Contactless hall effect push button switch
AssigneeThyssen Elevator Capital Corp.
InventorsRobert H. Sweet, James A. Nickerson, Michael A. Palazzola
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A programmable switching device that employs a Hall Effect sensor and a moving magnet is disclosed. The Hall Effect sensor is electrically connected to a programmable microprocessor that is programmed to detect changes in Hall Effect voltages at the sensor. The programmable switching device may also be configured as a rotary switching device. By using a plurality of magnets and Hall Effect transducers and orienting some magnets with their polarities in different directions, a temper-proof switch can be achieved. The programmable switching device may be connected to a serial bus that is interfaced with an elevator controller.
Claims8
An elevator system comprising:
- an elevator controller;
- a programmable contactless push-button device comprising:
- (i) a Hall Effect transducer having a quiescent Hall Effect voltage;
- (ii) a moving magnet located in line with the Hall Effect transducer, the moving magnet being linearly displaceable along the line formed by the magnet and the Hall Effect transducer;
- and
- (iii) a microprocessor that is interfaced with the Hall Effect transducer;
- the microprocessor programmed to calculate running averages for the quiescent voltage, the microprocessor also having a unique address;
- and
- a serial bus connecting the microprocessor to the elevator controller.
A switching device comprising:
- a Hall Effect transducer;
- a movable magnetic element that moves relative to the Hall Effect transducer;
- a programmable microprocessor electrically connected to the Hall Effect transducer, the microprocessor programmed to execute a field averaging algorithm to compensate for changes in quiescent Hall Effect voltages, the programmable microprocessor also programmed to contain a unique address;
- and
- a communication interface for connecting the microprocessor to a controller;
- the communication interface connected to the microprocessor.
A switch comprising:
- a plurality of Hall Effect transducers disposed on a planar surface;
- a rotatable disk that is parallel to the planar surface;
- a first set of magnets disposed on the disk, at least two magnets in the first set having their polarities oriented in different directions;
- a second set of magnets disposed on the disk, at least two magnets in the second set having their polarities oriented in different directions;
- the disk having a first position where one or more magnets in the first set is located over each Hall Effect transducer;
- and
- the disk having a second position where one or more magnets in the second set is located over each Hall Effect transducer, and at least one transducer having a magnet over it with a polarity oriented differently than when the disk is in the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.