Rotary position sensor
First Claim
1. A sensor assembly for sensing the position of a movable object, comprising:
- a housing defining first and second cavities;
a wall separating the first and second cavities;
a rotor in the first cavity, the rotor including a longitudinal axis and defining a bore and a pocket offset and spaced from the bore and the longitudinal axis of the rotor, the rotor being adapted for coupling with the movable object;
a magnet in the pocket in the rotor, the magnet being adapted to generate a magnetic field; and
a sensor in the second cavity, the sensor and the rotor being movable relative to each other and the sensor being adapted to sense the magnetic field and generate an electrical signal that is indicative of the position of the magnet and the position of the movable object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor assembly for sensing a movable object which, in one embodiment, includes a housing defining an interior cavity. A rotor is retained in the cavity. The rotor defines a central bore and a magnet is mounted in an off-center pocket defined by the rotor. The rotor is coupled to the shaft of the movable object whose position is to be measured. A sensor is also retained in the cavity in a relationship at least partially overlying the magnet and adapted to sense at least the direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet to generate an electrical signal indicative of the position of the movable object. In another embodiment, the rotor and sensor are mounted in separate interior housing cavities separated by an interior housing wall.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A sensor assembly for sensing the position of a movable object, comprising:
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a housing defining first and second cavities; a wall separating the first and second cavities; a rotor in the first cavity, the rotor including a longitudinal axis and defining a bore and a pocket offset and spaced from the bore and the longitudinal axis of the rotor, the rotor being adapted for coupling with the movable object; a magnet in the pocket in the rotor, the magnet being adapted to generate a magnetic field; and a sensor in the second cavity, the sensor and the rotor being movable relative to each other and the sensor being adapted to sense the magnetic field and generate an electrical signal that is indicative of the position of the magnet and the position of the movable object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sensor assembly for sensing the position of a movable object, comprising:
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a housing defining an interior cavity and including a wall defining an aperture; a sensor in the cavity; a rotor in the cavity, the rotor including a collar and a pocket, the collar being aligned with the aperture in the wall of the housing and the pocket at least partially overlying the sensor; a magnet in the pocket of the rotor, the magnet including at least a first straight side surface and the magnet generating a magnetic field extending through and in a direction generally normal to the first straight side surface of the magnet irrespective of the position of the magnet and the magnet at least partially overlying the sensor; and the magnet and the sensor being movable relative to each other and the sensor being adapted to sense the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field and generate an electrical signal in response to the magnetic field sensed by the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification