit receives a fourth signal output from the second AD conversion unit to perform an offset correction of the fourth signal when the fourth signal is outside the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Makoto Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8933692
    Abstract: An output signal V1=sin ? is output from a first magnetic sensor and an output signal V2=cos(?+?) is output from a second magnetic sensor. An output signal correction unit in a rotation angle computing device corrects the output signal V2 from the second magnetic sensor to an output signal V2? (=cos ?) so that a positional phase difference (90°+?) between the magnetic sensors and is made equal to a target phase difference of 90°. A rotation angle computing unit computes the rotation angle ? of a rotor based on the corrected signal V2? (=cos ?) and the other output signal V1 (=sin ?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Ueda, Yoshinobu Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20150008904
    Abstract: Example apparatus for absolute position detection are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and digit gears coupled to the housing to rotate about respective parallel axes. Each digit gear has a first portion including a first set of teeth disposed about an entire circumference of the first portion and a second portion including a second set of teeth disposed about only a portion of a circumference of the second portion. Each digit gear is to correspond to a respective digit in a code representing an absolute position of a shaft. A respective idler gear between each adjacent pair of the digit gears is to be intermeshed with the first set of teeth of one of the digit gears and the second set of teeth of the other one of the digit gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Doyle Robert Blume, JR., Gerald W. Scalf
  • Publication number: 20150008907
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for contactlessly detecting the absolute position of an element which can move relative to magnetosensitive sensors and has a magnetic field source fastened on the movable element, wherein two magnetosensitive sensors in a plane which are spatially offset in the direction of movement are arranged at a distance from the magnetic field source. Provision is made for the apparatus to be redundant such that said apparatus has two sensor elements, wherein two such magnetosensitive sensors are arranged in each sensor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventor: Josef Janisch
  • Patent number: 8928312
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring the determination of a rotor angle of a rotating shaft by use of a resolver monitoring the determination of the rotor angle is carried out by: a first test AC voltage at a test frequency which is not the same as an exciter frequency of the resolver is applied to a first stator winding of the resolver, and a second test AC voltage at the test frequency is applied to at least one second stator winding of the resolver, wherein the first and the second test AC voltages are produced such that an AC voltage is induced all the time in at least one rotor winding of the resolver as a result of the first and the second test AC voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Lenze Automation GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Pasternack, Karl-Dieter Tieste, Henning Duerkop
  • Patent number: 8928310
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reluctance resolver (100) with an at least partially soft magnetic stator (104) and an at least partially soft magnetic rotor (102) which oppose each other by forming an air gap. The magnetic resistance in the air gap changes periodically on account of a configuration of the rotor that varies over the circumference. The angle sensor has a magnetic flux transmitter which is arranged on the stator and generates a predefined magnetic flux distribution in the air gap via at least one pair of poles. Furthermore, a magnetic flux receiver, which measures the intensity of the magnetic field via at least two pairs of signal poles arranged offset from one another at an angle, is arranged on the stator, wherein an angle value for a position of the rotor in relation to the stator can be derived from the two receiver signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Belgium EC BVBA
    Inventors: Tom Ocket, Jan Van Cauwenberge, Jurgen Verstraete
  • Patent number: 8928313
    Abstract: A low-cost magnetic encoder that facilitates generating sinusoidal magnetic flux is provided. First and second permanent magnet arrays each include a plurality of permanent magnets arranged such that magnetic poles having the same polarity face each other, and magnetic yokes disposed on side surfaces of the plurality of permanent magnets. The permanent magnets and the magnetic yokes are arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch in the moving direction of a magnetic piece array. First and second magnetic detectors corresponding to the first and second permanent magnet arrays are disposed in a positional relationship allowing detection of leakage magnetic flux generated when the permanent magnet arrays and the magnetic piece array are displaced with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sanyo Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Sugita, Yuqi Tang, Yasushi Misawa
  • Publication number: 20150002143
    Abstract: An object of this invention is to sense a transient displacement of the blade position to thereby detect abnormalities early. The invention includes: one or more first sensors mounted so as to be removable from an outer surface of a casing opposed to blade tips; a second sensor for acquiring a signal from a fixed point on a rotor shaft of the blades; a section configured to extract data groups from an output signal of the first sensor on the basis of information acquired by the second sensor; a section configured to average the data groups; a section configured to determine thresholds from averaged data obtained under a healthy condition; and an assessing section configured to compare magnitude of the thresholds and sensor signals obtained during blade status monitoring. Since a transient displacement of blade position can be sensed, abnormalities can be detected early in this invention. This early detection, in turn, enables a rotation to be stopped during an initial phase of blade damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Akira NISHIMIZU, Toshiyuki HIRAOKA, Masahiro TOOMA, Soushi NARISHIGE, Tetsuya MATSUI
  • Patent number: 8922204
    Abstract: A fail detecting device for a rotation angle sensor, for detecting a fail of the rotation angle sensor even if the number of rotation angle sensors is one. A cam is configured to be driven to rotate in one direction by an electric motor to reciprocate a push rod. An output voltage of an angle sensor is set so that the region equal to or lower than a first predetermined voltage and the region equal to or higher than a second predetermined voltage higher than the first predetermined voltage are recognized as a dead zone. The elapsed time after the transition to the dead zone is measured by a timer and it is determined that the angle sensor is in the fail state if the output voltage corresponding to the dead zone is detected although the estimated time of the passage through the dead zone has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Uchisasai, Sumitaka Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8922203
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward a system that includes a turbomachine blade monitoring system having an eddy current proximity probe assembly. The eddy current proximity probe assembly includes an eddy current proximity probe having a probe tip and a probe tip shroud disposed about the probe tip, wherein the probe tip shroud comprises a non-metallic material. The eddy current proximity probe is configured to provide a signal indicative of a presence of a turbomachine blade, wherein the eddy current proximity probe assembly is configured to be disposed within a turbomachine casing. The turbomachine blade monitoring system also includes a monitor coupled to the eddy current proximity probe assembly, wherein the monitor is configured to monitor a parameter of the turbomachine blade based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kristoffer Wayne Wickstead, Samuel Thomas Walter Francis, Jesse Lewis Hanna, Sherrie Ann Clark
  • Patent number: 8919375
    Abstract: Valve comprising a shutter (2) rotating as one (A) with a shaft (3) and a sensor sensing the rotational position of the shaft (3), which comprises a target holder (4a) push-fitted onto the shaft (3), a plate (6) slipped onto the shaft (3), the target holder (4a) and the annular part (6a) being in one and the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: KSB S.A.S.
    Inventors: Dominique Duboy, Christophe Amagat
  • Patent number: 8922200
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the actual angle position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive (10) having an odd number of pole pairs. An actual angle measurement value (?AMR,k) of the rotatable component is measured using an angle sensor (28) which only measures the actual angle measurement value (?AMR,k) within a predefined reduced angular area, and an associated device (20) for determining an actual angle position of a rotatable magnetic component in an electric drive (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ulrich Vollmer
  • Patent number: 8922201
    Abstract: A position detecting device affixed to a handle bar, wherein the positional displacement between a section to be detected and a detecting section is minimized to reduce the degradation of the detection accuracy. A position detecting device 1 comprising: a section 4 to be detected which is rotated on the basis of the rotational operation of a handle grip 3 provided to a handle bar 2; a detecting section 5 which detects the section 4 to be detected; and a case 6 which contains the section 4 to be detected and the detecting section 5, wherein the position detecting device 1 is also provided with a support member 7 which rotatably supports the section 4 to be detected and to which the detecting section 5 is affixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Iwahashi
  • Publication number: 20140375307
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a number of revolutions of a rotatable shaft, is proposed, which apparatus encompasses a magnet disposed on the shaft, and a micromechanical device. A detection element of the micromechanical device, which element interacts with the magnet, is advanced stepwise upon each movement of the magnet past the micromechanical device in accordance with the movement direction of the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Axel Kaschner, Holger Behrens
  • Patent number: 8917088
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and device for diagnosis of functioning faults caused by the angular position measurement sensors of the rotor of a polyphase rotary electrical machine comprising a stator, in particular of the alternator-starter type. The diagnosis is obtained by carrying out direct measurements of pairs of sine and cosine signals determined on the basis of linear combinations of the polyphase signals provided by these sensors. This measurement therefore does not make it necessary to know the exact value of the speed of the machine. The diagnosis of functioning faults caused by the angular position measurement sensors requires only the execution of elementary logic operations, i.e. the determination of the “true” or “false” logic states of two inequality equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Laurent Labiste
  • Publication number: 20140368192
    Abstract: Provided is a rotation angle detection device, having a magnet installed on a valve shaft, which magnetically detects a rotation angle of a valve shaft, the device being configured to include a plate member having a predetermined thickness which is fastened and fixed to one end of the valve shaft, wherein the magnet is molded to the plate member into a cylindrical shape having a height larger than the predetermined thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Kiyoshi KANEKO, Michio ONUMA, Ryuichi YAEGASHI
