Abstract: An angle of rotation detection device includes an electrical angle detector (resolver and R/D converter) having the electrical angle of 360° set smaller than the mechanical angle of 360°, and providing a two-phase encoder signal corresponding to the electrical angle of a rotor; a two-phase encoder counter counting a two-phase encoder signal, and providing a digital value corresponding to the electrical angle, and a multiplication factor detector detecting which position of the mechanical angle the electrical angle indicated by the signal output from the detector corresponds to, based on a change of the count value from the two-phase encoder counter. Thus, there can be provided an angle of rotation detection device that can identify the position of the mechanical angle while using the two-phase encoder output.

Abstract: A magnetic flux enhancer system for a reluctance type resolver and an electromagnetic angle sensor having the same are provided. The electromagnetic angle sensor has a stator (210) and a rotor (115) that is rotatably supported by a rotation axis on the stator and separated therefrom by a gap, the stator having at least one magnetic field generating means (220) adapted to generate a distribution of magnetic flux that extends over the gap to the rotor, and at least one magnetic field detecting means (220) adapted to detect a change in the magnetic flux distribution caused by a rotation of the rotor. The electromagnetic angle sensor comprises a magnetic flux enhancer (230) adapted to be positioned on a side of the at least one magnetic field generating means that faces the rotor and to concentrate the generated distribution of magnetic flux over the gap along a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Abstract: Permanent magnet inclinometer for an industrial machine. The industrial machine includes a component movable with respect to the industrial machine that includes a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet. A circular magnetic sensor array senses a first magnetic flux associated with the first permanent magnet and a second magnetic flux associated with the second permanent magnet. The circular magnetic sensor array includes a first magnetic sensor that senses the first magnetic flux and a second magnetic sensor that senses the second magnetic flux. The controller receives a first flux signal related to the first magnetic flux and a second flux signal related to the second magnetic flux, analyzes the first flux signal to identify a first peak magnetic flux, and analyzes the second flux signal to identify a second peak magnetic flux. The controller then determines the inclination of the component of the industrial machine based on the first peak magnetic flux and the second peak magnetic flux.

Abstract: A magnetism sensing element is provided to be rotatable relative to permanent magnets and outputs a magnetic force detection value, which corresponds to a perpendicular component of magnetic flux. A Hall IC calculates and outputs an output voltage, which corresponds to a relative rotational angle between the permanent magnets and the magnetism sensing element, based on the magnetic force detection value outputted by the magnetism sensing element. The Hall IC calculates the output voltage as V2=k×arcsin(V1/(VM+?))+Voffset, in which V1, V2, VM, k, ? and Voffset indicate the magnetic force detection value, the output voltage, a maximum value of the magnetic force detection value, a gain, a predetermined value and a predetermined offset value.

Abstract: A magnetic encoder including an object to be detected, a casing opposite to the object, a magnet and a magnetic sensor accommodated in the casing is provided. The casing of the magnetic encoder has an opposite wall opposite to the object. The opposite wall has a thickened portion and a thin portion integrally formed with the thickened portion. The thin portion has a smaller thickness than the thickened portion. The magnetic sensor is situated at the thin portion.

Abstract: A valve actuator including a magnetic angle sensor is disclosed. The magnetic angle sensor may function as an absolute position encoder. The magnetic angle sensor may also function as an incremental position encoder. The magnetic angle sensor may generate angular velocity data. The magnetic angle sensor may be used in quarter-turn and single-turn rotary valve actuators. The magnetic angle sensor may also be used in multi-turn rotary and linear valve actuators.

Abstract: Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the sensed object, can generate one or more difference values representative of difference between the peak values of the proximity signal and threshold values of a threshold signal proportional to the peak values, can categorize the one or more difference values into a plurality of potential categories, wherein at least one of the plurality of potential categories is representative of a respective passing self-test and wherein another at least one of the plurality of potential categories is representative of a respective marginally passing self-test, can assign category values to the plurality of potential categories, and can communicate at least one of the plurality of category values.

