Cable-actuated position sensors are described that employ multiple block and tackle arrangements to measure displacement of a draw wire or flexible cable. The disclosed sensors are relatively small and inexpensive. The disclosed sensors may also be used as part of a servo motor, or in conjunction with gear motors to provide positional information for operation of the gear motor.

A vehicle steering system comprises: a motor assembly operably coupled to a steering rack, the motor assembly comprising a motor having a rotor and a motor position sensor configured to sense a rotor angle of the motor in a single-turn range; and a rotary-to-linear conversion mechanism operably coupled between the motor assembly and the steering rack, the rotary-to-linear conversion mechanism comprising a rotor operably coupled to the rotor of the motor. A processor calculates an absolute angular position of the pinion in a full-turn range of rotation of the pinion based on the sensed rotor angle of the motor and a pinion angle sensed by a pinion angle sensor in a single-turn range, or based on the sensed rotor angle of the motor and an angle of the rotor of the rotary-to-linear conversion mechanism sensed by an angular position sensor in the single-turn range.

A drug delivery device comprising: a housing; a cylindrical member rotatably supported within the housing; and a plurality of sensors; wherein: the outer surface of the cylindrical member is provided with a single track, the track forming an encoder and having a plurality of first track segments and a plurality of second track segments arranged along the length of the track which are respectively capable of inducing first and second responses in the sensors; and in each rotational position of the cylindrical member relative to the housing at least one different first track segment is capable of inducing a first response in at least one said sensor, thereby enabling the rotational position of the cylindrical member relative to the housing to be determined.

A linear system includes a linear unit and a motor adapted to drive the linear unit so as to perform a linear movement. A system for detecting the position of the linear unit includes an absolute encoder which is connected to the motor. The absolute encoder is configured so as to detect a position of the linear unit based on a movement of the motor.

Stroke sensor 3 for detecting a position of moving object 2 that moves linearly has: magnetic field generator 11; support member 7 that supports magnetic field generator 11; and magnetic field detecting element 14 that detects a magnetic field that is generated by magnetic field generator 11. Support member 7 converts a linear movement of moving object 2 relative to magnetic field detecting element 14 to a rotational movement of magnetic field generator 11 relative to magnetic field detecting element 14. Magnetic field generator 11 moves rotationally in a rotational movement range having two ends, and a one-to-one correspondence is realized between a rotation angle of magnetic field generator 11 and a position of moving object 2 within a region of the rotational movement range that excludes at least the two ends.

A sensing system for determining axial position of a cylindrical rod involves: a tapered rotatable shaft having a rotation axis, the shaft positionable so that the rotation axis is perpendicular to a translation axis of a cylindrical rod, the shaft having a tapered portion that is frictionally engageable with the cylindrical rod to be rotatable by the cylindrical rod when the cylindrical rod moves axially: a biasing element that biases the shaft in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the shaft to continually maintain frictional engagement of the tapered portion of the shaft with the cylindrical rod when the shaft is engaged with the cylindrical rod: and, a sensor for detecting rotation of the shaft when the shaft is rotated by the cylindrical rod, the rotation of the shaft being correlated to the axial position of the cylindrical rod.

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.

A rotor-hub flap-measurement system includes a rotor hub operable to flap relative to a main-rotor axis, a flap-linkage arm, a first end of the flap-linkage arm rotatably coupled to the rotor hub, the flap-linkage arm responsive to flapping of the rotor hub, and a magneto-resistive sensor system rotatably coupled to a second end of the flap-linkage arm and responsive to movement of the flap-linkage arm.

A sensor arrangement for detecting a pedal movement in a vehicle includes a measurement value transmitter that is arranged on a piston that is translated by the pedal movement and a measurement value sensor that is arranged in a stationary manner in the movement region of the piston. The measurement value sensor in connection with the measurement value transmitter generates a signal that represents the pedal movement. The measurement value transmitter and the measurement value sensor are configured as inductive sensors. The measurement value transmitter has at least one detection region, and the measurement value sensor has at least one detection coil. The at least one detection region of the measurement value transmitter influences the inductance of the at least one detection coil such that the changing inductance of the at least one detection coil of the measurement value sensor is interpreted as a measure of the pedal movement.

An inductive detection type rotary encoder of the present invention includes: first and second transmission windings in a stator; first and second reception windings within first and second regions, respectively; and first and second magnetic flux coupling bodies within third and fourth regions, respectively, in a rotor. The second, first, third, and fourth regions are sequentially disposed in an axial direction. The shortest distance between the first transmission winding and the first magnetic flux coupling body is shorter than those between the second transmission winding and the first magnetic flux coupling body and between the first transmission winding and the second magnetic flux coupling body. The shortest distance between the second transmission winding and the second magnetic flux coupling body is shorter than those between the first transmission winding and the second magnetic flux coupling body and between the second transmission winding and the first magnetic flux coupling body.