System providing limit switch function with simultaneous absolute position output

The invention was made by employees of the United States Government and may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to limit switches. More specifically, the invention is a system that can function as a limit switch and simultaneously provide a signal indicative of absolute position along a linear axis.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a wide variety of motorized systems, a system operation (e.g., stopping the system's motor) is triggered when a limit switch is tripped. Generally, a limit switch is configured to detect when a system's element has traveled/moved to a certain position. Since the system element is moving, inertia frequently causes the element to move past the limit switch thereby causing a condition known as “system overrun”. When this occurs, the exact position of the element is unknown and techniques must be implemented to locate the element relative to the known limit switch position. Such techniques include use of separate position sensors or search routines. However, the use of separate position sensors adds size, weight and complexity to a system's limit switch function, while search routines cause time delays in system operations.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a limit and position sensing system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that simultaneously generates both a limit switch type signal and a signal indicative of absolute position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.

In accordance with the present invention, a limit and position sensing system includes a sensor assembly and an emitter. The sensor assembly includes first and second electrical conductors and ferromagnetic material. The first electrical conductor is arranged in a first plane, is coiled outwardly in a clockwise fashion starting at its first end to form a first coil region, and is coiled outwardly in a clockwise fashion starting at its second end to form a second coil region. Uniform spacing is defined between rings of the first and second coil regions along an axis of the first plane. The second electrical conductor is arranged in a second plane parallel to the first plane, and forms a single coil with rings thereof being uniformly-spaced. Portions of the rings of the single coil that lie between the first end and second end of the first electrical conductor are parallel to the first plane's axis. The ferromagnetic material is arranged in a third plane parallel to the first and second planes. The ferromagnetic material is aligned with the first coil region, second coil region, and single coil such that the ferromagnetic material spans beyond (a) the first and second ends of the first electrical conductor, and (b) the portions of the rings of the single coil that lie between the first end and second end of the first electrical conductor and are parallel to the first plane's axis. The emitter is spaced apart from the sensor assembly. The emitter transmits a periodic electromagnetic wave towards the sensor assembly such that the wave is incident on the first and second electrical conductors prior to being incident on the ferromagnetic material. The system's sensor assembly produces an output signal that varies depending on the location of the emitter along the axis of the first plane. The output signal can be used to provide a limit switch function and identify the position of the emitter along the axis of the first plane.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a limit and position sensing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the limit and position sensing system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the limit and position sensor along with a plot of the sensor's output magnitude when the sensor is exposed to a periodic electromagnetic wave in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the synchronization coil used in the sensor assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isolated plan view of the synchronization coil overlaid on an isolated plan view of the limit and position sensor;

FIG. 6 is a side schematic view of the limit and position sensing system illustrating the magnetic flux lines of the magnetic fields in the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an isolated plan view illustrating the possible positioning of the ferromagnetic material overlaid on isolated plan view of synchronization coil and the limit and position sensor;

FIG. 8 is a side schematic view of a multilayer construction of the sensor assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a limit and position sensing system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a limit and position sensing system in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a limit and position sensing system in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a gap sensing system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a gap sensing system.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 , a limit and position sensing system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is referenced generally by numeral 10 . System 10 provides an output signal that can be used to trigger a limit switch function while simultaneously indicating absolute position. In general, system 10 has an emitter 20 coupled to a structure 100 and a sensor assembly 30 coupled to a structure 200 . Structures 100 and 200 are two spaced-apart structures and are shown in phantom to indicate that they do not comprise elements of system 10 . Structures 100 and 200 are capable of relative movement (e.g., only structure 100 moves, only structure 200 moves, or both structures 100 and 200 move) along a linear direction represented by two-headed arrow 300 .

As will be explained in greater detail below, sensor assembly 30 has an inherent sensing axis 40 . Sensor assembly 30 is positioned on structure 200 such that sensing axis 40 is parallel to linear direction 300 . Emitter 20 is positioned on structure 100 such that it is substantially aligned with sensing axis 40 as structures 100 and 200 experience relative movement along linear direction 300 . Emitter 20 and sensor assembly 30 are separated by a gap that remains substantially constant as structures 100 and 200 experience relative movement along linear direction 300 . Emitter 20 transmits a periodic wave 22 of electromagnetic energy towards sensor assembly 30 as structures 100 and 200 experience relative movement along linear direction 300 . The frequency and shape (e.g., sinusoidal, triangular, square, etc.) of periodic wave 22 are not limitations of the present invention.

Briefly, in operation, emitter 20 transmits periodic wave 22 towards sensor assembly 30 as structures 100 and 200 experience relative movement along linear direction 300 . Sensor assembly 30 produces a response (i.e., an electrical signal) in the presence of periodic wave 22 that can simultaneously indicate (i) when a particular relative reference position between structures 100 and 200 has been attained as a result of relative movement therebetween along linear direction 300 (i.e., a limit switch function), and (ii) the absolute position of emitter 20 relative to the reference position.

Emitter 20 can be any device capable of transmitting a period electromagnetic wave 22 therefrom. For example, emitter 20 could be realized by an excitation signal source 24 coupled to an excitation coil 26 . The excitation coil could be put on a printed wiring board (not shown) or similar configuration. Two excitation coils could be used to balance the signal, but are not necessary. The coil could be micro-machined from a silicon die source for MEMS applications. Thus, it is to be understood that the present invention could be realized using a variety of other types of devices to generate/transmit periodic wave 22 without departing from the scope of the present invention as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

Sensor assembly 30 combines a number of unique innovations for its use in system 10 . In general, sensor assembly 30 includes

(i) a limit and position sensor 32 that generates the signal that can be interpreted by conventional electronics (not shown) to simultaneously provide a limit switch function and absolute position information,

(ii) a sensor synchronizer 34 that essentially transfers the phase information associated with periodic wave 22 to sensor assembly 30 , and

(iii) ferromagnetic material 36 that improves the electromagnetic sensitivity of sensor assembly 30 by collimating/focusing the electromagnetic field (associated with periodic wave 22 ) incident on sensor 32 /coil 34 and providing a flux return path to emitter 20 . Note that the positions of sensor 32 and 34 relative to emitter 20 can be reversed (as shown in FIG. 2 ) without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Limit and position sensor 32 is illustrated in greater detail in a plan view thereof in FIG. 3 . Typically, sensor 32 includes a non-electrically conductive planar substrate 32 A on which a electrical conductor 32 B is supported. For example, substrate 32 A can be a conventional printed wiring board substrate with electrical conductor 32 B being a conductive run “printed” thereon as would be well understood in the art. However, it is to be understood that the sensor 32 could be constructed in a variety of other ways (e.g., made on a silicon dye for MEMS applications) without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Regardless of the particular construction of sensor 32 , conductor 32 B is a single electrical conductor lying in a plane (e.g., the surface plane of substrate 32 A) with conductor 32 B terminating at ends 32 F and 32 G. Conductor 32 B is arranged to form two planar coil regions 32 C and 32 D. In coil region 32 C, conductor 32 B is coiled outwardly from end 32 F in a clockwise fashion. In coil region 32 D, conductor 32 B is coiled outwardly in a clockwise fashion from end 32 G. Coil regions 32 C and 32 D are electrically coupled to one another at an interior region 32 E of conductor 32 B. The above-described sensing axis 40 lies in the plane of conductor 32 B and extends through the central portions of coil regions 32 C and 32 D as illustrated. Along axis 40 , the spacing between adjacent runs of conductor 32 B (i.e., adjacent rings of the coils defined by coil regions 32 C/ 32 D and interior region 32 E) is uniform. Although not a requirement of the present invention, the number of rings formed by conductor 32 B in coil region 32 C will typically match the number of rings formed by conductor 32 B in coil region 32 D.

When the above-described sensor 32 is exposed to a periodic electromagnetic wave (e.g., wave 22 from emitter 20 ) from a position substantially aligned along axis 40 and spaced apart from sensor 32 , a voltage is induced in one of coil regions 32 C and 32 D depending on where the wave originates along axis 40 . As evidenced by the graph of output magnitude in FIG. 3 , the magnitude of the induced voltage indicates where the electromagnetic wave originated. For the illustrated example of coil regions 32 C and 32 D having an equal number of rings, if the electromagnetic wave originates at a positioned aligned with interior region 32 E, a zero output is produced when the output signal is tapped across ends 32 F and 32 G of conductor 32 B. Thus, in this example, interior region 32 E defines the null point of sensor 32 .

The sensor's output magnitude increases from the sensor's null point (e.g., at interior region 32 E) as the electromagnetic wave source moves along linear direction 300 towards either of the central portions of coil regions 32 C or 32 D with a peak magnitude at each coil region's central portion. Finally, the sensor's output magnitude in coil region 32 C decreases from the peak as the electromagnetic wave source moves further to the left and away from interior region 32 E, while the sensor's output magnitude in coil region 32 D decreases from the peak as the electromagnetic wave source moves further to the right and away from interior region 32 E.

As previously mentioned, coil regions 32 C and 32 D will typically have the same number of rings thereby yielding a zero or null point at the centrally positioned interior region 32 E. However, if one coil region has more rings than the other, the sensor's zero or null point will simply shift to the coil region with the greater number of rings.

The limit switch function capabilities of the present invention would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after referring to FIG. 3 . Specifically, the graph in FIG. 3 illustrates that the null point of sensor 32 or any other set voltage level could be used to trigger one or more limit switch functions. For example, in the FIG. 3 embodiment, the peak voltages could be used to trigger the ends or limits of travel whereas the null point could be used to trigger when the midpoint of travel between ends 32 F and 32 G has been reached.

As is also clearly evident from the graph in FIG. 3 , the position information provided by the output magnitude is ambiguous as a magnitude value could be indicative of up to four different positions along axis 40 . The number of ambiguous magnitude values can be reduced to two if sensor 32 is configured such that relative movement between sensor 32 and emitter 20 (not shown in FIG. 3 ) will only occur between the central portions of coil regions 32 C and 32 D (i.e., between the two peak output magnitudes). To eliminate the ambiguity, it is necessary to look at the phase of the voltage induced in one of coil regions 32 C and 32 D. That is, the output voltage of sensor 32 is in phase relative to the phase of the emitter's periodic electromagnetic wave (i.e., wave 22 ) when the wave is positioned over one coil region, but is 180° out-of-phase relative to the phase of the emitter's periodic electromagnetic wave when the wave originates from a position over the other coil region. For example, if coil region 32 D produces an output voltage that is in phase relative to the emitter's excitation voltage of A[sin(ωt)], the output voltage induced in coil region 32 D is of the form K(x)*A[sin(ωt)] where K(x) varies with the position x along axis 40 . In contrast, the output voltage induced in coil region 32 C will be 180° out-of-phase with the excitation voltage so that the output voltage induced in coil region 32 C (when emitter 20 is positioned thereover) is of the form −K(x)*A[sin(ωt)].

Since the phase of the output voltage induced in sensor 32 is relative to the emitter's excitation voltage, the phase of such excitation voltage must also be known. This can be achieved by tapping into the emitter's inputs. However, the disadvantage of this is that emitter 20 and sensor assembly 30 essentially become mechanically limited. This may not be desirable in many moving structure applications. Accordingly, the present invention overcomes this problem through the use of sensor synchronizer 34 . By way of example, a plan view of sensor synchronizer 34 is shown in FIG. 4 where a non-electrically conductive planar substrate 34 A supports an electrical conductor 34 B. Similar to substrate 32 A/conductor 32 B, a variety of technologies can be utilized to construct substrate 34 A/conductor 34 B without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Regardless of the particular construction of sensor synchronizer 34 , conductor 34 B is a single electrical conductor lying in a plane (e.g., the surface plane of substrate 34 A). Conductor 34 B is arranged to form a single planar coil having multiple rings as shown. Sensor synchronizer 34 is aligned with sensor 32 . Specifically, the portions of the rings (formed by conductor 34 B) that span the useful sensitivity of sensor 32 (e.g., between the center portions of coil regions 32 C and 32 D as described above) are uniformly-spaced and parallel to one another. This situation is depicted in FIG. 5 where conductor 34 B is depicted as a dashed line overlaid on conductor 32 B.

In operation, as a periodic electromagnetic wave (e.g., wave 22 ) is incident on conductor 34 B from a position along axis 40 , a voltage is induced in conductor 34 B with the induced voltage (e.g., measured at ends 34 C and 34 D) being in-phase with that of the emitter's periodic electromagnetic wave. In this way, sensor synchronizer 34 provides the comparative phase information necessary to resolve the previously-described position ambiguity generated by the output magnitude of sensor 32 . In other words, sensor synchronizer 34 transfers the phase of the emitter signal to the sensor side of system 10 .

In addition, the output signal generated by conductor 34 B is nearly constant for a particular fixed gap between emitter 20 and conductor 34 B, but changes for a different gap distance. Thus, the output signal produced by conductor 34 B can be used to measure the gap (between emitter 20 and conductor 34 B) and calibrate sensor assembly 30 for use in, for example, system 10 .

Referring additionally now to FIG. 6 , ferromagnetic material 36 operates to focus/collimate magnetic flux (represented by lines 50 ) as the magnetic energy is incident on and passes through sensor 32 /synchronizer 34 . Note that either sensor 32 or synchronizer 34 could be positioned closer to emitter 20 as previously described. Ferromagnetic material 36 further serves as a flux return path that facilitates the wrapping of flux 50 back to emitter 20 to thereby complete the electromagnetic circuit.

Ferromagnetic material 36 should be aligned with those portions of conductors 32 B and 34 B that define the sensitive range of sensor assembly 30 . Typically, as illustrated in FIG. 7 , this means that ferromagnetic material 36 spans at least to the center portions of coil regions 32 C and 32 D as well as the portions of the rings of conductor 34 B that lie between the center portions of coil regions 32 C and 32 D. To avoid edge effects, it may be desirable to have ferromagnetic material 36 span beyond the usable sensitive area of sensor 32 /synchronizer 34 .

Ferromagnetic material 36 is any material capable of collimating/focusing magnetic flux and providing a flux return path. For example, material 36 could be a layer of mu-metal as it can transport a large amount of magnetic flux even in thin sheets thereof. However, other ferromagnetic materials could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, material 36 can be provided in the construction of sensor assembly 30 , or could be provided by virtue of the material surface of the structure to which sensor 32 /synchronizer 34 are attached (e.g., structure 200 in FIGS. 1 and 2 ).

As has been mentioned throughout this description, sensor assembly 30 can be constructed in a variety of ways. For example, FIG. 8 illustrates a multilayer construction where an electrically non-conductive layer 60 separates conductors 32 B and 34 B, and an electrically non-conductive 62 separates conductor 34 B and ferromagnetic material 36 . Layer 60 could have opposing and parallel planar sides 60 A/ 60 B with conductor 32 B “printed” on side 60 A and conductor 34 B “printed” on side 60 B. Coupling to the various ends of conductors 32 B and 34 B could be accomplished by a variety of techniques well understood in the art.

The advantages of the present invention are numerous. A single sensor provides a limit switch function and absolute position information from the same output. The system is simple and lends itself to miniaturization. The system is a non-contact system thereby greatly reducing the problems inherent in mechanically-based limit and position sensing systems.

The innovations provided by the present invention extend beyond the limit and position sensing system embodiment described herein. That is, some applications may not require all of the features of the above-described sensor assembly 30 as will now be explained briefly with the aid of FIGS. 9–13 . For example, depending on application requirements, the sensor assembly used along with emitter 20 could utilize (i) just sensor 32 by itself ( FIG. 9 ), (ii) sensor 32 in conjunction with just sensor synchronizer 34 ( FIG. 10 ), or (iii) sensor 32 in conjunction with just ferromagnetic material 36 ( FIG. 11 ). Still further, the sensor assembly could be configured to simply measure the gap between emitter 20 and the sensor assembly. In such an application, the sensor assembly used along with emitter 20 could utilize (i) just synchronizer 34 by itself ( FIG. 12 ), or (ii) synchronizer 34 in conjunction with ferromagnetic material 36 ( FIG. 13 ).

Although the invention has been described relative to a specific embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.