Sensor apparatus

A Sensor apparatus comprised of

• (a) A position sensor probe that incorporates at least one inductive coil part having at least one conductive inductive winding sensitive to the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part and whose DC resistance is a function of the temperature of at least one part of one of the inductors, and
• (b) a constant current source circuit to apply a constant current to at least one of said sensor inductive coil part which current creates a voltage difference between the leads of at least one part of one of said inductive coil part, and
• (c) an electronic circuit able to detect and measure said voltage difference between said leads, able to operate simultaneously and through the same connections used for the measurement of position,
• (d) said constant current source circuit applying a constant current through the output terminal of a transistor in a circuit providing a high dynamic output impedance at the frequency of excitation applied to said inductive sensor such that the effect of such losses so introduced to the sensor circuit do not dominate or overwhelm the effect of losses inherent in the sensor circuit alone.

A sensor apparatus comprising:

• (a) at least one inductive coil part having at least one conductive inductive winding sensitive to the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part, and
• (b) at least one electrically conductive shield element situated in the vicinity of significant magnetic fields generated by said inductive coil part while in operation and configured in shape to avoid the inducement of any significant currents in such a shield element that would significantly alter the magnetic field developed by said inductive coil part, and
• (c) an electronic circuit configured to measure electrical parameters of said conductive inductive winding that are at least a function of the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part whereas said electrically conductive shield element is connected to at least one electrical potential utilized by said electronic circuit, and
• (d) at least one inductive coil part having at least one conductive inductive winding wound around and along the axis of motion of an electrically non-contacting moving part, said inductive coil part being sensitive to the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part moving concentrically with said inductive winding, and
• (e) at least one electrically conductive shield element situated on or near said conductive inductive winding and interposed in the space between said electrically non-contacting moving part and said conductive inductive winding, laid along the same axis and along the same path as said inductive coil winding progresses, said electrically conductive shield element consisting of at least one strip laid axially upon and wrapped around or laid inside of said at least one coil winding and insulated from the coil winding conductors and insulated from contacting itself or other such strips anywhere except at one end of the sensor where a shield contact may be established.

A sensor apparatus comprising:

• (a) at least one inductive coil part having at least one conductive inductive winding sensitive to the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part, and
• (b) at least one electrically conductive shield element situated in the vicinity of significant magnetic fields generated by said inductive coil part while in operation and configured in shape to avoid the inducement of any significant currents in such a shield element that would significantly alter the magnetic field developed by said inductive coil part, and
• (c) an electronic circuit configured to measure electrical parameters of said conductive inductive winding that are at least a function of the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part whereas said electrically conductive shield element is connected to at least one electrical potential utilized by said electronic circuit, and
• (d) at least one inductive coil part composed of a planar winding conductor disposed on a planar layer of insulating material whose inductance changes as a function of an electrically non-contacting moving part and whose motion is primarily restricted to a plane perpendicular to the inductive coil part, and
• (e) at least one shield element composed of strips of conductor insulated from each other and insulated from said inductive coil part comprised of strips of conducting material which strips radiate from the center of said shield and which connect together only at their center.

A sensor apparatus comprising:

• (a) at least one inductive coil part having at least one conductive inductive winding sensitive to the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part, and
• (b) at least one electrically conductive shield element situated in the vicinity of significant magnetic fields generated by said inductive coil part while in operation and configured in shape to avoid the inducement of any significant currents in such a shield element that would significantly alter the magnetic field developed by said inductive coil part, and
• (c) an electronic circuit configured to measure electrical parameters of said conductive inductive winding that are at least a function of the position of an electrically non-contacting moving part whereas said electrically conductive shield element is connected to at least one electrical potential utilized by said electronic circuit, and
• (d) at least one inductive coil part composed of a conductive winding whose inductance is configured to respond to changes as a function of an electrically non-contacting moving part whose motion is primarily restricted to a plane parallel to the inductive coil part,
• (e) at least one shield element composed of strips of conductor, insulated from each other and from said conductive windings, disposed on the plane of a shielding layer which strips follow the same path as may be traced upon such a shield layer according to the path of motion and of said electrically non-contacting moving part,
• (f) an electronic circuit configured to measure electrical parameters of the sensor that are at least a function of changing inductance of the sensor as a function of an electrically non-contacting moving part whereas said electrically conductive shield element is connected to at least one electrical potential utilized by said electronic circuit.