Magnetic Field Direction Sensor Position Encoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing position sensing technologies, such as potentiometers, suffer from wear and noise issues, leading to positional inaccuracies, and digital sensors often rely on computationally inefficient lookup tables or separate power supplies, limiting their effectiveness in providing precise position information.

Innovation Solution

A non-contact position sensor system that utilizes a magnet and a magnetic field direction sensor to encode position changes, where the magnetic feature's orientation affects the magnetic field direction, allowing for precise position feedback without the need for contact or separate power supplies, and can be used in both linear and rotary motion applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If potentiometers are used for position sensing, then analog position information can be obtained, but wear occurs due to sliding or rolling contact and noise leads to positional inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidsensor durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based potentiometer system with a magnetic field-based sensing system. A magnet attached to the moving component interacts with a magnetic sensor (e.g., Hall effect sensor, fluxgate magnetometer) to provide contactless position measurement, eliminating wear from sliding or rolling contacts while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the moving component and the sensor. The magnet generates a magnetic field that varies with position, and the magnetic sensor detects these variations without physical contact, serving as a non-contact mediator that transfers position information without mechanical wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If digital absolute position sensors are used, then position information can be maintained after origin establishment, but separate power supplies are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabsolute position capabilityVSAvoidpower supply requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a magnetic sensor that can function in both incremental and absolute positioning modes using the same magnetic field measurements. The sensor processes magnetic field variations to provide absolute position information without requiring separate power supplies or additional hardware components, achieving multi-functionality with a single sensing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If lookup tables are used for digital position sensors, then unique states can be mapped to unique positions, but computational efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition resolutionVSAvoidcomputational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces computationally intensive lookup table methods with direct mathematical calculation of position from magnetic field measurements. The system uses trigonometric relationships and field vector analysis to compute position in real-time, eliminating the need to search through pre-stored lookup tables and significantly improving computational efficiency while maintaining high position resolution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 solution provides accurate, noise-free position information with high resolution and eliminates unintentional eccentricity anomalies, enabling precise positioning and motion control in various applications by correlating magnetic field direction changes with positional data.

Implementation Method 1

A non-contact position sensor system that utilizes a magnet and a magnetic field direction sensor to encode position changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS10830571B2Techniques for magnetic field direction based position sensor

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 ANALOG DEVICES INT UNLTD CO

AI summary

Techniques for sensing position using a magnetic field direction sensor are provided. In an example, a system can include a magnet, a first magnetic field direction sensor, positioned between the magnet and a magnetic feature of a first structure, the sensor configured to move with the magnet and to measure a direction of a magnetic field produced by the magnet relative to a first axis (x). In certain examples, the magnetic feature is configured change position with respect to the magnetic sensor along the first axis (x) as a relative position between the magnet and the magnetic feature changes with respect to a second axis (y).