JP2823539B2 - Position detection device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a position detecting device suitable for application to, for example, a piston position detecting device for detecting the position of a piston reciprocating in a cylinder, and more particularly, to accurate position detection at high temperatures. The present invention relates to an operable position detecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the position of a device used at a high ambient temperature exceeding normal temperature (typically + 20 ° C.) and up to approximately + 150 ° C., for example, a cylinder device used in an injection molding machine is detected. As a position detecting device, a device using a mechanical switch, specifically, a device using a limit switch and a dog has been generally used.

[0003]

However, the position detecting device using the mechanical switch has a problem that the number of times of using the switch is smaller than that of a semiconductor switch, for example, and the device itself becomes large. there were.
Of course, at a high temperature of about + 150 ° C., a switch using a semiconductor cannot be used.

At room temperature, for example, a piston position detecting device in which a magnet is attached to the piston side and a magnetoresistive element is arranged on the cylinder side has been put into practical use. However, in this position detecting device, the ambient temperature rises. In this case, the magnetic force of the magnet decreases and the magnetic field detection sensitivity applied to the magnetoresistive element decreases, so that there is a considerable difference in the position detection range between normal temperature and high temperature. A position detecting device that can be used even at this high temperature has not been put to practical use at present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a position detecting device which has a simple structure and which can accurately detect the position of a magnet even at a high temperature. Aim.

[0006]

According to the present invention, as shown in the drawings, for example, a sensor section 18 includes magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 composed of two ferromagnetic bodies arranged so that current paths are substantially orthogonal to each other. And one of the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 is disposed in a direction in which the main magnetic field M of the magnet 12 is detected, and the other magnetoresistive element 14 is in a direction in which the main magnetic field M is not detected (the magnetoresistive element 14). And a drive detection circuit 17 connected to the sensor unit 18 through an electric wire 16, and supplies constant currents i 1 and i 2 to the two magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15. Then, the voltage drop V1 generated in the other magnetoresistive element 14 is taken in as the temperature detection signal V1, and the difference (V1-V2) between the voltage drops V1 and V2 generated in the two magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 is calculated. The threshold value Vt supplied to the measurement input of the comparison means 71 (see FIG. 5) is taken in as the position detection signal V3, and is changed based on the temperature detection signal V1. I do.

In this case, according to the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, even if the value (waveform) of the position detection signal V3 changes according to the temperature T, the threshold level V corresponds to this change.
Since t is changed, the detection range of the magnet 12 moving in the direction of the main magnetic field M can be set to a constant range regardless of the change in the temperature T.

The change in the threshold level Vt depends on the temperature detection signal V
It can be a look-up table or an arithmetic expression that outputs a corresponding threshold level Vt according to the value of 1.

The present invention also relates to a sensor unit 1 including magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 made of two ferromagnetic materials arranged so that current paths are substantially orthogonal as shown in FIG.
8, one of the magnetoresistive elements 14, 15 is arranged in a direction for detecting the main magnetic field of the magnet, and the other magnetoresistive element 14 is arranged in a direction for not detecting the main magnetic field. A drive detection circuit 17A connected to the unit 18 through the electric wire 16;
The constant currents i1 and i2 are supplied to the two magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15, and the difference (V1-V2) between the voltage drops V1 and V2 generated in the two magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 is determined by the position detection signal V
3 and supplied to the signal input of the variable gain amplifying means 35A, and the voltage drop V1 generated in the other magnetoresistive element 14 is captured as a temperature detection signal V1, and the output signal V3 of the variable gain amplifying means 35A becomes the temperature T. Regardless, the variable gain amplifying means 35A is controlled so that the signal has a constant amplitude.
Is changed based on the temperature detection signal V1.

In this case, according to the present invention, the threshold level can be set to a constant level regardless of the temperature.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a sensor section including at least two magneto-resistive elements made of a ferromagnetic material arranged so that current paths are substantially orthogonal to each other, and one of the magneto-resistive elements has a magneto-resistive element. are arranged in the direction of detecting the main magnetic field of the magnet, thus, is arranged in a direction other magnetoresistive element does not detect the main magnetic field, are connected by electric lines to the sensor unit, supplies electricity to the magnetoresistive element And a drive detection circuit for detecting a change in the resistance value of the two magnetoresistive elements. The drive detection circuit detects a change in the resistance value of the one magnetoresistive element for detecting the main magnetic field and the other magnetic field. It is characterized in that a change in the resistance value of the resistance element is removed as a change due to the temperature, and the remaining change in the resistance value is detected as a change in the resistance value changed by the main magnetic field to detect the magnet position. To.

