Contactless position sensor with coreless coil coupling component

Claim 2

A magnetic position sensor for monitoring the change of position of an element in a contactless manner, said sensor comprising: (a) a magnetic field generator component through which a varying current flows for inducing a first varying magnetic field; (b) a magnetic field coupling component including an untuned coreless coil mounted to be magnetically coupled to the magnetic field generator component and to have current induced therein by said first varying magnetic field, said induced current generating a second varying magnetic field; (c) a magnetic field sensor component magnetically coupled to said magnetic field coupling component through said second varying magnetic field; (d) means for mounting the magnetic field coupling component to said element to move with said element relative to said other two components, the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling component and the magnetic field generator component being substantially independent of the movement of said element while the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling component and the magnetic field sensor component being a function of the movement of said element; and (e) means for measuring the signal induced in said magnetic field sensor component by the said second varying magnetic field for indicating the position of the element whose change in position is being monitored.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling component and said magnetic field generator varies as a function of the movement of the coupling component.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling component and said magnetic field sensor varies as a function of the movement of the coupling component.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnetic field generator component and said magnetic field sensor component are co-planar.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said coupling component comprises a single continuous loop of conductive material disposed around the periphery of said component such that said conductive loop forms a shorted coil that can generate magnetic flux when encompassed by a magnetic field.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnetic field generator component comprises at least one inductive coil.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said magnetic field sensor component comprises at least one inductive coil.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said magnetic field generator component comprises at least one conductive plate.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said magnetic field sensor component comprises at least one conductive plate.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coupling component is provided with a substantially arcuate fin integrally formed to a hub, the latter of which is mounted on a rotatable shaft for co-rotation with a part to be measured.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said magnetic field sensor component forms an arcuate plate that is co-extensive with said fin, whereby rotation of said coupling component linearly varies the area of said conductive loop located above said magnetic field sensor component.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said magnetic field generator component is co-axial to said hub, whereby the conductive coil loop area located above said magnetic field generator component remains constant during rotation.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling component and said magnetic field sensor component linearly varies during rotational travel of said coupling component.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling component and said magnetic field generator component is constant and independent of the movement of said coupling component.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coupling component forms a rectangularly-shaped plate mounted to move in a linear direction along with a part to be measured.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said magnetic field generator and said magnetic field sensor are located parallel to the path of travel of said coupling component such that said magnetic field generator is located below a linearly varying area of said coupling component, and said magnetic field sensor component is located below an area of said coupling component that remains constant during movement of said coupling component.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the electric signal induced by said magnetic field sensor component is a non-linear function of the change in position of said coupling component.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said coupling component is substantially arcuate and is mounted in a manner that enables said coupling component to co-rotate in conjunction with a part to be measured.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said magnetic field sensor component comprises two sensors that are arcuate and are symmetrically located on either side of an arcuately-shaped magnetic field generator component in order that the path of travel of said coupling component is parallel to said magnetic field sensor component and said magnetic field generator component.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said magnetic field sensor components are connected serially in opposition.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said magnetic field sensor components are connected to a demodulator circuit.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said magnetic field sensor component forms a composite rectangle comprising two oppositely disposed right triangular magnetic field sensors having a set distance between their hypoteneuses.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said magnetic field generator component forms a rectangular plate having a longitudinal side parallel to a longitudinal side of said composite rectangle.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said coupling component forms a rectangular plate that is mounted to travel parallel to the longitudinal axis of said magnetic field sensor component and magnetic field generator component such that the degree of magnetic coupling between said magnetic field generator and said coupling component remains constant.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said conductive loop is made from heavy gauge, low-resistance wire.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said magnetic field sensor coil and said magnetic field generator coil are single turn.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said magnetic field sensor coil and said magnetic field generator coil are multiple turn.

Claim 29

A magnetic position sensor for monitoring the change of position of an element in a contactless manner, said sensor comprising: (a) a magnetic field generator component through which a varying current flows for inducing a first varying magnetic field; (b) a magnetic field coupling component including a coreless coil mounted to be magnetically coupled to the magnetic field generator component to have current induced therein by said first varying magnetic field, said induced current generating a second varying magnetic field; (c) a magnetic field sensor component having a magnetic core magnetically coupled to said magnetic field coupling component through said second varying magnetic field; (d) means for mounting the magnetic field coupling component to said element to move with said element relative to said other two components, the degree of magnetic coupling between the coupling component and the magnetic field generator component being substantially independent of the movement of said element while the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling element and the magnetic field sensor component being a function of the movement of said element; and (e) means for measuring the signal induced in said magnetic field sensor component by the said second varying magnetic field for indicating the position of the element whose change of position is being monitored.

Claim 30

A magnetic position sensor for monitoring the change of position of an element in a contactless manner, said sensor comprising: (a) a magnetic field generator component through which a varying current flows for inducing a first varying magnetic field; (b) a magnetic field coupling component including a coreless coil mounted to be magnetically coupled to the magnetic field generator component to have current induced therein by said first varying magnetic field, said induced current generating a second varying magnetic field; (c) a magnetic field sensor component having a magnetic core magnetically coupled to said magnetic field coupling component through said second varying magnetic field; (d) means for mounting the magnetic field coupling component to said element to move with said element relative to said other two components, the degree of magnetic coupling between the coupling component and the magnetic field generator component being substantially independent of the movement of said element while the degree of magnetic coupling between said coupling element and the magnetic field sensor component being a function of the movement of said element; and (e) means for measuring the signal induced in said magnetic field sensor component by the said second varying magnetic field for indicating the position of the element whose change of position is being monitored.