IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,644,728
Granted Patent B2
US 12,644,728 · App. 18/549,680 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Magnet sensor and ferromagnetic poles

Inventor: Didier Frachon (Besançon, FR)
Assignee: Moving Magnet Technologies
G01D5/145G01B7/003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,644,728
App. No.
18/549,680
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic position sensor comprises at least one magnetically sensitive element capable of moving relative to a permanent magnet producing a magnetic field, the magnet of which is embedded in a support made of soft ferromagnetic material having two pole shoes located on either side of the magnet.

Claims (28)

1 . A magnetic position sensor comprising:

a magnetized structure, including a permanent magnet producing a magnetic field and a support made of soft ferromagnetic material wherein the magnet is embedded, the support having two pole shoes located on either side of the magnet;

at least one magnetically sensitive element configured to move relative to the magnet along a measurement path;

wherein the magnet and the two pole shoes respectively have front surfaces all located opposite the at least one magnetically sensitive element during the movement along the measurement path;

wherein during movement along the measurement path, the front surfaces are successively located opposite the sensitive element; and wherein a ratio between:

the minimum distance between the front surface of the magnet and the center of the magnetically sensitive element, and

minimum distance between one or the other of the front surfaces of the pole shoes and a center of the magnetically sensitive element is between 0.7 and 1.3; and

wherein a sum of lengths of the front surfaces of the pole shoes, along the measurement path, is greater than or equal to a length of the front surface of the magnet.

2 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein, during the movement along the measurement path, the front surfaces are successively located opposite the magnetically sensitive element and the minimum distance, between a front surface opposite the magnetically sensitive element and the center of the magnetically sensitive element, has variations of less than 50% relative to an average value of a distance between the front surfaces opposite the magnetically sensitive element and the center of the magnetically sensitive element.

3 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first ratio and the second ratio are both between 0.9 and 1.1.

4 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein:

a first ratio of the minimum distance between the front surface of the magnet and the at least one magnetically sensitive element, during the movement along the measurement path, and

a second ratio of the minimum distance between one or the other of the front surfaces of the pole shoes and the at least one magnetically sensitive element, during the movement along the measurement path, are both between 0.7 and 1.3.

5 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein recesses are defined between the pole shoes and the magnet such that the front surfaces are not contiguous.

6 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the measurement path is located in a plane and the thickness of the pole shoes in a direction orthogonal to the plane is less than the thickness of the magnet.

7 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the length of the front surfaces of each of the pole shoes along the measurement path is greater than or equal to that of the front surface of the magnet.

8 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetization of the magnet has a single magnetization direction, or unidirectional magnetization.

9 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 2 , wherein the magnetization of the magnet is diametrical.

10 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein an intensity of the magnetization of the magnet varies continuously along the movement path.

11 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein a direction of the magnetization of the magnet varies continuously along the movement path.

12 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically sensitive element is a probe for direct measurement of the magnetic angle or for indirect measurement via the measurement of the magnetic components constituting an absolute output sensor based on the mechanical position.

13 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein a relative displacement of the permanent magnet with respect to the magnetically sensitive element is linear.

14 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein a relative displacement of the permanent magnet with respect to the magnetically sensitive element is rotary.

15 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically sensitive element is a magnetic switch, the position sensor having invariant switching positions based on the air gap.

16 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic switch measures a component of the magnetic field and a switching threshold is programmed.

17 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically sensitive element reconstructs analog position information from components of a magnetic field collinear to a direction of relative displacement of the permanent magnet with respect to the magnetically sensitive element and in a direction orthogonal to the relative displacement.

18 . The magnetic position sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetically sensitive element reconstructs analog position information from a component of a magnetic field collinear to a magnetization direction.

19 . A mechatronic assembly comprising an actuator having a stator including an assembly of ferromagnetic laminations defining teeth, at least part of the assembly being surrounded by a coil, and a position sensor according to claim 18 , wherein an exterior contour of the laminations of the support made of ferromagnetic material of the sensor is contained in the interior contour of the laminations of the stator of the actuator.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2023
From: FRACHON, DIDIER
To: MOVING MAGNET TECHNOLOGIES
Reel/Frame 065108/0726 →
Priority Claims (1)
FR 2102198 · Mar 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240159570A1 · May 16, 2024
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