  • Patent number: 8912794
    Abstract: An angle detecting device has a combined structure of plural resolvers, but is simple and is easily produced, and has redundancy reducing the risk of failure. The angle detecting device has two resolvers which are combined in the axial direction and has a stator core 100. The stator core 100 is formed by laminating a first stator core 103 on a second stator core 104. The first stator core 103 is provided with plural salient poles 101 which extend to a center of an axis. The second stator core 104 is provided with plural salient poles 102 which extend to the center of the axis. The salient poles 101 and 102 differ in position when viewed from the axial direction, and the salient poles 102 are positioned between the adjacent salient poles 101 when viewed from the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsumi Matsuura, Takashi Sano, Kazuki Miyao, Ryuta Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8912791
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic sensor for determining the position of a part (2) movable firstly in rotation over a limited angular stroke by virtue of a rotary movement (R), and secondly in translation along a translation axis (X) and over a limited linear stroke, this sensor including both a magnetized target (3) mounted on and fastened to the movable part (2) and taking the form of a radially-magnetized part-cylinder having an axis of symmetry coinciding with the translation axis (X) and also a system (5) for measuring the magnetic field of the magnetized target to determine the position of the target in three dimensions. According to the invention, in order to determine the position and the orientation of the target, the system (5) acts at a single point to measure the direction of the magnetic field in two orthogonal planes, one of which (P1) is normal to the rotary movement (R) and the other of which (P2) is normal to the movement in translation (X).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Electricfil Automotive
    Inventor: Vincent Liebart
  • Patent number: 8907663
    Abstract: A height sensor module is disclosed, the module including a sensor housing formed at an upper side with an opening; a shaft rotatably formed at the sensor housing; a magnet arranged at an upper side of the shaft; a PCB mounted at a surface opposite to the magnet with at least one magnetic element, and accommodated at an upper end of a plurality of support lugs protrusively formed at an interior of the sensor housing; a sensor cover closing the opening; a sealing member interposed between the sensor housing and the sensor cover to inhibit moisture and contaminant materials from entering the sensor housing; a plurality of elastic members interposed between the sensor cover and the PCB to push the PCB to a support lug side; and a support unit supporting both ends of the plurality of elastic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Suhyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 8909489
    Abstract: A first detection unit has first and second detection circuits. A second detection unit has third and fourth detection circuits. Output signals of the second and fourth detection circuits differ from output signals of the first and third detection circuits in phase, respectively, by an odd number of times ¼ the signal period. The output signal of the third detection circuit differs from the output signal of the first detection circuit in phase by an integer multiple of ? the signal period other than an integer multiple of ½ the signal period. A rotating field sensor generates a first signal based on the output signals of the first and third detection circuits, generates a second signal based on the output signals of the second and fourth detection circuits, and calculates a detected angle value based on the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji Saruki, Hiraku Hirabayashi, Yosuke Komasaki
  • Patent number: 8907661
    Abstract: The input device has a printed circuit board (5) to which a plurality of coils (L1-L8) has been fitted which, together with a capacitor (C2), each form a frequency-determining element of an oscillator (1). The coils (L1-L8) are arranged so as to be distributed along a path (K), which may also be a circular path. A movable magnet portion (M) can be displaced relative to the printed circuit board (5). At least one further stationary magnet portion (M1-M8) is mounted on the printed circuit board (5), which is opposite the movable magnet portion (M).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: FM Marketing GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Maier, Thomas Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140354272
    Abstract: A rotation detector which can improve the manufacturing efficiency of a rotating machine. The rotation detector is provided with a connecting part which is fastened in contact with a rotating part of the power part, an output shaft which extends from the connecting part to one side in the axial direction, and a moving part which is comprised of a connecting part and output shaft and, further, has a detected region which is formed at a maximum outer circumferential surface of the connecting part and output shaft, and a fixed part which is fastened to the connecting part at the outside in the radial direction and which detects a change in magnetic field which is generated along with rotation of the detected region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isao Kariya
  • Publication number: 20140354271
