Magnetic position sensor having dual electronic outputs
First Claim
1. A magnetic position sensor, comprising:
- a magnet having opposite first and second magnetic pole surfaces;
a first pole piece adjoined to said first magnetic pole surface and cooperating with said magnet to provide a first magnetic field;
a second pole piece adjoined to said second magnetic pole surface and cooperating with said magnet to provide a second magnetic field;
a first magnetic flux sensor disposed within said first magnetic field and at least partially positioned between said magnet and a portion of said first pole piece, said first magnetic flux sensor operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a first output signal representative of a position of said first magnetic flux sensor relative to said first magnetic field; and
a second magnetic flux sensor disposed within said second magnetic field and at least partially positioned between said magnet and a portion of said second pole piece, said second magnetic flux sensor operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a second output signal representative of a position of said second magnetic flux sensor relative to said second magnetic field.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A position sensor including a magnetic circuit comprising a magnet having opposite first and second magnetic poles, a first pole piece having a proximal portion positioned adjacent the first magnetic pole and a distal portion positioned adjacent the second magnetic pole to define a first air gap area with a first magnetic field provided adjacent thereto, and a second pole piece having a proximal portion positioned adjacent the second magnetic pole and a distal portion positioned adjacent the first magnetic pole to define a second air gap area with a second magnetic field provided adjacent thereto. A first magnetic flux sensor is disposed within the first magnetic field to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a first output signal. A second magnetic flux sensor is disposed within the second magnetic field to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a second output signal.
32 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A magnetic position sensor, comprising:
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a magnet having opposite first and second magnetic pole surfaces; a first pole piece adjoined to said first magnetic pole surface and cooperating with said magnet to provide a first magnetic field; a second pole piece adjoined to said second magnetic pole surface and cooperating with said magnet to provide a second magnetic field; a first magnetic flux sensor disposed within said first magnetic field and at least partially positioned between said magnet and a portion of said first pole piece, said first magnetic flux sensor operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a first output signal representative of a position of said first magnetic flux sensor relative to said first magnetic field; and a second magnetic flux sensor disposed within said second magnetic field and at least partially positioned between said magnet and a portion of said second pole piece, said second magnetic flux sensor operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a second output signal representative of a position of said second magnetic flux sensor relative to said second magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A magnetic position sensor, comprising:
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a magnet having opposite first and second magnetic pole surfaces; a first pole piece adjoined to said first magnetic pole surface and cooperating with said magnet to provide a first magnetic field, a distal portion of said first pole piece laterally overlapping at least a portion of said second magnetic pole surface; a second pole piece adjoined to said second magnetic pole surface and cooperating with said magnet to provide a second magnetic field, a distal portion of said second pole piece laterally overlapping at least a portion of said first magnetic pole surface; a first magnetic flux sensor disposed within said first magnetic field and operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a first output signal representative of a position of said first magnetic flux sensor relative to said first magnetic field; and a second magnetic flux sensor disposed within said second magnetic field and operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a second output signal representative of a position of said second magnetic flux sensor relative to said second magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A magnetic position sensor, comprising:
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a magnet having opposite first and second magnetic poles; a first pole piece having a proximal portion positioned adjacent said first magnetic pole and a distal portion positioned adjacent said second magnetic pole to define a first air gap area, said first pole piece cooperating with said magnet to provide a first magnetic field adjacent said first air gap area; a second pole piece having a proximal portion positioned adjacent said second magnetic pole and a distal portion positioned adjacent said first magnetic pole to define a second air gap area, said second pole piece cooperating with said magnet to provide a second magnetic field adjacent said second air gap area; a first magnetic flux sensor disposed within said first magnetic field and operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a first output signal representative of a position of said first magnetic flux sensor relative to said first magnetic field; and a second magnetic flux sensor disposed within said second magnetic field and operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a second output signal representative of a position of said second magnetic flux sensor relative to said second magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A magnetic position sensor, comprising:
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a magnet positioned along a rotational axis and polarized in a direction of magnetization arranged substantially perpendicular to said rotational axis; a first pole piece cooperating with said magnet to provide a first magnetic field; a second pole piece cooperating with said magnet to provide a second magnetic field; a first magnetic flux sensor disposed within said first magnetic field and operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a first output signal representative of a rotational position of said first magnetic flux sensor relative to said first magnetic field; and a second magnetic flux sensor disposed within said second magnetic field and operable to sense varying magnitudes of magnetic flux density and to generate a second output signal representative of a rotational position of said second magnetic flux sensor relative to said second magnetic field; said magnet having opposite first and second magnetic poles, said first pole piece having a proximal portion positioned adjacent said first magnetic pole and a distal portion positioned adjacent said second magnetic pole to define a first air gap area, said first pole piece cooperating with said magnet to provide said first magnetic field adjacent said first air gap area; and said second pole piece having a proximal portion positioned adjacent said second magnetic pole and a distal portion positioned adjacent said first magnetic pole to define a second air gap area, said second pole piece cooperating with said magnet to provide said second magnetic field adjacent said second air gap area. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification