A position sensing system is disclosed. The position sensing system may include a hollow sensor body. A magnet may be disposed in the hollow sensor body. The magnet may be movable within the hollow sensor body.

In the method and the device described here for operating an electromagnetic, in particular magnetostrictive, or acoustic position measuring device (10) having at least one position sensor (44), at least one position encoder (20) and a waveguide (14), said position measuring device having a control device for triggering an interrogation pulse in the waveguide (14) and an evaluation unit for evaluating a wave form (400-450) recorded by the position sensor (44), wherein the time between the triggering of the interrogation pulse and the point in time at which the wave form (400-450) recorded by the position sensor (44) is recorded is measured to determine the position of the position encoder (20) via the relationship between distance and time, it is in particular provided that position recognition is implemented by means of the position encoder (20) by localising patterns in the wave form (400-450) recorded by the position sensor (44), wherein the localisation of such patterns is implemented on the basis of correlation observations and wherein a cross-correlation pattern characterising the position encoder (20) is transformed into another pattern that enables autonomous position recognition of the position encoder (20) by means of machine learning.

A position sensor comprises a waveguide of magnetostrictive material which extends along a measurement path and which is configured for conducting mechanical pulses triggered by magnetostriction. A transducer at a first end of the waveguide serves for coupling a current pulse into the waveguide and for detecting a mechanical pulse conducted by the waveguide in the direction of the transducer. A damping element of an elastomer material is provided at a second end of the waveguide for damping a mechanical pulse propagating in the direction of the second end, wherein the hardness of the elastomer material increases as the distance from the transducer increases. The invention furthermore relates to a method of manufacturing a damping element of such a position sensor.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a sensing element portion and a first magnetic portion. The sensing element portion includes a supporter, a deformable film portion supported by the supporter, and a first element including a magnetic layer and being provided at the film portion. The first magnetic portion is separated from the sensing element portion. The first magnetic portion includes a plurality of first holes. A width of one of the plurality of first holes along a second direction is narrower than a length of the sensing element portion along the second direction and wider than a length of the first element along the second direction. The second direction crosses a first direction from the film portion toward the first element.

A magnetostrictive wire control rod position indicator for determining a real-time position of a control rod using a mutual interference effect between a magnetic field formed by supplying a pulse current to a magnetostrictive wire provided inside a protecting tube and a magnetic field formed by a permanent magnet of a drive shaft includes magnet members installed at an upper limit position and a lower limit position of the magnetostrictive wire control rod position indicator to cause magnetic field interference with the permanent magnet of the drive shaft.

A magnetostrictive path-measuring device is provided, comprising a plurality of measuring sections, each having an extent in a longitudinal direction and being arranged parallel to one another at least in a measuring region, at least one magnetic position indicator which is coupled contactlessly to the measuring sections, a start signal application device by means of which start signals are providable to the measuring sections for the generation of excitation current pulses, and an evaluating device by means of which the position of the position indicator on the measuring sections is determinable by a transit time measurement of mechanical waves, wherein the start signal application device comprises a time control device which directs that in a measuring cycle, start signals are provided to different measuring sections at defined different time points.

An apparatus for determining the position of an object having one or more magnetic elements. The apparatus includes magnetostrictive optical sensors, each arranged to produce a signal which is indicative of a proximity of the sensor to the one or more magnetic elements. The apparatus is arranged to determine the position of the object based on a plurality of such proximity signals.

A position-determining actuator includes a rod, a barrel, a wave detector, and a controller. The barrel at least partially surrounds a piston of the rod so as to define a cap-side void and allow the rod to telescope relative to the barrel. The wave detector is associated with the cap-side void and configured to read fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid disposed in the cap-side void. The controller is configured to receive, from the wave detector, a pressure reading from within the cap-side void; analyze the pressure reading to determine an extension standing wave; and analyze the extension standing wave to determine an extension dimension of the cap-side void.

A method for operating a magnetostrictive displacement measuring device, having a wave guide for guiding at least one mechanical wave, at least one damping zone, a magnetic position encoder which is displaceably arranged along a measuring range of the position measuring device and a detection unit, generates the at least one mechanical wave by an excitation signal (IP) having a clock frequency (f.sub.1, f.sub.2), at least two mechanical waves having respectively different clock frequencies (f.sub.1, f.sub.2, f) being generated. The clock frequencies can be predetermined such that interfering reflections (R.sub.11, R.sub.12) occur at different positions (x.sub.11, x.sub.21, x.sub.2) of the measuring range of the displacement measurement device, and during the method of the position encoder, switching between the different clock frequencies (f.sub.1, f.sub.2, f) takes place, such that the interfering reflections (R.sub.11, R.sub.12) on the respective different positions (x.sub.11, x.sub.21, x.sub.22) of the measuring range are masked out.

A precise and versatile hybrid sensor system and method of use that senses the location of a movable element traveling along a linear path. The system includes a magnetostrictive sensor along with a tried and proven converting mechanism that converts the linear movement of the movable element to rotational movement and then to a greatly reduced linear movement of a magnet that is directly proportional to the movement of the movable element. The magnetostrictive sensor has a sensor probe having an active length that is in close proximity and parallel to the movement of the magnet such that the magnetostrictive sensor can sense the location of the magnet to determine the location of the movable element. The magnetostrictive sensor is located exterior to the vessel to eliminate wiring within the vessel itself so as to allow the hybrid sensor to be readily used in difficult, high pressure or subsea environments.