Switching apparatus having magnetoresistive elements for detecting a plurality of manually selected switching position
US6150808A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03K2017/9713
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A switching apparatus is provided which may be used for power window control systems of automotive vehicles. The switching apparatus includes an operating knob, a magnet, a magnetoresistive element, and a position determining circuit. The operating knob is manually shifted between a plurality of switching positions. The magnet moves according to the movement of the operating knob. The magnetoresistive element is placed in a magnetic field applied from the magnet and changes an electrical resistance thereof according to a variation in orientation of a magnetic flux applied to the magnetoresistive element resulting from the movement of the magnet. The position determining circuit monitors a change in electric resistance of the magnetoresistive element to determine the switching position of the operating member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.