Contactless magnetic linear position sensor

摘要

In a position sensor, two field sensors are placed along a line parallel to the movement to be detected. Two magnets are placed at an angle to each other to generate a magnetic field such that their position is a linear or approximately linear function of the difference between the outputs of the sensors.

主权项

1. A sensor system for outputting an electrical signal representing an amount of relative movement, comprising:
at least two magnetic field sensors; at least two magnets, each magnet having a longitudinal axis aligned with a magnetic field direction exhibited by the magnet and each magnet having a face at about a 45 degree first angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the angled faces of the two magnets are positioned proximate to each other such that the two magnets in proximity to each other form a magnetic pair, and such that the two magnets define an second angle therebetween, wherein the second angle is measured relative to the respective longitudinal axes of the two magnets, and wherein the two magnets and the at least two magnetic field sensors are mounted for relative movement therebetween such that the two magnets and the at least two magnetic field sensors do not contact one another; and a circuit for determining an amount of the relative movement as a function of a difference between the outputs of the at least two magnetic field sensors.