Patent ID: 8319589

Claim:
A magnetically latching solenoid comprising: a frame; a plunger configured to move through the frame between a first stable position at a first end of the frame and a second stable position at a second end of the frame; at least one magnet centrally mounted within the frame and configured to produce a magnetic field through the plunger and the frame, wherein the magnetic field varies throughout the frame based upon the position of the plunger; at least one sensor mounted to the frame configured to detect and measure the magnetic field at a selected location on the frame, wherein the magnetic field is stronger at the first end of the frame if the plunger is in the first stable position and the magnetic field is stronger at the second end of the frame if the plunger is in the second stable position; and at least one ferro-magnetic bracket configured to conduct the magnetic field to the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one ferro-magnetic bracket is configured to create an air gap in which the sensor is positioned and is further configured to allow changing a span of the air gap to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor.