Passive magnetic position sensor
AssigneeVitesco Technologies GmbH
InventorsHans-Guenter Benner, Matthias Kadler, Torsten Barz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filling level indicator for determining a filling level in a tank includes: a resistor network; a contact element arranged spaced apart from the resistor network; and a magnetic element movable relative to the resistor network and the contact element. The contact element has a contact region deflectable by the magnetic element. The contact region is deflectable so as to produce an electrically conductive connection between the contact region and the resistor network. The contact region comprises a planar tape-shaped element that is partially deflectable by a magnetic force of the magnetic element. The contact region has at least two portions that are arranged mutually adjacent to, and mutually spaced apart from, one another.
Claims12
A filling level indicator (1) for determining a filling level in a tank, comprising:
- a resistor network (3);
- a contact element (5, 11) arranged spaced apart from the resistor network (3);
- and
- a magnetic element movable relative to the resistor network (3) and the contact element (5, 11),
- wherein:
- the contact element (5, 11) has a contact region (6, 14) deflectable by the magnetic element,
- the contact region (6, 14) is deflectable so as to produce an electrically conductive connection between the contact region (6, 14) and the resistor network (3),
- the contact region (6, 14) comprises a planar tape-shaped element that is partially deflectable by a magnetic force of the magnetic element, and
- the contact region (6, 14) has at least two portions (7, 8, 12, 13) that are arranged mutually adjacent to, and mutually spaced apart from, one another,
- wherein the contact region (6, 14) and the at least two portions (7, 8, 12, 13) of the contact region (6, 14) are mutually separated by at least one clearance (9) shaped as an arcuate segment, wherein an axial extent of the arcuate segment is smaller than a radial extent of the arcuate segment and smaller than a circumferential extent of the arcuate segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.