Sensor arrangement

• US 6,546,823 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
• Original Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
• Inventors: Veit, Eberhard
• Primary Examiner(s): RAEVIS, ROBERT R
• Application Number:
  US09/647,750
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 738/665, 737/56, 737/30, 734/93, 324/207.24, 324/207.25, 374/208
• US Class Current: 73/866.5
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/30 Supports specially adapted for an instrument; Supports specially adapted for a set of instruments

Abstract

A sensor arrangement, having at least one sensor (3) which is able to be so attached to the outer face of a carrying part (1) by means of an attachment means that the attachment means (2) fits around the carrying part (1) at least 180° of its peripheral extent. The sensor (3) is designed in the form of a non-separable, integral component of the attachment means (2).

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement, comprising at least one sensor, which by means of an attachment means may be so attached to the outside of a carrying part that the attachment means encompasses the carrying part for at least 180°

of its peripheral extent, wherein the sensor is a bendingly flexible printed circuit board, the flexible printed circuit board being a non-separable integral component of the attachment means.

2. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment means is at least partially bendingly flexible and has resiliently elastic properties.

3. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment means consists of plastic material.

4. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment means is an attachment clip surrounding the carrying part in the condition mounted thereon for only part of the periphery, which clip is able to be fixed in place by means of a detent or snap action connection in the carrying means.

5. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (2) is designed in the form of an attachment ring completely surrounding the carrying part (1) and able to be drawn tight thereon.

6. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that the attachment means (2) comprises two clamping arms (14 and 15) able to be to be fixedly joined together by a bracing means (16).

7. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 6, wherein the bracing means is a detent connecting means.

8. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment means is a band.

9. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises electronic components.

10. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is surrounded by the material of the attachment means at least to a major extent.

11. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is molded within the attachment means.

12. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (2) possesses an essentially constant width along at least approximately its entire length.

13. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the attachment means (2) possesses an essentially constant thickness along at least approximately its entire length.

14. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a position detecting means, which is responsive to an attachment element arriving in its field of action without making contact.

15. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the attachment means is adapted for attachment to a carrying part having a cylindrical outer face.

16. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the carrying part (1) is constituted by a housing part (4).

17. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, wherein the carrying part is a tubular housing part of a linear drive.

18. The sensor arrangement as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one securing element projecting past the attachment means on the side facing the carrying part.

19. A sensor arrangement for detecting a position of a drive part within a tubular housing of a linear drive, the sensor arrangement comprising:

a flexible band adapted to be secured around a substantial portion of an outer surface of the tubular linear drive housing; and

a sensor integrally molded within said flexible band, said sensor comprising a flexible printed circuit board adapted to conform to the outer surface of the tubular linear drive housing together with said flexible band.

20. A sensor arrangement as defined in claim 19, wherein said flexible band comprises a rack of teeth at a first end thereof and an eye at an opposite end thereof, said rack of teeth being adjustably engageable with said eye thereby reducing the cross section enclosed by said band to secure said band around an entire outer surface of the tubular linear drive housing.