# US 2014/0152296 A1 · Rotary Position Sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152296 A1 - Document ID: US20140152296A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/178,319 - Filed: 2014-02-12 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-02-17 - Assignees: CTS Corporation - Inventors: Kevin C. Wolschlager; Robert L. Newman; Kim D. Cook - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152296A1 ## CPC - G01B 7/30: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes - G01D 1/00: Measuring arrangements giving results other than momentary value of variable, of general application (G01D3/00 takes precedence; in tariff metering apparatus G01D4/00; transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D5/00) - G01D 5/145: {influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06)} - G01D 15/00: Component parts of recorders for measuring arrangements not specially adapted for a specific variable - G01D 21/00: Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for - G01D 5/14: influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage - G01D 11/245: {Housings for sensors} - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - 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 sensor assembly for sensing a movable object which, in one embodiment, includes a housing defining an interior cavity. A rotor is retained in the cavity. The rotor defines a central bore and a magnet is mounted in an off-center pocket defined by the rotor. The rotor is coupled to the shaft of the movable object whose position is to be measured. A sensor is also retained in the cavity in a relationship at least partially overlying the magnet and adapted to sense at least the direction of the magnetic field generated by the magnet to generate an electrical signal indicative of the position of the movable object. In another embodiment, the rotor and sensor are mounted in separate interior housing cavities separated by an interior housing wall. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor assembly for sensing the position of a movable object, comprising: a housing defining an interior cavity; a sensor located in the housing; a rotor located and rotatable in the cavity, the rotor defining a bore defining a rotational axis for the rotor and the bore being adapted to receive a shaft, the sensor being located in the housing in a horizontally spaced and off-axis relationship relative to the rotational axis of the rotor; a magnet located on the rotor, the magnet being located on the rotor in a horizontally spaced and off-axis relationship relative to the rotational axis of the rotor and the magnet and the sensor being located in a vertically overlying and spaced relationship relative to each other; and the magnet and the sensor being movable relative to each other and the sensor being adapted to sense the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field and generate an electrical signal in response to the magnetic field sensed by the sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plate secured to the housing and covering the cavity, the plate defining an aperture in alignment with the bore in the rotor, the shaft extending through the aperture in the plate and into the bore in the rotor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotor includes a housing for the magnet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sensor assembly of claim 3, wherein the housing for the magnet is made of a plastic material over-molded around the magnet. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sensor assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing for the magnet defines at least one slot dividing the housing into first and second portions, the second portion being adapted to flex independently of the first portion in response to a change in temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is located in the interior cavity of the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity in the housing defines a first interior cavity, the housing defining a second interior cavity, the rotor being located in the first interior cavity of the housing and the sensor being located in the second interior cavity of the housing, the first and second interior cavities being located in the housing in a vertically overlying and spaced relationship. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sensor assembly of claim 7, wherein a wall in the housing separates the first and second cavities in the housing, the wall extending in a direction generally normal to the rotational axis of the rotor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensor assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnet includes at least a first straight side surface and the magnet generating a magnetic field extending through and in a direction generally normal to the first straight side surface of the magnet irrespective of the position of the magnet. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sensor assembly of claim 9, wherein the magnet includes a curved side surface opposed and spaced from the first straight side surface.