A magnetic switch sensor is provided having a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field indicative of a distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and a target, a first circuit coupled to receive the magnetic field signal and having an output to provide a comparison signal, and a debounce circuit coupled to receive the comparison signal and having an output to provide a debounced signal. The sensor can include a second circuit having an input coupled to receive the debounced signal and an output at which is provided a toggle signal that transitions between first and second levels every other time the magnetic field signal crosses a threshold level.

A proximity sensor for detecting the proximity of an object, including a sensing element, a detection circuitry provided on a circuit board, and a housing with a rear portion adjoining a rear end of the housing and a front portion adjoining a front end of the housing, the sensing element being arranged inside the front portion of the housing to interact with the object through the front portion, the detection circuitry being interconnected with the sensing element to receive a detection signal from the sensing element, the housing including side walls extending in a longitudinal direction from the rear end to the front end of the housing, the side walls surrounding the circuit board. To allow a better flexibility of the sensor along its length expansion, the circuit board includes at least one bendable section extending in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal direction and that the side walls substantially consist of at least one flexible material in a region surrounding the bendable section of the circuit board such that the sensor is bendable through the transverse direction.

The invention relates to an inductive proximity switch. The object of the invention to present a very simplified inductive position sensor, which can be reliably used for detecting a zero crossing of its output voltage when a target moves by will be solved by an inductive proximity switch comprising a transmitter coil, a receiver coil, an integrated circuit for excitation of the transmitter coil and a signal processing unit for processing a received signal from the receiver coil, wherein an oscillator excites a resonant circuit comprising the transmitter coil and a parallel capacitor for inducing a voltage in the receiver coil, wherein the receiver coil comprises two symmetrical segments with opposite orientation that are connected in series, wherein the transmitter coil surrounds the segments of the receiver coil or the transmitter coil is surrounded by the segments of the receiver coil.

A proximity sensor that outputs presence or absence of a detection object or a position of the detection object as a detection result includes: a detection part configured to include a detection coil and a capacitor; an oscillation circuit configured to excite the detection part; an analog/digital conversion circuit configured to detect a signal change occurring in the detection part and output a digital signal indicating the detected signal change; a temperature detection part configured to detect a temperature inside a casing of the proximity sensor; a storage part configured to store a characteristic parameter unique to the proximity sensor in advance; a control calculation part configured to process a digital signal from the analog/digital conversion circuit to calculate a signal indicating a distance to the detection object, compensate the calculated signal using the characteristics parameter stored in the storage part, and output the compensated signal as the detection result.

A proximity sensor includes a transmission circuit that supplies a current to each of detection coils, a reception circuit that detects voltages generated at both ends of the coils or currents flowing in the coils due to the supply of the current for each of the coils, a control unit that senses the presence or position of a detection object using a detection result of the reception circuit, and an output unit that outputs a sensing result of the control unit. The control unit extracts a first component caused by a mounting fitting for mounting the proximity sensor on a support member and a second component caused by the detection object from the detection result of the reception circuit. The control unit compensates the second component using the first component. The control unit senses the presence or position of the detection object on the basis of the compensated second component.

A target magnet mechanism for a proximity switch. The target magnet mechanism includes a plurality of magnets disposed in an alternating magnetic pole configuration forming a narrowed, polarity reversing magnetic field. A center magnet has a magnetic polarity opposite the magnetic polarity of a sensing magnet of the proximity switch. A flanking magnet includes a magnetic polarity opposite the magnetic polarity of the center magnet and the same as the sensing magnet. So configured, the plurality of magnets trigger the proximity switch to an activated state by pulling on a magnetic field of the proximity switch via the opposed polarity of the center magnet and the sensing magnet. In addition, the plurality of magnets release the proximity switch back to an unactivated state by pushing on the magnetic field of the proximity switch via the same polarity of the flanking magnet and the sensing magnet.

A modular sensing system for determining the relative lineal position between a first object and a second object includes an array of switch units fixed with the first object and an array of magnet units fixed with the second object. Each switch unit contains an electric circuit that includes a switch, a resistor, and conductors arranged to convey electricity from one of a pair of front connectors to one of a pair of rear connectors, and from the other front connector to the other rear connector through either the resistor or the switch when the switch is closed. The switch is normally open but closed when proximate one of the magnet units, each of which houses a magnet. Resistance between a pair of wires of a first switch unit in the array is related to the relative linear position between the arrays of switch units and magnet units.

A switch is disclosed. The switch includes a body; and an actuator configured to provide a magnetic force to the body and induce an electrical switching of the body, wherein the body includes a housing with a first surface; and a plurality of hall sensors sequentially disposed adjacent to the first surface, wherein the actuator includes a case with a second surface; and a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body sequentially disposed adjacent to the second surface, wherein the first magnetic body includes a first polarity; and a second polarity opposite to the first magnetic body, wherein the second magnetic body includes a third polarity; and a fourth polarity opposite to the third magnetic body, wherein the first polarity, the second polarity, the third polarity, and the fourth polarity are sequentially disposed along the second surface.

Inductive Proximity Sensors are non-contact sensing devices used in manufacturing processes to sense metal targets. In practice, it is common for objects to contact the sensor causing the sensor to malfunction. An inductive sensor with improved durability is required. An inductive proximity sensor includes an exterior housing, an interior sensing coil and electronic circuit, and a connector. The Exterior housing is produced from one piece of metal bar, bored from one end to the tip of the other end, leaving the cylindrical tube open only on one end. The Exterior Housing is produced with an Inside Dimension that is smaller than previous proximity sensors and places the coil and electronic circuit further away from the Outside Dimension of the Exterior Housing. The interior sensing coil and electronic circuit are protected by the thick casing of the Exterior housing to improve structural rigidity and the longevity of operation in manufacturing processes. The design of the Exterior Housing has the ability to withstand extreme shear forces from contact abuse.

A sensor element of an inductive proximity sensor or distance sensor contains a coil arrangement with at least one excitation coil and at least one receiving coil and includes an electrically conductive shielding which contains a shielding cup that surrounds the coil arrangement laterally and on the rear face. A method operates the sensor element. The shielding of the sensor element further contains a flange which is provided on the front face of the sensor element, is connected to the shielding cup in an electrically conductive manner, and completely surrounds the coil arrangement.