Magnetic angular position sensor apparatus
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsWayne A. Lamb, Kenneth V. Bechtold, Shaun Cinnamon, Kent E. Van Ostrand
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Abstract
Angular position sensing apparatuses and methods are disclosed. An angular position sensing apparatus can include a rotatable base and two or more magnets located proximate to one another upon the rotatable base. The magnets are generally magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof. Additionally, a sensor can be located external to the two magnets, such that the sensor comes into contact with the uniform magnetic field to sense a change in angular position associated with the rotatable base.
Claims18
An angular position sensing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable base;
- at least two magnets located proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof;
- and
- a sensor radially centered between said at least two magnets and displaced an axial distance from the top surfaces of said at least two magnets, such that said sensor comes into contact with said uniform magnetic field without overlapping said rotating at least two magnets to sense a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base.
An angular position sensing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable base;
- at least two magnets located proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof;
- and
- a magnetoresistive sensor radially centered between said at least two magnets and displaced an axial distance from the top surfaces of said at least two magnets, such that said magnetoresistive sensor comes into contact with said uniform magnetic field without overlapping said rotating at least two magnets to sense a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base and wherein said magnetoresistive sensor comprises a plurality of magnetoresistors within a magnetoresistive bridge circuit mounted on a printed circuit board.
A method for angular position sensing, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a rotatable base;
- locating at least two magnets proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof;
- positioning a sensor external to said at least two magnets wherein said sensor is radially centered between said at least two magnets and displaced an axial distance from the top surfaces of said at least two magnets such that said sensor comes into contact with said uniform magnetic field without overlapping said rotating at least two magnets;
- and
- sensing said uniform magnetic field at said positioned sensor to determine a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base.
A method for angular position sensing, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a rotatable base;
- locating at least two magnets proximate to one another upon said rotatable base, wherein said at least two magnets are magnetized parallel and opposite to one another to create a uniform magnetic field thereof;
- positioning a magnetoresistive sensor external to said at least two magnets wherein said magnetoresistive sensor is radially centered between said at least to magnets and displaced an axial distance from the top surfaces of said at least two magnets such that said magnetoresistive sensor comes into contact with said uniform magnetic field without overlapping said rotating at least two magnets;
- configuring said magnetoresistive sensor to comprise a plurality of magnetoresistors within a magnetoresistive bridge circuit;
- and
- sensing said uniform magnetic field at said magnetoresistive sensor to determine a change in angular position associated with said rotatable base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.