JSAE 2009 - Moving Magnet Technologies

1 Introduction
The Sonceboz Group develops, produces
and markets innovative electromagnetic
motors and drives as well as mechatronic
systems. More than 25 million items are
produced in series annually by the
mother company Sonceboz. This market
is growing because the number of
electrically adjustable elements in
vehicles is increasing constantly.
Besides stepper motors, torque motors
have become a major sales item within
the last few years. MMT developed the
technical basis for this drive. MMT in
Besançon, France, is 100 % part of the
Sonceboz group. The research centre,
with over 40 employees consisting mainly
of engineers, generates most of its sales
through license businesses and has
above 200 patents altogether.
2 New Range of Functions for
Electronic Drives in Vehicles
The market for the company from French
Switzerland is continually growing, driven
by the increased efforts of the automotive
industry in the field of emission control.
The standards in force are increasingly
reducing the permissible emission of soot,
CO 2
, NO x
and HC compounds. The Euro
6 standards, that is expected to come into
effect as from 2014, are forcing the
automotive industry to use various control
systems when dealing with fuel, air and
exhaust fumes.
Additionally, given the steady increase of
oil prices and the drive towards reducing
CO 2
emissions, there are increased efforts
to minimize consumption. Components
that are increasingly gaining importance
for fast and precise solutions are
electromagnetic drives. Such drives are
also finding their place in comfort and
safety solutions. As a result, over 160
electro-motors are used today in a vehicle
of the premium class. Nevertheless, the
environmental solutions are used in
vehicles of any size.
3
Torque Motors