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US 10,480,960 B2Granted
Hollow core magnetic position sensor
AssigneeLittelfuse, Inc.
InventorEfrem Fesshaie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A position sensing system is disclosed. The position sensing system may include a hollow sensor body. A magnet may be disposed in the hollow sensor body. The magnet may be movable within the hollow sensor body.
Claims14
An apparatus, comprising:
- a hollow waveguide;
- a magnet disposed in the hollow waveguide;
- a rod disposed in the hollow waveguide and coupled directly to the magnet, wherein the rod is axially movable relative to the hollow waveguide for moving the magnet relative to the hollow waveguide;
- and
- a signal transceiver disposed outside of the hollow waveguide and coupled to the hollow waveguide, the signal transceiver to sense a magnetic field associated with the magnet.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- generating a first signal by a signal transceiver;
- communicating the first signal to a hollow waveguide;
- moving a magnet in close proximity to the hollow waveguide and disposed within the hollow waveguide, the magnet coupled directly to a rod that is disposed within, and that is axially moveable relative to, the hollow waveguide, the magnet configured to generate a magnetic field sufficient to locally saturate a magnetic material associated with the hollow waveguide, the magnetic material configured to cause an impedance discontinuity in the hollow waveguide such that the first signal is reflected as a reflected signal at a location of the impedance discontinuity;
- communicating the reflected signal to the signal transceiver, the signal transceiver disposed outside of the hollow waveguide;
- and
- determining a position of the magnet based on the first signal and the reflected signal.
3 more elements
A position sensing system, comprising:
- a hollow pulsed waveguide;
- a magnet disposed within the hollow pulsed waveguide;
- a rod disposed within the hollow pulsed waveguide and coupled directly to the magnet, wherein the rod is axially movable relative to the hollow pulsed waveguide for moving the magnet relative to the hollow pulsed waveguide;
- and
- a signal transceiver, the signal transceiver disposed outside of and operatively connected to the hollow pulsed waveguide, and configured to generate a signal pulse to the hollow pulsed waveguide, and receive a reflected pulse based upon the signal pulse from the hollow pulsed waveguide.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.