Magnetic Angle Sensor Using 120-Degree Device Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing magnetic angle sensors require a large number of sensing elements and significant electrical power to accurately determine rotation angles, leading to increased chip space requirements and parasitic capacitances.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic angle sensing system using three magnetic sensing devices arranged at 120° intervals on a reading circle around a rotation axis, with each device comprising multiple sensing elements, allows for the reconstruction of rotation angles from measured magnetic field differences, reducing the need for extensive sensing elements and power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a large number of sensing elements are used to accurately determine rotation angles, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and chip space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation angle determination accuracyVSAvoidnumber of sensing elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing system is divided into three magnetic sensing devices arranged at 120° intervals around the rotation axis. Each device contains multiple sensing elements that are segmented and distributed spatially, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision through geometric arrangement rather than requiring a single large array of sensing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane arrangement of sensing elements to a three-dimensional spatial distribution around the rotation axis. By placing sensing devices at different angular positions (120° intervals) and utilizing the radial dimension, the system achieves accurate rotation angle determination with fewer total sensing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If more sensing elements are deployed to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation angle determination accuracyVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing system is divided into three magnetic sensing devices arranged at 120° intervals around the rotation axis. Each device contains multiple sensing elements that are segmented and distributed spatially, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision through geometric arrangement rather than requiring a single large array of sensing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane arrangement of sensing elements to a three-dimensional spatial distribution around the rotation axis. By placing sensing devices at different angular positions (120° intervals) and utilizing the radial dimension, the system achieves accurate rotation angle determination with fewer total sensing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If more sensing elements are used to accurately determine rotation angles, then measurement precision is improved, but parasitic capacitances increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation angle determination accuracyVSAvoidparasitic capacitances

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensing system is divided into three magnetic sensing devices arranged at 120° intervals around the rotation axis. Each device contains multiple sensing elements that are segmented and distributed spatially, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision through geometric arrangement rather than requiring a single large array of sensing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane arrangement of sensing elements to a three-dimensional spatial distribution around the rotation axis. By placing sensing devices at different angular positions (120° intervals) and utilizing the radial dimension, the system achieves accurate rotation angle determination with fewer total sensing elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 provides high accuracy in determining rotation angles while being robust against magnetic disturbances and reducing the number of sensing elements and electrical power required, thus minimizing chip space and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

each of the magnetic sensing devices is susceptible to sensing a magnetic field component that is perpendicular to the main surface of the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS10746569B2Magnetic angle sensor device and method of operation

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG

AI summary

A magnetic angle sensing system is suggested comprising first, second, and third magnetic sensing devices, a substrate comprising the first, second and third magnetic sensing devices, wherein the first, seconds and third magnetic sensing devices are each arranged such to be responsive to a magnetic field component that is perpendicular to a main surface of the substrate, wherein each or the first, second and third magnetic sensing devices comprises the same number of magnetic sensing elements, wherein the second magnetic sensing device is arranged on the semiconductor surface rotated by 120° in view of the first magnetic sensing device clockwise around a reference point, wherein the third magnetic sensing device is arranged on the semiconductor surface rotated by 120° in view of the first magnetic sensing device counter-clockwise around the reference point.