According to the present invention, only two magneto-resistive elements made of a ferromagnetic material are arranged in the sensor section, and these two magneto-resistive elements are used for temperature compensation not sensing the main magnetic field and for sensing the main magnetic field. The temperature compensation is performed by removing the change in the resistance value of the magnetoresistive element for temperature compensation (the other magnetoresistive element) from the change in the resistance value of the magnetoresistive element for sensing the main magnetic field (one of the magnetoresistive elements). The position of the magnet is detected by accurately detecting the change in resistance value due to the remaining main magnetic field.

[0013] For example, the sensor unit is arranged at a high temperature, since the place only two magnetoresistive elements, wherein
By using a heat-resistant wire, for example, the position of the magnet can be accurately detected even at a high temperature of about + 150 ° C.

[0014] grounded at the drive detection circuit side through a common connection point a conductive line of the two magneto-resistive elements connected in series,
The remaining terminals of each of the two magnetoresistive elements, and supplies a constant current signal through the drive detection circuit or et conductive line, measuring the voltage drop generated in each of the two magnetoresistive elements in the drive detection circuit side in, it is possible to eliminate the influence of easily made noise enters cause that releases a drive detection circuit and the sensor portion by electrodeposition line.

Further, the electric wire may be a heat-resistant electric wire.
When the magnet disposed on the piston is a plastic magnet and the sensor unit is disposed on a cylinder on which the piston slides, the ambient temperature of the piston is set to at least room temperature (typically + 20 ° C.). It can be detected in the range of + 150 ° C.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a piston position detecting device 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The piston position detecting device 10 slides in a cylinder 11 in the direction of an arrow and has a ring-shaped magnet 12.
Are disposed, and two magnetoresistive elements 14, 15 made of a ferromagnetic material for detecting a main magnetic field of the magnet 12 and detecting an ambient temperature are arranged at predetermined positions on the cylinder 11. And a drive detection circuit 17 connected to the sensor unit 18 through a heat-resistant wire 16. In this embodiment, the heat-resistant wire 16 used has a heat-resistant temperature specification of 0 ° C. to 180 ° C.

As will be described in detail later, the drive detection circuit 17 supplies electricity (constant current signal) to the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 and detects a change in resistance value of the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 due to temperature and magnetic field. I do. The area 19 surrounded by the dashed line indicates that the ambient temperature T is low to high.
In this embodiment, for convenience, 0 ° C. to + 150 ° C.
FIG. Therefore, it is also referred to as a temperature change region 19 hereinafter. In FIG. 1, an area other than the temperature change area 19 is a temperature area within a specification range where the drive detection circuit 17 operates normally, for example, a so-called normal temperature area of + 10 ° C. to + 35 ° C.

FIG. 2 shows the magnetoresistive element 1 in the sensor section 18.
4 and 15 show an arrangement configuration. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 are
It is formed as a zigzag pattern (current path) made of a ferromagnetic material such as Ni / Co, and electrode terminals 21, 22, and 23 are provided at both ends and a common connection point of the zigzag pattern. In the example of FIG. 2, one of the magnetoresistive elements 15 (the resistance value is R2) is arranged so as to detect the main magnetic field M of the magnet 12 indicated by the arrow. Therefore,
As a result, the other magnetoresistive element 14 (having a resistance value of R1) in which the current path is formed in a direction orthogonal to the current path is arranged so as not to automatically detect the main magnetic field M. . The nominal values of the resistance value R1 and the resistance value R2 are the same.

With such a configuration, the respective resistance values R1 and R1 of the magnetoresistive element 14 and the magnetoresistive element 15 are changed by changing the ambient temperature, for example, from 0 ° C. to + 150 ° C.
R2 simultaneously changes by several tens%, and in addition to this change, it was found that only the resistance value R2 of the magnetoresistive element 15 changed by several% due to the main magnetic field M. Although the changes in the resistance values R1 and R2 are not perfect straight lines, both increase in proportion to the ambient temperature and the resistance values R2 in proportion to the magnitude of the main magnetic field M.
Only decrease.

As shown in FIG. 1, the magnetic resistance elements 14 and 15 formed on the ceramic circuit board 24 are filled with a silicon RTV rubber (for example, manufactured by Shin-Etsu Silicone Co., Ltd.) 25 that can withstand high temperatures together with the ceramic circuit board 24. The case 26 is held and accommodated in the case 26, and the case 26 is attached to a desired position on the cylinder 11 in a state of being accommodated in the case 26.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical connection structure of the sensor section 18 and the magnetoresistive elements 14, 1 constituting the sensor section 18.
FIG. 5 shows a detailed configuration example of the drive detection circuit 17 connected through the three-core heat-resistant wire 16.

In FIG. 3, the drive detection circuit 17 has a microcomputer 41 functioning as drive / control / processing / judgment means. Microcomputer 41
As is well known, a microprocessor (MPU) corresponding to a central processing unit (CPU) and an AD conversion circuit or D
A conversion circuit, I / O port, read-only memory (ROM) in which control programs, system programs, look-up tables, etc. are written, random access memory (RAM, write / read memory) for temporarily storing processing data , A timer circuit, an interrupt processing circuit, and the like are provided on a single chip as an LSI device.

DA constituting the microcomputer 41
Converter output port (hereinafter referred to as DA output port)
The analog voltage signals E1 and E2, which are DC constant voltages output from the DA1 and DA2, respectively, are passed through the voltage-current conversion circuits 31 and 32, respectively.
1, i2.

The current signals i1 and i2 are
6 are supplied to the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 forming the sensor section 18 through the core wires and the electrode terminals 21 and 23, respectively. The current signals i1 and i2 passing through the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 are combined, and the combined current i3 is applied to the electrode terminal 2
2. Grounded on the drive detection circuit 17 side through the remaining core wire constituting the heat-resistant wire 16.

The resistance value R of the magnetoresistive element 14 for detecting temperature
A voltage signal V1 representing a voltage drop generated between the terminals of the magnetoresistive element 14 due to the product of the current signal i1 and the current signal i1 is applied to a buffer (buffer amplifier) 34 and a differential amplifier (differential amplifier) 35 as a subtraction means. It is supplied to the input terminal. The resistance value R2 of the magnetoresistive element 15 for detecting the main magnetic field and the current signal i2
, A voltage signal V2 representing a voltage drop generated between the terminals of the magnetoresistive element 15 is supplied to the negative input terminal of the differential amplifier 35.

The voltage signal V which is the output signal of the buffer 34
Reference numeral 1 (because the level of the input / output signal of the buffer 34 is a voltage signal having the same value, the same sign is used for the sake of simplicity) denotes an input port (hereinafter referred to as an AD input port) of an AD converter constituting the microcomputer 41 ) Is supplied to AD1. A voltage signal V which is a differential output signal of the differential amplifier 35
3 (V3 = V1-V2) is connected to another AD input port AD2.
Supplied to

Output port O of microcomputer 41
The UT1 is connected to an output terminal 37 via a buffer 36, and an output port OUT2 is grounded through a buffer 38, a resistor 39 and a light emitting diode 40.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to a process chart showing a schematic calibration procedure in FIG.
Note that the calibration procedure refers to the entire measurement system including the temperature characteristics of the sensor unit 18 (the sensor unit 18 and the drive detection circuit 17 shown in FIG. 3) before the sensor unit 18 is attached to a cylinder device or the like to be actually measured. Refers to the procedure for obtaining data for calibrating the characteristics of In this embodiment, the calibration data is stored in the microcomputer 41 as a look-up table, as described later.

First, only the sensor section 18 is placed in a thermostat (not shown). To be more precise, the sensor section 1 is so arranged that the main magnetic field M of the magnet 12 does not act on the sensor section 18 at all.
8 is placed in a thermostat (not shown),
+ 20 ° C. (step S1).

Next, in this normal temperature state, the voltage signal V1 of the magnetoresistive element 14 becomes a current signal i at which a predetermined voltage value is obtained.
1 is output from the DA output port DA1 (step S2). In this case, the voltage signal V1
While measuring the output voltage signal E of the DA output port DA1.
By changing 1, the value of the voltage signal V1 can be set to a predetermined voltage value.

Next, the output voltage signal V3 of the differential amplifier 35
Varies the output voltage signal E2 of the DA output port DA2 so as to have a zero value. Thereby, the magnetoresistive element 15
, The level of the current signal i2, and therefore the voltage signal V2 are determined (step S3). At this time, when the offset or the like of the signal transmission line such as the differential amplifier 35 has a zero value, the current signal i1 and the current signal i2 have the same value, and the level of the voltage signal V1 is equal to the level of the voltage signal V2. become.

In this state, the temperature of the thermostat is varied, for example, by 1 ° C. between 0 ° C. and 150 ° C., and the value of the voltage signal V1 is measured and stored for each temperature (step S).
4). Therefore, the value of voltage signal V1 is equal to ambient temperature T.
Is a value corresponding to. That is, it can be said that the voltage signal V1 is a temperature detection signal.

If the constants such as the temperature coefficient of the circuit system are all the same including the magnetoresistive element 14 and the magnetoresistive element 15 and are in an equilibrium state, the voltage signal V3 is not changed even if the temperature is varied. In principle, it takes a zero value, but in practice there is a variation, so that at each temperature, this voltage signal V3
The value of the output signal E2 of the DA output port DA2 is determined so that the value becomes zero (see also step S2).
4).

Next, the sensor unit 18 provided on the cylinder 11 as shown in FIG.
At each temperature of 150 ° C., the piston 13 is moved at a constant interval in the direction of the arrow (the axial direction of the cylinder 11), for example, 0.1 mm.
The voltage signal V1 and the voltage signal V3 are measured at each sliding position by sliding by mm (arbitrary amount according to the desired accuracy) (Step S5).

In this case, due to the effect of the main magnetic field M of the magnet 12, when the magnet 12 is located at a position (referred to as a center position) CT (refer to FIG. 1) immediately below the magnetoresistive elements 14, 15,
Since the value of the main magnetic field M becomes the maximum and the resistance value R2 of the magnetoresistive element 15 becomes the minimum value, the voltage signal V2 becomes the minimum value, and eventually the value of the voltage signal V3 becomes the maximum value.

Therefore, the value of the voltage signal V3 in the desired allowable operation range A based on the center position CT of the piston 13 is measured for each temperature, that is, for each voltage signal V1 (step S6).

Thus, the calibration of the drive detection circuit 17 including the sensor section 18 is completed.

As described above, the voltage signal V3 is measured for each voltage signal V1 corresponding to the temperature, and a lookup table is created and stored using the voltage signal V3 as calibration data (step S7). When the value of the voltage signal V3 becomes equal to or greater than the value stored in the look-up table at a certain temperature in the environment, and thus at a certain voltage signal V1, the piston 13 moves to the allowable operating range A. Are moved to the non-permissible operating ranges B and C, and the output port 37 is set to the high level by setting the output port OUT1 to the high level.
By setting 2 to a high level, the light emitting diode 40 as an indicator lamp can be turned on.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment (example of FIG. 3), only the two magneto-resistive elements 14 and 15 which are passive elements are arranged in the sensor unit 18 via the heat-resistant wire 16 and are fixed to these. Is supplied to each of the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 under a predetermined mutual positional relationship with the magnet 12 at each temperature within a specification range (for example, 0 ° C. to + 150 ° C.). Voltage signal V corresponding to voltage drop
1. By measuring V2 (the voltage signal V2 is indirectly measured by measuring the voltage signal V3), the position of the piston 13 provided with the magnet 12 is detected. It is configured to be.

In this case, the voltage signal V3 of the difference is the output voltage signal V3 of the magnetoresistive element 15 for detecting the main magnetic field, which includes the variation of the resistance value (ΔR2) due to the temperature T and the main magnetic field M.
2, the output voltage signal V1 of the temperature compensating magnetoresistive element 14 including the variation of the resistance value due to only the temperature T (referred to as ΔR1) is obtained. For this reason, it corresponds to the value of the difference voltage signal V3 ｛eventually, the resistance value variation (ΔR2−ΔR1) caused only by the main magnetic field M. From｝, the position based on the arrangement position of the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 of the magnet 12 can be accurately detected.

Further, the position of the magnet 12 at the current temperature, that is, the position of the piston 13 can be accurately detected from the value of the voltage signal V1 using a look-up table. In this case, for each temperature, in other words, for each value of each voltage signal V1, the distance from the center position of the piston 13 直 the position immediately below (the nearest) the CT unit｝ CT in advance as a lookup table or a mathematical expression, etc. Needless to say, it can be stored.

