Position detecting sensor

• US 7,005,848 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takashi, Endo, Hirofumi, Tsuzuki, Takayoshi, Tagawa, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US10/464,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20040032254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 3242072-20726, 324/173, 324/174
• US Class Current: 324/207.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A position detecting sensor includes a magnet, a magnetic detecting element, and a yoke adjacent to or near the magnet. A detected member is positioned at one side of the position detecting sensor so as to be adjacent to or away from the position detecting sensor. The magnet is oriented to generate a magnetic line of flux which flows in a direction complying with an extending direction of the detected member. The magnetic detecting element is positioned in an area in which a magnetic flux density generated by the magnet is relatively low when the detected member is positioned away from the position detecting sensor and a magnetic flux density is relatively high when the detected member is positioned adjacent to the position detecting sensor.

Claims

1. A position detecting sensor comprising:

a magnet;

a magnetic detecting element; and

a yoke adjacent to or near the magnet,

wherein a detected member made of a magnetic material is positioned at one side of the magnet so as to be adjacent to the magnet or so as to be away therefrom, the magnet is oriented to generate a magnetic line of flux which flows from a north pole to a south pole in a direction complying with an extending direction of the detected member, and the magnetic detecting element is positioned in an area in which a magnetic flux density generated by the magnet is relatively low when the detected member is positioned away from the magnet and a magnetic flux density is relatively high when the detected member is positioned adjacent to the magnet.

2. A position detecting sensor according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic detecting element is capable of detecting a magnetic flux flowing in a specified direction, the area including the magnetic detecting element has a variable flowing direction of the magnetic flux in response to the position of the detected member relative to the magnet.

3. A position detecting sensor according to claim 2, wherein the yoke is positioned to have the magnet arranged on a substantially intermediate line extending between the detected member and the yoke when the detected member is positioned adjacent to the magnet, and the area including the magnetic detecting element is near one of the poles of the magnet.

4. A position detecting sensor comprising:

a magnet;

a magnetic detecting element; and

a yoke;

wherein a detected member made of a magnetic material is positioned at one side of the magnet so as to be adjacent to the magnet or so as to be away therefrom, the magnet is oriented to generate a magnetic line of flux which flows from a north pole to a south pole in a direction complying with an extending direction of the detected member, the yoke is positioned to have the magnet arranged on a substantially intermediate line extending between the detected member and the yoke when the detected member is positioned adjacent to the magnet and the magnetic detecting element is positioned near one of the poles of the magnet.

5. A position detecting sensor comprising:

a magnet;

a magnetic detecting element; and

a yoke adjacent to or near the magnet;

wherein a detected member made of a magnetic material is positioned at one side of the position detecting sensor so as to be adjacent to the magnet or so as to be away therefrom, the magnet is oriented to generate a magnetic line of flux which flows from a north pole to a south pole in a direction complying with an extending direction of the detected member, the magnetic detecting element is capable of detecting a magnetic flux flowing in a specified direction, and the magnetic detecting element is positioned in an area in which the flowing direction of the magnetic flux under a condition of the detected member being away from the magnet is not the same as the flowing direction of the magnetic flux under a condition of the detected member being adjacent to the magnet.