Magnetic Sensor Module With Flux Concentration for Precise Position Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing magnetic sensor systems face challenges in accurately determining the position or orientation of a movable object relative to a magnetic source while balancing requirements such as simplicity, robustness, cost, and resistance to external disturbances, often necessitating trade-offs between conflicting performance criteria.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic sensor system comprising a magnetic source with a through-opening and a magnetic sensor positioned relative to the source, allowing for simple arithmetic processing and reduced sensitivity to temperature and external disturbances, with a movable object influencing the magnetic field outside the opening, and a processing circuit to determine positional or orientational values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor device is positioned close to the magnetic source for accurate measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but mechanical stress and risk of damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a magnetic flux concentrator (IMC) as an intermediary element between the magnetic source and the sensor device. The IMC focuses and directs the magnetic field lines toward the sensor, enabling accurate measurements without requiring the sensor to be positioned extremely close to the magnetic source, thereby reducing mechanical stress and risk of damage while maintaining measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If complex magnetic structures are used to improve measurement accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the magnetic flux concentrator (IMC) with the sensor device into an integrated module. This merging of components achieves accurate position measurements through the flux-concentrating effect while maintaining relatively simple arithmetic processing requirements and avoiding the need for complex separate magnetic structures.
3Reliability
If the sensor device is made robust against external disturbances, then reliability is improved, but sensitivity to temperature and ageing effects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a processing circuit that performs differential measurement and signal processing to compensate for environmental factors. By comparing signals from multiple sensor elements and applying appropriate processing, the system achieves robustness against external disturbance fields while compensating for temperature variations and ageing effects through the differential measurement approach.
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 system provides compact, robust, and convenient measurement of axial distance, displacement, rotation, and other movements with reduced mechanical stress and sensitivity to environmental factors, enabling precise determination of object position and orientation.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic source configured for generating a magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
measuring a characteristic of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic source and influenced by the position and/or orientation of the movable object
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system includes: a magnetic source with a through-opening; a magnetic sensor located at a fixed position relative to the magnetic source; an object capable of influencing a magnetic field generated by the magnetic source, the object being movable relative to the magnetic source and being located completely outside of the through-opening; a processing circuit configured for providing a signal indicative of a presence, a position or an orientation of the movable object, or a value derived therefrom; wherein a smallest distance (sd1) between the movable object and the magnetic source is smaller than a smallest distance (sd2) between the movable object and the magnetic sensor, or wherein the magnetic source is located between the magnetic sensor and the movable object. A method is for determining a position of a movable object as well as a sensor module, a sensor device, and a sensor assembly.