Patent · US Active

Non-contact linear potentiometer

US9978485B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 17, 2014
Grant dateMay 22, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01C10/30
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention discloses a type of noncontact linear potentiometer; the potentiometer comprises a slider, a rotating shaft, a guide rod, a tunneling magnetoresistive sensor, a permanent magnet, a printed circuit board, and two support structures. In this configuration the slider moves along the guide rod and the rotating shaft, causing the rotation of the rotating shaft; the permanent magnet is attached to an end of the rotating shaft, and it therefore rotates as the shaft rotates. A tunneling magnetoresistive sensor is located adjacent to the permanent magnet, soldered onto a printed circuit board, and it is used to measure the angle of rotation of the permanent magnet. The guide rod constrains the sliding direction of the slider, and the two support structures are located at the opposite ends of the guide rod and rotating shaft, and they are used to support the rotating shaft and guide rod. Located between the slider and rotating shaft is a ball bearing, a pin and a leaf spring assembly. This potentiometer has several advantages, including a compact structure, easy fabrication, long service life, in addition to providing smooth slider motion that provides a pleasing user experien…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.