    Abstract: Provided are a rotation angle detector and a rotation angle detecting method. Each of the rotation angle detector and rotation angle detecting method detects a rotation angle of a rotating body according to a plurality of detection signals that vary depending on the rotation angle of the rotating body and have phases different from each other, to output the detected rotation angle as a detection angle, generates pseudo harmonics based on a multiplied detection angle obtained by multiplying the detection signal by a specified number, and removes the pseudo harmonics from the detection signals, to output a corrected detection signals from which the pseudo harmonics are removed to the detecting of the rotation angle, the detection angle being generated based on the correction detection signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Tatsuya KAWASE
  • Patent number: 8901922
    Abstract: A relative angle sensing device that senses a relative rotation angle between first and second rotary shafts includes: a rotary component that is provided on one rotary shaft out of the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft, and that rotates together with the one rotary shaft; a supported component that generates a magnetic field and that is supported by the rotary component through an adhesive material; and a sensor that is provided in the other rotary shaft out of the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft, and that outputs a value corresponding to the magnetic field generated by the supported component. A transmitting unit is provided between the rotary component and the supported component. The transmitting unit transmits rotative force of the one rotary shaft to the supported component by direct contact with each other in a case of peeling of the adhesive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Hamaguchi, Yohei Hama
  • Patent number: 8901921
    Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for measuring an angular position of a rotating shaft. As will be described in greater detail below, some angle measurement systems of the present disclosure include at least two magnets that cooperatively rotate at different rates according to a predetermined relationship (e.g., a predetermined gear ratio). Two or more magnetic field sensing elements, which are often stationary, measure the directionality of the resultant magnetic field at different positions for a particular angular shaft position. Based on the directionality measured by the magnetic field sensing elements, the techniques can determine an absolute angular position of the rotating shaft, which can be greater than three-hundred and sixty degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: James William Sterling
  • Patent number: 8896301
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a method for compensating for gyroscope bias on a portable electronic device having a gyroscope, and at least one of an accelerometer and a magnetometer. The method includes determining a first attitude matrix and a second attitude matrix using data from the accelerometer and the magnetometer, determining a difference between the first attitude matrix and the second attitude matrix, estimating a rotational velocity based on the difference between the first attitude matrix and the second attitude matrix, and compensating for an output from the gyroscope to generate a compensated output that compensates for the gyroscope bias using the estimated rotational velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Anand Ravindra Oka, Nazih Almalki, Christopher Harris Snow
  • Patent number: 8896299
    Abstract: Provided is a position detector device capable of suppressing the effect of external magnetic fields on precision in detection. A position detector device (1) comprises: a subject to be detected (4a), which rotates along with the rotation of a handle grip (3) that is disposed on a handlebar (2); a detector unit (5) that detects the subject to be detected (4a); and a case (7) which houses the subject to be detected (4a) and the detector (5). The subject to be detected (4a) is treated as a magnetic cylindrical body, the detector unit (5) is treated as a magnetic detector unit (5) that detects changes in magnetism. A support member (6) rotatably supports the subject to be detected (4a), and further comprises a housing member (65) that houses the detector unit (5) on the interior circumference side of the subject to be detected (4a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Iwahashi
  • Patent number: 8896296
    Abstract: A hinged electric cable harness component is provided for use with a relative angle sensing device that has a sensor that is contained in a housing that includes a communication hole. The hinged electric cable harness component includes an electric cable holding member that is fitted with the communication hole of the housing and holds an electric cable. The hinged electric cable harness component also includes an outer component that is arranged at a position outside the electric cable holding member in the communication hole of the housing, and that has, at inside thereof, a penetration hole through which the electric cable passes. The outer component has a pair of opening and closing components that is joined by a hinge and opens and closes the penetration hole by relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Hamaguchi, Yohei Hama
  • Patent number: 8896297
    Abstract: An angle detection error is prevented by using a columnar permanent magnet that is radially double-pole-magnetized as a rotating angle detecting sensor while preventing a gap between a plurality of magnetic sensors and an end face of the permanent magnet from being narrowed. The permanent magnet is a ferrite magnet or an alnico magnet having a diameter of 4 mm to 20 mm, and an axial length of 3 mm to 5 mm. The plurality of magnetic sensors detects radial magnetic flux densities at positions axially spaced 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm apart from a central portion of the permanent magnet, the central portion having a diameter equal to or smaller than 20% of the magnet diameter to make it possible to perform detection in a range in which a distribution curve of a radial magnetic flux density has a moderate inclination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Shoji Itomi
