Non-contact position sensor utilizing multiple sensor elements
AssigneeStoneridge Control Devices, Inc.
InventorsGerald Tromblee, Kayvan Hedayat
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Abstract
A non-contact position sensor including a plurality of sensor elements configured in an array. Each of the sensor elements is configured to provide an output associated with each of a plurality of positions of a sensor control element relative to the position sensor, whereby a separate combination of the outputs is provided for each of the positions. In one embodiment, the sensor elements may be Hall effect sensors, and the sensor control element may be a magnet. In another embodiment, the sensor elements may be Hall effect sensors and the sensor control element may be a shunt for blocking a magnetic field the Hall effect sensors. A vehicle seat position sensor system and a method of sensing vehicle seat position are also provided.
Claims12
A non-contact position sensor comprising:
- a plurality of sensor elements comprising Hall effect sensors configured in an array;
- each said sensor element configured to provide an output associated with each of a plurality of positions of a sensor control element, said sensor control element comprising a magnet, relative to said array of sensor elements, whereby a separate combination of said outputs is provided for each of said positions;
- and
- a biasing magnet mounted in a fixed position adjacent at least one of said sensor elements for biasing said at least one of said sensor elements to a selected output.
A sensor according to claim 12, wherein said at least one North magnetized region and said at least one South magnetized region are configured to cause changes in said Hall effect sensor outputs at a first rate with movement of a first region of said magnet relative to said sensor and to cause changes in said Hall effect sensor outputs at a second rate greater than said first rate with movement of a second region of said magnet relative to said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.