MAGNETIC ODOMETER WITH DIRECTION INDICATOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. A system for determining a directional movement of an object, the system comprising:
- at least one magnet having a north pole and a south pole mounted to the object;
a single magnetic sensor configured to produce a signal indicating a presence of a magnetic field produced by the north or south pole of the at least one magnet; and
a processing device in signal communication with the magnetic sensor, the processing device configured to determine a direction of motion of the object based on the produced signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for determining a directional movement of an object such as a wheeled vehicle. The system includes a magnet having a north pole and a south pole mounted to the object, a single magnetic sensor positioned such that the sensor can individually detect each magnetic pole as the object moves, the sensor configured to produce a first characteristic signal when a north pole is detected and a second characteristic signal when a south pole is detected, and a processing device in signal communication with the sensor, the processing device configured to determine a directional movement of the object based on a configuration of a signal doublet that includes the first and second characteristic signals. The methods include sensing the north and south poles as they pass the magnetic sensor and determining a direction based on an order in which the north and south poles are sensed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for determining a directional movement of an object, the system comprising:
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at least one magnet having a north pole and a south pole mounted to the object; a single magnetic sensor configured to produce a signal indicating a presence of a magnetic field produced by the north or south pole of the at least one magnet; and a processing device in signal communication with the magnetic sensor, the processing device configured to determine a direction of motion of the object based on the produced signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for determining a direction of a wheeled vehicle, the system comprising:
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a chassis; a first wheel rotationally coupled to the chassis; at least one magnet having a north pole and a south pole mounted to the first wheel of the wheeled vehicle; a first single magnetic sensor configured to produce a signal indicating a presence of a magnetic field produced by the north or south pole of the at least one magnet; and a processing device in signal communication with the first single magnetic sensor, the processing device configured to determine a rotational direction of the first wheel and a corresponding direction of the wheeled vehicle based on the produced signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining a direction of an object, the method comprising:
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sensing a first pole of a first magnet mounted on the object as the first pole passes a first single magnetic sensor; sensing a second pole of the first magnet as the second pole passes the first single magnetic sensor; and determining a direction of the object selected from a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction based on an order in which the first and second poles are sensed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification