The present invention relates to a rotation detection apparatus configured to detect a rotation state of a gear based on a magnetic field change that occurs as the gear is rotated. The rotation detection apparatus includes: a first sensor portion and a second sensor portion each having a magnetic detection element and a covering member configured to cover the magnetic detection element; one permanent magnet arranged between the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion; and a housing portion configured to accommodate the first sensor portion, the second sensor portion and the permanent magnet.

A rotary encoder includes an electret unit, an electrostatic field sensor, and a controller. The electret unit generates an electrostatic field. The electrostatic field sensor is disposed proximate to the electret unit to sense a modulation of the electrostatic field that varies with rotation of one or more rotary components of the rotary encoder about a rotation axis of the rotary encoder. The controller is electrically coupled to the electrostatic field sensor to track activations of the electrostatic field sensor as the one or more rotary components rotate. The controller is configured to digitally encode a rotational position of the one or more rotary components based upon the activations.

An orthopaedic aid with a reference element, a movement element that is movably fixed to the reference element and a position sensor for determining a position of the movement element relative to the reference element, which comprises at least one permanent magnet and at least three Hall sensors, wherein the Hall sensors are arranged on the reference element and for moving along a trajectory upon a movement of the movement element relative to the reference element, wherein the at least one permanent magnet is fixed to the movement element and wherein the Hall sensors and the permanent magnet are arranged in such a way that a movement of the movement element relative to the reference element and a resulting movement of the Hall sensors along the trajectory causes a linear change in Hall voltage for at least one Hall sensor.

A distance measuring device with two magnetic field sensors and a permanent magnet and a semiconductor body is provided. The device includes a monolithically integrated evaluation circuit, and a difference signal can be determined by means of the magnetic field sensors and provides an output signal as a result of the determination. The value of the output signal based on the neutralization of a magnetic-flux-free region is a function of a distance of a ferromagnetic sensing element from the two magnetic field sensors. The semiconductor body is arranged between U-shaped pole shanks of the magnet, which is magnetized in the X direction, wherein the first magnetic field sensor is arranged in an area located between two opposing shanks of the first pole, and the second magnetic field sensor is arranged in an area located between two opposing shanks of the second pole.

A magnetic field sensor for sensing an absolute position of a target includes a first magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a first portion of the target having a first cross-sectional shape configured to generate a first periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the first target portion and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a second portion of the target having a second cross-sectional shape configured to generate a second periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the second target portion, wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal have a substantially constant phase separation. An output format module responsive to the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal is configured to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor.

Position sensors, including linear position sensors, that utilize magnetic field(s) are disclosed. Disclosed sensors include flux emitters and sensor assemblies. The sensor assemblies include flux collectors that interact with magnetic fields from flux emitters and with a magnetism sensing device. Flux emitters have arrangements of magnets that when combined with the sensor assembly can provide a constantly increasing or a constantly decreasing signal across a range of relative movement.

A position detection device includes a magnetic field generator and a magnetic sensor. The magnetic field generator is configured so that a mode of variation of a direction of a target magnetic field relative to variations in a position of a lens is such that the direction of the target magnetic field varies nonlinearly relative to the variations in the position of the lens. The magnetic sensor is configured so that a mode of variation of a detection signal relative to variations in the direction of the target magnetic field is such that the detection signal varies nonlinearly relative to the variations in the direction of the target magnetic field.

A magnetic sensor system includes a magnet and a sensor device. The magnet has a shape and is movable along an axis between a first position and a second position and is optionally also rotatable about this axis. The magnetic sensor device has a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements for measuring at least two orthogonal magnetic field components or at least two orthogonal magnetic field gradients, and a processing circuit for determining an axial position of the magnet or whether the magnet is located in the first or second position based on the first and second magnetic field components or gradients, and optionally also for estimating or calculating an angular position of the magnet. A method of determining the axial and/or angular position. A magnetic sensor device includes features of the magnetic sensor system.

A method for manufacturing a sensor for motor vehicles, includes placing a camera facing the leadframe to generate a sequence of images showing at least one positioning reference system and at least one measurement cell or an integrated circuit, detecting the at least one measurement cell or integrated circuit in images generated by the camera, determining the position of the at least one measurement cell or integrated circuit relative to the at least one reference system, applying a first marking to the baseplate, the first marking containing information representing the determined position, overmolding the assembly formed by the support zone and integrated circuit, with the at least one reference system still being visible, positioning the magnetic element in the electromagnetic proximity of the at least one measurement cell, detecting the magnetic element in the images generated by the camera, determining the position of the magnetic element relative to the at least one reference system, and applying a second marking to the sensor, the second marking containing information representing said determined position.

A magnetic sensor module includes an axially polarized back bias magnet having a magnet body that radially extends from an inner sidewall to an outer sidewall and a bore that defines the inner sidewall. The axially polarized back bias magnet generates a radial bias magnetic in-plane field about a magnetization axis of the axially polarized back bias magnet in a sensor plane. The magnetic field has a magnetic flux density of substantially zero along the extension of the magnetization axis and along a perimeter of a zero-field closed loop located in the sensor plane. The magnetic sensor module includes a magnetic sensor including a plurality of sensor elements arranged in the sensor plane at locations where the radial bias magnetic in-plane field has the magnetic flux density of substantially zero, including at least two sensor elements being arranged on the perimeter of the zero-field closed loop.