An inductive sensor assembly is used for detecting a change in position of an actuating element. The sensor assembly has: an LC resonant circuit having an inductive element (L) and a capacitive element (C); an excitation supply which is coupled to the LC resonant circuit in order to excite the LC resonant circuit with an excitation voltage (U); a decoupling element arranged between the excitation supply and the LC resonant circuit; and, an evaluation arrangement for evaluating the signal decreasing across the resonant circuit. An actuating assembly is also provided.

Examples are disclosed that relate to sensing a position of a surface proximate to a resonant LC sensor. One example provides a method on a sensing device comprising one or more resonant LC sensors each configured to output a signal responsive to a position of a surface proximate to the resonant LC sensor. The method comprises, for each LC sensor, generating an oscillating signal on an antenna of the resonant LC sensor and detecting a near-field response of the resonant LC sensor at a selected frequency.

Examples are disclosed that relate to sensing a position of a surface proximate to a resonant LC sensor. One example provides a method on a sensing device comprising one or more resonant LC sensors each configured to output a signal responsive to a position of a surface proximate to the resonant LC sensor. The method comprises, for each LC sensor, generating an oscillating signal on an antenna of the resonant LC sensor and detecting a near-field response of the resonant LC sensor at a selected frequency.

A system may include a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a distance between the sensor and a mechanical member associated with the sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the sensor and configured to determine a physical force interaction with the mechanical member based on the sensor signal, and a compensator configured to monitor the sensor signal and to apply a compensation factor to the sensor signal to compensate for changes to properties of the sensor based on at least one of changes in a distance between the sensor and the mechanical member and changes in a temperature associated with the sensor.

Examples are disclosed that relate to sensing a position of a surface proximate to a resonant LC sensor. One example provides a method on a sensing device comprising one or more resonant LC sensors each configured to output a signal responsive to a position of a surface proximate to the resonant LC sensor. The method comprises, for each LC sensor, generating an oscillating signal on an antenna of the resonant LC sensor and detecting a near-field response of the resonant LC sensor at a selected frequency.

An inductive sensor device has a coil arrangement and sensor electronics for determining a longitudinal position of an at least partially electrically conductive and/or magnetically polarizable object moveable at a distance from a device end face along a device sensitive axis. The arrangement has a substantially planar exciting coil for producing an alternating magnetic field for inducing eddy currents and/or magnetic polarization in the object and a first substantially planar receiving coil substantially parallel to and overlapping the exciting coil. The coils are substantially parallel to the end face. The sensor electronics determine at least one parameter of an exciting coil electrical signal, which is variable owing to an inductive backward effect of the object, at least one parameter of a voltage inducible in the at least first receiving coil based on this effect, and the longitudinal position from the determined signal parameter and the determined voltage parameter.

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.

An inductive sensor device has a coil arrangement and sensor electronics for determining a longitudinal position of an at least partially electrically conductive and/or magnetically polarizable object moveable at a distance from a device end face along a device sensitive axis. The arrangement has a substantially planar exciting coil for producing an alternating magnetic field for inducing eddy currents and/or magnetic polarization in the object and a first substantially planar receiving coil substantially parallel to and overlapping the exciting coil. The coils are substantially parallel to the end face. The sensor electronics determine at least one parameter of an exciting coil electrical signal, which is variable owing to an inductive backward effect of the object, at least one parameter of a voltage inducible in the at least first receiving coil based on this effect, and the longitudinal position from the determined signal parameter and the determined voltage parameter.

An apparatus (20) for use in inductive sensing includes a loop antenna (26) and a signal generator (24) for driving the antenna, these forming a resonator circuit (22). The resonator circuit is drivable in a drive state in which the antenna is driven at resonance to thereby generate electromagnetic signals. The arrangement further includes a switching means (28) for switchably inhibiting the drive state of the antenna This allows in use controllable switching of the antenna in and out of the drive state to thereby control switching signal generation on and off.

Disclosed herein is a sensor having an extended sensing distance range beyond conventional proximity sensors. The sensor includes an electrical component structure having a topology in which current is concentrated close to a periphery of the electrical component to produce an extended sensing field. A frequency adjustment circuit can be used to control a frequency of the sensing field to avoid jammers or other interfering signals.