Hall effect based angular position sensor
First Claim
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1. An angular position sensor comprising:
- a shaft termination mounted to a fixed structure by a universal joint having two rotational degrees of freedom;
a turret mounted with a single rotational degree of freedom about a first axis to the fixed structure and linked to the shaft termination by a structure with a second degree of freedom, such that the shaft termination retains two degrees of freedom;
a magnet fixedly mounted to the turret so that as the turret rotates in the single rotational degree of freedom the magnet moves along a portion of a circular arc spaced from and centered on the first axis;
a magnetic field sensor fixedly mounted to the fixed structure and spaced further from the first axis than the arc defined by the magnet, so that the magnet is movable along the arc between the first axis and the magnetic field sensor; and
wherein the single rotational degree of freedom of the turret produces rotation in a single plane that moves the magnet and provides an output from the magnetic field sensor that reflects only rotation of the shaft termination about the first axis.
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Abstract
A magnetic rotational position sensor that employs a single magnet mounted on a rotating turret that rotates on a housing that is fixedly mounted about a fixed ball stud. The turret is arranged to rotate around the ball stud in a first plane. A magnetic field orientation sensor is mounted to the housing, such that the magnet rotates along an arc tangent to the Hall effect sensor. The ball of the ball stud forms one half of a universal joint, the other half being formed by a shaft termination that is mounted to rotate with the turret, and also mounted for rotation in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane of the turret.
34 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An angular position sensor comprising:
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a shaft termination mounted to a fixed structure by a universal joint having two rotational degrees of freedom; a turret mounted with a single rotational degree of freedom about a first axis to the fixed structure and linked to the shaft termination by a structure with a second degree of freedom, such that the shaft termination retains two degrees of freedom; a magnet fixedly mounted to the turret so that as the turret rotates in the single rotational degree of freedom the magnet moves along a portion of a circular arc spaced from and centered on the first axis; a magnetic field sensor fixedly mounted to the fixed structure and spaced further from the first axis than the arc defined by the magnet, so that the magnet is movable along the arc between the first axis and the magnetic field sensor; and wherein the single rotational degree of freedom of the turret produces rotation in a single plane that moves the magnet and provides an output from the magnetic field sensor that reflects only rotation of the shaft termination about the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An angular position sensor comprising:
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a fixedly mounted ball stud, having a stud terminated by a ball, the ball stud defining a first axis which forms an axis of symmetry of the stud and passes through a center defined by the ball; a housing surrounding the stud and mounted to the stud so as to prevent rotation of the housing; a shaft termination mounted to the ball to form a universal joint having two rotational degrees of freedom; a turret mounted with a single rotational degree of freedom about the first axis to the housing, the turret having portions through which the ball stud extends, so that the turret rotates about the ball stud, the turret linked to the shaft termination by a hinge which provides rotation about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and which provides a second degree of freedom, such that the shaft termination retains two degrees of freedom; a magnet fixedly mounted to the turret so that as the turret rotates in the single rotational degree of freedom the magnet moves along a portion of a circular arc spaced from and centered on the first axis; a magnetic field orientation sensor fixedly mounted to the housing and spaced further from the first axis than the arc defined by the magnet, so that the magnet is movable along the arc between the first axis and the magnetic field sensor; and wherein the single degree of freedom of the turret produces rotation in a single plane that moves the magnet and provides an output from the magnetic field sensor that reflects only rotation of the shaft termination about the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification