Magnetic encoder system and method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a magnetic encoder system and a method thereof. According to an embodiment, the present technology provides a magnetic encoder including a first magnet and a second magnet. The first magnet includes a first pole pair and an opening. The second magnet includes a second pole pair and is positioned inside the opening. The magnetic encoder further includes a first sensor configured to detect and generate a first signal based on a magnetic flux orientation of the first magnet; and a second sensor configured to detect and generate a second signal based on a magnetic flux orientation of the second magnet. To achieve this technique, the first and second magnets are magnetized with two separate types of magnetization (e.g., radial or axial magnetization) to produce two separate types of magnetic flux orientations detectable via two types of magnetic sensors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present technology relates to encoder systems and methods. Background Art

[0002] Over the past decade, encoders have become essential components for providing feedback mechanisms and signal control capabilities for numerous devices. Various methods involve converting physical motion into electrical signals to obtain information about position, count, speed, acceleration, direction, or the like. For example, rotary encoders utilize a variety of technologies (e.g., optical, mechanical, magnetic, etc.) to convert the angular position of a shaft into an electrical signal. Among other technologies, magnetic encoders that use magnetic fields to detect position changes have become increasingly popular due to their robustness and durability under various environmental conditions.

[0003] Various methods for implementing magnetic encoders have been explored, but they have proven to be insufficient. It is important to recognize that new and improved magnetic encoder systems and encoding processes are needed. Summary of the invention

[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a magnetic encoder device for measuring the position of an object, the device comprising: a first magnet comprising a first pole pair and an opening; a second magnet comprising a second pole pair, the second magnet being positioned inside the opening; a first sensor configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet; a second sensor configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet; and a processor configured to determine the position based on at least the first signal and the second signal.

[0005] On the other hand, the present disclosure relates to a magnetic encoder device for measuring the position of an object, the device comprising: a first magnet comprising a first pole pair and an opening, the first magnet further comprising a first surface, the first magnet being characterized by axial magnetization; a second magnet comprising a plurality of pole pairs and a second surface, the second magnet being positioned inside the opening, the second magnet being characterized by radial magnetization; a vertical sensor positioned above the first surface, the vertical sensor being configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet; a horizontal sensor positioned above the second surface, the horizontal sensor being configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet; and a processor configured to eliminate a difference between the first signal and the second signal and determine the position based at least on the first signal and the second signal.

[0006] On the other hand, the present disclosure relates to a magnetic encoder device for measuring the position of an object, the device comprising: a first magnet comprising a plurality of pole pairs and an opening; a second magnet comprising a first pole pair, the second magnet being positioned inside the opening; a first sensor configured to generate a first signal associated with the first magnet; a second sensor configured to generate a second signal associated with the second magnet; an amplifier configured to eliminate a difference between the first signal and the second signal to provide a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal; an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first amplified signal into a first digital signal and convert the second amplified signal into a second digital signal; and a synchronization module configured to synchronize the first digital signal with the second digital signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a magnetic encoder in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

[0008] Figure 2A to 2B is a simplified diagram illustrating an exemplary magnetic encoder configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

[0009] Figure 3 is a simplified diagram illustrating an alternative exemplary magnetic encoder configuration in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

[0010] Figure 4A and 4B is a simplified block diagram illustrating components of an exemplary magnetic encoder in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

[0011] Figures 5A to 5B is a diagram illustrating a signal conditioning process performed in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

[0012] Figure 6 is a simplified flow chart illustrating pre-processing for signal synchronization according to an embodiment of the present technology.

[0013] Figure 7 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a process for signal synchronization in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present technology relates to encoder systems and methods. According to an embodiment, the present technology provides a magnetic encoder comprising a first magnet and a second magnet. The first magnet comprises a first pole pair and an opening. The second magnet comprises a second pole pair and is positioned inside the opening. The magnetic encoder further comprises: a first sensor configured to detect and generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation of the first magnet; and a second sensor configured to detect and generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation of the second magnet. To achieve this technique, the first magnet and the second magnet are magnetized with two separate types of magnetization (e.g., radial or axial magnetization) to produce two separate types of magnetic flux orientations that can be detected via two types of magnetic sensors configured within the system of the magnetic encoder.

[0015] Some methods for implementing magnetic encoders rely on only a single north / south pole pair, producing only one pair of signals (e.g., a pair of sine / cosine signals) for each complete magnet rotation (e.g., 360° rotation). Therefore, the accuracy and performance of such magnetic encoders are limited by the quality and integrity of the single pair of signals. Any disturbance (e.g., noise, distortion, or interference from external magnetic fields) directly affects the quality and integrity of these signals, resulting in lower resolution and position accuracy.

[0016] In such Figures 1 to 7 In various embodiments described in , the present technology enables a magnetic encoder to detect meaningful and robust signals within each complete magnet rotation to subsequently produce a system with high accuracy, resolution, and therefore performance. To implement this example, the magnetic encoder includes a first magnet and a second magnet, wherein one of the magnets includes multiple pole pairs that allow multiple signals to be generated within a complete magnet rotation, and the other consists of a single pole pair that allows a single pair of signals to be generated within a complete magnet rotation. The former enables more signals to be generated within a single rotation, thereby improving the performance of the magnetic encoder, while the latter is used by the system to accurately determine when a rotation begins or ends for computational use. The magnetic encoder further includes a first sensor and a second sensor configured to generate a first signal and a second signal associated with the magnetic field generated by the first magnet and the second magnet, respectively. Subsequently, through one or more stages of signal processing (e.g., amplification, signal conditioning, synchronization, and / or the like), the first signal and the second signal can be used to determine the position with improved accuracy.

[0017] A general aspect of the present technology provides a magnetic encoder device, which includes a first magnet. The first magnet may include a first pole pair and an opening. The device also includes a second magnet, which may include a second pole pair, and the second magnet is positioned inside the opening. The device also includes a first sensor positioned at a first proximity near the first magnet, the first sensor being configured to generate a first signal based on a magnetic flux associated with the first magnet. In an example, the first sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet. The device also includes a second sensor at a second proximity near the second magnet, the second sensor being configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet. The magnetic sensor used may be a Hall sensor or other type of magnetosensitive sensor, such as anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensor, giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor, and tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) sensor. For example, a combination of one or more types of the above sensors may be possible, as long as they are placed adjacent to the first magnet and the second magnet as described by the embodied design of the present invention to detect the two magnetic flux orientations of the first magnet and the second magnet. The device also includes a processor configured to determine the position using at least the first signal and the second signal. The processor may be a single device of a microcontroller unit (MCU), an application specific integrated chip (ASIC), and / or other forms of silicon-based embedded chips.

[0018] Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. The first magnet is characterized by a ring shape. The second magnet is characterized by a second shape, and the first magnet and the second magnet share a center. The first magnet may include a rotation axis, and the first sensor is positioned offset from the rotation axis. At a first proximity, the first magnetic flux of the first magnet is different in direction or orientation from the second magnetic flux of the second magnet. In an example, at the first proximity, the first magnetic flux of the first magnet is greater than the second magnetic flux of the second magnet. The first pole pair is characterized by radial magnetization, and the second pole pair is characterized by axial magnetization. For example, a reversal of the magnetization type between the first magnet and the second magnet also works, where the first pole pair is characterized by axial magnetization and the second pole pair is characterized by radial magnetization. The processor may include a differential differential amplifier configured to eliminate interference between the first signal and the second signal. The processor is configured to synchronize the first signal and the second signal. The processor may include an analog / digital converter (ADC) configured to convert the first signal and the second signal into a digital signal. The first magnet may include a plurality of pole pairs, and the second magnet may consist of a second pole pair. The second magnet may include a plurality of pole pairs, and the first magnet may consist of a first pole pair. The first signal and the second signal include signals generated from the magnetic sensor based on two separate magnetic field orientations of the first and second magnets. In an example, the first signal may include a Hall voltage or current generated based on a first magnetic flux pattern of the first magnet. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, methods or processes, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the present technology provides a magnetic encoder device, which includes a first magnet that may include a first pole pair and an opening, the first magnet that may include a first surface, and the first magnet is characterized by radial magnetization. In another example, the first magnet may be characterized by axial magnetization. The device also includes a second magnet that may include multiple pole pairs and a second surface, the second magnet is positioned inside the opening, and the second magnet is characterized by axial magnetization. In another example, the first magnet may be characterized by radial magnetization. The device also includes a magnetic sensor that detects a parallel magnetic field across the first surface, and the magnetic sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on the first magnet. The device also includes a magnetic sensor that detects a horizontal or vertical magnetic field positioned above the second surface, and the magnetic sensor is configured to generate a second signal based on the second magnet. In some embodiments, the device may include a vertical sensor positioned above the first surface, and the vertical sensor is configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet. The device may also include a horizontal sensor positioned above the second surface, and the horizontal sensor is configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet. The device also includes a processor configured to eliminate differences between the first signal and the second signal and determine a position using at least the first signal and the second signal.

[0020] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. A magnetic encoder device, wherein the vertical or parallel magnetic field sensor may include a vertical Hall sensor, AMR, GMR, or TMR, and the vertical or horizontal magnetic field sensor may include a horizontal Hall sensor, AMR, GMR, or TMR. The first magnet and the second magnet are characterized by a ring shape and share a center. The processor is configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, methods or processes, or computer software on a computer accessible medium.

[0021] According to yet another embodiment, the present technology provides a magnetic encoder device, which includes a first magnet. The first magnet may include a plurality of pole pairs and an opening. The device also includes a second magnet that may include a first pole pair, and the second magnet is positioned inside the opening. The device also includes a first sensor positioned at a first proximity of the first magnet, the first sensor being configured to generate a first signal based on the magnetic field of the first magnet. In an example, the first sensor may be configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet. The device also includes a second sensor positioned at a second proximity of the second magnet, the second sensor being configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet. In an example, the second sensor may be configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet. The device also includes an amplifier, the amplifier being configured to eliminate the difference between the first signal and the second signal, and providing a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal. The device also includes an analog / digital converter, the analog / digital converter being configured to convert the first amplified signal into a first digital signal, and convert the second amplified signal into a second digital signal. The device also includes a synchronization module configured to synchronize the first digital signal with the second digital signal.

[0022] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. A magnetic encoder device, wherein the amplifier may include a differential differential amplifier. A first most significant bit of the first digital signal is synchronized with a second most significant bit of the second digital signal. The synchronization module is further configured to eliminate mismatches between the first digital signal and the second digital signal. Implementations of the described techniques may include hardware, a method or process, or computer software on a computer-accessible medium.

[0023] The following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and to incorporate it into the context of a particular application. Various modifications in different applications and various uses will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to a wide range of embodiments. Therefore, the technology is not intended to be limited to the embodiments presented, but should be consistent with the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

[0024] In the following detailed description, many specific details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present technology. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present technology can be practiced without being limited to these specific details. In other examples, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail to avoid obscuring the present technology.

[0025] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents filed concurrently with this specification and open to public review with this specification, and the contents of all these papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference. All features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstracts and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features for the same, equivalent or similar purposes, unless otherwise expressly specified. Therefore, unless otherwise expressly specified, each feature disclosed is only an example of a general series of equivalent or similar features.

[0026] Furthermore, any element in a claim that does not explicitly recite a "means" for performing a particular function or a "step" for performing a particular function should not be construed as a "means" or "step" clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6. Specifically, the use of "the step of" or "the act of" in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6.

[0027] When an element is referred to herein as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it is understood that the element may be directly connected to the other element, or that there may be an intervening element between the elements. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, it is understood that there may be no intervening elements in the "direct" connection between the elements. However, the presence of a direct connection does not exclude other connections in which there may be intervening elements.

[0028] When an element is referred to herein as being "disposed" in some manner relative to another element (e.g., disposed on, disposed between, disposed below, disposed near, or disposed in some other relative manner), it is understood that the element may be disposed directly relative to the other element (e.g., disposed directly on the other element) or that there may be intervening elements between the elements. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly disposed" relative to another element, it is understood that there may not be intervening elements in the "direct" instance. However, the presence of a direct placement does not exclude other instances in which there may be intervening elements.

[0029] Similarly, when an element is referred to herein as being "joined" to another element, it is understood that the element may be joined directly to the other element (without any intervening elements) or that there may be intervening elements between the joined elements. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly joined" to another element, it is understood that there may be no intervening elements in the "direct" joining between the elements. However, the presence of direct joining does not exclude other forms of joining in which there may be intervening elements.

[0030] In addition, the terms left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, backward, clockwise and counterclockwise are used for explanation purposes only and are not limited to any fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are only used to indicate the relative position and / or direction between the various parts of an object and / or component.

[0031] In addition, for ease of description, the methods and processes described herein may be described in a particular order. However, it should be understood that unless the context otherwise requires, intermediary processes may occur before and / or after any portion of the described processes, and various other processes may be reordered, added, and / or omitted according to various embodiments.

[0032] Unless otherwise stated, all numbers used herein to express quantities, dimensions, etc. should be understood to be modified by the term "about" in all instances. In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless otherwise specifically stated, and the use of the terms "and" and "or" means "and / or" unless otherwise stated. In addition, the use of the terms "including" and "having" as well as other forms such as "includes / included" and "has / have / had" should be considered non-exclusive. In addition, terms such as "element" or "component" cover both elements and components that make up one unit and elements and components that make up more than one unit, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0033] As used herein, the phrase "at least one" preceding a series of items using the terms "and" or "or" to separate any items modifies the entire list, rather than each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase "at least one" does not require selection of at least one of each item listed; rather, the phrase allows for a meaning that includes at least one of any of the items and / or at least one of any combination of items. By way of example, the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" each refers to only A, only B, or only C; and / or any combination of A, B, and C. In instances where selection of "at least one of each of A, B, and C" or, alternatively, "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C" is intended, it is explicitly described as such.

[0034] Figure 1 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating a magnetic encoder system 100 according to an embodiment of the present technology. This diagram provides an example only, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. For example, the term "magnetic encoder" may refer to a type of rotary encoder that uses one or more sensors to identify changes in a magnetic field from a rotating device (e.g., a magnetized wheel or ring) and produces a signal indicating an accurate measurement of angular position. In various embodiments, the magnetic encoder processor 140 may be implemented in a system-on-chip (SoC) arrangement.

[0035] As shown, the magnetic encoder system 100 includes a first magnet 120 and a second magnet 110. For example, a "magnet" may refer to a material or object that produces a magnetic field (e.g., a force field that pulls or repels certain materials, such as nickel or iron), and may include, but is not limited to, a permanent magnet, a temporary magnet, an electromagnet, or the like. In an example, the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110 are magnetized with different magnetizations to produce separate magnetic flux orientations. The first magnet 120 may include a first pole pair (not shown) and an opening 130. The second magnet 110 may be positioned inside the opening 130 and include a second pole pair (not shown). For example, when describing the placement of the magnets, we use the phrase "positioned inside" to refer to any configuration in which at least a portion of the second magnet 110 is positioned within the boundaries defined by the opening 130. This may include, but is not limited to, scenarios where the second magnet 110 is completely positioned within the opening 130 (e.g., the surface of the second magnet 110 may be flush with the surface of the first magnet 120), as well as scenarios where only a portion of the second magnet 110 is positioned within the confines of the opening 130 (e.g., one edge, side, or any portion of the second magnet 110 extends beyond the boundaries of the opening 130, while the remainder of the magnet is within the opening 130). For example, a "pole pair" may refer to a pair of north and south poles, which are associated with the direction of a magnetic field.

[0036] Depending on the implementation, the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110 can be configured into various geometric shapes. As an example, the first magnet 120 is characterized by a first shape (e.g., a ring shape, an annular shape, or the like). The second magnet 110 is characterized by a second shape (e.g., a ring shape, an annular shape, a circular shape, or the like). In some cases, the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110 may share a center. For example, the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110 are configured as concentric rings. It should be understood that in practice, due to variations caused during manufacturing or operation (e.g., manufacturing defects, vibrations, noise, demagnetization, etc.), the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110 may not be completely concentric, potentially resulting in defects in signal generation, which can be eliminated in subsequent signal processing stages, as will be described in further detail below.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the magnetic encoder 100 further includes a sensing unit 140, which may include a first sensor 150 and a second sensor 160. The first sensor 150 and the second sensor 160 may be positioned to detect the magnetic fields of the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110, respectively. For example, the first sensor 150 is positioned at a first proximity near the first magnet, and the second sensor 160 is positioned at a second proximity near the second magnet. For example, the term "proximity" near a magnet refers to a position where it can effectively detect the magnetic field generated by the magnet, and the influence of the magnetic field from any other magnet is significantly weak. In various embodiments, the magnetic sensors (e.g., the first sensor 150, the second sensor 160) placed near the first magnet 120 and the second magnet 110 may be two separate types of magnetic sensors, which can be used to detect two separate directions or orientations of magnetic flux.

[0038] In an example, the first sensor 150 may detect and generate a first signal associated with the magnetic flux direction and orientation of the first magnet 120. The first sensor 150 may be configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet. The term "magnetic flux orientation" or "magnetic field direction" may refer to the direction or arrangement of magnetic field lines generated by a magnetic material or device (e.g., the first magnet 120, the second magnet 110). In an example, the second sensor 160 may detect and generate a second signal associated with a second magnetic flux orientation of the second magnet 110. The second sensor 160 may be configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic field signal associated with the second magnet. In an example, the second sensor 160 may be configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet. The magnetic encoder 100 may be configured to measure the position of an object. The term "position" may refer to the spatial orientation and / or position of an object at a given point in time. This may include, but is not limited to, absolute position, incremental position, and / or the like. The term "absolute position" may refer to the exact position or orientation of an object (e.g., a rotating body) at a particular moment, independent of any previous or subsequent position. This may be defined relative to a fixed reference point. The term "incremental position" may refer to the change or movement of the position of an object (e.g., a rotating body) relative to its position at a previous point in time. This may be expressed as a displacement from a previously measured position. Depending on the implementation, the magnetic encoder 100 may be mounted on a rotating body (not shown, for example, a turntable, a shaft, and / or the like), and may rotate relative to the first sensor 150 and the second sensor 160 during operation. For example, the magnetic encoder 100 may provide information about the angular position of the rotating body relative to a selected reference (e.g., a rotating axis). When the magnetic encoder 100 rotates, the first sensor 150 and the second sensor 160 may detect changes in the magnetic field and generate a first signal and a second signal, respectively, allowing the magnetic encoder 100 to track and measure the position (e.g., angular position) of the rotating body. For example, the first signal and the second signal may include an electrical signal configured as a sinusoidal waveform. The first signal and the second signal may be used to determine the position (e.g., angular position) of the encoder. As described further below, the first signal and the second signal are then processed and used to determine angular position and / or other information.

[0039] Figure 2A to 2B 2 is a simplified diagram illustrating an exemplary magnetic encoder 200 according to an embodiment of the present technology. These figures provide examples only and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. Figure 2A, the magnetic encoder 200 includes a first magnet 220 and a second magnet 210. For example, the first magnet 220 includes: a first pole pair 270, which may include a plurality of pole pairs (e.g., 220a, 220b, etc.); and an opening 260. The second magnet 210 may be positioned in the opening 260 and include a second pole pair 210a, which may consist of a single pole pair. In other examples, the first magnet 220 may consist of a single pole pair, and the second magnet 210 may include a plurality of pole pairs. The first magnet 220 may be characterized by a first thickness h1. The second magnet 210 may be characterized by a second thickness h2. It should be understood that the thickness of the magnet is associated with the strength of the magnetic field and / or the distance between the magnet and the sensor. The thickness of the magnet may be determined based on the specific design requirements of the magnetic encoder. For example, the first thickness h1 may be greater than 1.00 mm; the second thickness h2 may be greater than 1.00 mm.

[0040] In some embodiments, the first pole pair 270 may be characterized by axial magnetization and the second pole pair 210a may be characterized by radial magnetization. For example, the term "radial magnetization" refers to a magnetization direction that is across its diameter (e.g., along the radial direction 250). The term "axial magnetization" may refer to a magnetization direction that is along its geometric axis or axial direction (e.g., the axis of rotation 240).

[0041] In various embodiments, the magnetic encoder 200 is characterized by encoder resolution, which can refer to the number of segments or pulses that can be counted in one moving cycle (e.g., 360 degree rotation). The encoder resolution can be associated with the number of pole pairs in the magnet (e.g., the first magnet 220 and / or the second magnet 210). Some methods rely only on a single pole pair, generating a limited set of signals (e.g., a single pair of sine / cosine signals) during the entire magnet rotation. Therefore, the accuracy and performance of the magnetic encoder depend largely on these limited signals. Interference with these signals caused by sources such as noise, distortion or other magnetic interference can adversely affect the performance of the magnetic encoder. In contrast, embodiments of the present technology allow for improved resolution by increasing the number of pole pairs. Depending on the implementation, the number of pole pairs of a multi-pole magnet (e.g., the first magnet 220 and the second magnet 210) can be in the range of from a minimum of two to a theoretically infinite count (e.g., 8, 16, 32 ... 8096, and so on).

[0042] The magnetic encoder 200 may further include a sensing unit 230 configured to detect the magnetic fields of the first magnet 220 and the second magnet 210. Figure 2BAs shown in , the sensing unit 230 may include a first sensor 290a and a second sensor 290b. To detect the magnetic field, the first sensor 290a and the second sensor 290b may be positioned proximate to the first magnet 220 and the second magnet 210, respectively, and may be configured in various orientations depending on the magnetization directions of the respective magnets. For example, the first sensor 290a includes a horizontal sensor positioned at a first proximity near the first magnet 220. In an example, the first sensor 290a includes a horizontal magnetic sensor positioned at a first proximity near the first magnet 220. The term "horizontal sensor" may refer to a sensor that detects a magnetic flux signal perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor chip. The first magnet 220 characterized by axial magnetization may produce such a magnetic flux pattern as illustrated in 280.

[0043] In various embodiments, the first sensor 290a is positioned at a first proximity near the first magnet 220. The first sensor 290a may be configured to detect a change in the first magnetic flux 280 and generate a first signal based on a first magnetic field signal associated with the first magnet 220. In an example, the first sensor 290a may be configured to detect a change in the first magnetic flux 280 and generate a first signal based on a first magnetic field orientation associated with the first magnet 220. The first sensor 290a may include, but is not limited to, a Hall effect element, a magnetoresistive element, a magnetic transistor, and / or a combination thereof. In an example, the first sensor 290a includes a first magnetic field sensor configured to detect a horizontal or vertical magnetic field of axial magnetization. In some cases, the first sensor 290a includes a Hall sensor. The term "Hall sensor" or "Hall effect sensor" refers to a sensor that uses the Hall effect to detect the presence and magnitude of a magnetic field. When a conductor carrying a current is introduced into a magnetic field, a Hall effect occurs, thereby generating an output voltage (e.g., a Hall voltage) proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. For example, the first magnetic field signal includes a Hall voltage based on the magnetic field direction or orientation of the first magnet 220. In an example, the first voltage includes a Hall voltage based on the magnetic field density of the first magnet 220. The term "Hall voltage" may refer to a voltage generated in a conductor due to the Hall effect when current is introduced into a magnetic field. The Hall voltage may be associated with current, magnetic field, and / or the like.

