INDUCTIVE PROXIMITY SENSOR FOR DETECTING FERROMAGNETIC, NON-PERMEABLE OR MAGNET TARGETS

摘要

A core (120; 120'; or 1220) of a proximity sensor (100; 1200; or 1500) is made of a highly permeable metal and is shaped and sized to operate as a saturable core proximity sensor, a variable reluctance proximity sensor, and an eddy current proximity sensor. The core (120; 120'; or 1220) has a cross-sectional shape including a head portion (220 or 1231), two legs (222 or 1232) extending from the head portion (220 or 1231), and two foot portions (224 or 1233) (feet) extending from the two legs (222 or 1232). The head portion (220 or 1231) forms a substantially planar section along the upper surface and is perpendicular to the sectional direction created by the two legs (222 or 1232). The sectional direction of the two legs (222 or 1232) are perpendicular to the sectional direction of the two feet (224 or 1233). The two feet (224 or 1233) are in a common plane along the bottom surface. Both foot portions are also parallel to the head portion. The cross-sectional shape of the core may further comprise two tail portions (1234) (tails), wherein each tail extends from one of the two foot (1233) portions in a direction toward the upper surface (1221).