Actuators and moveable elements with position sensing
OwnerDavid Meiselinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system senses the position of a movable element in a mechanical apparatus. The element moves along an elongated guide member, which is at least partially formed of a magnetic material. An excitation coil is positioned by the guide member and a sensing coil moves with the movable element. An excitation circuit energizes the excitation coil and a position sensing circuit sense a voltage or current in the sensing coil to determine the distance between the coils.
Claims20
A position sensing system for a mechanical apparatus having an elongated guide member and an element movable along the guide member, the guide member being at least partially formed of a magnetic material, the sensing system comprising:
- an excitation coil surrounding the guide member;
- a sensing coil surrounding the guide member and movable with the movable element relative to the excitation coil;
- an excitation circuit operable to energize the excitation coil;
- a position sensing circuit operable to sense a voltage or current in the sensing coil in response to the energizing of the excitation coil;
- wherein the voltage or current in the sensing coil is related to the distance between the excitation coil and the sensing coil.
A position sensing system for a mechanical apparatus having an elongated guide member and an element movable along the guide member, the guide member being at least partially formed of a magnetic material, the sensing system comprising:
- an excitation coil disposed adjacent the guide member;
- a sensing coil disposed adjacent the guide member and movable with the movable element relative to the excitation coil;
- an excitation circuit operable to energize the excitation coil;
- a position sensing circuit operable to sense a voltage or current in the sensing coil in response to the energizing of the excitation coil;
- wherein the voltage or current in the sensing coil is related to the distance between the excitation coil and the sensing coil;
- and
- wherein the excitation circuit is operable to energize the excitation coil with an electrical waveform, the position sensing circuit sensing an electrical waveform having an amplitude, the amplitude being inversely related to the distance between the excitation coil and the sensing coil.
A position sensing system for a mechanical apparatus having an elongated guide member and an element movable along the guide member, the guide member being at least partially formed of a magnetic material, the sensing system comprising:
- an excitation coil disposed adjacent the guide member;
- a sensing coil disposed adjacent the guide member and movable with the movable element relative to the excitation coil;
- an excitation circuit operable to energize the excitation coil;
- a position sensing circuit operable to sense a voltage or current in the sensing coil in response to the energizing of the excitation coil, wherein the voltage or current in the sensing coil is related to the distance between the excitation coil and the sensing coil;
- a signal transmitter in communication with the position sensing circuit, the signal transmitter being a signal transmitting coil disposed about the guide member;
- and
- a signal receiver for receiving a signal from the signal transmitter, the signal providing information on the relative positions of the excitation coil and the sensing coil, the signal receiver being a signal receiving coil disposed about the guide member.
A position sensing system for a mechanical apparatus having an elongated guide member and an element movable along the guide member, the guide member being at least partially formed of a magnetic material, the sensing system comprising:
- a transmitting coil disposed adjacent the guide member;
- a receiving coil disposed adjacent the guide member and movable with the movable element relative to the excitation coil;
- a transmitting circuit operable to energize the transmitting coil;
- a control operable to convert a voltage in the receiving coil to a signal;
- an excitation coil disposed adjacent the guide member, the control energizing the excitation coil with the signal;
- a sensing coil operable to receive the signal;
- and
- a position sensing circuit operable to convert the signal into information on the distance between the transmitting coil and receiving coil.
A mechanical apparatus and position sensing system comprising:
- an elongated guide member, the guide member being a shaft formed of a ferromagnetic material;
- an element movable along the guide member;
- and
- a sensing system comprising:
- an excitation coil disposed adjacent the guide member;
- a sensing coil disposed adjacent the guide member and movable with the movable element relative to the excitation coil;
- an excitation circuit operable to energize the excitation coil;
- a position sensing circuit operable to sense a voltage or current in the sensing coil in response to the energizing of the excitation coil;
- wherein the voltage or current in the sensing coil is related to the distance between the excitation coil and the sensing coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.