David L. Becker - White Lake MI, US Phillip J. Shandilis - Livonia MI, US Aaron M. Mills - Dexter MI, US
Assignee:
TRW Automotive U.S. LLC - Livonia MI
International Classification:
G01B007/14
US Classification:
32420726, 3242072, 280735
Abstract:
A sensor () for sensing the position of a ferromagnetic target () relative to the sensor includes a Hall effect device () responsive to a change in a magnetic field () acting on the Hall effect device. A magnet () produces a magnetic field () that acts on the Hall effect device (). The target () changes the magnetic field () acting on the Hall effect device () as the position of the target relative to the sensor () changes. First and second flux collectors (and ) are located on one side () of the magnet () for concentrating the magnetic field () on the Hall effect device (). A third flux collector () is located on a second side () of the magnet () opposite the one side () for reducing the reluctance of a magnetic flux path through the target ().