Displaceable magnetic detection device

• US 7,791,336 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2004
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Asa Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asa Electronics Industry Co., Ltd. (VOXX International Corporation)
• Inventors: Asa, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Patidar; Jay M
• Application Number:
  US10/566,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 3242072-20726
• US Class Current: 324/207.26
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

The purpose is to achieve size reduction, weight reduction and thickness reduction of a magnetic material detecting device (1). The device comprises a linearly displaceable magnet (12) and a Hall IC (14) for detecting the displacement of the magnet (12). When an iron piece (28) is positioned within a predetermined distance from the main body of the magnetic material detecting device (1), the iron piece (28) is strongly magnetized to attract the magnet (12) so that the latter is displaced toward the iron piece (28). Therefore, when the displacement of a magnet (14) is detected by the Hall IC (14), it is possible to detect the fact that the iron piece (28) has been positioned within the predetermined distance from the main body of the magnetic material detecting device (1).

Claims

1. A magnetizable material detection device for detecting a magnetizable material which can be magnetized by a magnet comprising:

a first magnet displaceable in the direction of its magnet poles;

a Hall device for detecting displacement of the first magnet, having an operating point corresponding to a given magnetic force wherein the on/off state of the Hall device depends on the strength of the magnetic force of the first magnet at the operating point against the given magnetic force;

wherein the first magnet and the Hall device are disposed such that when a boundary line of the first magnet poles crosses the operating point, the on/off state of the Hall device changes;

a second magnet, being different from the first magnet, for attracting the magnetizable material; and

a supporting member, hung by a support plate, for supporting the first magnet and the second magnet whose one end is connected to the first magnet and whose other end is connected to the second magnet;

wherein when the magnetizable material is displaced within a predetermined distance from the body of the detection device the second magnet attracts the magnetizable material to cause the supporting member to be inclined so that the boundary line of the first magnet poles crosses the operating point of the Hall device and the on/off state of the Hall device changes, by which the minute displacement of the magnetizable material is detected.

2. A magnetizable material detection device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member comprises an arm and a pipe, and the arm and the pipe are coupled so that the pipe is confined within the arm.

3. A magnetizable material detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a means for visually indicating the on/off state of the Hall device.

4. A magnetizable material detection device according to claim 1, wherein the configuration of the magnet is any one of a cube, a rectangular solid, a cylinder or a pipe.

5. A mobile object detection system comprising the magnetizable material detection device according to claim 1 and the mobile object comprising the magnetizable material.

6. A magnetizable material detection device for detecting minute displacement of a magnetizable material which can be magnetized by a magnet comprising:

a first magnet displaceable in the direction of its magnet poles;

a Hall device having an operating point corresponding to a given magnetic force wherein the on/off state of the Hall device depends on the strength of the magnetic force of the first magnet at the operating point against the given magnetic force;

wherein the first magnet and the Hall device are disposed such that when an isomagnetic plane of the given magnetic force of the first magnet pole crosses the operating point, the on/off state of the Hall device is reversed;

a second magnet, being different from the first magnet, for attracting the magnetizable material; and

a supporting member, hung by a support plate, for supporting the first magnet and the second magnet whose one end is connected to the first magnet and whose other end is connected to the second magnet;

wherein when the magnetizable material is displaced within a predetermined distance from the body of the detection device, the second magnet attracts the magnetizable material to cause the supporting member to be inclined so that the isomagnetic plane crosses the operating point of the Hall device and the on/off state of the Hall device is reversed, by which the minute displacement of the magnetizable material is detected.