Inductance Or Reluctance Sensor Patents (Class 73/862.331)
  • Patent number: 9051000
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling an electrically power-assisted steering device for vehicles including a control unit providing control information to a steering device. The method and apparatus includes a setpoint signal value transmitter providing setpoint value information and obtaining actual value information from the steering device. The actual value information is fed to the setpoint signal value transmitter and a difference value information is obtained from the setpoint value information and actual value information with the difference value information fed to the control unit. A filter unit filters information components from one of the actual value information provided, the actual value information fed to the setpoint signal value transmitter, the setpoint value information or the difference value information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Torsten Kluge
  • Patent number: 8957678
    Abstract: A sensor unit includes a printed circuit board, a Hall IC, a terminal member, and a capacitor. The printed circuit board has a conductive pattern. The Hall IC is disposed on the printed circuit board. The Hall IC includes an element part that detects magnetic flux. The element part is arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board and is away from the conductive pattern. The terminal member is disposed on an end portion of the printed circuit board and is configured to be electrically coupled with an external device. The capacitor is disposed on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shinsuke Oota
  • Patent number: 8939038
    Abstract: Disclosed is a torque index sensor, the sensor including a housing, a stator mounted at a space inside the housing, a magnet arranged inside the stator to rotate with a rotation shaft, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) fixedly mounted inside the housing and mounted with a first magnetic element outputting a magnetization signal in response to rotation of the magnet, at least one or more fixing bosses protrusively formed at the housing, and a collector having a plurality of through holes penetratively formed at a position corresponding to that of the fixing boss and concentrating a magnetic field for guiding a magnetic flux of the magnet, wherein the fixing boss is thermally fused after passing the through hole to tightly fix the collector at an inner surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myungchul Woo
  • Patent number: 8910532
    Abstract: The rotation-angle and torsion sensor has two gears that are connected so as not to turn with shaft sections, which [gears] mesh with gears. On one of the gears a unipolar or multipolar magnet is attached. On the other gear, magnetic flux guides matching to number of poles are attached, that are configured as L shapes. One leg of the flux tranducers points in the direction of the multipolar magnet while the other legs run parallel to the gear and in fact one on one side and the other on the other side of the gear, with these legs enclosing a second sensor between them that is situated in the gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri Klimenko, Johann Jahrstorfer
  • Patent number: 8887580
    Abstract: A torque detection device includes: a magnetic flux collecting unit that includes an annular holder formed by resin molding and having a through-hole that passes through the holder in a radial direction, a first magnetic flux collecting ring and a second magnetic flux collecting ring that are fitted to an inner periphery of the holder so as not to cover the through-hole, and a magnetic shield that is fitted to an outer periphery of the holder so as to cover the through-hole; and a sensor housing that is made of resin supplied onto an outer periphery of the magnetic flux collecting unit, and that is formed so as to be integrated with the magnetic flux collecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Genki Nishikawa, Akihiro Takeuchi, Masahiro Kandatsu
  • Patent number: 8836458
    Abstract: A magnetic torque sensing device having a disk-shaped member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has oppositely polarized magnetically conditioned regions with initial directions of magnetization that are perpendicular to the sensitive directions of magnetic field sensor pairs placed proximate to the magnetically active region. Magnetic field sensors are specially positioned in relation to the disk-shaped member to accurately measure torque while providing improved RSU performance and reducing the detrimental effects of compassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8800388
    Abstract: A torsion bar has first and second end portions that are fixed to input and output shafts, respectively, to coaxially connect between the input and output shafts. A multipolar magnet is fixed to the input shaft. First and second magnetic yokes are fixed to the output shaft. Magnetic sensors are held between magnetic flux collecting portions of first and second magnetic flux collecting rings, which are magnetically coupled to the first and second magnetic yokes, respectively. In each of the magnetic flux collecting portion, a connecting section and a mounting section are configured such that a width of the connecting section is smaller than a width of the mounting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Takahashi, Shigetoshi Fukaya, Osamu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 8786275
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Mario M Orrico
  • Patent number: 8779764
    Abstract: To provide a method which can define the direction and orientation of magnetization of a pinned layer while reducing the number of steps of forming a GMR film. The magnetization direction of the pinned layer is defined in a plurality of directions by forming a plurality of patterns having directivities. Further, when the magneto-resistive effect film is formed, a magnetic field is applied in a direction at an angle set between the angles of the plurality of patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Meguro, Hiroyuki Hoshiya, Keizou Katou, Yasunori Abe
  • Patent number: 8779761
    Abstract: A rotation angle detecting unit includes an IC package having a magnetism detecting element, a sealing body, and leads; and a covering member having a fixing part and a supporting part, which are integrally formed from resin. The element outputs a signal according to change of a magnetic field generated upon rotation of a magnetism generating device attached to a detection object. The sealing body covers the element. The leads are connected to the element, and project from the sealing body. The fixing part is fixed to a supporting body so that the covering member is attached to the supporting body. The supporting part supports the package such that the element can output the signal. The package is press-fitted into the supporting part after its formation, so that the package is supported by the supporting part with a predetermined pressure applied to part of an outer wall of the sealing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hiramoto, Yoshiyuki Kono, Akitoshi Mizutani, Koichiro Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20140195117
    Abstract: There is provided a torque detecting device for providing a highly accurate torque signal, and an electric power steering device using the torque detecting device. A torque sensor is provided with a first coil pair and a second coil pair, which detect a relative displacement between an input shaft and an output shaft by corresponding the relative displacement to a change in impedance. Magnetization signal generating units supply exciting currents with different magnetization frequencies to the first coil pair and a second coil pair, respectively. The magnetization frequency difference is set to 3.5 kHz or higher. Moreover, low-pass filters for intercepting passage of a frequency equivalent to the magnetization frequency difference are deployed in signal processing circuits respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Kuwahara, Takayuki Kobayashi, Kazuhiro Yoshida, Toshiyuki Onizuka, Takayoshi Sugawara, Nobuhiko Andou
  • Patent number: 8717010
    Abstract: Magnetic position sensors, systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a position sensing system includes a magnetic field source with a dipole moment in a direction along a z-axis; and a sensor module spaced apart from a center of the dipole moment a distance y0 along a y-axis and spaced apart a distance z0 from a center of the dipole moment along a z-axis, at least one of the magnetic field source or the sensor module configured to move relative to the other along a path in the y=y0 plane, the sensor module configured to determine a relative position of the magnetic field source to the sensor module with respect to the path from a ratio of a gradient dBz/dx to a gradient dBz/dy, where Bz is a magnetic field component associated with the permanent magnet, and where an x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are at right angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Udo Ausserlechner, Armin Satz, Ferdinand Gastinger
  • Patent number: 8677835
    Abstract: An excitation AC signal biased by a predetermined DC voltage is applied to a coil to allow a DC voltage component in a coil output signal to contain failure information about disconnection, partial disconnection, or the like of the coil. The DC voltage component contained in the coil output signal is detected, and the detected DC voltage is provided as an offset voltage for a failure diagnosis. Further, to check a peak level of the excitation AC voltage, a DC voltage corresponding to the peak level may be contained in the offset voltage. A differential amplifier circuit for obtaining a difference between a coil detection output AC voltage component and a reference AC voltage component outputs an obtained differential signal offset by the offset voltage. Accordingly, the differential signal containing the offset voltage as the failure information is transmitted to a circuit for torque measurement as a torque detection signal via a single output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Amiteq Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsutoshi Goto, Yasuhiro Yuasa, Hiroshi Sakamoto, Daisuke Goto
  • Patent number: 8664943
    Abstract: The present invention provides a single component implementing highly precise pulse detection for rotational or liner position detecting apparatuses for jog dials and mechanical products. Focusing on the fact that the phase difference between the magnetic fields in circumferential and radial directions generated by a magnetized ring is precisely 90 degrees, a position detecting apparatus of the present invention includes two Hall elements placed at a distance; a protective film provided on magnetic sensitive portions of the two Hall elements to cover the magnetic sensitive portions; a thin-film magnetic plate placed on the protective film to cover the magnetic sensitive portions of the two Hall elements; and further a processing circuit calculating the sum and difference of the signals from the two Hall elements to generate signals having an accurate phase difference of 90 degrees. The position detecting apparatus can therefore detect the rotation direction and precise rotation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8656791
