Magnetic Angle Sensor Vector Length Variance Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic field angle sensors in safety-critical automotive applications face challenges in detecting sensor malfunctions due to environmental and device influences, limiting their diagnostic coverage and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic angle sensor system that includes two sensors generating signals for orthogonal components of a magnetic field, with a signal processor generating an angle signal and a vector length signal, and performing a variance check by comparing the vector length variance to tolerance thresholds to detect faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vector length monitoring is used for safety detection, then malfunction detection capability is improved, but diagnostic coverage is reduced due to environmental and device influences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the tolerance range adaptive rather than fixed. The signal processor dynamically adjusts the tolerance range based on environmental conditions (temperature, humidity) and device characteristics (sensor type, mounting position). This allows the system to maintain high malfunction detection capability while accommodating normal variations caused by environmental and device influences, thereby preserving diagnostic coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the tolerance range from a static value to a dynamic parameter that varies with environmental and device conditions. By monitoring parameters such as temperature, humidity, and sensor characteristics, the system adjusts the tolerance range to reflect expected variations under different conditions. This enables the system to distinguish between normal environmental variations and actual malfunctions, resolving the contradiction between detection capability and diagnostic coverage.
2Device complexity
If fixed tolerance range is used for vector length check, then system complexity is reduced, but ability to account for environmental and device influences is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static tolerance range to a dynamic one that automatically adapts to environmental and device conditions. The signal processor continuously monitors relevant parameters and adjusts the tolerance range accordingly, enabling the system to account for environmental and device influences without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple fixed tolerance ranges for different conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances the functional safety of magnetic field angle sensors by reliably detecting sensor malfunctions and maintaining diagnostic coverage despite environmental and device influences.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnetic sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to a first component of a magnetic field; a second magnetic sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal in response to a second component of the magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic angle sensor system includes a first magnetic sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal, a second magnetic sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal, and at least one signal processor configured to: generate an angle signal including an angular value corresponding to an orientation of a magnetic field based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; generate a vector length signal comprising a plurality of vector lengths corresponding to the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal; and extract at least one spectral component of the vector length signal, the at least one spectral component being indicative of a vector length variance between at least two consecutively sampled vector lengths of the plurality of vector lengths.