Patent ID: 6401883
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: F16F,G01D

Abstract:
A vehicle suspension apparatus comprising:a vehicle suspension strut; and a continuous position sensor coupled to the vehicle suspension strut and adapted to provide information indicative of a continuous position of a first portion of the vehicle suspension strut relative to a second portion of the vehicle suspension strut, the continuous position sensor comprising: a magnet coupled to the first portion of the vehicle suspension strut; and a sensing mechanism coupled to the second portion of the vehicle suspension strut and responsive to the magnet to provide an output indicative of the continuous position of the first portion relative to the second portion, wherein the sensing mechanism comprises a magnetically permeable material which has a magnetic permeability which changes in response to a magnetic field from the magnet and a permeability sensor adapted to provide an output indicative of the permeability of the magnetically permeable material and thereby indicative of the continuous position of the first portion relative to the second portion.