Two axis position sensor using sloped magnets to generate a variable magnetic field and hall effect sensors to detect the variable magnetic field

A sensor for determining a linear position of a movable body along two different axes, comprising:

• a) a housing;
• b) an actuator coupled to the movable body, the actuator including:
• b1) a shaft extending into the housing;
• b2) a first slide located within the housing;
• b3) a second slide located within the housing and positioned adjacent the first slide, the shaft coupled to the first and second slides;
• c) a first magnetic field generator, coupled to the first slide, for generating a first magnetic field as the body moves along a first axis, the first magnetic field generator including a pair of sloped permanent magnets held opposed by a pole piece and mounted to the first slide;
• d) a first magnetic field sensor affixed to the housing and located proximate the first magnetic field generator for sensing the first magnetic field, the first magnetic field sensor generating a first electrical signal corresponding to the position of the movable body along the first axis;
• e) a second magnetic field generator, coupled to the second slide, for generating a second magnetic field as the body moves along a second axis, the second magnetic field generator including a pair of sloped permanent magnets held opposed by a pole piece and mounted to the second slide;
• and
• f) a second magnetic field sensor affixed to the housing and located proximate the first magnetic field generator for sensing the second magnetic field, the second magnetic field sensor generating a second electrical signal corresponding to the position of the movable body along the second axis.

A sensor for determining the position of a movable body along first and second orthogonal axes, comprising:

• a) a housing being fixed in position against relative movement of a the body;
• b) an actuator, positioned in the housing and coupled to the movable body, the actuator having a shaft extending therefrom;
• c) a first slide, positioned adjacent the actuator for movement along the first axis, the first slide having a first slot therein, the shaft extending through the first slot;
• d) a second slide, positioned adjacent the first slide for movement along the second axis, the second slide having a second slot therein, the shaft further extending through the second slot;
• e) a first tapered magnet attached to the first slide for generating a first variable magnetic field;
• f) a second tapered magnet attached to the second slide for generating a second variable magnetic field;
• g) a first magnetic field sensor affixed to the housing and located proximate the first magnet for sensing a first magnetic flux, the first magnetic field sensor generating a first electrical signal corresponding to the position of the movable body along the first axis;
• and
• h) a second magnetic field sensor affixed to the housing and located proximate the second magnet for sensing a second magnetic flux, the second magnetic field sensor generating a second electrical signal corresponding to the position of the movable body along the second axis.