Contactless push button switch comprising a hall effect transducer and microprocessor
AssigneeThyssenKrupp Elevator Capital Corporation
InventorsRobert H. Sweet, James A. Nickerson, Michael A. Palazzola
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims11
A contactless push-button device comprising:
- a push-button element that is linearly displaceable between a first position and a second position and biased to move from the second position to the first position;
- a magnet mounted to the push button element;
- a Hall Effect transducer mounted in line with the linear displacement direction of the push-button so that when the push-button moves from the first position to the second position the distance between the magnet and the Hall Effect transducer changes;
- and
- a programmable microprocessor for being assigned a unique address, the programmable microprocessor electrically connected to the Hall Effect transducer and programmed to execute a field averaging algorithm to compensate for changes in quiescent Hall Effect voltages.
A contactless, rotary switch device comprising:
- a rotating disk having a surface;
- one or more magnets disposed on the disk;
- one or more Hall Effect transducers located on a planar surface that is parallel to the surface of the disk, the distance between the Hail Effect transducers and the magnets varying as the disk rotates;
- and
- a programmable microprocessor that is electrically connected to the microprocessor and programmed to execute a field averaging algorithm to compensate for changes in quiescent Hall Effect voltages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.