# US 2010/0164485 A1 · Noncontact position sensor

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- Number: US 2010/0164485 A1
- Document ID: US20100164485A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/601,385
- Filed: 2008-06-13
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2007-06-14
- Assignees: Panasonic Corporation
- Inventors: Mikihiro Ohshima; Motoki Ogata; Yoshinori Takashima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164485A1

## CPC

- G01D 5/145: {influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06)}
- G01D 2205/775: Tapered profiles
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A non-contact position sensor includes a magnet, first to third magnetoresistive elements arranged on a line extending in a predetermined direction on a pole surface of the magnet with predetermined intervals, and an object made of magnetic material displaceable in the predetermined direction. The first to third magnetoresistive elements are connected serially between a power supply and a ground. The first magnetoresistive element is connected to the second magnetoresistive element at a first node. The second magnetoresistive element is connected to the third magnetoresistive element at a second node. The object includes a projection and a shaft connected to the projection. The projection can face the first to third magnetoresistive elements. The shaft is located away from the pole surface by a distance longer than a distance between the projection and the pole surface of the magnet. This non-contact position sensor does not include a component having a complicated shape and can be manufactured easily.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A non-contact position sensor comprising:
a magnet having a pole surface;
first to third magnetoresistive elements arranged on a line extending in a predetermined direction on the pole surface of the magnet with predetermined intervals, the first to third magnetoresistive element being connected serially between a power supply and a ground, the first magnetoresistive element being connected to the second magnetoresistive element at a first node, the second magnetoresistive element being connected to the third magnetoresistive element at a second node;
a first voltage divider circuit including two first fixed resistors connected serially to each other at a third node;
a first comparator for comparing a potential of the first node with a potential of the third node, and for outputting a high level signal and a low level signal based on a result of comparison;
a second comparator for comparing a potential of the second node with a fixed potential and for outputting a high level signal and a low level signal based on a result of comparison;
a digital/analog converter for converting a digital signal including a signal output from the first comparator and a signal output from the second comparator into an analog signal; and
an object displaceable in the predetermined direction, the object being made of magnetic material, the object including
a projection that can the first to third magnetoresistive elements, and
a shaft connected to the projection, the shaft being located away from the pole surface by a distance longer than a distance between the projection and the pole surface of the magnet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The non-contact position sensor according claim 1, further comprising a second voltage divider circuit including two second fixed resistors connected serially to each other at a fourth node, the second voltage divider circuit outputting the fixed potential from the fourth node.