Position detecting device

• US 10,101,177 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Shiro, Manabe, Hirotaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): McAndrew, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/943,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 32420722
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/30 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2205/40 Position sensors comprising arrangements for concentrating or redirecting magnetic flux
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/147 influenced by the movement of a third element, the position of Hall device and the source of magnetic field being fixed in respect to each other

Abstract

A position detecting device includes: a magnet that has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole; a magnetic sensor that detects a change in magnetic flux generated by a detection target which enters between the magnet and the magnetic sensor on the first magnetic pole side of the magnet; and a magnetic shield that has a magnetic gap between the magnet and the magnetic shield, and that includes a magnetic material which is disposed on the second magnetic pole side of the magnet.

Claims

1. A position detecting device comprising:

a magnet that has a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole;

a magnetic sensor that detects a change in magnetic flux generated by a detection target which enters between the magnet and the magnetic sensor on the first magnetic pole side of the magnet;

a magnetic shield that shields a disturbing magnetic field and that includes a magnetic material which is disposed on the second magnetic pole side of the magnet; and

a housing that contains the magnet, the magnetic sensor, and the magnetic shield,

wherein the magnetic shield includes a first shielding wall which spreads in a direction intersecting a direction of a magnetization axis connecting the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole, and a second shielding wall which extends from the first shielding wall in the direction parallel to the magnetization axis so as to be arranged on a side of the magnet,

wherein the magnetic shield is arranged in the housing so there is a first magnetic gap between the magnet and the first shielding wall and a second magnetic gap between the magnet and the second shielding wall, and

wherein the magnet, the magnetic sensor, and the magnetic shield are integrally formed in the housing with resin.

2. The position detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein the detection target includes a support portion which is arranged on the side of the magnet, and a detection target portion which is supported by the support portion so as to be arranged at a position where the detection target portion enters between the magnet and the magnetic sensor, and

wherein the second shielding wall is arranged between the magnet and the support portion of the detection target.

3. The position detecting device according to claim 2,

wherein the second shielding wall is disposed at a position for interposing the magnet therein in a direction where the detection target enters.

4. The position detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein a distal end portion of the second shielding wall is located on the first shielding wall side rather than a first magnetic pole end surface of the magnet.

5. The position detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein the first shielding wall includes a projection which projects to the magnet side.

6. The position detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein the first shielding wall includes a curved surface which has a center portion at a position where the first shielding wall opposes the magnet.

7. The position detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein the position detecting device is disposed in a seat sliding device which has a stationary member and a movable member disposed so as to be relatively movable with respect to the stationary member,

wherein the magnetic sensor and the magnet are disposed on the movable member side of the seat sliding device,

wherein the detection target is disposed on the stationary member side of the seat sliding device, and

wherein the magnet is disposed below the magnetic sensor.

8. The position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic shield prevents foreign substance absorption by the magnet by shielding the disturbing magnetic field.

9. The position detecting device according to claim 1,

wherein the second shielding wall extends from a first end of the first shielding wall,

wherein the magnetic shield includes a third shielding wall that extends from a second end of the first shielding wall in the direction parallel to the magnetization axis, and

wherein a third magnetic gap is arranged between the magnet and the third shielding wall.