Abstract: An angle sensor includes a sensor rotor formed with a planar coil and a sensor stator including a multi-X type planar coil placed to face a surface of the sensor rotor. On a stator substrate of the sensor stator are provided forward-direction planar coils and reverse-direction planar coils, and positive and negative terminals adjacently arranged. The forward-direction and reverse-direction planar coils are connected in series through connecting wires. One of both ends of the series-connected planar coils is connected to the positive terminal through the wire and the other end is connected to the negative terminal through the wire. The wires are arranged along arrangement of the series-connected planar coils but in a range less than a full circle of the arrangement. A turn-back connecting wire extending from one end of the series of planar coils is arranged along the other connecting wire and connected to the negative terminal.

Abstract: A coreless current probe has a U-shaped body with arms, an open end and a cross piece forming a closed end. The opening formed in the U-shaped body has a length not less than the width between the arms. The U-shaped body can engage around a conductor carrying a current to be measured. The U-shaped body has a number of coreless single point magnetic field sensors, usually Hall devices, distributed around the opening. An arrangement with six sensors has two sensors at the ends of the arms of the U-shaped body, two sensors at the closed end, and two sensors mid-way along the arms. Sensing circuitry applies factors to the outputs of the sensors and sums the results to produce a measured current value. The factors are selected so that the summed result is zero in any externally generated homogeneous magnetic field.

Abstract: A unit of absolute rotary position encoding, where the angular range of encoding is matched to the number of poles of an electrical motor it is intended that the encoder is to be attached to. The electrical motor is suitably a brushless DC motor. This provides unique rotational position values only through an angle corresponding to an angle between two consecutive poles to enable control/drive electronics to accurately and smoothly turn the rotor from standstill and at low speeds with varying loads applied to the motor.

Abstract: A magnetic type rotation detection device may include a magnet body formed with a magnetic pole pair comprised of an “S”-pole and an “N”-pole and provided on a rotation body, a magnetic sensing element facing the magnet body in a rotation center axial line direction of the rotation body, a partition member disposed between the magnet body and the magnetic sensing element, and a ring fixed to a face of the partition member on a side where the magnet body is located. A center of the magnetic sensing element may be located on a center axial line of the ring. The magnet body may be disposed on an inner side of the ring in a non-contact state with the ring. A center of the magnet body may be located on the center axial line of the ring.

Abstract: A steering torque-steering angle sensor comprising a steering torque sensor module and a steering angle sensor module, wherein the steering torque sensor module operates with a magnetic effective principle and has in this respect a first magnetic encoder and at least one first magnetic field sensor element, wherein the steering angle sensor module has at least a second magnetic field sensor element and a third magnetic field sensor element, wherein the second magnetic field sensor element directly or indirectly senses the magnetic field of the first magnetic encoder, that is to say of the magnetic encoder of the steering torque sensor module, and wherein the third magnetic field sensor element senses the magnetic field of an additional, second magnetic encoder.

Abstract: The rotational position of an encoder magnet can be scanned over more than 360° by respective sensor elements in that magnets are disposed on different stages of a suitable transmission, in particular of a differential transmission, and the magnets are scanned by separate sensor elements, whose signals are computed with one another and yield a total number of revolutions. In particular, when an assembly of this type shall be built very small, undesirable magnetic interferences for the sensor elements have to be avoided through flux conductor elements since the interferences distort the measurement results. Thus, a differentiation is made between active and passive flux conductor elements.

Abstract: A magnetic absolute encoder includes: a board-holding assembly mounted to a motor case assembly side; and a flexible printed wiring board which is held, by the board-holding assembly, in the shape of a loop surrounding multipolar and bipolar ring magnets. On the flexible printed wiring board, multipolar-side hall elements and bipolar-side hall elements are mounted and a wiring pattern relating to the hall elements are printed. The assembling work and wiring work of the magnetic absolute encoder provided with a multipolar magnetic encoder and a bipolar magnetic encoder can be performed simply in a short time.