[0044] According to some embodiments, the second sensor 290b includes a vertical sensor positioned at a second proximity near the second magnet 210. The term "vertical sensor" may refer to a sensor that detects a magnetic flux parallel to the surface of the semiconductor chip. The second magnet 210 characterized by radial magnetization may generate a second magnetic flux pattern as described in 270. The second sensor 290b may be configured to generate a second signal based on the magnetic flux direction or orientation associated with the second magnet 210. In an example, the second sensor 290b includes a second magnetic field sensor configured to detect a vertical or parallel magnetic field of radial magnetization. In some cases, the second sensor 290b may be configured to generate a second signal based on the magnetic flux pattern associated with the second magnet 210. For example, the second sensor 290b includes a Hall sensor, and the generated signal includes a Hall detection signal based on the magnetic field direction or orientation of the second magnet 210. It should be understood that the first sensor 290a and the second sensor 290b are positioned in a manner that effectively detects the magnetic field of the corresponding magnet. In an example, the first magnetic flux 280 is characterized by a first direction or orientation and the second magnetic flux 270 is characterized by a second direction or orientation. The first direction may be different from the second direction such that the first magnetic flux 280 may be isolated from the second magnetic flux 270. For example, at a first proximity, the first magnetic flux 280 may be characterized by a first direction or orientation that is perpendicular to the surface of the magnetic encoder and is therefore different from the second magnetic flux 270 of the second magnet 210 that is parallel to the surface of the magnetic encoder. In this way, isolation of the individual magnetic fields of the first magnet 210 and the second magnet 220 may be achieved so that the two magnets may be placed in close proximity to be detected within a single system such as the sensing unit 230. In some embodiments, at a first proximity, the first magnetic flux 280 of the first magnet 220 is greater than the second magnetic flux 270 of the second magnet 210. At a second proximity, the second magnetic flux 270 of the second magnet 210 is greater than the first magnetic flux 280 of the first magnet 220.

[0045] Depending on the implementation, the first magnet 220 and the second magnet 210 can be mounted on a rotating body (not shown, such as a turntable, a shaft, and / or the like) and can rotate relative to the first sensor 290a and the second sensor 290b about the rotation axis 240 (e.g., in a first direction 280) during operation. As the magnets rotate, the magnetic field strength detected by the sensors changes, causing the direction or orientation of the magnetic flux across the sensors to change. The change in the magnetic flux pattern can then be used to determine the angular position or rotation of the encoder.

[0046] The first sensor 290a and the second sensor 290b can be positioned in an on-axis configuration or an off-axis configuration relative to the rotation axis 240. In the on-axis configuration, the sensor is positioned along the rotation axis of the magnet. For example, the sensor can be positioned above or below the central rotation point of the magnet, in a straight line with the rotation axis. In the off-axis configuration, the sensor is positioned to deviate from the rotation axis of the magnet. For example, the sensor can be positioned to one side of the rotation axis. In some embodiments, the first sensor 290a is positioned to deviate from the rotation axis 240. This off-axis configuration allows for a reduced mounting height and improves the tolerance of the sensor and magnet positioning, resulting in improved accuracy and minimized latency. In the SoC arrangement, the magnetic encoder sensor 230 can be positioned at the corner of the semiconductor chip, which advantageously reduces sensor signal crosstalk / interference by increasing the distance.

[0047] Figure 3 3 is a simplified diagram illustrating an alternative exemplary magnetic encoder 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. This diagram provides an example only, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims.

[0048] As shown, the magnetic encoder 300 includes a first magnet 320 and a second magnet 310. The first magnet 320 may be characterized by radial magnetization, and the second magnet 310 may be characterized by axial magnetization. For example, the first magnet 320 includes a first pole pair 320a, which may be composed of a single pole pair. The first magnet 320 may further include an opening 340. The second magnet 310 may be positioned in the opening 340 and include a second pole pair 350, which may include a plurality of pole pairs (e.g., 310a, 310b, etc.). In the second magnet 310, each pole is characterized by a pole length l. The first magnet 320 is characterized by a first width w1, and the second magnet 310 is characterized by a second width w2. The size of the magnets (e.g., width, pole length, thickness, etc.) may be determined based on the specific design requirements of the magnetic encoder. For example, the first width w1 may be greater than 1.00 mm. The second width w2 may be greater than or equal to 1.00 mm. The pole length l may be greater than or equal to 0.1 mm.

[0049] The first magnet 320 and the second magnet 310 can be coupled to each other or separated from each other by a first distance d. The first distance d can be associated with crosstalk between the first magnet 320 and the second magnet 310. Depending on the specific embodiment, the first distance d can be greater than or equal to 0 mm, balancing the requirements of compactness and magnetic field isolation for optimal performance.

[0050] The magnetic encoder 300 may further include a sensing unit 330 configured to detect the magnetic fields of the first magnet 320 and the second magnet 310. When the first magnet 320 and the second magnet 310 rotate relative to the sensing unit 330, the sensing unit 330 detects changes in the corresponding magnetic fields and outputs electrical signals reflecting these changes. The output signal of the sensing unit 330 is characterized by a first resolution, which may be affected by various factors (e.g., the number of pole pairs, the number of sensors, etc.). For example, increasing the number of pole pairs may enhance the first resolution, making the output signal more robust to potential interference such as noise and distortion. The increased encoder resolution allows for more accurate and precise determination of position, thereby improving the overall performance and reliability of the magnetic encoder.

[0051] Figure 4A and 4B 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating components of an exemplary magnetic encoder 400 according to an embodiment of the present technology. These figures provide examples only, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many variations, substitutions, and modifications. For example, one or more steps may be added, eliminated, repeated, modified, replaced, overlapped, and / or rearranged, and should not limit the scope of the claims. As an example, depending on the implementation, one or more hardware components may be used to implement various functional blocks. For example, the processor 430 may include both analog components (e.g., analog front end or AFE) and digital signal processing components.

[0052] like Figure 4A As shown in FIG. 4 , the magnetic encoder 400 includes a first magnet 410 a and a second magnet 410 b, one of which includes a plurality of pole pairs that allow a signal with enhanced resolution to be generated, and the other consists of a single pole pair. The sensing unit 420 includes a first sensor 420 a and a second sensor 420 b, which are configured to detect the respective magnetic fields of the first magnet 420 a and the second magnet 420 b, and output an electrical signal reflecting the change in the magnetic field.

[0053] In some embodiments, the first sensor 420a generates a first signal based on a first magnetic field signal, the direction or orientation of the first magnetic field signal being associated with the first magnet 410a; the second sensor 420b generates a second signal based on a second magnetic field signal, the direction or orientation of the second magnetic field signal being associated with the second magnet 410b. In an example, the first sensor 420a generates a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet 410a; the second sensor 420b generates a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet 410b. For example, the first sensor 420a includes a Hall sensor, and the first magnetic field signal includes a Hall voltage based on the magnetic field density of the first magnet 410a. In an example, the first signal and the second signal may include a set of analog signals (e.g., differential sine / cosine signals) associated with the angular position of the magnetic encoder. The first signal may include a predetermined number of cycles corresponding to the number of pole pairs in the first magnet 410a. The second signal may include a predetermined number of cycles corresponding to the number of pole pairs in the second magnet 410b. The configurations of the first magnet 410a, the second magnet 410b, the sensing unit 420, the first sensor 420a, and the second sensor 420b may be the same or equivalent to those of Figures 1 to 3 components described herein and will not be described in further detail herein.

[0054] In order to determine the angular position of the magnetic encoder, the first signal and the second signal may be transmitted to a processor 430 (e.g., a microcontroller, a microprocessor, or the like) for further signal processing and calculation. In an example, the processor 430 includes an integrated system configured to eliminate crosstalk and or interference effects between signals detected and generated from the first magnet 410a and the second magnet 410b. For example, the processor 430 includes an amplifier 440, which is configured to amplify the first signal and the second signal and provide a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal. The term "amplifier" may refer to an electronic component that can increase the magnitude of a signal (e.g., a time-varying voltage or current), and may include but is not limited to a transistor amplifier, an operational amplifier, a differential amplifier, a differential differential amplifier, and / or the like. In an example, as Figure 4B 4, the amplifier 440 may include a differential amplifier configured to cancel the difference between the first signal and the second signal. At the amplifier 440, the first signal and the second signal may be weighted and subtracted from each other to cancel the crosstalk effect between the first magnet 410a and the second magnet 410b. In an example, the amplifier 440 may be configured to cancel the interference between the first signal and the second signal and provide a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal.

[0055] The processor 430 includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 450 configured to convert the first signal and the second signal into digital signals. The term "analog-to-digital converter" may refer to an electronic device that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. The ADC 450 may include, but is not limited to, a fully parallel (flash) ADC, a dual slope ADC, a successive approximation ADC, and / or the like. In some embodiments, the ADC 450 is configured to convert the first amplified signal into a first digital signal and the second amplified signal into a second digital signal. In an example, the ADC 450 may be configured to convert the first amplified signal into a first digital signal and the second amplified signal into a second digital signal.

[0056] During operation of the magnetic encoder, various factors (e.g., temperature fluctuations, spatial variations, changes in magnet type and arrangement, etc.) may contribute to non-ideal behavior of the first and second signals. These non-idealities have the potential to reduce the accuracy of the encoder and disrupt synchronization between the first and second signals, potentially resulting in substantial discontinuities in position calculations (e.g., magnitudes exceeding 180 electrical degrees). To ensure accuracy in position calculations, the first and second signals may be conditioned to eliminate imperfections and improve signal quality for further processing (e.g., synchronization) and position calculations.

[0057] According to some embodiments, the first signal (or first amplified signal) may be conditioned at the first signal conditioning module 460a. The second signal (or second amplified signal) may be conditioned at the second signal conditioning module 460b. The term "signal conditioning" may refer to manipulating or converting a signal so that it may be processed or analyzed by a subsequent device or system. Signal conditioning may involve various operations such as amplification, filtering, conversion, range matching, isolation, temperature compensation, and / or the like. For example, the signal conditioning process may be performed by one or more digital signal processor (DSP) units or general processing devices. Although in Figures 4A to 4B 4. The first signal conditioning module 460a and the second signal conditioning module 460b are shown as being external to the sensing unit 420, but it should be understood that one or more signal conditioning operations may also be performed within the sensing unit 420.

[0058] In various implementations, the processor 430 further includes a synchronization module 470 configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal. The term "synchronization" or "synchronization" may refer to any method or operation that facilitates alignment, matching, or coordinated interaction between the first signal and the second signal. This may include, but is not limited to, absolute synchronization (e.g., the signal arrives at all corresponding points at the same time) or relative synchronization (e.g., the signal maintains a consistent time difference). The phrase "synchronization" or "synchronization" may also include one or more characteristics of matching or aligning signals, which may include, but are not limited to, phase, frequency, amplitude, waveform shape, and / or the like. In an example, the synchronization module 470 may be configured to synchronize the first digital signal with the second digital signal. In various implementations, the first digital signal and the second digital signal output by the ADC450 may be synchronized by the synchronization module 470. In order to achieve synchronization between the first digital signal and the second digital signal, the first most significant bit of the first digital signal may be synchronized with the second most significant bit of the second digital signal. The term "most significant bit (MSB)" may refer to the bit with the maximum value in a multi-bit binary number. The MSB may be the leftmost bit. In some embodiments, the synchronization module 470 may be further configured to eliminate mismatches (e.g., phase mismatch, gain mismatch, etc.) between the first digital signal and the second digital signal. To calculate the angular position of the magnetic encoder, the synchronization module 470 may perform an inverse tangent on both the first signal and the second signal. -1 In some cases, the synchronization module 470 is further configured to eliminate mismatches between the first digital signal and the second digital signal.

