Magnetic Sensor Array for High-Resolution Angular Position Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for non-contact sensing of rotation and angular position using magnetic field sensors suffer from limited resolution, high computational effort, and increased power consumption, leading to measurement delays in safety-critical applications.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements on a single integrated circuit, where the orientation of a rotating magnetic target is tracked by combining sensor signals to maintain a constant phase difference, allowing for incremental orientation adjustments and reduced measurement delay, with Hall Effect Sensors used for polarity detection and misalignment correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple magnetic field sensing elements are used to improve measurement precision, then resolution is improved, but computational effort and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing elements are divided into groups that can be selectively activated. Instead of continuously using all sensing elements, the system segments them into active and inactive groups, activating only the necessary subset for each measurement cycle, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic switching between different sets of sensing elements. By alternating between multiple sensor sets in a periodic manner, the patent achieves continuous high-resolution measurement coverage while allowing individual sensors to rest periodically, reducing their cumulative power consumption and heat generation.
2Measurement precision
If multiple magnetic field sensing elements are used to improve measurement precision, then resolution is improved, but computational effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computational task is segmented by dividing the set of sensing elements into groups. Each group processes a subset of the total sensing data, and results are combined through a simplified algorithm. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity of processing all sensors simultaneously while maintaining the resolution benefits of using multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial action by selectively activating only the necessary number of sensing elements required to achieve the desired measurement precision for each specific measurement cycle. Rather than continuously processing data from all available sensors, the system activates just enough sensors to meet the precision requirement, thereby reducing computational effort.
3Measurement precision
If traditional angle calculation methods are used, then measurement resolution is limited, but computational simplicity is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing orientation information from the magnetic target in a lookup table during manufacturing or initialization. During actual measurement operations, the system simply queries this pre-computed table rather than performing complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving high-resolution angle measurements with minimal computational delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical angle calculation algorithms with a simplified lookup table approach. Instead of using computationally intensive methods like CORDIC algorithms to calculate arc tan of sensed signals in real-time, the system substitutes these mechanical/computational processes with a straightforward table lookup operation, dramatically reducing measurement delay while maintaining high resolution.
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 enables high-precision, robust, and reliable sensing of absolute angle and rotation with reduced computational effort and power consumption, achieving low measurement delay and improved resolution.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic field sensing element is able to detect the strength of a magnetic field from a magnetic target at a single local position in its local amplitude. In case of Hall Elements, also the polarity of the magnetic field can be sensed.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and device for contactless sensing rotation and angular position using orientation tracking. 2.1 To improve the accuracy and possible resolution of a magnetic positioning system, a method and a device using a special tracking technique is proposed. 2.2 The method and the device are using multiple magnetic field sensing elements at different positions below a magnetic target. The sensed signals are used to select or combine the sensing elements for a best approach to the actual orientation of the magnet. This allows putting out the related orientation of the approach as a coarse value and the remaining displacement as a fine value. 2.3 A device using this method allows highly accurate measurement of angular positions controlling or tolerating the placement of a magnet as the input source.