MAGNETIC SENSOR
First Claim
1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
- a. a series circuit, wherein said series circuit comprises;
i. at least one first coil operatively associated with a magnetic circuit of a vehicle body, wherein said at least one coil is adapted to cooperate with a time-varying magnetic flux in said vehicle body, said time-varying magnetic flux is generated, sensed, or both generated and sensed by said at least one first coil, and said time-varying magnetic flux is responsive to a condition of said vehicle body that is sensed by the magnetic sensor;
ii. at least one capacitance in series with said at least one first coil; and
b. a signal source adapted to generate a time-varying signal, wherein said time varying signal is operatively coupled to said series circuit so as to generate a current in said series circuit, said current flows through both said at least one first coil and said at least one capacitance, and a capacitive reactance of said at least one capacitance at least partially cancels an inductive reactance of said at least one first coil of an impedance of said series circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coil is operatively associated with a magnetic circuit of a vehicle body, and is adapted to cooperate with a time-varying magnetic flux therein responsive to a condition of the vehicle body sensed by the magnetic sensor. A capacitance in series with the coil provides for reducing the reactance of the resulting series LC circuit, and provides for increasing the sensitivity of changes in impedance and impedance phase angle of the impedance thereof responsive to changes in the associated resistance or inductance thereof. A second inductance in the series LC circuit provides for independently selecting the associated capacitance value, and an associated adjustable inductance and/or capacitance in the series LC circuit provides for adapting to variation in the inductance of the coil.
-
Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:
-
a. a series circuit, wherein said series circuit comprises;
i. at least one first coil operatively associated with a magnetic circuit of a vehicle body, wherein said at least one coil is adapted to cooperate with a time-varying magnetic flux in said vehicle body, said time-varying magnetic flux is generated, sensed, or both generated and sensed by said at least one first coil, and said time-varying magnetic flux is responsive to a condition of said vehicle body that is sensed by the magnetic sensor;
ii. at least one capacitance in series with said at least one first coil; and
b. a signal source adapted to generate a time-varying signal, wherein said time varying signal is operatively coupled to said series circuit so as to generate a current in said series circuit, said current flows through both said at least one first coil and said at least one capacitance, and a capacitive reactance of said at least one capacitance at least partially cancels an inductive reactance of said at least one first coil of an impedance of said series circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of sensing a condition of a magnetic circuit, comprising:
-
a. operatively associating at least one first coil with the magnetic circuit so that a time-varying magnetic flux in said magnetic circuit is magnetically coupled with said at least one first coil;
b. operatively coupling said at least one first coil in series with at least one capacitance in a series circuit;
c. causing a time-varying current to flow in said series circuit, wherein said at least one capacitance at least partially cancels an inductive reactance of said at least one first coil of an impedance of said series circuit; and
d. sensing a condition of said magnetic circuit from a signal associated with said at least one series circuit responsive to said at least one first coil. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification