Electronic throttle control position sensor

An electronic position sensor for sensing the position of a movable member, the position sensor comprising:

• a magnet providing a defined magnetic field;
• and
• at least one magnetic flux sensor disposed proximate the magnet, forming a gap therebetween, the at least one magnetic flux sensor including an electronic circuit having programmable gain, offset voltage and temperature compensation, relative motion being initiated between the magnet and the at least one magnetic flux sensor in response to movement of the movable member, the relationship between the position of the movable member and an electronic circuit output in response to magnetic characteristics sensed by the at least one magnetic flux sensor resulting in a linear function between two defined points within a specific range of at least one magnetic flux density, the amplitude of an electronic circuit output signal representing movable member position,
• wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet having a configuration of a uniformly thick circular plate having a plane surface and having a central axis of rotation, the plane surface of the magnet forming an oblique angle relative to the central axis of rotation, the direction of magnetization of the magnet being in a direction perpendicular to the plane surface, the magnet being rotatably mounted so that it is axially spaced from the at least one magnetic flux sensor to form a gap therebetween, the gap between the at least one magnetic flux sensor and the magnet varying in response to relative motion between the magnet and the at least one magnetic flux sensor about the central axis of rotation.

An electronic position sensor for sensing the position of a movable member, the position sensor comprising:

• a magnet providing a defined magnetic field;
• and
• at least one magnetic flux sensor disposed proximate the magnet, forming a gap therebetween, the at least one magnetic flux sensor including an electronic circuit having programmable gain, offset voltage and temperature compensation, relative motion being initiated between the magnet and the at least one magnetic flux sensor in response to movement of the movable member, the relationship between the position of the movable member and an electronic circuit output in response to magnetic characteristics sensed by the at least one magnetic flux sensor resulting in a linear function between two defined points within a specific range of at least one magnetic flux density, the amplitude of an electronic circuit output signal representing movable member position,
• wherein the relative motion between the magnet and the at least one magnetic flux sensor is linear, the magnet having a configuration longitudinally elongated in the direction of the relative motion and having a pair of oppositely disposed lateral surfaces, at least one lateral surface facing the at least one magnetic flux sensor, the magnet being magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the direction of relative motion and toward the at least one magnetic flux sensor, the magnetic length between the two lateral surfaces varying monotonically relative to position along the magnet in the direction of the relative motion.

An electronic position sensor for sensing the position of a movable member, the position sensor comprising:

• a magnet providing a defined magnetic field;
• and
• at least one magnetic flux sensor disposed proximate the magnet, forming a gap therebetween, the at least one magnetic flux sensor including an electronic circuit having programmable gain, offset voltage and temperature compensation, relative motion being initiated between the magnet and the at least one magnetic flux sensor in response to movement of the movable member, the relationship between the position of the movable member and an electronic circuit output in response to magnetic characteristics sensed by the at least one magnetic flux sensor resulting in a linear function between two defined points within a specific range of at least one magnetic flux density, the amplitude of an electronic circuit output signal representing movable member position,
• wherein the relative motion between the magnet and the at least one magnetic flux sensor is linear, the magnetic length being uniform, the magnet being magnetized, and the direction of the relative motion being, along an axis passing through the at least one magnetic flux sensor and the magnet.