Magnetic Sensor With Soft Magnetic Body For Axis Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic sensors detecting components of an external magnetic field in three orthogonal directions often experience differences and characteristic degradation due to the layout of their detection units, leading to inconsistent performance across X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis sensors.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic sensor design featuring three integrated detection units with a soft magnetic structure, where the support structure includes regions that prevent intersection by orthogonal straight lines, ensuring equal distances from a reference plane and symmetrical partial regions to maintain consistent magnetic flux distribution across all units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If three integrated detection units are provided on a substrate to detect magnetic field components in three orthogonal directions, then the sensor can detect three-dimensional magnetic field directions, but the detection units may differ in characteristics or suffer characteristic degradation due to the layout
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a soft magnetic body with an asymmetric structure (specifically, a body with a specific shape that is not symmetric with respect to the detection units) to compensate for the asymmetric magnetic field distribution caused by the layout. This asymmetric soft magnetic body creates a compensating magnetic flux that balances the magnetic field experienced by each detection unit, thereby equalizing their characteristics despite the asymmetric layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the magnetic properties of the environment by introducing a soft magnetic body with specific magnetic permeability characteristics. This soft magnetic body modifies the magnetic flux distribution in the region surrounding the detection units, thereby altering the effective magnetic field parameters experienced by each unit to achieve characteristic consistency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If soft magnetic bodies are used to convert vertical magnetic field components into horizontal components, then Z-axis detection is enabled, but the soft magnetic body concentrates magnetic flux causing the magnetic fields applied to X- and Y-axis sensors to differ from designed characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of magnetic flux concentration (which causes asymmetric magnetic field distribution and characteristic degradation) into a beneficial effect by strategically positioning a soft magnetic body that creates a compensating magnetic flux. This compensating flux counterbalances the asymmetric distribution, transforming the originally harmful flux concentration into a mechanism that achieves characteristic equality among detection units.
3Volume of moving object
If detection units are integrated in a compact layout, then the sensor size is reduced, but the characteristics of the detection units are degraded relative to their designed characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the magnetic environment parameters by introducing a soft magnetic body that modifies the magnetic flux density and distribution in the compact space. This allows the detection units to experience the intended magnetic field characteristics despite the compact integration, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision and characteristic accuracy while achieving miniaturization.
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 configuration prevents differences and degradation in characteristics between detection units, enhancing sensitivity and maintaining consistent output characteristics across all axes, thereby improving the sensor's performance in detecting external magnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
The third detection unit further includes a soft magnetic structure formed of a soft magnetic material... The soft magnetic structure converts vertical magnetic field components, which are in a direction parallel to the Z-axis, into horizontal magnetic field components in a direction perpendicular to the Z-axis
Implementation Method 2
Examples of the magnetic detection elements include magnetoresistive elements... The first detection unit includes at least one magnetic detection element... configured to detect a first component of an external magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic sensor includes first to third detection units for detecting components in X, Y, and Z directions of an external magnetic field. A reference plane orthogonal to the Z direction includes first to third regions formed by vertically projecting the first to third detection units thereonto. The first region includes two partial regions located on opposite sides of the third region in a direction parallel to a first straight line, and the second region includes two partial regions located on opposite sides of the third region in a direction parallel to a second straight line, the first and second straight lines being two mutually orthogonal straight lines that pass through the centroid of the third region and are perpendicular to the Z direction.