  • Patent number: 8896295
    Abstract: A sensor with multiple magnetic field sensing elements for use in current sensing and other applications is presented. The sensor includes an arrangement of two or more magnetic field sensing elements to sense magnetic field associated with a target. The sensor further includes circuitry to generate a sensor output signal based on sensing of at least one of the magnetic field sensing elements of the arrangement. Also included is a programmable misalignment adjustment block to control the circuitry to generate the output signal with compensation for misalignment between the sensor and the target. The programmable misalignment adjustment block can be programmed to select measurement of one of the two or more magnetic field sensing elements, or alternatively, a mathematical combination of measurements of the two or more magnetic field sensing elements, for generating the sensor output signal when a test of the sensor indicates a misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto, P. Karl Scheller, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
  • Patent number: 8896298
    Abstract: A rotation detector component detects a rotational state of a rotor and sends a rotational detection signal. A signal transmission component is electrically connected with a lead frame of the rotation detector component to transmit the rotational detection signal to an external device. A body portion holds the rotation detector component and a part of the signal transmission component. The body portion is integrally molded of a first resin to cover a joint portion between the lead frame and the signal transmission component, the rotation detector component, and a part of the signal transmission component. The rotation detector component has corners including at least two exposed corners, which are exposed from the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuru Takasaki, Hiroyuki Tsuge
  • Patent number: 8890513
    Abstract: Device for measuring the rotating angle of two objects rotating in relation to each other, with a transmitter which is assigned to one of the objects and which emits light that is either polarized or becomes polarized by means of a polarization filter, and with a polarization-sensitive analyzer such that the transmitter and the analyzer rotate relative to each other as dependent on the rotating angle, and with a receiver which measures the intensity of light passing through the analyzer in order to create a signal that is dependent on the rotating angle, where a magnetized element is positioned on one of the objects and a sensor for detecting a magnetic field is positioned on the other object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sick Stegmann GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Basler
  • Patent number: 8890515
    Abstract: A device for detecting a rotational angle of a rotatable part, e.g., a steering wheel, includes at least one magnet, at least one sensor which detects the magnetic field of the magnet, at least one housing in which the sensor and/or the magnet is/are movably situated relative to one another, and at least one printed circuit board which is contacted in an electrically conductive manner by at least one connecting element of the sensor. The printed circuit board has at least one interface or a connector plug from which the output signal of the sensor or an output signal derived therefrom is relayed to an evaluation unit which ascertains the absolute position of the rotational angle as a function of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Braun, Matthias Waibler, Thorsten Droigk, Hansjoerg Vollmer
  • Publication number: 20140333297
    Abstract: A magnetic flux emission unit is mounted on a detection object and rotatable integrally with the detection object. An IC package includes a magnetism detection element, which sends a signal according to change in a magnetic flux caused when the magnetic flux emission unit rotates. A cover member includes a bottom portion and a tubular portion. The tubular portion is extended from an outer periphery of the bottom portion. The cover member surrounds the magnetic flux emission unit with the bottom portion when mounted to the housing. A support portion is projected from the bottom portion toward an opening of the tubular portion to support the IC package. A projection is projected toward the opening from the bottom portion to at least a position corresponding to the magnetism detection element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Nishimoto, Yoshiyuki Kono, Ninh Duc Hoang
  • Publication number: 20140333296
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a rotating body of a magnetic angle detector, wherein the rotating body can be machined and manufactured with high accuracy without generating burrs, a rotating body manufactured by the method, and a magnetic angle detector having the rotating body. A tooth top surface and a tooth surface to be formed on a rotating body are simultaneously machined by one grinding stone. The grinding stone has a tooth top surface grinding part which machines the tooth top surface and a tooth surface grinding part which machines the tooth surface. The grinding stone is configured to simultaneously grind and machine the tooth top surface and the tooth surface by rotational grinding about an axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Nishioka
  • Patent number: 8884611
    Abstract: An angle sensor for determining an angle between a sensor system and a magnetic field has a magnet which generates the magnetic field and is adjustable in different rotational positions relative to the sensor system with regard to a rotation axis. The sensor system has a first magnetic field sensor for detecting a first magnetic field component oriented transversely to the rotation axis and a second magnetic field sensor for detecting a second magnetic field component, which is situated transversely to a plane extending from the rotation axis and the first magnetic field component. A third magnetic field sensor of the sensor system detects a third magnetic field component, which is oriented in the direction of the rotation axis. The sensor system is positioned relative to the magnet in such a way that the third magnetic field component is largely independent of the rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Micronas GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Hunger
  • Patent number: 8878530
    Abstract: A measuring method of contactless magnetic detection of relative movement along a trajectory between a main creation system and a measuring system sensitive to the direction of the magnetic field, the creation system creating a main magnetic field of direction that varies in a plane detected by the measuring system to determine the relative position along that trajectory. The method includes subjecting the measuring system to a compensation magnetic field of direction that is fixed and opposite to the direction of the maximum main magnetic field measured by the measuring system and delivered uniquely by the main creation system and in determining the direction of a magnetic field resulting from the combination of the main magnetic field and the compensation magnetic field by measuring the two mutually-orthogonal components of the resultant magnetic field respectively varying substantially as cosine and sine functions of the angle of the resultant magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Electricfil Automotive
    Inventor: Vincent Liebart
  • Patent number: 8878523
    Abstract: An inductive detection encoder according to the present invention includes: first and second members which are oppositely disposed so as to relatively move in a measurement direction; a transmitting coil formed in the first member; a magnetic flux coupled body which is formed in the second member and coupled with a magnetic field generated by the transmitting coil; and a receiving coil formed in the first member and having receiving loops. At least one of the transmitting coil and the receiving coil has a specific pattern that impairs the uniformity and periodicity of a pattern; and a dummy pattern formed in a position corresponding to a specific phase relationship of a cycle generated by the track with respect to the specific pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Osamu Kawatoko, Shozaburo Tsuji, Kenichi Nakayama
  • Publication number: 20140320119
    Abstract: A sensor main body includes sensing elements, which sense rotation of a rotatable body. A first molded body is made of a resin material and covers the sensor main body. The sensor main body is placed at a distal end portion of the first molded body. A cover covers the distal end portion of the first molded body. An electrically conductive member is placed between the cover and the sensor main body and is electrically connected to a ground terminal of the sensor main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tsuge, Tomoya Takayama
  • Publication number: 20140320115
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector for detecting the magnetic change caused by rotation of a rotatable member, has a resin molding, a pair of magnetic property detection members, and a plurality of sensor terminals. Each of the magnetic property detection members has a sensor portion for detecting the magnetic change caused by the rotatable member and a plurality of connecting leads. The sensor terminals are individually connected to each connecting lead. The magnetic property detection members are located within in the resin molding. The sensor portions of the magnetic property detection members are fixedly coupled to each other by an adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto MASE, Toshiya YOKOI, Yasuhiro NISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20140320120
    Abstract: The rotational angle sensor for measuring the rotational angle of a shaft has two code disks, the first code disk of which is rotationally fixed to the shaft while the second code disk is held between the shaft and the housing by two spring groups. Each code disk is assigned to a sensor. The sensor of the first code disk generates a periodic rotational angle signal while the sensor which is assigned to the second code disk generates a coarse signal (U2) which is different from the first signal and which can be used to ascertain which rotation of n possible rotations the shaft is in, wherein n>1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Valeri Klimenko, Johann Jahrstorfer
  • Patent number: 8872510
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a rotation angle of a rotatable part, preferably a steering wheel or steering column of a vehicle includes at least one magnet, at least one sensor that senses the magnetic field of the magnet, at least one housing in which the sensor and/or magnet are disposed movably relative to one another, wherein a hub is provided which is connected to the magnet to yield an integrated component, and which is connectable to the rotatable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Alexander Braun, Matthias Waibler, Thorsten Droigk, Hansjoerg Vollmer
  • Patent number: 8872509
    Abstract: An electric motor assembly includes a motor shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis, an angular position sensor rotor, and a deformable pin. The motor shaft has an axial keyway formed therein, and the axial keyway has a nominal keyway dimension. The angular position sensor rotor is coupled to the motor shaft to rotate with the motor shaft. The angular position sensor rotor has an axial key to fit within the axial keyway of the motor shaft, and the axial key has a nominal key dimension that is less than the nominal keyway dimension. The deformable pin is located in the axial keyway under compression between the axial key and the motor shaft to inhibit rotational shifting of the angular position sensor rotor relative to the motor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Erik Christopher Hatch, Peter Bostwick, Brandon Given, Dang Dinh Dang