POSITION SIGNALING DEVICE

• US 20110101970A1
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polycontact AG
• Original Assignee: Polycontact AG
• Inventors: LANTER, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US12/939,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20110101970A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0272 using sensors or detectors for detecting the position of seat parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01554 Seat position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004

Abstract

A position signaling device is disclosed for detecting a position of two metallic or metal-coated components that can move relative to one another. the device can include a magnetic field-sensitive sensor and at least one bias magnet that are spatially separated from one another and are arranged in a stationary manner relative to one another. The magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the bias magnet on two sides border a receiving gap in which one of the two components can be moved relative to the other. The magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the bias magnet are connected to one of the two components. In a vicinity of the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and/or of at least one bias magnet, at least one flux concentrator is arranged such that a largely closed magnetic circuit is formed.

Claims

1. Position signaling device for detecting a position of two metallic or metal-coated components that can move relative to one another, comprising:

a magnetic field-sensitive sensor and at least one bias magnet that are spatially separated from one another and that are arranged stationary relative to one another and on two sides border a receiving gap, in which one of the two components can be moved relative to the other, the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the bias magnet being connected to one of the two components, wherein in a vicinity of at least one of the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the at least one bias magnet, at least one flux concentrator is arranged such that a substantially closed magnetic circuit is formed.

2. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-sensitive sensor is arranged between two flux concentrators.

3. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the bias magnet and the magnetic field-sensitive sensor are arranged opposite one another.

4. Position signaling device according to claim 3, wherein the receiving gap that is bordered by the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the opposite bias magnet has a gap width (w) that is 0.2 mm to 50 mm.

5. Position signaling device according to claim 3, wherein the bias magnet borders a flux concentrator.

6. Position signaling device according to claim 3, wherein two bias magnets are arranged opposite the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and border the flux concentrator on an end facing away from the sensor.

7. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bias magnet is arranged such that it encompasses an angle of approximately 90°

with the magnetic field-sensitive sensor, the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the bias magnet bordering two sides of the receiving gap that are perpendicular to one another.

8. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-sensitive sensor is pretensioned by two bias magnets that border the at least one flux concentrator and are arranged such that they include an angle of approximately 90°

with the magnetic field-sensitive sensor, the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the bias magnets bordering two sides of the receiving gap that are perpendicular to one another.

9. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-sensitive sensor is a Hall sensor.

10. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein each bias magnet is a bar-shaped permanent magnet.

11. Position signaling device according to claim 10, wherein each permanent magnet is arranged recumbent relative to the magnetic field-sensitive sensor, such that the flux concentrator concentrates magnetic flux outside of the magnet from a north pole to a south pole.

12. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the flux concentrator is a flux baffle of a magnetizable steel.

13. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-sensitive sensor, flux concentrator and bias magnet, are accommodated in a common housing molded with plastic.

14. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field-sensitive sensor is surrounded by shielding against external magnetic interference fields.

15. Position signaling device according to claim 14, wherein the shielding is formed by one of the components that can move relative to another.

18. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein one of the two components is attached to an automobile for detecting a locking status of a hood and/or a trunk lid of the automobile.

19. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein one of the two components is attached to an automobile for detecting a maximum gap width, between a vehicle body and a hood and/or a trunk lid prior to a final closing process.

20. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein one of the two components is attached to an automobile for detecting a locking status of a fastening for a child safety seat to fixed attachment points in the automobile or to a seat shell of a child safety seat on a base unit mounted in the automobile.

21. Position signaling device according to claim 1, wherein one of the two components is attached to an automobile for detecting a locking status of a retaining device in a child safety seat.

16. A vehicle seat comprising:

a movable seat rail for movement relative to a mounting rail;

a vehicle position signaling device connected to the mounting rail for detection of a displacement position of the vehicle seat, the positioning signaling device including;

a magnetic field-sensitive sensor and at least one bias magnet that are spatially separated from one another and that are arranged stationary relative to one another and on two sides border a receiving gap, in which one of the two components can be moved relative to the other, the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the bias magnet being connected to one of the two components, wherein in a vicinity of at least one of the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the at least one bias magnet, at least one flux concentrator is arranged such that a substantially closed magnetic circuit is formed, wherein

the magnetic field-sensitive sensor, the at least one bias magnet, and the flux concentrator are mounted on one of the movable seat rail and the mounting rail, and an interrogation sheet is mounted on the other of the movable seat rail and the mounting coil and projects into the receiving gap between the magnetic field-sensitive sensor and the at least one bias magnet to influence a magnetic field of the bias magnet when the vehicle seat moves.

17. Vehicle seat according to claim 16, wherein an arrangement of the sensor, bias magnet and flux concentrator is at a position of the vehicle seat that is inaccessible to a user of the vehicle, on an inside of the movable seat rail and the mounting rail.