Dual rotational and linear position sensor

Abstract

A dual positional hall effect sensor 10 having an outer housing 12, an actuator 14, a linear movement sensor 20, and a rotational movement sensor device 22. The housing 12 includes a lower chamber 24 and an upper chamber 26, with a barrier wall 28 separating therebetween. The actuator 14 is made up of a coupling 32 for coupling to a movable device (not shown) that is to have its position sensed, a rod 34 that extends from the lower to the upper chamber, a collar 36 for retaining the actuator 14 within the lower chamber, and a key 38. The linear motion sensor 20 is unattachably positioned to set on collar 36, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 42 and a left and right magnets 44. The magnets 44 and pole piece 42 are positioned around the rod 34 in a "U" shaped configuration. The lower chamber 24 also includes a positionally fixed hall effect sensor 46 and a spring 48 positioned between the barrier wall 28 and the collar 36. The rotational movement sensor 22, located in the upper chamber 26, includes a sensor housing structure 52 that has a groove or slide 54 for insertion and sliding of the key 38. The sensor 22 further includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 56 and a top and bottom magnet 58. A hall sensor 60 is positioned between the two parts of the magnet 58 and fixed in position relative to any rotational movement of the rotational sensor 22.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.