Combination hall effect position sensor and switch

• US 7,088,096 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 08/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Jarrard, Craig, Etherington, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US11/273,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061353A1
• Time in Patent Office: 267 Days
• Field of Search: 324/207.24, 324/244, 324/207.2
• US Class Current: 324/207.24
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2205/775 Tapered profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A combination Hall effect position sensor and switch for sensing the position of a moveable object. The sensor has a magnet that is attachable to the moveable object. The magnet has a pair of ends and a central portion. A linear magnetic flux sensor is positioned about the central portion of the magnet. The linear magnetic flux sensor generates an electrical signal indicative of a specific position of the movable object. A switch type magnetic flux sensor is positioned about one of the ends of the magnet. The switch type magnetic flux sensor generates an electrical signal that is indicative of the movable object reaching a pre-determined location.

Claims

1. A sensor for sensing movement of a movable object, comprising:

a) at least one magnet attachable to the movable object, the magnet generating a variable polarity field, the magnet having a first end having a north pole, a second end having a south pole and a central portion;

b) a linear magnetic flux sensor positioned near the central portion of the magnet, the linear magnetic flux sensor generating a linear electrical signal that is indicative of a specific position of the movable object;

c) a first switch type magnetic flux sensor positioned near the first end of the magnet, the first switch type magnetic flux sensor generating a first digital electrical signal that is indicative of when the movable object has reached a first pre-determined location; and

d) a second switch type magnetic flux sensor positioned near the second end of the magnet, the second switch type magnetic flux sensor generating a second digital electrical signal that is indicative of when the movable object has reached a second pre-determined location.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the magnetic flux sensors are mounted to a printed circuit board.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the moveable object is a pedal.

4. A sensor for sensing the position of a moveable object, comprising:

a magnet attachable to the object for generating a magnetic field, the magnet having a first end, a second end and a central portion, the magnet generating a slowly changing flux field near the central portion and a rapidly changing flux field at the first and second ends, a north pole located at the first end and a south pole located at the second end;

a first linear hall effect sensor positioned about the central portion of the magnet for sensing the slowly changing magnetic field, the first magnetic flux sensor means generating a linear electrical signal that is indicative of a specific position of the movable object;

a second switch type hall effect sensor positioned about the first end of the magnet for sensing the rapidly changing magnetic field, the second switch type hall effect sensor generating a first step type electrical signal that is indicative of when the movable object has reached a first pre-determined location; and

a third switch type hall effect sensor positioned about the second end of the magnet for sensing the rapidly changing magnetic field, the third switch type hall effect sensor generating a second step type electrical signal that is indicative of when the movable object has reached a second pre-determined location.

5. A sensor for sensing movement of a movable object, comprising:

magnet means attachable to the movable object for generating a flux field, the magnet means having a first end with a north pole, a second end with a south pole and a central portion, the magnet means being adapted to generate a slowly changing flux field near the central portion and a rapidly changing flux field at the first and second ends;

linear flux sensor means positioned near the central portion of the magnet means for sensing the slowly changing flux field, the linear flux sensor means generating a linear electrical signal that is indicative of a specific position of the movable object;

first switch type flux sensor means positioned near the first end of the magnet means for generating a first step type output voltage that is indicative of when the movable object has reached a first pre-determined location; and

second switch type flux sensor means positioned near the second end of the magnet means for generating a second step type output voltage that is indicative of when the movable object has reached a second pre-determined location.