Further, according to this embodiment, the current signals i1 and i2 are made to flow through the core of the heat-resistant wire 16 through which the signal path is lengthened and the signal is routed. For this reason, the circuit configuration has little effect on a noise signal generated by noise mixed into the core wire due to signal routing, in other words, is resistant to noise.

In addition, in the temperature change region 19, the ceramic circuit board 2 on which the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15 are formed
4. Since only the silicon RTV rubber 25 for molding this, the case 26 made of aluminum or the like and the heat-resistant electric wire 16 enclosing them are arranged, there is no mechanically operated structure, and there is no active element such as a semiconductor. Are semi-permanent and reliable. Note that this sensor unit 18
Means that the specification value of the silicon RTV rubber 25 under high temperature is +
Since the temperature is 170 ° C., the Curie point of a ferromagnetic material such as Co or Ni, which is a material of the magnetoresistive elements 14 and 15, is + 200 ° C. or more.
8 due to the improvement of the temperature characteristic of the material for fixing
A piston position detecting device (magnet position detecting device) operable up to about 0 ° C. can be manufactured.

Therefore, the position detecting device (position detecting switch) of this embodiment can be used for an injection molding machine.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 5 shows a functional configuration represented by software in the microcomputer 41 in this embodiment. Note that, in the example of FIG.
The digital signal is converted into a digital signal by a converter, signal processing is performed on the digital signal, and the result of the signal processing is converted back to an analog signal by a DA converter in the microcomputer 41 and output again. Therefore, an explanation will be given using analog signal processing equivalent to digital signal processing.

That is, a comparison means 71 which operates in the same manner as the comparator is provided, and a voltage signal V3 as a position detection signal is supplied to a comparison input (measurement input) terminal of the comparison means 71 from an AD input port AD2. Is done. A threshold voltage (threshold level) Vt is supplied to the reference input terminal of the comparison means 71 through the threshold generation means 72. A voltage signal V1, which is a temperature detection signal, is supplied to the threshold control terminal of the threshold generation means 72 from the AD input port AD1, and according to the voltage signal V1, in other words, according to the temperature T in the sensor unit 18. Thus, the threshold voltage Vt is increased or decreased.

When the voltage value of the voltage signal V3 exceeds the threshold voltage Vt, the output terminals of the comparing means 71, that is, the output ports OUT1 and OUT2 change from low level to high level. In response, the terminal 37 changes from the low level to the high level, and the light emitting diode 40 lights up.

In the example of FIG. 5, step S6
At the time of the measurement in FIG. 6, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the change in the characteristic of the voltage signal V3 when the temperature T is T = Ta and T = Tb (Ta <Tb) is shown. Temperature value T is a voltage value V3A (Ta) under T = Ta.
And the higher temperature T is the voltage value V3A (T
b) is measured. Then, when the temperature T represented by the temperature detection signal V1 is T = Ta, the threshold value generating means 72 sets the threshold voltage Vt to Vt = V3A as the threshold voltage Vt.
(Ta) is set, and when the temperature T is T = Tb, the threshold voltage Vt is Vt = V3A as the threshold voltage Vt.
(Tb) is set.

In this way, even if the temperature T changes,
The same detection range can be set as the allowable operation range A.
That is, even if the temperature T changes, the position of the piston 13 with the magnet 12 can be accurately detected.

As the threshold value generating means 72, the voltage signal V1
, That is, the threshold voltage Vt that changes in accordance with the temperature T, may be a look-up table in which a value is written in advance or an arithmetic expression obtained in advance. Actually, for example, as the value of the threshold voltage Vt, when the temperature T is T = 0 ° C., the threshold voltage Vt is Vt = 2.2 [V], and when the temperature T is T = 150 ° C., the threshold voltage Vt is Vt = 1. It has been confirmed that the voltage may be set to 0.0 [V].

In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, compared with the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3, a memory for storage such as a look-up table is used. The effect that the capacity can be considerably reduced is achieved.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a piston position detecting device 10A to which still another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In this embodiment, the differential amplifier 35 of FIG. 3 is replaced with a variable gain differential amplifier (variable gain differential amplifier) 35A, and the gain control terminal of the variable gain differential amplifier 35A and the microcomputer 41 DA output port DA3. The microcomputer 41 supplies the gain control voltage signal E3 to the gain control terminal of the variable gain differential amplifier 35A. Note that the variable gain differential amplifier 35A is generally configured such that a differential amplifier is disposed in a signal input section, and a variable gain differential amplifier is disposed in a stage subsequent to the differential amplifier.

