# US 2014/0197818 A1 · Position measurement using a variable flux collector

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- Number: US 2014/0197818 A1
- Document ID: US20140197818A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/739,712
- Filed: 2013-01-11
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11
- Assignees: Bourns, Inc.
- Applicants: Bourns, Inc.
- Inventors: James Gregory Stanley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197818A1

## CPC

- G01R 33/07: Hall effect devices
- G01B 7/003: {for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination (coordinate measuring G01B7/004)}
- G01D 2205/775: Tapered profiles
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- 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 magnetically-based position sensor. The sensor includes a magnet assembly that moves along a path, a common collector, one or more magnetic sensing elements, a first variable collector, and a second variable collector. The one or more magnetic sensing elements are coupled to the common collector. The first and second variable collectors are coupled to one of the one or more magnetic sensors and are configured to collect a magnetic field. The first and second variable collectors are positioned to transmit some of the magnetic flux generated by the magnet assembly as the magnet assembly moves along the path. The first variable collector and the second variable collector have a geometry and orientation such that the flux collected by the first and second variable collectors varies as the magnet moves along the path.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A magnetically-based position sensor comprising:
a magnet assembly that moves along a path;
a common collector having a first end and a second end;
one or more magnetic sensing elements coupled to the common collector;
a first variable collector coupled to one of the one or more magnetic sensors and configured to collect a magnetic flux; and
a second variable collector coupled to one of the one or more magnetic sensors and configured to collect a magnetic flux;
wherein the first and second variable collectors are positioned to transmit some of the magnetic flux generated by the magnet assembly as the magnet assembly moves along the path; and
wherein the first variable collector has a geometry and orientation such that the flux density at a magnetic sensor is greater when the magnet assembly is positioned near the first end, and less when the magnet assembly is positioned near the second end, and the second variable collector has a geometry and orientation such that the flux density at a magnetic sensor is greater when the magnet assembly is positioned near the second end, and less when the magnet assembly is positioned near the first end.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first variable collector is positioned adjacent the second variable collector.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the first variable collector is positioned in a first plane and the second variable collector is positioned in a second plane different from the first plane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first variable collector is positioned above the second variable collector with respect to the common collector.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second variable collectors each have a first end and a second end, the first end larger than the second end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein a largest linear dimension of the magnet assembly is less than 15% of the length of travel of the magnet assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more magnetic sensing elements are Hall Effect sensors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, wherein the first variable collector is coupled to a first Hall Effect sensor and the second variable collector is connected to a second Hall Effect sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensing element is a magnetic angle sensor.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9 wherein the first and the second variable collectors are coupled to a single magnetic angle sensor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first variable collector is positioned on a first side of the magnet and the second variable collector is positioned on a second side of the magnet assembly opposite the first side.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the magnetic flux sensed by a first magnetic sensing element to a second magnetic sensing element indicates the position of the magnet assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second variable collectors have a customized geometric shape.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the geometric shape of the first variable collector is complementary to the geometric shape of the second variable connector.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the path the magnet assembly moves along is curved.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the first and second variable collectors are curved along a path of travel of the magnet assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the magnet assembly is shaped to direct the magnetic flux to the first and second variable collectors.

### Claim 18

A position sensor comprising:
a magnetic sensor producing an output signal;
a magnet assembly including a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole;
a first magnetic collector assembly arranged to be primarily coupled to a first magnetic pole of the magnet assembly;
a second magnetic collector assembly arranged to be primarily coupled to a second magnetic pole of the magnet assembly;
a third magnetic collector assembly arranged to be primarily coupled to the second magnetic pole of the magnet assembly;
a magnetic circuit path for magnetic flux to flow between the first magnetic collector assembly and the second and third magnetic collector assemblies;
wherein the magnet assembly changes position relative to the magnetic collector assemblies, and the magnetic sensor is located within the magnetic circuit path between the first magnetic collector assembly and the second and third magnetic collector assemblies, and the output signal is an indication of the position of the magnet assembly.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The sensor in claim 18, wherein the second and third magnetic collector assemblies have a geometry and orientation such that the flux flowing from the second magnetic collector assembly to the first magnetic collector assembly relative to the flux flowing from the third magnetic collector assembly to the first magnetic collector assembly changes with the position of the magnet assembly.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The sensor in claim 19, wherein the magnetic sensor output signal is an indication of the magnetic flux angle at the magnetic sensor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The sensor in claim 19, wherein the magnet assembly includes a permanent magnet.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The sensor in claim 21, wherein the magnet assembly includes a magnetic pole piece.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The sensor in claim 19, wherein the magnet assembly travels in a straight path.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The sensor in claim 19, wherein the magnet assembly travels in a path that is not straight.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The sensor in claim 18, wherein the magnetic sensor output signal is an indication of the magnetic flux angle at the magnetic sensor.

### Claim 26

A position sensor comprising:
a moving magnetic element with a first end and a second end;
a source of magnetic flux;
a magnetic sensor configured to produce an output signal;
a first magnetic collector assembly arranged to be primarily coupled to the first end of the magnetic element;
a second magnetic collector assembly arranged to be primarily coupled to the second end of the magnetic element;
a third magnetic collector assembly arranged to be primarily coupled to the second end of the magnetic element;
a first magnetic circuit path for magnetic flux to flow from the first magnetic collector assembly through the moving magnetic element to the second and third magnetic collector assemblies;
a second magnetic circuit path for magnetic flux to flow between the first magnetic collector assembly element and the second and third magnetic collector assemblies;
wherein the magnetic element changes position relative to the magnetic collector assemblies, and the magnetic sensor is located within magnetic circuit path between the first magnetic collector assembly and the second and third magnetic collector assemblies, and the output signal is an indication of the position of the magnetic element.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The sensor in claim 26, wherein the second and third magnetic collector assemblies have a geometry and orientation such that the flux flowing from the second magnetic collector assembly to the first magnetic collector assembly relative to the flux flowing from the third magnetic collector assembly to the first magnetic collector assembly changes with the position of the magnetic element.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The sensor in claim 26, wherein the magnetic sensor output signal is an indication of the magnetic flux angle at the magnetic sensor.