Magnetic Encoder Layout for Frictionless Incremental Notching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aeronautical coders face challenges such as complexity, friction, wear, and increased part count, which affect reliability and lifespan, especially in compact designs required for aircraft control systems.
Innovation Solution
An incremental magnetic coder is developed with a minimal mechanical contact design, utilizing magnetic elements arranged in a specific pattern to create coding and notching functions without friction or wear, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optomechanical or electromechanical encoders are used to achieve reliable detection and mechanical notching, then the encoder can provide stable position feedback, but the mechanical friction and wear increase, reducing lifespan and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical notching system with a magnetic field-based notching system. Magnetic elements are arranged on the rotating element to create magnetic notches that are detected by magnetic sensors, eliminating mechanical contact and friction while maintaining reliable position feedback and extending encoder lifespan
2Ease of operation
If complex mechanical notching systems are implemented to provide tactile feedback and precise positioning, then the notching capacity is improved, but the device complexity and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the encoding elements and notching elements into a single integrated structure. The same magnetic elements that provide position encoding also create the notching effect, eliminating the need for separate mechanical notching components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining tactile feedback and positioning precision
3Volume of moving object
If the encoder is designed to be compact with reduced dimensions, then the space requirement is decreased, but the manufacturing precision and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and arrangement parameters of magnetic elements to achieve compact design. By using radially magnetized elements with specific polarities arranged in predetermined patterns, the encoder achieves reduced dimensions while the magnetic field interactions maintain the required precision for detection and notching functions without demanding extreme manufacturing tolerances
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
The solution provides a compact, reliable, and long-lasting coder that meets the needs of aeronautical applications by eliminating friction and wear, reducing part count, and simplifying mounting, while ensuring precise notch effort adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
a first support comprising N magnetic elements arranged along the coding direction according to a homogeneous pitch P0 and defining a magnetic alternation along this direction
Implementation Method 2
the K-1 magnetic elements of each group being spaced apart from the initial magnetic element of this group according to variable pitches Pi
Implementation Method 3
at least one magnetic detector arranged opposite the first support and configured to quantify each movement of the mobile body according to the coding direction
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an incremental magnetic encoder (10) defining an encoder axis (X) and comprising a fixed body and a moving body. One of the bodies, referred to as the first body (21), comprises a first support (33) comprising N arranged magnetic elements. The other body, referred to as the second body (22), comprises: - a second support (41) comprising K*M magnetic elements arranged inhomogeneously along the encoding direction (C1, C2) opposite the N magnetic elements, the K*M magnetic elements forming M groups of K magnetic elements, the initial elements of the M different groups being spaced from each other along the encoding direction (C1, C2) according to a homogeneous pitch P1, the K-1 magnetic elements of each group being spaced from the initial magnetic element of that group according to variable pitches Pi; - at least one magnetic detector disposed opposite the first support (33).