Abstract: To make the magnetic field lines straighter and more parallel to one another, the present disclosure makes use of substantially square magnets with through-holes therein. It will be appreciated that “substantially square” magnets include magnets that are precisely square as well as magnets that are approximately square (e.g., have rounded corners or other small deviations from being square.) By providing straighter and more parallel magnetic field lines, such substantially square magnets tend to enable greater precision and accuracy when rotational angles of a shaft are measured.

Abstract: A rotational position sensing device includes at least one sensor positioned adjacent a rotating component configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. At least one magnet is positioned at the rotating component such that a magnetic field of the at least one magnet affects the sensor and magnetizes a portion of the rotating component. The at least one sensor is configured to produce an output signal indicative of a magnetic flux, and therefore a position, of the rotating component. A method of sensing a position of a rotating component includes magnetizing a portion of a rotating component with a magnet and measuring a magnetic flux of the rotating component as it rotates about an axis of rotation. An output signal is generated that is indicative of the position of the rotating component.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method may be used to measure a plurality of positions associated with a plurality of magnets based on, for example, a magnetic angle of the magnets. The method may include various acts that may involve, for example, measuring magnetic field components associated with the plurality of magnets. In addition, the acts may include identifying a first angle and a second angle based on the measured magnetic field components. The identified first and second angles may be used to identify a position of a first magnet of the plurality of magnets and a second magnet of the plurality of magnets.

Abstract: A steering angle sensor (3) includes: a sensor housing (40) that is fixable to a stator (11); idler gears (47) configured to be meshed with a drive gear (30) and rotated by the drive gear (30); a rotatable member (43) configured to be engaged with a sleeve (20) and rotated integrally with the sleeve (20); a detector (34) configured to detect rotation of the rotatable member (43); and a holder (49) configured to hold the detector (34). The sensor housing (40) is opened at its stator (11) side. A second storage space (50) is formed that is enclosed by the sensor housing (40) and the stator (11). The rotatable member (43) is stored in the second storage space (50). The holder (49) is able to hold the detector (34) even in the state where the second storage space (50) is not closed by the stator (11).

Abstract: The invention provides a device and method for detecting an absolute multi-turn rotation angle. The device comprises a housing, a cover plate and a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft being placed go through the housing.

Abstract: A magnetically-based position sensor. The sensor includes a magnet, a first collector, a second collector, and a magnetic sensing element. The magnet has at least two poles, and moves along a path. The first collector has a first end and a second end and is configured to collect a magnetic flux. In addition, the first collector is positioned at an angle relative to an axis running parallel to the path and perpendicular to the magnet. The second collector is configured to collect a magnetic flux, and is positioned at an angle relative to the axis running parallel to the path and perpendicular to the magnet, and parallel to the first collector. The magnetic sensing element is coupled to the first and second collectors. A magnetic flux is collected by the first and second collectors, and varies as the magnet moves along the path such that the magnetic flux collected by the first and second collectors indicates a position of the magnet along the path.

Abstract: When the zero-crossing of one of the output signals of magnetic sensors has been detected, a rotation angle computing device identifies a magnetic pole sensed by the first magnetic sensor based on the other two output signals. Subsequently, the rotation angle computing device identifies the magnetic pole sensed by the second magnetic sensor and the magnetic pole sensed by the third magnetic sensor based on the magnetic pole sensed by the first magnetic sensor. After that, the rotation angle computing device corrects the amplitude of the output signal of each magnetic sensor based on the identified magnetic poles respectively sensed by the magnetic sensors. Then, the rotation angle computing device computes the electric angle ?e of the rotor based on the corrected output signals.