    Abstract: A first excitation AC signal (V1=A1·sin(?t)) is supplied to a first excitation coil of a first resolver via a first excitation line, and a second excitation AC signal (V2=?A2·sin(?t)) is supplied to a second excitation coil of a second resolver via a second excitation line. Within a resolver unit, a first excitation line and a second excitation line are connected via an electric resistance element. By virtue of this configuration, torque can be detected even when any of a ground line, a first excitation line, and a second excitation line of a wire harness is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 8635917
    Abstract: A magnetic torque sensing device having a disk-shaped member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has a magnetically conditioned region with an initial direction of magnetization that is perpendicular to the sensitive directions of magnetic field sensor pairs placed proximate to the magnetically active region. Magnetic field sensors are specially positioned in relation to the disk-shaped member to accurately measure torque while providing improved RSU performance and reducing the detrimental effects of compassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8618792
    Abstract: A rotation angle detection device includes: a detection portion that detects detection angle that univocally corresponds to rotation angle of a rotating body which is within a predetermined range, wherein the detection angle linearly increases from a minimum value to a maximum value as the rotation angle increases within a unit range, and the detection angle changes from the maximum value to the minimum value or from the minimum value to the maximum value at a boundary between unit ranges that are adjacent to each other; and a correction portion that corrects the detection angle so that the detection angle detected in the predetermined range has linear characteristics, if the boundary between the unit ranges is contained in the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Kojima, Masashi Mure, Hisashi Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8584533
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor device which detects a torque applied to a rotary shaft is provided. The magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes a magnetostrictive portion provided on a surface of the rotary shaft, a coil and a cylindrical back-yoke disposed in outer periphery of the coil. The coil includes a bobbin arranged in outer periphery of the magnetostrictive portion, and a wire wound around the bobbin. A slit is provided on the back-yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Miyoshi, Yoshihiro Oniwa, Yasuo Shimizu, Atsuhiko Yoneda, Yutaka Arimura, Katsuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8578794
    Abstract: The present invention involves a method and apparatus for canceling the effects of magnetic field noise in a torque sensor by placing three sets of magnetic field sensors around a shaft, the first set of field sensors being placed in the central region of the shaft and the second and third sets of field sensors being placed on the right side and left side of the field sensors placed at the central region, respectively. A torque-induced magnetic field is not cancelled with this arrangement of field sensors but a magnetic near field from a near field source is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
  • Publication number: 20130220030
    Abstract: A torque detection device includes: a magnetic flux collecting unit that includes an annular holder formed by resin molding and having a through-hole that passes through the holder in a radial direction, a first magnetic flux collecting ring and a second magnetic flux collecting ring that are fitted to an inner periphery of the holder so as not to cover the through-hole, and a magnetic shield that is fitted to an outer periphery of the holder so as to cover the through-hole; and a sensor housing that is made of resin supplied onto an outer periphery of the magnetic flux collecting unit, and that is formed so as to be integrated with the magnetic flux collecting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: JTEKT Corporation
  • Patent number: 8479376
    Abstract: A method produces a magnetostrictive torque sensor which detects a steering torque applied to a steering shaft by electrically detecting distortion of magnetostrictive films provided on a surface of the steering shaft. A plating step forms the magnetostrictive film on the surface of the steering shaft, and a heat treatment step heat treats the magnetostrictive film on the steering shaft. During the heat treatment step, hydrogen in the magnetostrictive film is decreased so that a hydrogen desorbing peak around 120° C. disappears when the magnetostrictive film is heated after the heat treatment step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Shimizu, Nagatsugu Mukaibou
  • Publication number: 20130152702
    Abstract: A torsion bar has first and second end portions that are fixed to input and output shafts, respectively, to coaxially connect between the input and output shafts. A multipolar magnet is fixed to the input shaft. First and second magnetic yokes are fixed to the output shaft. Magnetic sensors are held between magnetic flux collecting portions of first and second magnetic flux collecting rings, which are magnetically coupled to the first and second magnetic yokes, respectively. In each of the magnetic flux collecting portion, a connecting section and a mounting section are configured such that a width of the connecting section is smaller than a width of the mounting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
  • Patent number: 8448528
    Abstract: A target magnet assembly configured to be secured to a rotating shaft of a steering gear assembly. The target magnet assembly includes an index hub with a mount and a magnet secured by the mount. The mount includes a tab with a protrusion extending from the tab, a finger, and a stop. The magnet includes an axial retention groove receiving the finger, a top surface abutting the stop, and a radial retention groove receiving the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Bourns Incorporated
    Inventors: Kenneth McDonald, James Thomas, Lawrence B. Reimer
  • Publication number: 20130112494
    Abstract: A torque detection device includes: a torsion bar that couples a first shaft to a second shaft such that the first shaft and the second shaft are rotatable relative to each other; an annular magnet that is fixed to the first shaft; a pair of magnetic yokes that are fixed to the second shaft and that are arranged to face the magnet; and Hall ICs. Each of the magnetic yokes has a plurality of lugs arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction, and each lug becomes narrower toward its distal end, and has a curved profile with rounded corners when viewed from a radial direction of the corresponding magnetic yoke.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: JTEKT CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8424393
    Abstract: A magnetic torque sensing device having a disk-shaped member with a magnetoelastically active region. The magnetoelastically active region has oppositely polarized magnetically conditioned regions with initial directions of magnetization that are perpendicular to the sensitive directions of magnetic field sensor pairs placed proximate to the magnetically active region. Magnetic field sensors are specially positioned in relation to the disk-shaped member to accurately measure torque while providing improved RSU performance and reducing the detrimental effects of compassing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Methode Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
  • Publication number: 20130019693
    Abstract: The rotation-angle and torsion sensor has two gears that are connected so as not to turn with shaft sections, which [gears] mesh with gears. On one of the gears a unipolar or multipolar magnet is attached. On the other gear, magnetic flux guides matching to number of poles are attached, that are configured as L shapes. One leg of the flux tranducers points in the direction of the multipolar magnet while the other legs run parallel to the gear and in fact one on one side and the other on the other side of the gear, with these legs enclosing a second sensor between them that is situated in the gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: BOURNS, INC.
    Inventors: Valeri Klimenko, Johann Jahrstorfer
  • Publication number: 20120285266
    Abstract: Two magnetic flux collecting rings are installed into a corresponding position axially located between two magnetic yokes. The magnetic flux collecting rings collect a magnetic flux from the magnetic yokes. The magnetic flux collecting rings at least partially overlap with the magnetic yokes in a view taken in the axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicants: NIPPON SOKEN, INC., DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiki TAKAHASHI, Shigetoshi Fukaya, Osamu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 8307720
    Abstract: A device for determining a torque and/or a rotational angle of a shaft, which has a circuit carrier, which is concentric to the shaft, and on which at least two current-conducting printed conductor sections are situated. The device additionally has one transducer element, which is concentric to the shaft and is rotatable in relation to the circuit carrier, having at least one first subarea made of electrically conductive material and at least one second subarea made of electrically nonconductive material. Upon application of a torque to the shaft, the transducer element rotates in relation to the circuit carrier, whereby an overlap area between the printed conductor sections and the first subarea(s) of the transducer element changes and thus a change in an inductance of the printed conductor sections occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Axel Kaschner
  • Patent number: 8278945
    Abstract: An inductive detector arranged to measure position along a axis comprising: a transmit winding; a receive winding; a passive circuit comprising a winding in electrical series with a capacitor; wherein: the mutual inductance between the transmit winding and the receive winding is a function of the relative displacement of the passive circuit along the measurement axis; a first portion of one of the windings is wound on a first pitch and a second portion of the same winding is wound on a second pitch whose extent is greater than the first pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Howard, Darran Kreit
