Magnetic displacement sensor for vehicle
First Claim
1. A vehicular magnetic device for determining a displacement of an element of a vehicle via a measured displacement, said magnetic device comprising:
- a magnetic element which generates a magnetic field;
at least one magnetoresponsive sensor for sensing the magnetic field generated by said magnetic element, said magnetic element being spaced from said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and being movable relative thereto, said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor being operable to detect a change in the magnetic field associated with a movement of said magnetic element relative to said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor; and
an electronic control which is operable to analyze an output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and determine a degree of movement of said magnetic element relative to said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor from the output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor, said electronic control being further operable to determine an offset in the output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and adjust a control output of said electronic control as a function of the offset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic level sensor is adapted for interconnecting with a vertically moving component of a vehicle such that the level sensor determines a vertical orientation of the component of the vehicle relative to the frame or chassis of the vehicle. The magnetic level sensor includes a magnetic angular measurement device interconnected to the component of the vehicle such that vertical movement of the component causes a corresponding relative rotational movement of a magnetic element associated with the angular measurement device. An electronic control is included for analyzing an output of the angular measurement device and determining an angle of rotation of the magnetic element and thus a vertical movement of the component. The control further determines an error or offset in the output of the angular measurement device and adjusts an output of the control in response to the error or offset. The control thus continuously calibrates an output of the angular measurement device to account for manufacturing irregularities and drift in sensor output due to temperature variations and aging of the sensors and magnets over time.
7 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A vehicular magnetic device for determining a displacement of an element of a vehicle via a measured displacement, said magnetic device comprising:
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a magnetic element which generates a magnetic field;
at least one magnetoresponsive sensor for sensing the magnetic field generated by said magnetic element, said magnetic element being spaced from said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and being movable relative thereto, said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor being operable to detect a change in the magnetic field associated with a movement of said magnetic element relative to said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor; and
an electronic control which is operable to analyze an output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and determine a degree of movement of said magnetic element relative to said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor from the output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor, said electronic control being further operable to determine an offset in the output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and adjust a control output of said electronic control as a function of the offset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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18. A vehicular magnetic level sensor adapted for interconnecting with a generally linearly movable component on a vehicle, said level sensor being operable to determine an orientation of the movable component relative to a frame member of the vehicle and comprising:
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a magnetic element which generates a magnetic field;
at least one magnetoresponsive sensor for sensing the magnetic field generated by said magnetic element, said magnetic element being spaced from said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and being movable relative thereto, said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor detecting a change in the magnetic field associated with a movement of said magnetic element relative to said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor, one of said magnetic element and said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor being interconnected to the component of the vehicle such that a generally linear displacement of the movable component causes a corresponding movement of said one of said magnetic element and said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor relative to the other of said magnetic element and said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor; and
an electronic control for analyzing an output of said at least one magnetoresponsive 15 sensor and determining a degree of movement of said one of said magnetic element and said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor in response to the output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor, said electronic control being operable to determine an offset in the output of said at least one magnetoresponsive sensor and adjust an output of said electronic control as a function of the offset.
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30. A calibration method of a control which is operable to calibrate a vehicular magnetic level sensor, said level sensor being operable to determine an orientation of a movable component of a vehicle relative to a frame member of the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a magnetoresponsive sensor which is operable to sense a magnetic field generated by a magnetic element, said magnetic element being movable relative to said magnetoresponsive sensor;
sampling at least two data points of an output of said magnetoresponsive sensor;
determining an offset of the output of said magnetoresponsive sensor in response to the at least two data points; and
adjusting an output of said control in response to the offset. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification