NON-CONTACT SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTION DETERMINATION

• US 20100207609A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Erickson, Staffan, Cahill, Eric, Klode, Harald
• Granted Patent: US 8,203,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.130
• 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 5/241 by relative movement of capacitor electrodes

Abstract

A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element disposed on a stationary member, and a second sensor element disposed on a rotational member. The second sensor element is proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element. The rotational member is configured to facilitate selection of at least a first position and a second position, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing of the selected position.

Claims

1. A non-contact sensor system, comprising:

a first sensor element disposed on a stationary member; and

a second sensor element disposed on a rotational member, wherein the second sensor element is proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element, wherein the rotational member is configured to facilitate selection of at least a first position and a second position, and wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing of the selected position.

2. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises an electrical circuit.

3. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises an excitation circuit.

4. The non-contact sensor system of claim 3, wherein a signal generator is configured to cause an excitation signal to flow through the excitation circuit.

5. The non-contact sensor system of claim 4, wherein the excitation signal is configured to generate an electromagnetic field at a resonant frequency of the second sensor element.

6. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are inductively coupled to facilitate sensing the selected position.

7. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element and the second sensor element are coupled in a capacitive manner to facilitate sensing selected position.

8. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor element includes a magnet.

9. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element includes an electrical circuit, and wherein the first sensor element is configured to induce a current in the second sensor element in response to a current in the electrical circuit.

10. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor element is configured to induce a current in the first sensor element in response to the first sensor element inducing a current in the second sensor element.

11. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the selected position is determined in response to the second sensor element inducing a current in the first sensor element.

12. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element comprises a disk-shaped integrated circuit board.

13. The non-contact sensor system of claim 4, further comprising a knob configured to facilitate selection of at least the first position and the second position, wherein the signal generator is configured to cause the excitation signal to flow through the excitation circuit in response to the knob being actuated.

14. The non-contact sensor system of claim 13, wherein the second sensor element comprises a plurality of sensor elements.

15. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the non-contact sensor system is configured for use in an autobrake switch.

16. The non-contact sensor system of claim 15, wherein the non-contact sensor system is configured to replace a contact sensor system.

17. The non-contact sensor system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor element is substantially parallel to the second sensor element.

18. A control unit for a non-contact sensor system, comprising:

a signal generator configured to produce a current in a first sensor element, wherein the first sensor element is operatively coupled to a second sensor element without physically contacting the second sensor element; and

a calculator configured to determine a selection associated with a rotational member, wherein the second sensor element is disposed on the rotational member, wherein the first sensor element is disposed on a stationary member, and wherein the selection comprises at least one of a first position and a second position.

19. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions to generate a signal that causes a first current to flow in an electrical circuit in a first sensor element, wherein a first electromagnetic field is generated in response to the signal, and wherein the first sensor element is disposed proximate a second sensor element without physically contacting the second sensor element;

instructions to sense a second electromagnetic field in a sensing circuit in the first sensor element, wherein the second electromagnetic field is generated in response to a second current flowing through a resonant circuit on the second sensor element, wherein the second current is generated in response to the first electromagnetic field, and wherein the second sensor element is disposed on a rotational member that indicates a selected position; and

instructions to determine the selected position in response to the second electromagnetic field.

20. A method comprising:

generating a signal that causes a first current to flow in an electrical circuit in a first sensor element, wherein a first electromagnetic field is generated in response to the signal, and wherein the first sensor element is disposed proximate a second sensor element without physically contacting the second sensor element;

sensing a second electromagnetic field in a sensing circuit in the first sensor element, wherein the second electromagnetic field is generated in response to a second current flowing through a resonant circuit on the second sensor element, wherein the second current is generated in response to the first electromagnetic field, and wherein the second sensor element is disposed on a rotational member that indicates a selected position; and

determining the selected position in response to the second electromagnetic field.