System and method for position sensing using inflection point position sensing of a sensor output

1. A position sensor comprising:

a magnet;

a sensor element configured to provide an output in response to a position of said magnet relative to said sensor element, said sensor element and said magnet movable relative to one another; and

circuitry configured to provide an output in response to an inflection point of said output of said sensor element, said circuitry comprising an analog circuit comprising a comparator configured to compare said output of said sensor element to a time delayed output of said sensor element.

2. A position sensor according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor element comprises a Hall effect sensor.

3. A position sensor according to claim 1 wherein said output signal of said sensor element comprises a magnetic flux signal, wherein said circuitry is configured to provide said output in response to an inflection point of said magnetic flux signal.

4. A system comprising:

a magnet;

a sensor element, said magnet and said sensor element movable relative to one another, and said sensor element configured to provide an output in response to a position of said magnet relative to said sensor element;

circuitry configured to provide an output in response to an inflection point of said output of said sensor element; and

an actuator comprising a motor coupled to drive an actuator output, said magnet and said sensor element configured to move relative to one another in response to said actuator output being driven by said motor, wherein said motor is configured to be energized or de-energized in response to said output of said circuitry.

5. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said motor is coupled to one of said magnet or said sensor element for driving one of said magnet or said sensor element relative to the other of said magnet or said sensor element.

6. A system according to claim 5 , wherein said motor is coupled to one of said magnet or said magnetic sensor element by a lead screw driven by said motor.

7. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said circuitry configured to provide said output in response to said inflection point of said output of said sensor element comprises a microprocessor configured to determine said inflection point of said output of said sensor element.

8. A system according to claim 7 , wherein said microprocessor determines said inflection point based on a derivative of a function representative of said output of said sensor element.

9. A system according to claim 4 , wherein said circuitry configured to provide said output in response to said inflection point of said output of said sensor element comprises an analog circuit.

10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein said analog circuit comprises a comparator configured to compare said output of said sensor element to a time delayed output of said sensor element.

11. A system according to claim 4 wherein said output signal of said sensor element comprises a magnetic flux signal, wherein said circuitry is configured to provide said output in response to an inflection point of said magnetic flux signal.

12. A method comprising:

providing a magnet;

providing a sensor element, said magnet and said sensor element movable relative to one another;

providing an output of said sensor element based on a position of said magnet relative to said sensor element; and

determining an inflection point of said output of said sensor element comprising comparing said output of said sensor element to a time delayed output of said sensor element.

13. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising generating an output signal based on the determined inflection point of said output of said sensor element to drive a motor.

14. A method according to claim 12 , wherein providing said sensor element comprises providing a Hall Effect sensor.

15. A method according to claim 12 wherein said output signal of said sensor element comprises a magnetic flux signal, wherein determining said inflection point of said output of said sensor element comprises determining an inflection point of said magnetic flux signal.

16. A system comprising:

a magnet;

a sensor element, said magnet and said sensor element movable relative to one another, and said sensor element configured to provide an output in response to a position of said magnet relative to said sensor element;

circuitry configured to provide an output in response to an inflection point of said output of said sensor element, said circuitry comprising an analog circuit comprising a comparator configured to compare said output of said sensor element to a time delayed output of said sensor element; and

an actuator comprising a motor coupled to drive an actuator output, said magnet and said sensor element configured to move relative to one another in response to said actuator output being driven by said motor.

17. A system according to claim 16 , wherein said motor is coupled to one of said magnet or said sensor element for driving one of said magnet or said sensor element relative to the other of said magnet or said sensor element.

18. A system according to claim 17 , wherein said motor is coupled to one of said magnet or said magnetic sensor element by a lead screw driven by said motor.

19. A method comprising:

providing a magnet;

providing a sensor element, said magnet and said sensor element movable relative to one another;

providing an output of said sensor element based on a position of said magnet relative to said sensor element;

determining an inflection point of said output of said sensor element; and

generating an output signal based on the determined inflection point of said output of said sensor element to drive a motor.

20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein determining said inflection point of said output of said sensor element comprises determining a derivative of a function representative of said output of said sensor element.

21. A method according to claim 19 , wherein providing said sensor element comprises providing a Hall Effect sensor.