Gear tooth sensor with improved resolution and stability
US6064198A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01D2205/40
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A gear tooth sensor having increased sensitivity and temperature tolerance enables relatively small ferrous targets to be detected, which lends itself for use in relatively compact applications, such as the sensing of an automotive cam shaft drive wheel. All of the embodiments include a magnet having opposing north and south pole faces and a single input Hall effect IC which defines a sensing plane, and may include one or more flux concentrators. In one embodiment the sensor is configured such that the magnet is disposed adjacent the periphery of the target wheel such that the magnetic axis is generally parallel to the direction of travel of the ferrous target at an instant when the ferrous target is adjacent the magnet. In this embodiment, the Hall effect IC and flux concentrator are disposed adjacent one side of the ferrous target wheel and at least partially below the magnet. In one alternate embodiment of the invention, the magnet, Hall effect IC and flux concentrator are all aligned and disposed such that the magnetic axis is generally parallel to the direction of travel of the ferrous target at an instant when the ferrous target is adjacent the magnet. As such, the alternate …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.