Magnetic linear position sensor

US8878522B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC · US

Inventors

• Xinyu Zhou · Bellevue, US
• Qiang Niu · Beijing, CN
• Kurt James Johnston · Ann Arbor, US
• Christopher G. Benson · Rochester Hills, US
• Daniel Joshua Smith · Schaeferville, US
• Eric Thomas Carlson · New York, US
• Moussa Ndiaye · Canton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 4, 2014
• Expiry date: Nov 12, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D5/145
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A magnetic linear position sensor includes an array of N number of magnets. The array of magnets is distributed along a line to form a magnetic field relay along the line. The sizes and positions of the magnets in the array of magnets are symmetric along the line, and the size of the magnets decreases from the sides of the array of magnets towards the center of the array of magnets. The magnetic linear position sensor further includes a magnetic field sensor spaced apart and positioned above the array of magnets. The magnetic field sensor moves back and forth over the array of magnets to sense the magnetic field of the array of magnets.