Rotation sensing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rotation sensing device comprising:
- at least one switch located in a first plane; and
a magnet rotating in a plane substantially parallel to the first plane about a rotation axis, wherein the magnet has a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof, such that when the magnet is proximate the at least one switch, the north-south axis of the magnet points toward the at least one switch and such that when the magnet is distal the at least one switch, the neutral portion of the magnet is directed toward the at least one switch, and wherein the magnet causes the at least one switch to open and closes as the magnet rotates about the rotation axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus implementing and using techniques for sensing rotations of a rotating device, including using at least one switch located in a first plane and a magnet rotating in a plane substantially parallel to the first plane about a rotation axis, the magnet having a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane. The magnet causes the at least one switch to open and close as the magnet rotates about the rotation axis.
32 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A rotation sensing device comprising:
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at least one switch located in a first plane; and a magnet rotating in a plane substantially parallel to the first plane about a rotation axis, wherein the magnet has a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof, such that when the magnet is proximate the at least one switch, the north-south axis of the magnet points toward the at least one switch and such that when the magnet is distal the at least one switch, the neutral portion of the magnet is directed toward the at least one switch, and wherein the magnet causes the at least one switch to open and closes as the magnet rotates about the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A rotation sensing device comprising:
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at least one magnetic reed switch located in a first plane; and a magnet rotating in a plane substantially parallel to the first plane about a rotation axis, wherein the magnet has a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof, such that when the magnet is proximate the at least one switch, the north-south axis of the magnet points toward the at least one switch and such that when the magnet is distal the at least one switch, the neutral portion of the magnet is directed toward the at least one switch, and wherein the magnet causes the at least one magnetic reed switch to open and close as the magnet rotates about the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A rotation sensing device comprising:
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a first magnetically activated switch and a second magnetically activated switch located in a first plane; and a magnet rotating in a plane substantially parallel to the first plane about a rotation axis, wherein the magnet has a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof, such that when the magnet is proximate the first and second switches, the north-south axis of the magnet points toward the proximate switch and the neutral portion of the magnet points toward the distal switch, and wherein the magnet causes the first and second magnetically activated switches to open and close as the magnet rotates about the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A rotation sensing device comprising:
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at least one switch located in a first plane; and a magnet rotating in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first plane about a rotation axis, wherein the magnet has a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof, such that when the magnet is proximate the at least one switch, the north-south axis of the magnet points toward the at least one switch and such that when the magnet is distal the at least one switch, the neutral portion of the magnet is directed toward the at least one switch, and wherein the magnet causes the at least one switch to open and close as the magnet rotates about the rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method for opening and closing a magnetically activated switch located in a first plane, the method comprising:
rotating a magnet in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, wherein the magnet has a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the first plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof such that when the magnet rotates to a position closest to the switch a pole of the magnet is directed toward the switch causing the switch to close and when the magnet rotates to a position furthest from the switch the neutral portion of the magnet is directed toward the switch causing the switch to open. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for sensing rotations of a rotating device, the method comprising:
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rotating a magnet in a first plane substantially parallel to a second plane containing at least one magnetic reed switch, the magnet rotating at a proportional speed to the rotating device and having a north-south axis tilted at an oblique angle to the second plane and wherein the magnet has a neutral portion intermediate north and south poles thereof, such that when the magnet is proximate the at least one magnetic reed switch, the north-south axis of the magnet points toward the at least one switch and such that when the magnet is distal the at least one switch, the neutral portion of the magnet is directed toward the at least one switch, wherein; the magnet causes the switch to open and close as the magnet rotates; the at least one switch is electrically connected to a logic circuit; and the logic circuit is configured to sense the rotations of the rotating device based on the openings and closings of the at least one switch.
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Specification