  • Patent number: 8272277
    Abstract: A sensor for measuring stresses induced by a force applied to a load-carrying member, including a layer of a magnetoelastic material formed on the load-carrying member is provided. The layer comprises a first phase with an average grain size below 100 nm and a first chemical composition, and a second phase of a distinctly different chemical composition, the first phase being divided by the second phase into regions having an average size in the range of 100-10,000 nm. A method for producing such a layer, including accelerating particles of a soft magnetic and magnetoelastic material having an average size in the range of 10-50 ?m towards the surface of the load-carrying member at a velocity of at least 300 m/s such that the average temperature of the accelerated particles is not higher than 500° C. above the melting temperature of the magnetoelastic material, but not lower than 500° C. below the melting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Hans Ling, Andrius Miniotas
  • Publication number: 20120234107
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for accurately measuring torque in a rotating shaft. The apparatus comprises axially spaced magnet-detector pairs, mounted to rotate with the shaft and means for sensing relative rotation between the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sairam KS Pindiprolu, Vimal V. Shah, Li Gao
  • Patent number: 8225483
    Abstract: The torque sensor includes a plurality of coil units having a substantially cylindrical shape, the coil units including a plurality of detection coils arranged to face a magnetic characteristic change portion formed on a rotary shaft. The coil units include a first coil unit and a second coil unit, and the first coil unit and the second coil unit are disposed in the axial direction of the shaft. The first coil unit and the second coil unit are fixed in an integrally molded resin. Thereby, there is provided a torque sensor having a high productivity and an easy configuration and a method of manufacturing the torque sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuji Watanabe, Yasuo Shimizu, Atsuhiko Yoneda, Tsunehiko Fukatsu
  • Patent number: 8215188
    Abstract: A torsion angle sensor for measuring the torsion angle of two shafts coupled with one another having two planetary gear sets coupled via a shared planet carrier, with the sun gear of each gear set being connected to one of the two shafts respectively; including an arrangement whereby when a torsion angle is created between the two shafts, a movable internal gear of one of the planetary gear sets is rotated corresponding to the torsion angle, with its outer surface driving a sensor gear, which is connected to a rotational position sensor, the output signal of which is proportional to the torsion angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Bourns, Inc.
    Inventors: Valeri Klimenko, Michael Röser
  • Patent number: 8191431
    Abstract: A sensor includes a shaft and a magnetic sensor and an anti-aging magnetic sensor. The shaft may have at least one magnetized active region. The magnetic sensor may be configured to sense a magnetic field about the shaft, and may provide an output representative of torque applied to the shaft, shaft rotational speed and/or shaft rotational position. The anti-aging magnetic sensor may be positioned adjacent the active region to provide a reference signal output that is substantially independent of torque applied to said shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayvan Hedayat, Norman Poirier
  • Patent number: 8181538
    Abstract: A magnestostrictive torque sensor detects rotating torque applied to a rod-shaped rotating shaft to work around the rotating shaft based on a change in magnetic characteristics of a magnetostrictive film formed on a surface the rotating shaft so as to extend around a full circumference thereof in a circumferential direction. The magnetostrictive film is formed continuously in an axial direction at a portion on the rotating shaft in the axial direction thereof. The magnetostrictive film has on the continuously formed area a first magnetostrictive film portion and a second magnetostrictive film portion having magnetic anisotropies which are opposite to each other and a third magnetostrictive film portion which is formed between the first and second magnetostrictive film portions. A first detection coil, a second detection coil and a third detection coil are provided for the first magnetostrictive film portion, the second magnetostrictive film portion and the third magnetostrictive film portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Yamamura, Yuichi Fukuda, Nobuhiko Yoshimoto, Yukiya Kashimura
  • Patent number: 8132474
    Abstract: A Hall effect helicopter mast torque meter includes a stand pipe, a first magnet, a second magnet, and a sensor. The stand pipe is connected to the top of the mast such that the stand pipe rotates at the same velocity as the mast. The first magnet is operably associated with the stand pipe which is operably associated with the top of the mast. The second magnet is operably associated with the bottom of the mast. The sensor detects the magnetic field of the first magnet and the second magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: K. Myron Jackson
  • Publication number: 20120041691
    Abstract: A device for detecting a twist angle and/or a torque of a shaft occurring on the shaft and methods for operating the device uses at least one first encoder and at least one second encoder at a predefined spacing therefrom. Each encoder influences at least one coil parameter, is associated with at least a part of the circumference of the shaft, and has at least one track having at least one period per revolution of the shaft. At least first and second inductive sensors scan the first and second encoders, respectively. Each inductive sensor provides a respective sensor signal reflecting at least one measure for the rotational angle of the shaft within the period, and a difference ascertainment unit ascertains and provides the twist angle of the shaft as an angle difference of the two rotational angles detected by the inductive sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Balluff GmbH
    Inventors: Sorin Fericean, Andrea Hiller-Brod, Reinhard Droxler, Markus Fritton, Daniel Kraeter
  • Patent number: 8087306
    Abstract: A sensor arrangement for measuring a torque acting on a shaft, wherein the shaft has a first shaft section and a second shaft section and these two shaft sections can be rotated relative to one another, including at least one magnetic encoder arranged on the first shaft section, and a stator arranged on the second shaft section, wherein the stator has two stator elements, each with protruding fingers, and the stator elements are assigned respectively or jointly a flux concentrator which leads the magnetic field to be detected, generated by the magnetic encoder, directly or indirectly to at least one magnetic field sensor element, wherein the at least one flux concentrator is fixed to a carrier element embodied in elastic fashion at least in part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Manfred Goll, Markus Bastian
  • Patent number: 8087304
    Abstract: The present invention involves a method and apparatus for canceling the effects of magnetic field noise in a torque sensor by placing three sets of magnetic field sensors around a shaft, the first set of field sensors being placed in the central region of the shaft and the second and third sets of field sensors being placed on the right side and left side of the field sensors placed at the central region, respectively. A torque-induced magnetic field is not cancelled with this arrangement of field sensors but a magnetic near field from a near field source is cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Seong-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 8080955
    Abstract: A driving method for a motor includes sensing variation of magnetic pole of a rotator of the motor, to generate a magnetic pole sensing signal, determining dead zone of the motor according to the magnetic pole sensing signal, to generate a determination result, and adjusting voltage outputted to a coil of the rotator according to the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Anpec Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Kun-Min Chen, Ming-Jung Tsai, Sung-Ming Lai, Ching-Sheng Li, Ching-Shan Lu
  • Patent number: 8069736
    Abstract: The present invention aims at detecting torque with a high degree of precision, by suppressing influences such as disturbance and rotation dependency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Ono Sokki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiko Sakai
  • Patent number: 8047084
    Abstract: A torque-index sensor having index sensor and torque sensor closely arranged and integrated therein with lightened interference between them is provided. The invented torque-index sensor is comprised of torque sensor that includes first magnetic sensor arranged beside first annular-shaped magnet and index sensor that includes second magnet arranged beside annular-shaped encoder and second magnetic sensor that are arranged being in-line on common axis; and means for varying magnetic flux, which changes direction of magnetic flux that is generated from second magnet toward first magnetic sensor, positioned between first magnetic sensor in torque sensor and second magnet in index sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Okuyama, Yukio Ikeda, Yukitoshi Terasaka, Takahiro Sanada
  • Patent number: 8040130
    Abstract: A device for detecting torque features of an electric screwer comprises a clutch for coupling with the electric screwer and a clutch for applying a resisting torque. The two clutches (11, 13) are connected to one another by a shaft (14) on which there are arranged extensometers (15) for measuring the torque transmitted by the shaft. On the shaft there is splined a disc (18) that bears on at least one face circular tracks (19, 20, 21, 22) that are coaxial to the shaft and to which the extensometers are electrically connected. Sliding contacts (23, 24, 25, 26) rest elastically on said circular tracks in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft to pick up the electric signals from the extensometers. An encoder (17) is provided to detect shaft rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Atlas Copco BLM S.r.l
    Inventor: Angelo Chiapuzzi
  • Patent number: 8020455
