Magnetic angular position sensor apparatus
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsWayne A. Lamb, Kenneth V. Bechtold, Shaun Cinnamon, Kent E. Van Ostrand
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Abstract
Angular position sensing apparatuses and methods are disclosed. An angular position sensing apparatus can include a rotatable base and two or more magnets located proximate to one another upon the rotatable base. The magnets are generally magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof. Additionally, a sensor can be located external to the two magnets, such that the sensor comes into contact with the uniform magnetic field to sense a change in angular position associated with the rotatable base.
Claims20
An angular position sensing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable base;
- at least two magnets located proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof;
- and
- a sensor located external to said at least two magnets, wherein said sensor comes into contact with said uniform magnetic field to sense a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base.
An angular position sensing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable base;
- at least two magnets located proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof and wherein said sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board external to said at least two magnets;
- and
- a magnetoresistive sensor located external to and centrally above said at least two magnets, wherein said magnetoresistive sensor comes into contact with said uniform magnetic field to sense a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base and wherein said magnetoresistive sensor comprises a plurality of magnetoresistors within a magnetoresistive bridge circuit.
A method for angular position sensing, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a rotatable base;
- locating at least two magnets proximate to one another upon said. rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof;
- positioning a sensor external to said at least two magnets;
- and
- permitting said sensor to come into contact with said uniform magnetic field to sense a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base.
A method for angular position sensing, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a rotatable base;
- locating at least two magnets proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof and wherein said sensor is mounted on a printed circuit board external to said at least two magnets;
- positioning a magnetoresistive sensor external to and centrally above said at least two magnets;
- configuring said magnetoresistive sensor to comprise a plurality of magnetoresistors within a magnetoresistive bridge circuit;
- and
- permitting said magnetoresistive sensor to come into contact with said uniform magnetic field to sense a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.