Magnetic Encoder Self-Calibration for Low-Cost Angle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

The calibration cost of magnetic encoders is high due to the need for additional high-precision optical encoders, increasing hardware and time costs.

Innovation Solution

A self-calibration method for magnetic encoders involves setting reference points, performing low-pass filtering and averaging to create a trimming reference table, eliminating the need for expensive optical encoders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a high-precision optical encoder is added to calibrate the magnetic encoder, then the detection precision is improved, but the hardware cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic encoder performs self-calibration by detecting its own output signals and automatically generating correction values through low-pass filtering and averaging processes, eliminating the need for external high-precision optical encoders or manual calibration equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual reference system by processing the magnetic encoder's own output signals through filtering and averaging to generate trimming values that simulate the effect of a high-precision reference encoder, thereby achieving calibration without physical copying equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If a high-precision optical encoder is added to calibrate the magnetic encoder, then the detection precision is improved, but the hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidhardware cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic encoder performs self-calibration by detecting its own output signals and automatically generating correction values through low-pass filtering and averaging processes, eliminating the need for external high-precision optical encoders or manual calibration equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses software-based signal processing algorithms (low-pass filtering and averaging) instead of expensive hardware equipment, replacing costly physical calibration tools with computationally inexpensive digital processing methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If traditional calibration methods are used with optical encoders, then the detection precision is improved, but the time cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection precisionVSAvoidtime cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The magnetic encoder performs self-calibration by detecting its own output signals and automatically generating correction values through low-pass filtering and averaging processes, eliminating the need for external high-precision optical encoders or manual calibration equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The calibration process operates continuously during motor operation by constantly processing the magnetic encoder's output signals through filtering and averaging, allowing calibration to occur during normal operation rather than requiring separate calibration time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4403883B1Magnetic encoder self-calibration method and motor
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 QUANZHOU KTSENSE MICROELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4403883B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4403883B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application belongs to the field of rotation angles detection, and provides a self-calibration method for a magnetic encoder, a motor, and a method for calibrating detection values of angles. The self-calibration method for the magnetic encoder includes: performing a low-pass filtering process on detection values θdet(ij) to obtain filtered values θfilt(ij); setting m reference points θref(n) within 360°, and selecting detection values θdet(ij-n) respectively closest to each reference point θref(n) in each period; selecting filtered values θfilt(ij-n) corresponding to θdet(ij-n); calculating trimming values θcal(i-n) = θfilt(ij-n) - θdet(ij-n); performing an averaging process on θcal(i-n) over p periods for each reference point θref(n) to obtain target trimming values θcal(n); and storing each of the reference points θref(n) and the target trimming values θcal(n) respectively corresponding to the each of the reference point in a one-to-one correspondence as a trimming reference table. The self-calibration method for a magnetic encoder provided in this application can reduce the calibration cost for a magnetic encoder.