Sensor assembly
First Claim
1. A sensor assembly comprising:
- a housing extending between a front and a rear, the housing configured to be mounted at least one of on or proximate to an electromagnetic coil configured to generate a first magnetic field to move a movable component linearly along an axis between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the electromagnetic coil based on a strength of the first magnetic field, the housing including walls that extend between the front and the rear, the walls defining a closed cavity that is not exposed to an external environment and an open cavity that is exposed to the external environment;
a shield member disposed within the housing, the shield member defining a shielded chamber;
a sensing magnet configured to be coupled to the movable component such that the sensing magnet moves with the movable component, the sensing magnet disposed within the shielded chamber; and
a magnetic field sensor disposed within the shielded chamber, the magnetic field sensor detecting an electrical characteristic responsive to a second magnetic field produced by the sensing magnet to monitor a position of the movable component along the axis,wherein the shield member and the magnetic field sensor are disposed within the closed cavity of the housing and the sensing magnet is disposed within the open cavity, and wherein the shield member is composed of a ferrous material to shield the magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet from the first magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor assembly includes a housing, a shield member, a magnetic field sensor, and a sensing magnet. The housing is configured to be mounted at least proximate to an electromagnetic coil that generates a first magnetic field to cause a movable component to move linearly along an axis based on the strength of the first magnetic field. The sensing magnet is configured to be coupled to the movable component to move therewith. The magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet are disposed within a shielded chamber defined by the shield member, which is ferrous to shield the magnetic field sensor and sensing magnet from the first magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor detects an electrical characteristic responsive to a second magnetic field produced by the sensing magnet to monitor a position of the movable component along the axis.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensor assembly comprising:
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a housing extending between a front and a rear, the housing configured to be mounted at least one of on or proximate to an electromagnetic coil configured to generate a first magnetic field to move a movable component linearly along an axis between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the electromagnetic coil based on a strength of the first magnetic field, the housing including walls that extend between the front and the rear, the walls defining a closed cavity that is not exposed to an external environment and an open cavity that is exposed to the external environment; a shield member disposed within the housing, the shield member defining a shielded chamber; a sensing magnet configured to be coupled to the movable component such that the sensing magnet moves with the movable component, the sensing magnet disposed within the shielded chamber; and a magnetic field sensor disposed within the shielded chamber, the magnetic field sensor detecting an electrical characteristic responsive to a second magnetic field produced by the sensing magnet to monitor a position of the movable component along the axis, wherein the shield member and the magnetic field sensor are disposed within the closed cavity of the housing and the sensing magnet is disposed within the open cavity, and wherein the shield member is composed of a ferrous material to shield the magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet from the first magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sensor assembly comprising:
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a housing extending between a front and a rear, the housing configured to be mounted at least one of on or proximate to an electromagnetic coil configured to generate a first magnetic field to move a movable component linearly along an axis between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the electromagnetic coil based on a strength of the first magnetic field; a shield member disposed within the housing, the shield member defining a shielded chamber; a magnet assembly including a sensing magnet, a dielectric holder that engages and at least partially surrounds the sensing magnet and a mounting arm that is fixed to the dielectric holder, the mounting arm being composed of a non-ferrous metal material, the mounting arm extending from the housing and coupling to the movable component via a mechanical fastener to couple the sensing magnet to the movable component such that the sensing magnet moves with the movable component, the sensing magnet disposed within the shielded chamber; and a magnetic field sensor disposed within the shielded chamber, the magnetic field sensor detecting an electrical characteristic responsive to a second magnetic field produced by the sensing magnet to monitor a position of the movable component along the axis, wherein the shield member is composed of a ferrous material to shield the magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet from the first magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A position sensing system comprising:
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an electromagnetic lock assembly including an electromagnetic coil and a locking ring, the electromagnetic coil being configured to receive a current to generate a first magnetic field, the locking ring moving linearly along a locking axis between an advanced position and a retracted position relative to the electromagnetic coil based on a strength of the first magnetic field; and a sensor assembly mounted on or proximate to the electromagnetic lock assembly, the sensor assembly including a housing, a shield member, a magnetic field sensor, and a sensing magnet, the housing including walls that define a closed cavity that is not exposed to an external environment and an open cavity that is exposed to the external environment, the sensing magnet being coupled to the locking ring and movable with the movement of the locking ring, the shield member defining a shielded chamber, the magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet disposed within the shielded chamber, the magnetic field sensor detecting an electrical characteristic responsive to a second magnetic field produced by the sensing magnet to monitor a position of the locking ring along the locking axis, wherein the shield member and the magnetic field sensor are disposed within the closed cavity of the housing, and the sensing magnet is disposed within the open cavity, wherein the shield member is composed of a ferrous material to shield the magnetic field sensor and the sensing magnet from the first magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic coil. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification