US6469499B2 — Apparatus and method for low power position sensi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 182 words

A position sensing system, comprising: a first sensor defining a starting point of a first channel with said first sensor coupled to a first square wave generator; a second sensor, in quadrature with said first sensor, defining a starting point of a second channel with said second sensor coupled to a second square wave generator; and a movable member having a magnetized surface having a magnetic distribution disposed on said magnetized surface for being sensed by said first sensor and said second sensor, said first sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator, and said first sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of said square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator during said movement of said movable member, said second sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator and said second sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 182 words

A position sensing system, comprising: a first sensor defining a starting point of a first channel with said first sensor coupled to a first square wave generator; a second sensor, in quadrature with said first sensor, defining a starting point of a second channel with said second sensor coupled to a second square wave generator; and a movable member having a magnetized surface having a magnetic distribution disposed on said magnetized surface for being sensed by said first sensor and said second sensor, said first sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator, and said first sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of said square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator during said movement of said movable member, said second sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator and said second sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The position sensing system as in claim 1 , further comprising: a first signal transform circuitry having, a first end coupled to said first sensor; and a second end coupled to a first input of a first latch means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 39 words

The position sensing system as in claim 2 , further comprising: a second signal transform circuitry having, a first end coupled to said second sensor; and a second end coupled to a first input of a second latch means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The position sensing system as in claim 3 , wherein said first and said second signal transform circuitry include CMOS gates designed to be in the off non-active state until said first sensor and said second sensor generate voltage pulses.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The position sensing system as in claim 4 , wherein said movable member is a shaft of an electric motor coupled to a liftgate of a vehicle, said electric motor providing an urging force for manipulating a position of said liftgate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 141 words

The position sensing system as in claim 2 , wherein said first signal transform circuitry comprises a first NAND gate having an input and an output having said input coupled to said first sensor and said output coupled to said first input of said first latch means; a second NAND gate having an input end and an output end, said NAND gate input end is coupled to said first sensor; and a third NAND gate having an input end, and an output end, said third NAND gate output end is coupled to a second input end of said first latch means, said second NAND gate and said third NAND gate being connected in series having said output of said second NAND gate coupled to said input end of said third NAND gate, thereby said high signal being disposed to pass therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 90 words

The position sensing system as in claim 2 , further comprising: a redundancy circuit coupled to said second sensor, said redundancy circuit including, a switch having an input end and an output end, said switch being switchably triggered by a signal derived from said second sensor acting upon said input end of said switch; and an output of said redundancy circuit dependent upon a set of conditions at said input end of said switch with said output of said redundancy circuit being coupled to said output end of said switch.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 15 words

The position sensing system as in claim 7 , wherein said switch comprises a transistor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 63 words

The position sensing system as in claim 1 , further comprising: a controller coupled to said first square wave generator, said second square wave generator, and a redundancy circuit for controlling said position sensing system including counting a number of square waves generated by said first square wave generator, and counting a number of square waves generated by said second square wave generator.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The position sensing system as in claim 2 , wherein, said first latch means comprises a set-reset latch.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 18 words

The position sensing system as in claim 3 , wherein, said second latch means comprises a set-reset latch.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

The position sensing system as in claim 2 , wherein, said first sensor is a zero power sensor capable of generating a voltage pulse as said magnetized surface moves with respect to said first sensor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

The position sensing system as in claim 2 , wherein,said second sensor is a zero power sensor capable of generating a voltage pulse as said magnetized surface moves with respect to said second sensor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

The position sensing system as in claim 1 , wherein said first sensor and said first square wave generator exhibit a total quiescent operation current of less than one milliampere.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The position sensing system as in claim 1 , wherein said quiescent operation current is less than ten microamperes.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The position sensing system as in claim 1 , wherein said second sensor and said second square wave generator exhibit a total quiescent operation current of less than one milliampere.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 264 words

A position sensing system for a vehicle, comprising: a first sensor defining a starting point of a first channel with said first sensor coupled to a first square wave generator; a second sensor, in quadrature with said first sensor, defining a starting point of a second channel with said second sensor coupled to a second square wave generator; and a moving member having a magnetized surface having a magnetic distribution disposed on said magnetized surface for being sensed by said first sensor, and said second sensor, said moving member being configured, dimensioned and positioned to move within a range defined by a first position and a second position, said first position corresponding to an open position of a vehicle door and said second position corresponding to a closed position of said vehicle door, and said moving member moves within said range as said vehicle door moves from said first position to said second position or moves from said second position to said first position, said first sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator and said first sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of said square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator, and during said movement by said moving member, said second sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator and said second sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 264 words

A position sensing system for a vehicle, comprising: a first sensor defining a starting point of a first channel with said first sensor coupled to a first square wave generator; a second sensor, in quadrature with said first sensor, defining a starting point of a second channel with said second sensor coupled to a second square wave generator; and a moving member having a magnetized surface having a magnetic distribution disposed on said magnetized surface for being sensed by said first sensor, and said second sensor, said moving member being configured, dimensioned and positioned to move within a range defined by a first position and a second position, said first position corresponding to an open position of a vehicle door and said second position corresponding to a closed position of said vehicle door, and said moving member moves within said range as said vehicle door moves from said first position to said second position or moves from said second position to said first position, said first sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator and said first sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of said square wave signal generated by said first square wave generator, and during said movement by said moving member, said second sensor generates a high signal forming a rising edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator and said second sensor generates a low signal forming a falling edge of a square wave generated by said second square wave generator.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

A position sensing system as in claim 17 , wherein said vehicle door is a sliding door of a van.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 36 words

The position sensing system as in claim 17 , wherein said moving member is a shaft of an electric motor, said electric motor being configured and positioned to provide an urging force to said vehicle door.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 21 words

The position sensing system as in claim 17 , wherein said moving member is a hinge pin of said vehicle door.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 53 words

The position sensing system as in claim 17 , wherein the location of said first and second sensors in relation to the moving member at a starting position is n*(one period of the magnetic field)+¼ period of the magnetic field of said moving member, where n is the number of magnetic pole pairs.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 109 words

A method for position sensing comprising: generating a first set and a second set of output signals using a first and sensor and a second sensor, said first set and said second set of output signals generating a pulse waveform; inputting said first set and said second set of output signals into a square wave generator; deriving a first sequence of square waves from said first set of sensed signals; and deriving a second sequence of square waves from said second set of sensed signals that are in quadrature with said first sequence of square waves; and generating a redundancy sequence signal using a redundancy circuit comprising a switch.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 109 words

A method for position sensing comprising: generating a first set and a second set of output signals using a first and sensor and a second sensor, said first set and said second set of output signals generating a pulse waveform; inputting said first set and said second set of output signals into a square wave generator; deriving a first sequence of square waves from said first set of sensed signals; and deriving a second sequence of square waves from said second set of sensed signals that are in quadrature with said first sequence of square waves; and generating a redundancy sequence signal using a redundancy circuit comprising a switch.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-10-21	2006-04-22	2006-10-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-10-21	2010-04-22	2010-10-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-10-21	2014-04-22	2014-10-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for low power position sensing systems

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