Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-06
2001-04-03
Wu, Daniel J. (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S686300, C340S456000, C340S453000, C475S199000, C475S206000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06211794
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to devices for sensing the angular position of a rotating shaft and, more particularly, to devices for sensing the angular position of a rotating shift member in a transfer case or transmission and providing an analog output.
In motor vehicle drive line components such as transmissions and transfer cases, it is frequently necessary to provide accurate information to associated electronic controllers, readouts or indicators of the current operating position or condition of the device, such as the currently selected gear, overdrive, four-wheel drive, etc.
Both the sensor and the sensed component take many forms. One of the less complex devices is a multi-featured cam which is attached to and moves with a shift rail and which is engaged by a suitable multiple position sensor. As the cam and shift rail translate relative to the sensor, suitable on-off outputs are provided to a controller or readout which interprets or displays the signals as certain gears or operating conditions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,092 utilizes an array of Hall effect sensors and magnets disposed adjacent an apertured plate which translates past the array of sensors. Such a configuration provides multiple outputs and multiple unique combinations of outputs corresponding to numerous small but finite positions of the shift member and thus provides improved definition of the shift member position to associated controllers or equipment.
A common design concern in such devices is the physical proximity of the sensor to the controlled or shifted device. If the sensor is coupled to the shift component by a hard mechanical connection, there is negligible likelihood that the sensor output and the shift component will assume inconsistent states. However, if the sensor is physically remote from the shifted component or operated or controlled through an auxiliary linkage, the possibility exists that the sensor will provide an output indicating that the shift component is in one position while, in fact, it is occupying another. Obviously, the better sensor/shift component designs are those that minimize this problem.
Another design concern may be the complexity of the sensor. Multiple binary, i.e., two position, sensors, through appropriate coding, can provide accurate information of multiple positions of a shift member. However, multiple sensors are accompanied by the possibility of a failure of one of the sensors which, unless appropriate diagnostic systems are included to detect such failures, may result in a controller misinterpreting the supplied data and provide inaccurate shift commands or indications regarding the current status of the shift member.
If, however, a single sensor is utilized to provide an appropriate position indicating signal, the failure of the single sensor, which typically results in either a total loss of signal or a constant level signal, can be relatively easily diagnosed. The present invention is directed to a closely coupled, rotary shift position sensing device having a single sensor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An analog output Hall effect sensor provides a proportional output representative of the angular position of a rotary shift member in a transfer case, transmission or the like. The rotary shift member is driven by a bidirectional electric motor through a speed reducing gear train. A wheel having a single spiral bipolar (N-S) magnetic track rotates with the output of the gear train and the shift member. The analog output Hall effect sensor is proximate the spiral magnetic track and provides an analog (ramp) output proportional to the position of the rotary shift member relative to first and second end points.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a rotary shift member sensor having a Hall effect analog output device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary shift member sensor which is directly coupled to and operated by the rotary shift member.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a position sensing assembly for a rotary shift member having a single sensing device which provides an output signal proportional to angular position.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component, element or feature.
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Borg-Warner
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Dziegielewski Greg
Nguyen Tai T.
Wu Daniel J.
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