Abstract: A slue position sensing system and method of modifying a machine to include such a slue position sensing system are disclosed. The slue position sensing system may include a swing sensor housing disposed between a swing motor and a swing drive. The swing sensor housing may be coupled to a rotary position sensor that indirectly detects rotation of the target gear or a speed sensor that directly detects rotation of the target gear. For embodiments with no target gear, but with upper and lower frames rotatably coupled together by a ring gear and a swing gear, the sensor may be a rotary position sensor mounted to a slip ring assembly and magnet that are connected to a hydraulic swivel between the upper and lower frames or the sensor may be a speed sensor that detects rotation of the swing gear. The sensors generate a signal that is communicated to a controller or an ECM that accurately reflects the angular movement imparted to the work implement by the swing drive.

Abstract: A method for measuring an angular position of a rotating shaft, the method including providing a magnetic field which rotates with the shaft about an axis of rotation, positioning an integrated circuit having first and second magnetic sensing bridges within the magnetic field at a radially off-center position from the axis of rotation, the first and second magnetic sensing bridges respectively providing first and second signals representative of first and second magnetic field directions, the integrated circuit having a set of adjustment parameters for modifying attributes of the first and second signals, modifying values of the set of adjustment parameters until errors in the first and second signals are substantially minimized, and determining an angular position of the shaft based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine comprising a first member, a rotatable second member rotatable relative to the first member relative to an axis, a control device, a drive connected with the control device for moving the two members relative to one another, and a first Hall sensor connected with the control device and arranged on the first member. On the second member, a first, second and third magnet are arranged next to each other on a common circular trajectory such, that during a rotation of the two members relative to one another, the first Hall sensor is located at a specific position in the detection zone of the magnets. The second magnet which is developed as the center magnet is facing towards the first Hall sensor with another magnetic pole than the first and third magnet.

Abstract: A paper position sensor for a ticket printer is disclosed. The ticket printer includes a blank ticket tray and a paper guide consisting of an upper and lower guide, which lower guide contains a position sensor wheel that rotates as a result of the frictional contact with the blank ticket, as the ticket passes over the sensor wheel on its way through the guides. The wheel contains an embedded magnetic element such that as the wheel turns, which magnetically provides rotational position information to an adjacently-mounted sensor chip, which is able to determine, magnetically, the position of the wheel. The sensor chip provides data to the printer control as to the position of the ticket through the printer, and thus the printer control is now able to determine the precise position of the ticket in the printer.

Abstract: In a rotation angle detection apparatus, a signal detected by a magnetoresistive element is digitalized before being subjected to subtraction of the optimum correction parameter therefrom in a subtractor, the optimum correction parameter being stored in advance in a memory. Note that during the initial transmission at the time of activation, the data size “n” of a detection target obtained by a CPU from a control device is transferred to the memory, so that the optimum correction parameter for the data size of the detection target is selected. With the above, the detection unit can relatively readily cope with a request for enlargement or the like of a through hole size made by a machine side, and detection accuracy is not deteriorated and an error in absolute position processing is reduced when the curvature of the detection target is changed.

Abstract: A non-contacting sensor assembly including a connector assembly and a magnet assembly. The connector assembly includes a sensor coupled directly to the end of the terminals of the connector assembly. A sleeve is overmolded around and seals the sensor and the terminals. A capacitor is soldered in a recess in the terminals. The terminals include flexible regions, such as regions of reduced thickness, which reduce the effects of thermal expansion/contraction stresses on the solder. In one embodiment, the sensor assembly is a rotary position sensor assembly in which the magnet assembly is molded into a rotatable drive arm assembly located in a housing, the connector assembly is coupled to the housing, and the sensor extends into the housing and into adjacent relationship with the magnet assembly.

Abstract: System comprising a sensor assembly (3, 4, 5, 6) adapted to measure a magnetic field, and a moveable element (1) adapted to be moved relative to the sensor assembly between two positions by a combined axial and rotational movement, the rotational movement having a pre-determined relationship to the axial movement. A magnet (3) is mounted to the moveable element and configured to generate a spatial magnetic field which relative to the sensor assembly varies corresponding to both the axial and rotational movement of the magnet and thus the moveable element. A processor is configured to determine on the basis of measured values for the magnetic field an axial position of the moveable element.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus includes first and second magnet assemblies. The first magnet assembly includes first and second magnets that have respective first and second opposite magnetic fields. The first magnet has a plurality of dimensions including an inner circumferential dimension, an outer circumferential dimension, an inner axial dimension, an outer axial dimension, and a radial dimension, and the second magnet has a corresponding plurality of dimensions. The inner circumferential dimension or outer circumferential dimension of the first magnet is relatively smaller than the corresponding dimension of the second magnet. A second magnet assembly is positioned at a distance from the first magnet assembly and includes a third magnet having a third magnetic field opposite to the first magnetic field. The first magnet assembly is a high-resolution track, and the second magnet assembly is a low-resolution track.

Abstract: A sensor system has a rotational angle sensor for detecting a rotational angle and a torque sensor for detecting a torque. The rotational angle sensor has a rotatable rotational angle transmitter having index elements. The torque sensor has a rotatable torque transmitter having magnets, which generate a magnetic field, and a magnetic flux unit for amplifying the magnetic field. The index elements and the magnetic flux unit are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for sensing an angular position of a rotating object over an angular position range that includes up to 360 degrees using an arc position encoder comprising a substantially 180-degree angular position sensing range. The encoder may include a base comprising an arc length defined by a first and a second end, one or more magnetic field sensors disposed within the base between the first and second ends, and one or more polarity transition sensors also disposed within the base between the first and second ends. The encoder may further include a magnetic target that includes first and second magnetic poles disposed on opposite ends so as to generate a uniform magnetic field, wherein the magnetic target is coupled to the rotating object so as to rotate about an axis of rotation located substantially in a center of a circle defined by the base.

Abstract: A VR resolver comprises a resolver stator and a resolver rotor. Teeth whose number is equal to the product of an integer P of 2 or more and 4 are arranged in an annular shape from the inner circumferential side to the inner side in the diameter direction of the resolver stator. In the resolver rotor, convex portions whose number is equal to the product of an odd number m of 3 or more and the integer P are radially projected. All the stator slots are provided with excitation coils which generate a magnetic field by the application of a voltage. Moreover, all the stator slots are provided with either a first coil or a second coil which outputs electric signals of different waveforms based on the magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetism detection elements are arranged in an arrangement direction substantially perpendicular to a tooth trace of a gear when viewed from a magnetism generation unit and send a signal according to a magnetic flux flowing between the gear and the magnetism generation unit. A detection unit detects rotation of the gear according to the signal. A case accommodates the magnetism detection elements. A movement restriction unit is equipped to the case and located on the side of the gear at a place between the magnetism detection elements to restrict a magnetic foreign matter, which adheres to the case, from moving in the arrangement direction of the magnetism detection elements.

Abstract: It is described a magnetic field differential sensor system for measuring rotational movements of a shaft. The described magnetic field sensor system (200) comprises (a) a biasing magnet (210, 510) configured for generating a biasing magnetic field; (b) a magnetic wheel (230) having a wheel axis and a circumferential surface which comprises a regular structure of teeth (231) and gaps (232) arranged in an alternating manner, wherein (i) the magnetic wheel (230) is attachable to the shaft and (ii) the magnetic wheel (230) can be magnetized by the biasing magnetic field; and (c) a magnetic sensor arrangement (220) comprising four magnetic sensor elements (221, 222, 223, 224) being connected with each other in a Wheatstone bridge configuration. Respectively two of the magnetic sensor elements (221, 222, 223, 224) are assigned to one half bridge of the Wheatstone bridge.

Abstract: A motion sensor has a state processor to identify states associated with a magnetic field signal provided by a magnetic field sensing element. The state processor includes a state peak logic module configured to generate states that have a reduced amount of state chatter.

Abstract: Disclosed is a relative angle detection device for detecting a relative angle between a first rotary shaft and a second rotary shaft, the relative angle detection device being provided with a first magnetic field sensing unit which outputs a value according to a magnetic field of a magnet, a second magnetic field sensing unit which outputs a value according to the magnetic field of the magnet and outputs a value different from the output value of the first magnetic field sensing unit even if being placed in the same magnetic field as that of the first magnetic field sensing unit, a correction unit which corrects one output value out of the output value of the first magnetic field sensing unit and the output value of the second magnetic field sensing unit in accordance with an amplitude ratio between magnetic field components orthogonal to each other in the magnetic field of the magnet, and a computing unit which computes the relative angle between the first rotary shaft and the second rotary shaft on the basi

Abstract: To provide a magnetic encoder that is stable relative to an outside force and has only small variation of a gap between a magnetic sensor and a magnetic medium. The magnetic encoder includes a magnetic medium placed on a first member and a magnetic sensor placed on the second member, the first and second member for moving relative to each other. The magnetic sensor includes a sensor substrate, a sensor holding plate for holding the sensor substrate, and a wire for extracting a signal from the magneto-resistive element to outside. The sensor holding plate includes a fixing portion for fixing the sensor holding plate to the second member, a sensor holding member for holding the sensor substrate, and a plurality of arm portions provided in the relative movement direction with the sensor holding member in-between and extending from the fixing portion to constitute a cantilever.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor including a motor casing, a stator component, and a rotor component. The stator component and the rotor component are respectively arranged inside the motor casing. The rotor component includes a rotor iron core and a rotating shaft supporting the rotor iron core. A shaft extension end of the rotating shaft is arranged with a magnetic ring. One end of the motor casing is provided with an end cover. The center of the outer end surface of the end cover is provided with a groove. The magnetic ring is arranged inside the groove. A Hall induction device is arranged outside the groove and close to the magnetic ring. The motor is reasonably structured, compact, cost-effective, installation friendly, and highly reliable.

Abstract: Provided are a rotation detecting device that highly precisely detects absolute angle with low noise, as well as a bearing assembly with such a rotation detecting device. Such a rotation detecting device includes magnetic encoders arranged coaxially with different number of magnetic poles as well as magnetic sensors that detect magnetic fields of those encoders. Each of the magnetic sensors can detect the encoders within each magnetic pole, and includes sensor elements as well as a phase detector that determines the phase of the sensor element in reference to a detected magnetic field signal and then outputs an ABZ phase signal. Such a rotation detecting device further includes a phase difference detector that determines a phase difference of the magnetic field signals in reference to an output from the phase detectors and an angle calculator that calculates the absolute angle of the encoders based on the detected phase difference.

Abstract: The rotation angle and torsion angle sensor detects both the rotational position of a shaft and a torque applied to the shaft torque. The shaft a first shaft part and a second shaft part, which are interconnected by a torsion bar. A sensor disc is coupled via a rigid circumferentially and axially flexible membrane with the first shaft part. The sensor disc is coupled to a drive wheel via a coupling device, in such a way that the sensor disc is displaced in the axial direction upon relative rotation of the two shaft parts against each other, wherein the membrane bends in the axial direction.

Abstract: Embodiments related to the generation of magnetic bias fields for magnetic sensing are described and depicted. In one embodiment, a sensor includes at least one magnetosensitive element, and a magnetic body with an opening, the magnetic body comprising magnetic material, the magnetic body having inclined surface sections shaped by the opening, wherein the sensor is arranged within the opening such that the magneto-sensitive element is in lateral directions bounded by the inclined surface sections.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sensor with a body and a magnetic field sensor. The body includes a plurality of structures arranged in a first direction to effect a periodically varying magnetic field upon movement of the body in the first direction. The magnetic field sensor is configured to detect components of the magnetic field in a second direction and in a third direction, wherein the magnetic field sensor is arranged adjacent to the body such that the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction and such that the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and to the second direction.

