Inductive Rotor Position Signal Conditioning Without Phase Delay

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The phase shift or quadrature error in inductive position sensors used in magnetic bearing controllers of electrical machines, caused by parasitic resistive elements, complicates precise determination of rotor position, and existing methods like low-pass filtering degrade control accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for conditioning the measurement signal by sampling at specific times and breaking it down into in-phase and quadrature components using trigonometric functions, without additional processing means or control loops, to accurately determine rotor position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If low-pass filtering is used to eliminate quadrature error, then measurement precision is improved, but phase delay occurs which degrades control accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition measurement precisionVSAvoidphase delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the quadrature error component from the measurement signal through mathematical decomposition rather than physical filtering. By separating the in-phase and quadrature components using trigonometric relationships, the harmful quadrature error is isolated and eliminated without introducing phase delay, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical low-pass filter with a mathematical signal processing approach. Instead of using analog filtering hardware that inherently introduces phase delay, the solution uses digital signal processing techniques (trigonometric decomposition and calculation) to achieve quadrature error elimination without the temporal penalties of physical filtering.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If low-pass filtering is used to eliminate quadrature error, then measurement precision is improved, but information containing position data is removed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition measurement precisionVSAvoidposition information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the harmful quadrature error component while preserving the useful position information. Through trigonometric decomposition, the measurement signal is separated into in-phase and quadrature components, allowing selective elimination of the quadrature error without discarding the position-containing in-phase component, thus avoiding information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the measurement signal into distinct components (in-phase and quadrature) that can be processed independently. This segmentation allows the quadrature error to be identified and removed while the position information in the in-phase component is preserved and used for accurate rotor position determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If parasitic resistive elements are present in inductive elements, then device complexity is reduced, but phase shift occurs which complicates position determination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor structure complexityVSAvoidposition determination precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful phase shift caused by parasitic resistive elements into a manageable parameter. By explicitly calculating and compensating for the phase shift through trigonometric relationships, the solution transforms the adverse effect into a correctable factor, maintaining simple sensor hardware while achieving precise position determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the approach from trying to eliminate parasitic resistance to working with its effects. By introducing phase shift compensation as a calculated parameter and using trigonometric decomposition, the system adapts to the presence of parasitic elements rather than attempting to remove them, preserving device simplicity while restoring measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables precise determination of rotor position without phase delay, improving control accuracy in magnetic bearings.

Implementation Method 1

An inductive position sensor comprises two inductive elements connected in series. An alternating supply voltage is applied to the ends of the inductive elements. A displacement of the rotor causes a variation in the air gap generating a variation in the inductance of the inductive elements.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20250321126A1Method and device for conditioning a measurement signal
Publication Date: 2025.10.16 SKF CANADA LTD
  • US20250321126A1 patent drawing
  • US20250321126A1 patent drawing
  • US20250321126A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A device for conditioning a measurement signal supplied by an inductive position sensor (7, 8) for a rotor (3) of an electric machine (1) supported by at least one active magnetic bearing (4). The inductive position sensor (7, 8) measures a displacement of the rotor (3) and is supplied by an alternating voltage source (10a) supplying a sinusoidal voltage at a predetermined constant frequency. The device includes a sampler (15) and a first means (16). The sampler (15) samples first and second samples of the measurement signal at different times. The first means breaks down the measurement signal into a sum of a sine function and a cosine function from the first and second samples of the measurement signal.