INDUCTIVE POSITION DETECTION
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a first sensor having a coil, the coil having a longitudinal axis, the coil operable to generate a time varying magnetic field, the time varying magnetic field having a plurality of magnetic field lines intersecting a first sensing domain area associated with a plane, the plane being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
a second sensor operable to measure a relative distance for determining a distance from the first sensor to a point substantially stationary with respect to the plane; and
a first target being movable within the plane, a portion of the first target lying within the first sensing domain area associated with the plane.
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Abstract
A position detecting system detects and responds to the movement of a target through a sensing domain area of a plane. The movement causes the amount of the target that lies within a first sensing domain area of a first sensor to change. A second sensor detects a height from the plane to a sensor for enhancing accuracy of measurements from the first sensor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a first sensor having a coil, the coil having a longitudinal axis, the coil operable to generate a time varying magnetic field, the time varying magnetic field having a plurality of magnetic field lines intersecting a first sensing domain area associated with a plane, the plane being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; a second sensor operable to measure a relative distance for determining a distance from the first sensor to a point substantially stationary with respect to the plane; and a first target being movable within the plane, a portion of the first target lying within the first sensing domain area associated with the plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising:
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a first sensor having a coil, the coil having a longitudinal axis, the coil operable to generate a time varying magnetic field, the time varying magnetic field having a plurality of magnetic field lines intersecting a first sensing domain area associated with a surface, the surface having a line tangent substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; a second sensor operable to measure a relative distance for determining a distance from the first sensor to the surface; a first target movable along the surface, a portion of the first target variably covering the first sensing domain area of the surface; and a processor operable to determine a positioning of the first target in response to a coil characteristic of the first sensor and in response to the distance measured by the second sensor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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18. A method, comprising:
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generating a time varying magnetic field, the time varying magnetic field having a plurality of magnetic field lines extending from a first sensor and intersecting a first sensing domain area associated with a surface, the surface having a line tangent substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis; determining a distance from the first sensor to a point substantially stationary with respect to the surface, wherein the distance is determined using a second sensor; moving a target along the surface, a portion of the target variably covering the first sensing domain area of the surface, a coil characteristic of the first sensor being changed in response to the movement of the target; and determining a positioning of the target in response to the coil characteristic of the first sensor and in response to the determined distance. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification