Inductive position sensing apparatus including a screening layer and method for the same
AssigneeKyocera AVX Components (Werne) GmbH
InventorsPaul Smith, Robert Wood, John Simm, Timothy Biggs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inductive position sensor may be configured to detect relative position between a first member and a second member. The inductive position sensor may include an inductive sensor element configured to be coupled to the first member and a screening layer formed over a screened portion of a member surface of the second member such that an exposed portion of the member surface is free of the screening layer. The screening layer may be configured to reduce an effect on induced signals in the inductive sensor element caused by the screened portion of the second member.
Claims14
An inductive position sensor configured to detect relative position between a first member and a second member, the inductive position sensor comprising:
- an inductive sensor element configured to be coupled to the first member;
- and
- a screening layer formed over a screened portion of a member surface of the second member such that an exposed portion of the member surface is free of the screening layer, wherein the exposed portion acts as a spot target for the inductive sensor element, wherein the screening layer is configured to reduce an effect on induced signals in the inductive sensor element caused by the screened portion of the second member, and wherein the screening layer is configured to mask the presence of conductive material on the second member covered by the screening layer;
- wherein the screened portion is larger than the exposed portion on the second member.
A position sensor for a damper, the position sensor configured to detect relative position between a damper body and a piston received within the damper body, the piston slidable relative to the damper body in a longitudinal direction, the position sensor comprising:
- an inductive sensor element configured to be coupled to one of the damper body or the piston;
- a screening layer formed over a screened portion of a member surface of the other of the damper body or the piston such that an exposed portion of the member surface is free of the screening layer, wherein the exposed portion acts as a spot target for the inductive sensor element, wherein the screened portion is larger than the exposed portion;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to provide one or more signals indicative of the position of the damper body relative to the piston based on differences in respective electromagnetic properties of the exposed portion of the member surface and the screened portion of the member surface.
A method of sensing a relative position between a first member and a second member, the method comprising:
- providing an inductive sensor element that is configured to be coupled to the first member;
- and
- detecting one or more signals indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member based on differences in respective electromagnetic properties of an exposed portion of a member surface of the second member and a screened portion of the member surface of the second member, wherein a screening layer is formed over the screened portion of the member surface of the second member such that the exposed portion of the member surface is free of the screening layer, wherein the exposed portion acts as a spot target for the inductive sensor element, and wherein the screening layer is configured to mask the presence of conductive material on the second member covered by the screening layer;
- wherein the screened portion is larger than the exposed portion on the second member.
An inductive position sensor configured to detect relative position between a first member and a second member, the inductive position sensor comprising:
- an inductive sensor element comprising:
- a transmit winding configured to be coupled to the first member;
- and
- a receive winding configured to be coupled to the first member;
- a screening layer formed over a screened portion of a member surface of the second member such that an exposed portion of the member surface is free of the screening layer, wherein the exposed portion acts as a spot target for the inductive sensor element, and wherein the screening layer is configured to mask the presence of conductive material on the second member covered by the screening layer;
- and
- processing circuitry configured to provide one or more signals indicative of the position of the first member relative to the second member based on signals induced in the receive winding resulting from an oscillating signal provided to the transmit winding;
- wherein movement of the first member relative to the second member alters the induced signals in the receive winding based on interaction between the exposed portion of the member surface and an electromagnetic field generated by the transmit winding;
- wherein the screened portion is larger than the exposed portion on the second member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.