Rotary Sensor Assembly with Space Efficient Design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016287804-A1
Application number	US-201415037256-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sensor assembly comprising a first rotary sensor part having a plurality of individual electrically conducting code segments arranged in a circumferential pattern, and a plurality of electrically conducting reference segments between the code segments, and a second rotary sensor part arranged rotationally relative to the first part a plurality of contact structures, each contact structure being arranged to be in contact with either a code segment or a reference segment depending on the rotational position between the first and second rotary sensor part. The contact structures are configured to engage and connect to different sensor segments as the first and second rotary sensor part rotate relative to each, the created connections being indicative of a rotational position between the first and second rotary sensor part. For a given rotational position, at least one contact structure engages a code segment and at least one contact structure engages a reference segment.

First claim

1 . A sensor assembly comprising:
a first rotary sensor part comprising a surface having: a circumferentially arranged reference track, a plurality of individual electrically conducting code segments arranged in a pattern, each code segment being arranged in the reference track but electrically isolated therefrom, thereby forming a plurality of electrically conducting reference segments between the code segments, a second rotary sensor part arranged rotationally relative to the first part, comprising: a plurality of contact structures, each contact structure being arranged to be in contact with either a code segment or a reference segment depending on the rotational position between the first and second rotary sensor part,
wherein:
the contact structures are configured to engage and connect to different sensor segments as the first and second rotary sensor part rotate relative to each, the created connections being indicative of a rotational position between the first and second rotary sensor part, and
for a given rotational position, at least one contact structure engages a code segment and at least one contact structure engages a reference segment.

2 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the second rotary sensor part is in the form of a metallic disc member comprising a plurality of integrally formed flexible arms forming the contact structures.

3 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the reference segments are electrically connected to form a single conductive structure.

4 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the reference segments and the code segments are formed on the first rotary sensor part surface by a plating process.

5 . A sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the reference segments, the electrical connections there between, and the code segments are formed on the first rotary sensor part surface by a plating process.

6 . A sensor assembly comprising:
an electrical connector structure comprising at least one terminal, a non-conducting moulded matrix member, and at least one conducting structure having a contact surface,
wherein:
a portion of the electrical connector structure comprises at least one terminal is in-moulded in the matrix member,
at least one conducting structure is in-moulded in the matrix member with at least a portion of the contact surface being free, and
at least one in-moulded conducting structure is connected to an in-moulded terminal.

7 . A sensor assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the at least one conducting structure is formed from a conducting polymer, the matrix member and the at least one conducting structure being formed by two-shot moulding.

8 . A sensor assembly as in claim 6 , further comprising:
at least one conducting connector structure connecting a conducting structure and a terminal, wherein at least one conducting connector structure is in-moulded in the matrix member.

9 . A sensor assembly as in claim 8 , wherein the matrix member comprises:
a first surface with at least one cavity with an in-moulded conducting structure, and a second opposed surface with at least one cavity with an in-moulded conducting connector structure, the conducting structure and the conducting connector structure being connected to each other through an opening formed in the matrix member, the conducting connector structure being connected to a terminal.

10 . A sensor assembly as in claim 6 , wherein the electrical connector structure is a flexible PCB structure.

11 . A rotary sensor member adapted to rotate corresponding to an axis of rotation, comprising at least two surfaces, wherein:
the first surface comprises a code track having a plurality of individual electrically conducting encoder sensor segments arranged in a circumferential pattern, and the second surface comprises a further circumferential track in the form of a ground track or a second code track having a second plurality of individual electrically conducting encoder sensor segments arranged in a second circumferential pattern.

12 . A rotary sensor member as in claim 1 , comprising at least two surfaces arranged axially offset and perpendicularly relative to the axis of rotation.

13 . A rotary sensor member as in claim 11 , comprising at least one generally cylindrical surface, each generally cylindrical surface, when more than one generally cylindrical surface is provided, being arranged radially offset relative to the axis of rotation.

14 . A rotary sensor member as in claim 11 , comprising at least three surfaces and at least one further circumferential track in the form of a (further) ground track or a further code track.

15 . A sensor assembly comprising a rotary sensor member as defined in claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of switch contact structures, each switch contact structure being arranged for sliding rotational engagement with a circumferential pattern or a circumferential track.

Assignees

• Novo Nordisk As

Inventors

• Madsen John Oestergaard
• Mews Steffen
• Moellebro Jacob Sonnerup
• Klitmose Lars Peter

Classifications

• B29C2045/1673

  injecting the first layer, then feeding the insert, then injecting the second layer · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title

• B29K2995/0005

  Conductive · CPC title

• A61M5/31551 Primary

  including axial movement of dose setting member · CPC title

• G01D11/245

  Housings for sensors · CPC title