[0059] Although the angular position can be obtained once the synchronization process has been completed, the previous signal conditioning process (e.g., at the first signal conditioning module 460a and the second signal conditioning module 460b) and / or the synchronization process (e.g., at the synchronization module 470) may introduce certain after-effects to the final output (e.g., angular position), resulting in noise or distortion that may reduce the accuracy and reliability of the output position data. Thus, the third signal conditioning module 480 may be implemented to further refine the output signal of the synchronization module 470 through one or more signal conditioning operations. For example, the third signal conditioning module 480 may perform a lookup table (LUT) correction to correct errors (e.g., nonlinearity, drift, noise, crosstalk, shape distortion, or the like) in the output signal 490 of the magnetic encoder. In some cases, digital filtering may also be performed at the third signal conditioning module 480 to reduce noise and / or interference and improve the quality of the output signal 490.

[0060] Figures 5A to 5B is a diagram illustrating a signal conditioning process 500 performed in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. These figures provide examples only and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. For example, the signal conditioning process 500 may be Figures 4A to 4BThe signal conditioning process 500 is performed by the first signal conditioning module 460a and the second conditioning module 460b. The signal conditioning process 500 is used to eliminate or minimize the non-idealities of the first signal and the second signal generated by the first sensor 420a and the second sensor 420b. As previously discussed, one of the magnets (e.g., the first magnet 410a and the second magnet 410b of FIG. 4) may include multiple pole pairs (referred to as a "multi-pole track"), while the other may consist of a single pole pair (referred to as a "mono-pole track").

[0061] Figure 5A Signal conditioning operations performed on a signal associated with a monopolar track (referred to as a "SP signal") are described. Figure 5B is a diagram illustrating signal conditioning operations performed on a signal associated with a multi-pole track (referred to as an "MP signal"). Depending on the implementation, the first signal and the second signal (both of which may include sine and cosine components) may be affected by random noise, mechanical errors, sensor structure, analog amplifiers, temperature fluctuations, etc. Thus, the first signal and the second signal may exhibit various non-idealities. For example, Figure 5A As shown in FIG. 1 , the SP signal may include the midpoint voltage V of the sine and cosine signals. mid The displacement 510 (which may be referred to as “V mid For example, the sine and cosine signals may not exhibit the same midpoint voltage V mid To counteract this, the V mid and applies an offset to correct for this difference and eliminate V mid Displacement 510.

[0062] In other examples, the SP signal may include the peak-to-peak voltage V of the sine and cosine signals. pp The displacement 520 (which may be referred to as "V pp Displacement”). When the sine and cosine signals do not exhibit the same V pp When V pp The displacement is 520. The V pp and accordingly apply a gain multiplier to correct V pp Displacement 520.

[0063] In some cases, the ideal phase relationship (90 degree difference) of the sine and cosine signals may sometimes be disrupted, resulting in a phase shift 530. For example, the phase shift 530 may be minimized by dynamically detecting the phase of each signal and applying an offset correction. Thus, a phase correction 540 may be achieved by aligning the phases of the sine and cosine signals.

[0064] like Figure 5B, the MP signal may include multiple sine and cosine signals. The number of sine and cosine signals may correspond to the number of pole pairs in the multipolar track. In some cases, harmonic interference 550 may occur between the SP signal and the MP signal. For example, the multipolar sine and cosine signals may be superimposed by a unipolar magnetic flux, or vice versa. To mitigate this, the signal conditioning process may implement first harmonic interference cancellation 560 by dynamically detecting the magnitude of the first harmonic component of the multipolar sine and cosine signals across every 360 mechanical degree revolutions. Then, the unipolar sine and cosine signals and a gain multiplier may be used to apply a cancellation operation to the multipolar sine and cosine signals.

[0065] In some embodiments, the signal conditioning process 500 may also include offset correction 570. For example, the midpoint voltage V mid Can be used to correct for offset (e.g., by Figures 4A to 4B The offset voltage is the voltage that appears at the output of the amplifier when the input is zero. To correct for the offset voltage, the midpoint voltage V can be adjusted by adding or subtracting a voltage. mid Before adjusting the offset voltage, the midpoint voltage V mid In some cases, the signal conditioning process 500 may further include a gain correction 580, which may be performed by normalizing the peak-to-peak voltage V pp to achieve.

[0066] Figure 6 600 for signal synchronization according to an embodiment of the present technology. This figure provides an example only, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. In various embodiments, in order to achieve proper synchronization, the SP signal can be spliced ​​according to the number of MP signals. As shown, the first SP signal 610 is characterized by a first mechanical angle (e.g., from 0 to 360mdeg); the first MP signal 620 is characterized by a first electrical angle (e.g., from 0 to 360edeg). For example, the first MP signal 620 includes N sine / cosine signals corresponding to N pole pairs in a multi-pole track. The term "mechanical angle" may refer to the physical rotation angle of a mechanical component. For example, when a magnetic encoder rotates, the mechanical angle can be used to describe the rotation. The term "electrical angle" may refer to the angle between poles and may be defined relative to the mechanical angle.

[0067] The second SP signal 630 may be obtained by scaling the first SP signal 610 by a factor of N. The second SP signal 630 may be characterized by a second electrical angle (e.g., from 0 to (N*360)edeg). The high SP component 640 and the low SP component 650 may be obtained through mathematical operations using the second SP signal 630. The high SP component 640 may be characterized by a third electrical angle (e.g., from 0 to (N-1)*360edeg). The low SP component 650 may be characterized by a fourth electrical angle (e.g., from 0 to 360edeg). Thereafter, synchronization may be performed using the high SP component 640, the low SP component 650, and the first MP signal 620 to obtain a first synchronized signal 660. The first synchronized signal 660 may be characterized by a fifth electrical angle (e.g., from 0 to (N*360)edeg). Finally, the first synchronized signal 660 may be converted back to mechanical degrees, producing a second synchronized signal 670 characterized by a second mechanical angle (eg, from 0 to 360 mdeg).

[0068] Figure 7 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a process 700 for signal synchronization according to an embodiment of the present technology. This figure provides an example only, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims. As shown, in a magnetic encoder, two types of signals are utilized to obtain position information: a single pole (SP) signal and a multi-pole (MP) signal. As shown, the SP signal can provide absolute position information, and the MP signal can provide incremental position data. Information from both the SP and MP signals is processed and synchronized to produce a final absolute position of a rotating body associated with the magnetic encoder. For example, the signal synchronization process 700 may be performed in Figures 4A to 4B The synchronization module 470 is executed.

[0069] In various embodiments, the SP signal provides absolute position once per revolution, providing a coarse position over an extended range. This is due to its characteristic structure, where each revolution of the magnetic encoder is equivalent to one complete sine wave of the SP signal. This waveform correlation allows the SP signal to track absolute position across multiple revolutions of the encoder, inherently distinguishing each complete revolution as a different cycle.

[0070] On the other hand, the MP signal can provide incremental position information. The MP signal exhibits multiple sine waves within one revolution of the encoder, corresponding to the number of pole pairs in the MP track. Although the MP signal can provide higher resolution position compared to the SP signal, the MP signal cannot distinguish between continuous rotations and provide absolute position. In other words, the MP signal can provide more precise information about the position within a single revolution, but does not convey the number of complete rotations.

[0071] The synchronization process 700 is configured to synchronize the SP and MP signals to exploit their complementary strengths, thereby producing a final signal that provides absolute position with a high degree of resolution.

[0072] While the above is a complete description of specific embodiments, various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present technology as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A magnetic encoder device for measuring the position of an object, the device comprising: a first magnet including a first pole pair and an opening; a second magnet including a second pole pair, the second magnet being positioned within the opening; a first sensor configured to generate a first signal based on a first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet; a second sensor configured to generate a second signal based on a second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet; and A processor is configured to determine the position based at least on the first signal and the second signal. 2 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 1 , wherein the first magnet is characterized by a ring shape. 3 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 2 , wherein the second magnet is characterized by a second shape, and the first magnet and the second magnet share a center. 4 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 2 , wherein the first magnet includes a rotation axis, and the first sensor is positioned offset from the rotation axis.

5. The magnetic encoder device according to claim 1, wherein: The first sensor is positioned in a first proximity near the first magnet, and the second sensor is positioned in a second proximity near the second magnet; and At the first proximity, a first magnetic flux of the first magnet is greater than a second magnetic flux of the second magnet.

6. The magnetic encoder device of claim 1, wherein the first pole pair is characterized by a radial magnetization and the second pole pair is characterized by an axial magnetization. 7 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises an amplifier configured to eliminate a difference between the first signal and the second signal.

8. The magnetic encoder device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal. 9 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 1 , wherein the processor comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to convert the first signal and the second signal into digital signals.

10. The magnetic encoder device of claim 1, wherein the first magnet comprises a plurality of pole pairs, and the second magnet consists of the second pole pairs.

11. The magnetic encoder device of claim 1, wherein the second magnet comprises a plurality of pole pairs, and the first magnet consists of the first pole pairs. 12 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 1 , wherein the first voltage comprises a Hall voltage based on a magnetic field density of the first magnet.

13. A magnetic encoder device for measuring the position of an object, the device comprising: a first magnet comprising a first pole pair and an opening, the first magnet further comprising a first surface, the first magnet being characterized by an axial magnetization; a second magnet including a plurality of pole pairs and a second surface, the second magnet being positioned within the opening, the second magnet being characterized by radial magnetization; a vertical sensor positioned above the first surface, the vertical sensor configured to A first magnetic flux orientation associated with the first magnet to generate a first signal; a level sensor positioned above the second surface, the level sensor being configured to A second magnetic flux orientation associated with the second magnet to produce a second signal; and A processor is configured to eliminate differences between the first signal and the second signal and determine the position based on at least the first signal and the second signal. 14 . The magnetic encoder device of claim 13 , wherein the vertical sensor comprises a vertical Hall sensor and the horizontal sensor comprises a horizontal Hall sensor.

15. The magnetic encoder device of claim 13, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are characterized by a ring shape and share a center.

16. The magnetic encoder device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to synchronize the first signal with the second signal.

17. A magnetic encoder device for measuring the position of an object, the device comprising: A first magnet including a plurality of pole pairs and an opening; a second magnet including a first pole pair, the second magnet being positioned within the opening; a first sensor configured to generate a first signal associated with the first magnet; a second sensor configured to generate a second signal associated with the second magnet; an amplifier configured to eliminate a difference between the first signal and the second signal to provide a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal; an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the first amplified signal into a first digital signal and convert the second amplified signal into a second digital signal; and A synchronization module is configured to synchronize the first digital signal with the second digital signal.

18. The magnetic encoder device of claim 17, wherein the first magnet is characterized by a ring shape.

19. The magnetic encoder device of claim 17, wherein a first most significant bit of the first digital signal is synchronized with a second most significant bit of the second digital signal.

20. The magnetic encoder device of claim 17, wherein the synchronization module is further configured to eliminate a mismatch between the first digital signal and the second digital signal.

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