Electricity: measuring and testing – Magnetic – Displacement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-02
2001-01-16
Snow, Walter E. (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Magnetic
Displacement
C324S207230, C074S4710XY, C338S03200R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175233
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to a Hall effect position sensor for determining linear position changes along two different axes. The sensor can be used for a variety of applications including a position sensor for a manual shifter.
2. Background Art
In recent years, many designers of positional sensing equipment have been designing a new breed of sensors based upon the general theories of magnetics. For example, the automotive industry has been in the process of converting the control system of the standard internal combustion engine to a system that can be controlled by a computer that receives input signals from mechanical and electrical systems using hall effect positional sensors.
Examples of patents related to the present invention are as follows, and each patent is herein incorporated by reference for supporting teachings:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,361 is a position detecting device using a hall sensor. The device comprises a Hall IC, a magnet, and a back yoke. The Hall IC is moved in a space above the magnet, the position can be detected based upon the change in flux density between the poles of the magnet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,365,791,is a signal generator for generating an electrical signal that varies according to movement of an actuating member includes a plunger slidable mounted within a housing that carries a pair of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field to be applied to a Hall effect generator.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,958,615,is a signal generator that has a Hall effect sensor and a magnet disposed inside a distributor housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,089, is an encoder for a wheel that uses a linear Hall effect sensor and magnet mounted on a non-ferrous metal shaft.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,261, is a measuring system for a gear measuring feeler that has a Hall effect sensor elements arranged in opposing relationship to each other in the magnetic field.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,109 is a position sensor utilizing a Hall generator. A pair of permanent magnets are co-planarly positioned with a pair of opposite poles abutting each other.
The foregoing patents reflect the state of the art of which the applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these patents teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant's claimed invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a feature of the invention to provide a Hall effect position sensor for determining linear position changes along two different axes.
An additional feature of the invention is to provide two Hall effect sensors. The first sensor detects any positional changes along the length of a first axis (y direction) of linear motion and a second sensor detects any positional changes along the length of a second axis (x direction) of linear motion.
The invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed, and it is distinguished from the prior art by this combination of structures for the functions specified.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention so the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and so the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. It is important, therefore, that the claims are regarded as including such equivalent constructions since they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, neither is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
Other features of the present invention will become more clear from the following detailed description of the invention, taken with the accompanying drawings and claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3473109 (1969-10-01), Maaz et al.
patent: 4459578 (1984-07-01), Sava et al.
patent: 4639667 (1987-01-01), Andersen
patent: 4703261 (1987-10-01), Berchtold
patent: 4928089 (1990-05-01), Gasiunas et al.
patent: 4958615 (1990-09-01), Ohashi
patent: 5365791 (1994-11-01), Padula et al.
patent: 5369361 (1994-11-01), Wada
patent: 5955881 (1999-09-01), White et al.
Jarrard Craig A.
McCurley Jeffrey L.
Nonnenmacher Ronald C.
Olson Thomas R.
White James E.
Borgman Mark W.
Bourgeois Mark P.
CTS Corporation
Snow Walter E.
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