Sensor assembly and functional unit for detecting the position of a moveable magnet
First Claim
1. A sensor assembly for detecting the position of a magnet which is arranged in a cylinder housing and is movable in relation to the sensor assembly, comprising:
- a sensor housing; and
a sensor element sensitive to magnetic fields, said sensor element being arranged in the sensor housing, wherein a digital output signal is generatable, a switching state of which is dependent on a relative position between the sensor element and the magnet in said cylinder housing;
at least one field directing device of a magnetizable material which is fixedly arranged in said sensor housing with respect to the sensor element, said field directing device varying in its geometrical dimensions transversely in relation to a direction of relative movement between the magnet and the sensor element, in such a way that an intensified analog sensor signal which characterizes the relative position between the sensor element and the magnet is generatable, at least in a specific relative positional range;
wherein;
the sensor housing with said sensor element and said field directing device is positionable as a unit outside said cylinder housing for sensing the relative position of the movable magnet in said cylinder housing;
a position of the unit on the outside of the cylinder housing is changeable;
the field directing device is of flat shape;
a transverse height of the field directing device is less transversely in relation to the direction of relative movement at an end remote from the sensor element than at an end toward the sensor element; and
the transverse height of the field directing device monotonically varies between said ends, at least in a subregion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In order to improve a sensor assembly for detecting the position of a magnet which is movable in relation to the sensor assembly, with a sensor housing, in which a sensor element sensitive to magnetic fields is arranged, it being possible to generate a digital output signal, the switching state of which is dependent on the relative position between the sensor element and the magnet, in such a way that it has an extended range of uses, the sensor element is provided with at least one field directing device of a magnetizable material which is arranged with respect to the sensor element, and varies in its geometrical dimensions transversely in relation to a direction of relative movement between the magnet and the sensor element, in such a way that an amplified analog sensor signal which characterizes the relative position between the sensor element and the magnet can be generated, at least in a specific relative positional range.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sensor assembly for detecting the position of a magnet which is arranged in a cylinder housing and is movable in relation to the sensor assembly, comprising:
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a sensor housing; and a sensor element sensitive to magnetic fields, said sensor element being arranged in the sensor housing, wherein a digital output signal is generatable, a switching state of which is dependent on a relative position between the sensor element and the magnet in said cylinder housing; at least one field directing device of a magnetizable material which is fixedly arranged in said sensor housing with respect to the sensor element, said field directing device varying in its geometrical dimensions transversely in relation to a direction of relative movement between the magnet and the sensor element, in such a way that an intensified analog sensor signal which characterizes the relative position between the sensor element and the magnet is generatable, at least in a specific relative positional range;
wherein;the sensor housing with said sensor element and said field directing device is positionable as a unit outside said cylinder housing for sensing the relative position of the movable magnet in said cylinder housing; a position of the unit on the outside of the cylinder housing is changeable; the field directing device is of flat shape; a transverse height of the field directing device is less transversely in relation to the direction of relative movement at an end remote from the sensor element than at an end toward the sensor element; and the transverse height of the field directing device monotonically varies between said ends, at least in a subregion. - 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 functional unit comprising:
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a first housing; a part which is movable in the first housing and a position of which is to be detected, the movable part being connected to a magnet; and a sensor assembly positionable outside of the first housing in order to sense the position of the movable part without contact, said sensor assembly comprising; a sensor housing; a sensor element sensitive to magnetic fields, said sensor element being arranged in the sensor housing, wherein a digital output signal is generatable, a switching state of which is dependent on a relative position between the sensor element and the magnet; at least one field directing device of a magnetizable material which is fixedly arranged in the sensor housing with respect to the sensor element, said field directing device varying in its geometrical dimensions transversely in relation to a direction of relative movement between the magnet and the sensor element, in such a way that an intensified analog sensor signal which characterizes the relative position between ihe sensor element and the magnet is generatable, at least in a specific relative positional range, without contact between the sensor element and the magnet;
wherein;the field directing device is of flat shape; a position of the sensor assembly on the outside of the first housing is changeable; a transverse height of the field directing device is less transversely in relation to the direction of relative movement at an end remote from the sensor element than at an end toward the sensor element; and the transverse height of the field directing device monotonically varies between said ends, at least in a subregion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification