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US3556245A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Position to voltage transducer and speed control system utilizing same

Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1968-12-04
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-12-04
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Abstract

Abstract This disclosure relates to a position sensor and, more particularly, to a position to voltage transducer in which an oscillator is employed having a high input impedance active device, for example, a field effect transistor, coupled to a tank circuit including a center tapped winding or coil. This coil has an opening for the reception of a metallic means, preferably constructed of a ferromagnetic material, attached to a movable mechanical device, the position of which is desired to be sensed. The oscillator produces an alternating voltage output and this output is varied, for example, in a linear fashion, as a function of the positioning of the metallic means within the center tapped winding or coil. The output of the oscillator is then rectified, filtered and applied, preferably through an amplifier, to a position indicating meter. This position sensor or position to voltage transducer is particularly suitable for use in an automobile speed control device of the electronic type for producing a feedback signal as a function of the position of a controller means, for example, a throttle of an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle. The position of the throttle or controller means may be controlled by a servomotor in the form of a vacuum motor or actuator. The coil mentioned above is positioned on the exterior of the vacuum motor and the movable means takes the form of the diaphragm of the vacuum motor which controls the position of the controller or throttle. The metallic means, preferably constructed of ferromagnetic material, is affixed to this diaphragm. As a result, an output signal is developed from the oscillator which has a magnitude that is a function of the position of the controller or throttle with the minimum amplitude occurring when the throttle or controller is in the idle position and the maximum output occurring when the controller or throttle is at its wide open or full throttle position.

Inventors

  • 👤 Bernard G Radin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 18:43
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/06; B60K31/10; F; F02; F02D; F02D11/00; F02D11/06; F02D11/10; F02D11/105

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 112 words
In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a throttle means for controlling the speed of the engine and an actuator coupled to said throttle means for moving said throttle means from an idle position to a full throttle position, a throttle position transducer comprising an oscillator producing an alternating voltage, means coupled to the actuator for varying the amplitude of the alternating voltage as a function of the position of the throttle means as the throttle means is moved from an idle position toward a full throttle position, and means coupled to the oscillator for producing a unidirectional voltage having a magnitude proportional to the amplitude of the alternating voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 112 words
In an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a throttle means for controlling the speed of the engine and an actuator coupled to said throttle means for moving said throttle means from an idle position to a full throttle position, a throttle position transducer comprising an oscillator producing an alternating voltage, means coupled to the actuator for varying the amplitude of the alternating voltage as a function of the position of the throttle means as the throttle means is moved from an idle position toward a full throttle position, and means coupled to the oscillator for producing a unidirectional voltage having a magnitude proportional to the amplitude of the alternating voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 59 words
The combination of claim 1 in which said oscillator comprises an active device and a tank circuit coupled to said active device, said tank circuit including an inductive element, and said means coupled to said actuator for varying the amplitude of the alternating voltage includes means for varying the value of the effective resistance coupled across said inductive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The combination of claim 2 in which said inductive element comprises a coil having a central opening positioned therein, and said means coupled to said actuator for varying the value of the effective resistance coupled across said inductive element comprises a ferromagnetic mass positioned within and movable within saId opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 110 words
The combination of claim 3 in which said active element has an input means and an output means, said input means comprises a control electrode and a common electrode, said output means comprises an output electrode and said common electrode, said coil has a terminal at one end, a terminal at the other end and an intermediate terminal, the terminal at one of said ends being connected to said control electrode, and the intermediate terminal connected to said common electrode, a source of electrical energy having one terminal connected to said output electrode and the other terminal connected to the terminal at the other of said ends of sail coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 34 words
The combination of claim 4 in which a capacitor is connected across the two terminals at the end of said coil to form in combination with said coil the tank circuit of said oscillator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 48 words
The combination of claim 5 in which said means for producing a unidirectional voltage having a magnitude proportional to the amplitude of the alternating voltage comprises a unilateral conductive means coupled to said control electrode and to said terminal at said one of said ends of said coil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The combination of claim 3 in which said active device is a solid state device having a very high input impedance compared to said tank circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 42 words
The combination of claim 3 in which said active device is a field effect transistor, said control electrode is the gate electrode, said output electrode is the drain electrode and said common electrode is the source electrode of said field effect transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 121 words
In a speed control system for an automotive vehicle the combination comprising a movable controller for controlling the speed of the vehicle as a function of the position of the controller, an actuator means coupled to said controller for controlling the position of said controller, and means coupled to said actuator for producing a voltage having a magnitude proportional to the position of said controller moves to increase the speed of the vehicle, said means comprising an oscillator producing an alternating voltage, means coupled to said oscillator and said actuator for varying the magnitude of the alternating voltage proportional to the position of said actuator, and rectifying means coupled to said oscillator for producing a unidirectional voltage from the alternating voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 121 words
In a speed control system for an automotive vehicle the combination comprising a movable controller for controlling the speed of the vehicle as a function of the position of the controller, an actuator means coupled to said controller for controlling the position of said controller, and means coupled to said actuator for producing a voltage having a magnitude proportional to the position of said controller moves to increase the speed of the vehicle, said means comprising an oscillator producing an alternating voltage, means coupled to said oscillator and said actuator for varying the magnitude of the alternating voltage proportional to the position of said actuator, and rectifying means coupled to said oscillator for producing a unidirectional voltage from the alternating voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 71 words
The combination of claim 9 in which said oscillator comprises an inductive element having a central aperture, and said means coupled to said oscillator and said actuator comprises a ferromagnetic means positioned within said central aperture and having a varying cross-sectional area whereby a decreasing volume of said ferromagnetic means is coupled to said inductive element as said actuator means moves said controller means to increase the speed of the vehicle.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2841745A Cited
US3062312A Cited
US3195672A Cited
US3332406A Cited
US3405779A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-01-18 1974-07-20 1975-01-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-01-18 1978-07-20 1979-01-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-01-18 1982-07-20 1983-01-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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