Linear transducer

A linear transducer comprising:

• a pair of electrical conductors separated from one another;
• a yoke forming two magnetic paths of high permeance, wherein each such magnetic path links one of the electrical conductors;
• a magnetic flux source having a transversely-oriented internal magnetic field vector, the magnetic flux source being positioned to complete two variable magnetic flux circuits, one such flux circuit being completed through each of the magnetic paths;
• flux dividing means for variably apportioning magnetic flux from the magnetic flux source between the two magnetic flux circuits in response to the relative positions of the magnetic flux source and the flux dividing means.

A linear transducer comprising:

• a pair of annular electrical conductors spaced from one another along a reference axis;
• a pair of axially opposed toroidal yoke sections spaced along the reference axis, each yoke section forming a magnetic path of high permeance which links one of the electrical conductors;
• an annular magnetic flux source coaxially centered about the reference axis, the magnetic flux source having a transversely-oriented internal magnetic field vector and being positioned to complete two variable magnetic flux circuits, one of the flux circuits being completed through each of the magnetic paths, the magnetic flux source being axially movable;
• and
• a magnetic flux dividing separator having a low permeability, the flux dividing separator being positioned to apportion the magnetic flux from the magnetic flux source between each of the magnetic circuits depending on the relative axial positions of the magnetic flux source and the flux dividing separator.

A linear transducer comprising:

• a pair of electrical conductors spaced from one another along a reference axis;
• first and second magnetically permeable transducer members positioned to form two magnetic paths of high permeance, wherein each such magnetic path links a single one of the electrical conductors, the second transducer member having an inner surface coaxially centered about the reference axis, the first transducer member having an outer surface which is sized and shaped to fit within the second transducer member inner surface for axial movement relative thereto;
• a magnetic flux source positioned between the second transducer member and the first transducer member, the magnetic flux source having a transversely-oriented internal magnetic field vector, the magnetic flux source being positioned to complete two variable magnetic flux circuits, one of the flux circuits being completed through each of the magnetic paths;
• and
• a magnetic flux dividing separator having a low permeability to separate the magnetic flux circuits, the magnetic flux source and the magnetic flux dividing separator being positioned for relative axial movement between one another, whereby magnetic flux from the magnetic flux source is apportioned by the magnetic flux dividing separator between the two magnetic circuits.