Patent ID: 7504918
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: F16M,G02B,H01H

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for sensing relative positions of mechanically coupled devices comprising: a magnetically activated switch including a first switch end and second switch end, the first switch end being electrically connected to an incoming electrical lead and the second switch end being electrically connected to an outgoing electrical lead, the magnetically activated switch being adapted to control a flow of current through the leads depending on whether a sufficient flux is flowing through the magnetically activated switch; a first switch end flux conductor positioned adjacent to the first switch end; a second switch end flux conductor positioned adjacent to the second switch end; a permanent magnet including a first magnetic end and a second magnetic end; a first magnetic end flux conductor positioned adjacent to the first magnetic end; and a second magnetic end flux conductor positioned adjacent to the second magnetic end, the first magnetic end flux conductor being separated from the first switch end flux conductor by a first gap and the second magnetic end flux conductor being separated from the second switch end flux conductor by a second gap such that when reluctance associated with the first and second gaps is low, a flux flows in a series path from the first magnetic end to the second magnetic end, the flux flows from the first magnetic end through the first magnetic end flux conductor and the first switch end flux conductor, through the magnetically activated switch, and through the second switch end flux conductor and the second magnetic end flux conductor to the second magnetic end.