Electricity: measuring and testing – Magnetic – Displacement
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-03
2001-05-08
Patidar, Jay (Department: 2862)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Magnetic
Displacement
C073S514310, C307S419000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229300
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tilt sensor and is particularly directed to a tilt sensor that utilizes the “Wiegand Effect” to sense when the sensor is moved from one inclined position through a horizontal position to another inclined position.
Known tilt sensors are used in various devices and in various industries. For example, Mercury switches in thermostats and other devices utilize the electrically conductive properties of Mercury and its liquid state to effectively detect when the Mercury within the device flows from one position to another position. Generally, the motion of the Mercury is caused by some tilting of the device. However, while such tilt sensors are easy to manufacture and generally are reliable, the Mercury itself is environmentally unfriendly.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tilt sensor that does not utilize Mercury.
It is another object of this invention to provide a tilt sensor that is, in a sense, self-powered such that the sensor itself does not require an external power source to operate.
Various other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a tilt sensor and corresponding method carried out by the tilt sensor are provided by a non-magnetic elongated tube, a magnet contained and substantially freely slidable within the elongated tube, and a Wiegand wire extending along and adjacent to the elongated tube.
As an aspect of the invention, the tilt sensor also includes a pole piece that extends along and is adjacent to the elongated tube, the pole piece is made of a material through which a magnetic flux path can be created, and the Wiegand wire extends within a portion of a hollow interior of the pole piece.
As another aspect of the invention, the tilt sensor further includes a coil wound on the Wiegand wire.
As a feature of the present invention, a first pulse of a first polarity is produced on the coil as the magnet slides in a first direction within the elongated tube, and a second pulse of a second polarity is produced on the coil as the magnet slides in a second direction opposite to the first direction within the elongated tube, the second polarity being opposite the first polarity.
As another feature of the present invention, magnetic flux flows through the Wiegand wire in a first direction when the magnet is in a first position within the elongated tube, and magnetic flux flows through the Wiegand wire in a second direction when the magnet is in a second position within the elongated tube, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned tilt sensor additionally includes another Wiegand wire that extends along and is adjacent to a portion of the elongated tube to which the first Wiegand wire is not adjacent.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3820090 (1974-06-01), Wiegand
patent: 4247601 (1981-01-01), Wiegand
patent: 4263523 (1981-04-01), Wiegand
patent: 4484090 (1984-11-01), Wiegand et al.
patent: 4593209 (1986-06-01), Sloan
patent: 4736122 (1988-04-01), Opie et al.
patent: 4743780 (1988-05-01), Opie
patent: 4758742 (1988-07-01), Opie
patent: 5430334 (1995-07-01), Meister
Sensor Engineering Co. (an Echlin Co.) 1990 “Zero Power Wiegand Sensor” 2 pgs, Date not available.
HID Corporation
Patidar Jay
Reed Smith LLP
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