In the example of FIG. 7, for example, in a configuration similar to the functional configuration shown in FIG. 5, the threshold voltage Vt is a constant voltage regardless of the temperature T. Therefore, when the change in the temperature T is detected by the voltage signal V1, the value of the gain control voltage signal E3 is changed by a predetermined look-up table or an arithmetic expression (not shown), so that the variable gain differential amplifier 35A The gain is changed so that the amplitude (level, waveform) of the voltage signal (position detection signal) V3, which is the output signal of the variable gain differential amplifier 35A, does not change due to the change in the temperature T.

For example, a relatively high temperature T shown in FIG.
b, the waveform of the voltage signal V3 (Tb)
In the case of b, for example, a gain control look-up table or a gain control operation expression that has the same waveform as the waveform of the voltage signal V3 (Ta) at the temperature Ta that is room temperature is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 41. It should be stored.

It is needless to say that the same effects as those described in the example of FIG. 3 can be achieved in the examples of FIGS.

Although not shown, as a modification of the example of FIG. 7, the variable gain differential amplifier 35A is returned to the original differential amplifier 35, and the voltage / current converters 31 and 32 are respectively connected to the variable gain / voltage / current converters. The gain control voltage signal supplied to the gain control terminal of the variable gain voltage-to-current converter is supplied from the other two DA outputs of the microcomputer 41. Then, the value of the gain control voltage signal is changed in accordance with the value of the voltage signal (temperature detection signal) V1, and the differential amplifier 3
The amplitude (level, waveform) of the voltage signal (position detection signal) V3, which is the output signal of No. 5, is not changed by the change in the temperature T. Also in this case, the means for changing the value of the gain control voltage signal is based on a look-up table or an arithmetic expression created in advance. By doing so, the same effect as in the example of FIG. 7 can be obtained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but may adopt various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the value (waveform) of the position detection signal changes with temperature, the threshold level is changed in accordance with the change. This achieves an effect that the detection range of the magnet moving in the direction of the main magnetic field can be set to a constant range irrespective of a change in temperature.

Even if the position detection signal is amplified by an amplifier whose gain changes depending on temperature so that the value (waveform) of the position detection signal does not change with temperature, the position detection signal moves in the direction of the main magnetic field. The effect that the detection range of the magnet can be set to a constant range irrespective of a change in temperature is achieved.

Further, according to the present invention, only two magneto-resistive elements made of a ferromagnetic material are arranged in the sensor section, and these two magneto-resistive elements are used for temperature compensation which does not sense a main magnetic field and for main magnetic field sensing. From the change in the resistance of the magnetoresistive element for detecting the main magnetic field (this includes both the change in the resistance changed by the main magnetic field and the change in the resistance changed by the temperature). The temperature compensation is performed by removing the change in the resistance value of the magnetoresistive element, and the position of the magnet is detected by accurately detecting only the change in the resistance value due to the main magnetic field.

For this reason, for example, the effect that the position of the magnet can be accurately detected even at a high temperature of about + 150 ° C., which was conventionally impossible to detect electrically, is achieved. In this case, at a high temperature, only the magnetoresistive element is arranged, so that a mechanical configuration such as a limit switch and an active element such as a semiconductor are not required.
Reliability and life are improved.

[0066] In addition, by configuring the voltage drop across the each supplying a constant current signal to the two magnetic resistance elements to measure the driving detection circuit side, and a drive detection circuit and the sensor portion by electrodeposition line The effect of eliminating the influence of noise that is likely to enter due to the separation is also achieved.

More specifically, the electric wire is a heat-resistant electric wire,
When the relatively moving magnet is a plastic magnet and the sensor unit is disposed on a cylinder on which the piston slides, the position of the piston is changed from ambient temperature of at least normal temperature (typically + 20 ° C.) to + 150 ° C. It has been confirmed that it can be detected within the range.

As described above, according to the present invention, the effect that the position of the magnet can be accurately detected with a simple structure and at a high temperature can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a piston position detecting device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a magnetoresistive element pattern arranged on a ceramic circuit board.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed configuration example of a drive detection circuit connected to a sensor unit.

