Heterogeneous Magnetic and Inductive Sensor Error Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor technologies face challenges in achieving high safety compliance and redundancy in sensing applications, particularly in automobile control systems, where reliable detection of target angles, positions, and torques is critical.
Innovation Solution
The development of heterogeneous sensors that combine magnetic field sensors and inductive sensors in various configurations, including different positioning of components and circuit board layouts, along with a checker circuit to compare outputs and ensure error detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant identical circuits are used in sensor IC, then safety compliance and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines magnetic field sensing elements (Hall effect or magnetoresistive) and inductive sensing elements (coils) into a single heterogeneous sensor IC. This merging provides redundant sensing capabilities through different physical principles while sharing common circuitry and processing resources, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor IC is designed to perform multiple sensing functions using both magnetic field sensing and inductive sensing methodologies. The shared circuitry and processing unit can handle outputs from both sensing types, making the system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate redundant circuits
2Measurement precision
If heterogeneous sensors combining magnetic and inductive sensing are used, then sensing accuracy and error detection capability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The checker circuit continuously compares outputs from both magnetic field sensing and inductive sensing elements. This feedback mechanism detects discrepancies between the two independent sensing methodologies, enabling error detection and improving measurement reliability while managing complexity through systematic comparison
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor IC integrates different sensing element types (magnetic field sensing elements and inductive sensing elements) into a composite heterogeneous structure. This composite approach leverages the strengths of different physical sensing principles to improve overall measurement precision and provide cross-validation capabilities
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
This approach enhances safety compliance by providing redundant sensing methodologies, improving the accuracy and reliability of angle, position, and torque sensing, and enabling the detection of errors through comparative analysis.
Implementation Method 1
Some sensors include one or magnetic field sensing elements, such as Hall effect elements or magnetoresistive elements
Implementation Method 2
Some sensors include one or magnetic field sensing elements, such as Hall effect elements or magnetoresistive elements
Implementation Method 3
Some sensors are inductive sensors that include a primary or transmitting coil that generates a biasing field in response to an oscillation signal
Implementation Method 4
one or more secondary, or receiving coils electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil for generating one or more secondary signals
Data Source
AI summary
A heterogeneous sensor system includes a magnetic field sensor and an inductive sensor. A checker is configured to receive the magnetic field sensor output signal and the inductive sensor output signal and determine whether an error has occurred based on a comparison of the magnetic field sensor output signal and the inductive sensor output signal. Targets include at least a portion that is conductive and may include a ferromagnetic portion for back biased magnetic sensing. Additional features include on axis and off axis positioning of the sensors with respect to the target, multi-track targets for absolute position sensing, angle sensing and torque sensing configurations.