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive measurement system having one or more encoded polarized magnetic regions disposed circumferentially about a shaft, wherein adjacent magnetic regions along a section of the shaft have opposing polarities. In one embodiment the shaft is hollow and the encodings are interiorly disposed while in another embodiment the encodings are on the exterior surface of the shaft. There are one or more sensors, such as contact sensors, disposed about the shaft wherein the sensors enable measurements of at least one of bending moments or torque sensing. The sensors can also include non-contact sensors measuring the magnetic flux densities caused by the alternating magnetic fields from the rotating shaft. A processing section is used to process the sensor measurements, wherein the sensor measurements are used to compute at least one of shaft power, torque, speed, and bending moments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christof Martin Sihler, Jan Erich Hemmelmann, Simon Schramm
  • Patent number: 8020453
    Abstract: A system to measure the displacement of relatively moveable bodies along an axis comprising: a resonant electrical intermediate device further comprising an inductor, whose width varies along the displacement axis, and a capacitor in electrical series which co-operates with an antenna comprising transmit and receive windings whose mutual inductance varies according to the position of the electrical intermediate device relative to the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventors: Darran Kreit, Mark Anthony Howard
  • Patent number: 8020454
    Abstract: A torque detection device has a magnetic flux collecting ring, arranged outside an outer periphery of a magnetic circuit forming member which is provided in a rotating body applied with a torque, for collecting a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic circuit forming member; a detector for detecting the torque applied to the rotating body based on a density of the magnetic flux collected by the magnetic flux collecting ring; and a holding ring for holding the magnetic flux collecting ring and the detector and including an attachment part to be attached to a stationary object on an outer periphery on one side in a radial direction. An attachment-preventing convex part for preventing attachment to the stationary object by contacting the stationary object is formed on one end face in an axis line direction of the holding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Ishihara, Yoshitomo Tokumoto, Sinji Hakamata, Kaname Joushita, Tomoharu Horiuchi, Noriyuki Yahata, Naoki Nakane
  • Patent number: 8001850
    Abstract: A sensor includes a shaft and a magnetic sensor. The shaft may have at least one magnetized active region. The magnetic sensor may be configured to sense a magnetic field about the shaft, and may provide an output representative of torque applied to the shaft, shaft rotational speed and/or shaft rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Stoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kayvan Hedayat, Norman Poirier
  • Patent number: 7997152
    Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor that detects a torque of a rotating shaft and/or a stationary shaft by using a magnetostriction inverse effect that occurs on a shaft surface, the magnetostrictive torque sensor includes a first detection coil, a second detection coil, a first oscillation circuit, a second oscillation circuit, a first direction magnetic permeability detector, a second direction magnetic permeability detector, and a torque detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Azuma Shokai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamakawa, Tetsuo Kanda
  • Patent number: 7987734
    Abstract: A torque sensor (50) detects an input torque input into a torsion bar (51) using a magnetic force generating part (60), a rotating magnetic circuit (69), a fixed magnetic circuit (90), and a magnetic sensor (98). The rotating magnetic circuit (69) comprises a first soft magnetic member (70) and a second soft magnetic member (80), each of which comprises a magnetic ring (73, 83), a magnetic tip (71, 81) facing the magnetic force generating part (60), and a magnetic column (72, 82) connecting the tip (71, 81) and the ring (73, 83). By disposing the first soft magnetic member (70) and the second soft magnetic ring (80) so as to face each other, the soft magnetic rings (70, 80) are formed in an identical shape that can be manufactured by press-working a plate material, thereby realizing a compact and lightweight torque sensor (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Maehara
  • Publication number: 20110176819
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a sheet feeding device (1). The sheet feeding device (1) includes a sheet feeding cassette (2), a push-up member (4), a drive shaft (5), and a rotation detecting device (6). The rotation detecting device (6) includes an output gear connected to the drive shaft (5). The output gear includes a gear main body provided with a gear tooth on its outer edge; and an electrode holding member that is attached to the gear main body. The electrode holding member is rotatably provided in the case (9) and a rotating electrode is attached to the electrode holding member. The electrode holding member is formed of at least one thermoplastic resin selected from the group consisting of POM, PA, PBT, PP, PE, ABS resin, PS, PPE, PC, and PMMA. The gear main body is formed of a material whose strength is higher than thermoplastic resin of which the electrode holding member is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutomo IDE, Masanobu Yamagata, Shinichi Kato, Yasuhiro Kuba, Tsuyoshi Hashiyada