Position sensing device
First Claim
1. A device for sensing a predetermined relative position of first and second parts which are movable relative to each other, said device comprising:
- a magnet which creates a magnetic field;
a Hall effect device in said magnetic field;
a pivotal lever having first and second opposite surfaces, said lever having a first position in said magnetic field wherein said first surface has a first magnetic polarity and said second surface has a magnetic polarity opposite said first magnetic polarity and wherein a magnetic field of a first flux density acts on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to have a first output signal when said lever is in said first position;
said lever having a second position in said magnetic field when said first and second parts are in said predetermined relative position wherein a magnetic field of a second flux density acts on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to have a second output signal when said lever is in said second position, different than said first output signal, said first and second surfaces moving away from said magnet as said lever pivots from said first position to said second position, said first magnetic polarity of said first surface switching to an opposite second magnetic polarity when said lever is in said second position, said second surface switching to a magnetic polarity opposite said second magnetic polarity when said lever is in said second position, said switching of said magnetic polarity causing said magnetic flux density to change from said first flux density to said second flux density; and
said Hall effect device responding to the change in magnetic flux density from said first flux density to said second flux density.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device (10) for sensing a predetermined relative position of first and second parts (12 and 18) which are movable relative to each other includes a magnet (92) which creates a magnetic field and a pivotal lever (100) which has first and second opposite surfaces (104 and 106). The lever (100) has a first position in the magnetic field wherein the first surface (104) has a first magnetic polarity and the second surface (106) has a magnetic polarity opposite the first magnetic polarity. The lever (100) has a second position in the magnetic field when the first and second parts (12 and 18) are in the predetermined relative position. The first and second surfaces (104 and 106) move away from the magnet (92) as the lever (100) pivots from the first position to the second position. The first magnetic polarity of the first surface (104) switches to an opposite second magnetic polarity when the lever (100) is in the second position, and the second surface (106) switches to a magnetic polarity opposite the second magnetic polarity when the lever (100) is in the second position. The device (10) also includes a Hall effect device (90) which responds to the change in magnetic polarity from the first magnetic polarity to the second magnetic polarity.
44 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A device for sensing a predetermined relative position of first and second parts which are movable relative to each other, said device comprising:
-
a magnet which creates a magnetic field;
a Hall effect device in said magnetic field;
a pivotal lever having first and second opposite surfaces, said lever having a first position in said magnetic field wherein said first surface has a first magnetic polarity and said second surface has a magnetic polarity opposite said first magnetic polarity and wherein a magnetic field of a first flux density acts on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to have a first output signal when said lever is in said first position;
said lever having a second position in said magnetic field when said first and second parts are in said predetermined relative position wherein a magnetic field of a second flux density acts on said Hall effect device to cause said Hall effect device to have a second output signal when said lever is in said second position, different than said first output signal, said first and second surfaces moving away from said magnet as said lever pivots from said first position to said second position, said first magnetic polarity of said first surface switching to an opposite second magnetic polarity when said lever is in said second position, said second surface switching to a magnetic polarity opposite said second magnetic polarity when said lever is in said second position, said switching of said magnetic polarity causing said magnetic flux density to change from said first flux density to said second flux density; and
said Hall effect device responding to the change in magnetic flux density from said first flux density to said second flux density. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification