POSITION-INDICATING MODULE WITH ILLUMINATED AXIS

• US 20150123651A1
• Filed: 01/21/2013
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies
• Original Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies
• Inventors: Biwersi, Stphane, Delbaere, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,714,849 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/161 comprising light emitting elements

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a position-indicating module including a position sensor consisting of a mobile element, able to be driven directly by an operator or by a mechanical or electromechanical drive element, and of a detection assembly delivering electrical information dependent on the position of the mobile assembly, as well as at least one illumination element including at least one light source, wherein the mobile assembly includes a zone able to allow through the light beam issuing from the illumination element and the illumination element is situated opposite the zone.

Claims

1. A position-indicating module comprising a position sensor including a mobile element operably driven directly by an operator or by a mechanical or electromechanical drive element, and of a detection assembly delivering electrical information dependent on the position of the mobile assembly, without contact with the mobile assembly, as well as at least one illumination element comprising at least one light source, the mobile assembly comprising a zone operably allowing through the light beam issuing from the illumination element and the illumination element being situated opposite the zone.

2. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the state of electric power supply to the illumination element is dependent on the signal delivered by the detection assembly.

3. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the detection assembly delivers an absolute signal proportional to the position of the mobile element.

4. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the detection assembly delivers a signal in the form of discrete stages dependent on the position of the mobile element.

5. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, further comprising color or the intensity of light issuing from the illumination element being dependent on a signal delivered by the detection assembly.

6. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, further comprising color or intensity of the light issuing from the illumination element continuously varying and being proportional to a signal delivered by the detection assembly.

7. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, further comprising color or intensity issuing from the illumination element discretely varying according to a signal delivered by the detection assembly.

8. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the illumination element comprises several light sources situated substantially at the same point.

9. A position-indicating module according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the light sources emits a different color from the other ones.

10. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the illumination element is a light emitting diode (LED).

11. A position-indicating module according to claim 10, wherein the illumination element is a multicolored light emitting diode (LED).

12. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the detection assembly comprises at least one magneto-sensitive probe.

13. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the mobile element comprises at least one magnetic flux generating element.

14. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the zone able to allow through the light beam is an opening and a button is positioned in the opening.

15. A position-indicating module according to claim 14, wherein the button is integral with the mobile assembly.

16. A position-indicating module according to claim 15, wherein the button is at least partially made of a translucent material operable to guide the light issuing from the illumination element.

17. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor measures the linear position of the mobile assembly.

18. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the position sensor measures the rotation of the mobile assembly.

19. A position-indicating module according to claim 18, wherein the sensor measures a combined movement.

20. A position-indicating module according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the illumination elements is situated on an axis of rotation of the mobile element.

21. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the detection assembly and the illumination element are arranged in a common plane.

22. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the detection assembly and the illumination element are arranged on a common printed circuit.

23. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein the mobile element, the detection assembly and the illumination element are arranged in a common case.

24. A position-indicating module according to claim 1, wherein further comprising a sensor detecting a magnet penetration relative to the rest position thereof.

25. A positioning assembly comprising:

a position-indicating module further comprising a mobile element operably driven directly by an operator or by a mechanical or electromechanical drive element, and of a detection assembly delivering electrical information dependent on the position of the mobile assembly, without contact with the mobile assembly, as well as at least one illumination element comprising at least one light source, the mobile assembly comprising a zone operably allowing through the light beam issuing from the illumination element and the illumination element being situated opposite the zone, and

a drive assembly further comprising an electrical drive element;

the mobile assembly of the position-indicating module being integral with the mobile portion of the electrical drive element.

26. A positioning assembly according to claim 25, wherein the drive unit is a gear motor.

27. A positioning assembly according to claim 25, wherein the drive assembly is a rotating or linear direct drive system.