US 5,856,743 AGranted

Position-determining apparatus

AssigneeHoneywell Inc.

InventorJonathan Juniman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for determining the position of a shaft that is rotatably displaceable about a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a magnet, first and second magnet-detecting devices that are arranged adjacent the shaft, and a third magnet-detecting device mounted on the shaft. A rotatably displaceable disk having the magnet mounted thereon is arranged to allow the magnetic field produced by the magnet to pass over and activate each of the magnet detection devices sequentially. A position-determining circuit connected to the magnet-detecting devices, measures the time interval that the magnet-detecting devices are sequentially activated by the magnetic field and applies the time so measured to a position-determining scheme. The position-determining scheme uses the time measured and the physical geometry of the apparatus to determine the position of the shaft.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An apparatus for determining the position of a shaft rotatably displaceable along a longitudinal axis comprising:

means for producing a magnetic field;
first detecting means mounted to said apparatus in a first position adjacent said rotatable shaft and along a rotational center line, said first detecting means arranged to produce a first detection signal responsive to the detection of said magnetic field;
second detecting means mounted to said apparatus in a second position adjacent said rotatable shaft and along said rotational center line, said second detecting means arranged to produce a third detection signal responsive to the detection of said magnetic field;
third detecting means mounted to said rotatable shaft along said rotational center line between said first and said second detecting means, said third detecting means arranged to be displaced along said rotational center line in direct relationship to the rotation of said shaft, and said third detecting means further arranged to produce a second detection signal responsive to the detection of said magnetic field;
magnetic field directing means having said means for producing a magnetic field mounted thereon, said magnetic field directing means arranged to be rotated in a constant velocity along said rotational center line to pass over and couple and subsequently uncouple said magnetic field sequentially between said first detecting means, said third detecting means, and said second detecting means;
counting means arranged to receive said first, said second, and said third detection signals and to produce a first count signal responsive to said first and subsequently said third detection signals and a second count signal responsive to said third and subsequently said second detection signal;
and
position determining means arranged to receive said first and said second count signals, whereby in response to said first and said second count signals said position-determining means determines the position of said shaft along said longitudinal axis.

5 more elements

An apparatus for determining the position of a shaft rotatably displaceable about a longitudinal axis comprising:

means for producing a magnetic field;
first means arranged along a rotational center line, disposed to produce a first detection signal responsive to the detection of said magnetic field;
second means arranged along said rotational center line, disposed to produce a third detection signal responsive to the detection of said magnetic field;
third means mounted to said rotatable shaft and arranged along said rotational center line between said first and said second means, disposed to produce a second detection signal responsive to the detection of said magnetic field;
means for directing said magnetic field, arranged to couple and subsequently uncouple said magnetic field sequentially to each of said first means, said third means, and said second means;
means for counting arranged to receive said first, said second, and said third detection signals and to produce a first count signal responsive to said first and subsequently said third detection signals and a second count signal responsive to said third and subsequently said second detection signal;
and
means for determining said shaft's position arranged to receive said first and said second count signals, and determine the position of said shaft along said longitudinal axis.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/828,681Filed 31 Mar 1997
Granted: 5 Jan 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G01B 7/30
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques: for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
F16K 37/0041
Electrical or magnetic means: for measuring valve parameters
G01B 7/003
Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of electric or magnetic techniques: for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination
Y10T 137/8242
Position or extent of motion indicator: electrical