FIG. 4 is a process chart of a calibration procedure used for explaining the operation of the examples of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a microcomputer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a waveform chart for explaining the operation of the example of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a piston position detecting device to which still another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 10A: piston position detecting device 12: magnet 13, piston 14, 15: magnetic resistance element 16, heat-resistant wire 17, drive detection circuit 18, sensor unit 19, temperature change area 21, 22, 23, electrode terminal 24, ceramic Circuit board 25 Silicone rubber 31, 32 Voltage-current conversion circuit 34, 36, 38 Buffer 35 Differential amplifier 35A Variable gain differential amplifier 41 Microcomputer 71 Comparison means 72 Threshold generation means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G01B 7/00 G01D 3/028 G01D 5/18

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A current path sensor including two magnetoresistive elements consisting placed strong magnetic <br/> material element so as to be substantially perpendicular, a drive detection circuit connected via wires to the sensor unit
Comprising a, of the two magnetoresistive elements constituting the sensor unit, disposed one of the magnetoresistive element in a direction for detecting the main magnetic field of the magnet
By doing so, the other magnetoresistive element is arranged in a direction in which the main magnetic field is not detected, and the drive detection circuit supplies a constant current to the two magnetoresistive elements to generate a current in the other magnetoresistive element. The voltage drop is captured as a temperature detection signal, and the difference between the voltage drops generated in the two magnetoresistive elements is captured as a position detection signal and supplied to the measurement input of the comparison means. The threshold supplied to the threshold input of the comparison means A position detecting device for changing a level based on the temperature detection signal. 2. The position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein said threshold level is changed based on a predetermined look-up table. 3. The position detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the change of the threshold level is performed based on a predetermined arithmetic expression. 4. A current path and two magnetic resistance elements including the sensor unit which consist arranged strongly magnetic <br/> material element so as to be substantially perpendicular, a drive detection circuit connected via wires to the sensor unit When
Comprising a, of the two magnetoresistive elements constituting the sensor unit, disposed one of the magnetoresistive element in a direction for detecting the main magnetic field of the magnet
By doing so, the other magnetoresistive element is arranged in a direction in which the main magnetic field is not detected, and the drive detection circuit supplies a constant current to the two magnetoresistive elements to generate a current in the two magnetoresistive elements. The difference in voltage drop is taken in as a position detection signal and supplied to the signal input of the variable gain amplifying means, and the voltage drop generated in the other magnetoresistive element is taken in as a temperature detection signal, and the output signal of the variable gain amplifying means is A position detecting device, wherein the gain of the variable gain amplifying means is changed based on the temperature detection signal so that the signal has a constant amplitude regardless of the temperature. 5. A sensor unit current path comprises two magnetoresistive elements consisting placed strong magnetic <br/> material element so as to be substantially perpendicular, connected by wires to the sensor unit, the magnetoresistive element Ni
And the resistance of the two magnetoresistive elements.
And a drive detection circuit for detecting a value change, of the two magnetoresistive elements constituting the sensor unit, disposed one of the magnetoresistive element in a direction for detecting the main magnetic field of the magnet
Doing, the other magnetoresistive elements are arranged in a direction that does not detect the main magnetic field, wherein the drive detection circuit, the other magnetic resistance element from the resistance value variation of the one magneto-resistive element for detecting the main magnetic field The change in the resistance value is removed as the change due to temperature.
A position detecting device for detecting a magnet position by detecting a remaining change in resistance value as a change in resistance value changed by the main magnetic field. 6. Before SL conductive lines are a plurality of wires or multi-core wire, the two magnetic resistance elements are connected in series, the ground in the driving detection circuit side is the common connection point through before Symbol conductive line And the remaining respective terminals of the two magnetoresistive elements include:
The constant current signal through the pre-Symbol conductive lines from the driving detection circuit is supplied, a voltage drop generated in each of the two magnetic resistance elements to measure in the drive detection circuit side, to detect the magnet position The position detecting device according to claim 5, wherein 7. The electric wire is a heat-resistant electric wire, the magnet is a plastic magnet disposed on a piston, and the sensor unit is disposed on a cylinder on which the piston slides. The position detecting device according to claim 5, wherein the temperature is detected at least in a range of a normal temperature (typically, + 20 ° C.) to + 150 ° C. 8.