Abstract: Bridge circuits have half bridges formed of sensor elements, which vary respective impedances in accordance with a rotating magnetic field generated by a rotary object. A control unit acquires output signals produced from intermediate points of the half bridges, and calculates a rotation angle of the rotary object based on the output signals. The control unit determines that the output signal is abnormal, if a calculation value of the output signal calculated based on at least four output signals is outside a predetermined range. The control unit thus determines which one of the output signals has become abnormal due to failure or the like.

Abstract: A bottom bracket with a torque sensor unit. The bottom bracket has at least one pedal crank, a shaft that is non-rotatably connected to the at least one pedal crank, and a torque detection device for detecting a torque in the region of the shaft. The torque detection device has a first magnetization and a sensor which detects a change of the first magnetized due to a torque passed into the shaft. The bottom bracket allows a reliable and fast detection of torques, especially of the different torques of both pedal cranks. Utilizing the shaft, which is designed as a hollow shaft and the first magnetization, which is arranged on at least one section of the shaft.

Abstract: A DC brushless motor includes a rotary actuation shaft having multiple poles. Each of the poles has multiple commutation steps. The DC brushless motor also includes a motor controller capable of controlling rotation of the rotary actuation shaft. The motor controller stores a commutation step map.

Abstract: There is provided a steering angle sensor in which the effect of errors in angles of rotation arising in a first driven gear and a second driven gear because of the roundness of an annular drive gear is reduced and which can generate angle-of-rotation information of a steering wheel with good precision.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a hitch angle sensor assembly includes a spacer fixed between a hitch ball and a mounting surface on a vehicle. An element is rotatably coupled with the spacer about a vertical axis defined by the hitch ball, and connecting member secures the element to a trailer. A hall sensor is coupled with the spacer and senses a magnetic portion of the element to determine a hitch angle between the vehicle and trailer. This and other embodiments of the hitch angle sensor assembly may be used independently or in combination with other hitch angle sensors or systems to estimate the hitch angle between the vehicle and trailer, which may be advantageously used for operation of the vehicle with a trailer backup assist system.

Abstract: A magnetic position detecting device includes a magnet; first to fourth magnetoelectric conversion elements formed on a virtual plane; and a flux guide made of a magnetic material. The flux guide includes first and second protrusions provided at a distance from each other in a direction parallel to the virtual plane. A specific portion recessed in a concave shape is provided in the flux guide in a mid-portion between the first and second protrusions. The first and fourth magnetoelectric conversion elements are provided approximately in the mid-portion between the first and second protrusions. The second magnetoelectric conversion element is provided between the first protrusion and the mid-portion.

Abstract: In an actuator, an electric power supply to a position-detecting detector for an object to be driven can be carried out in a timely manner during a power failure to thereby suppress an electric power consumption in the position-detecting detector, whereby duration time of a power-failure compensation battery can be prolonged, and a variety of detectors can be selected and utilized without limitation in accordance with a use environment and usefulness. During the power failure, a switching means 40 establishes a linking state in which an input shaft 11 of a reduction mechanism 10 and a manual inputting means 30 are linked to each other. When the linking state is detected by a detecting means, an electric power is fed from a battery 80 to a rotation detector by a control section 70, so that the control section 70 can obtain a displacement of the object to be driven, based on a signal output from the rotation detector.

Abstract: A gear position sensor employs a sliding electrical connection between arcuate conductors and flexible wiper arms held on opposite surfaces that rotate relative to each other with the movement of a gear selector shaft. The traces may have multiple segments joined by resistors to provide flexible change in resistance value and resistance range for different applications.