Magnetic Sensor Arrangement for High-Resolution Position Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurement systems for determining angles and positions lack high resolution and accuracy, often requiring additional sensors and complex signal processing to achieve precise position determination within a revolution or along a path.
Innovation Solution
A measuring system incorporating a magnetic field sensor arrangement with integrated semiconductor chips and a rotary or movable encoder, utilizing arctangent and absolute value functions to generate signals from magnetic field measurements, allowing for precise angle or position determination without additional sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional angle sensors with multiple magnetic field sensors are used, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple magnetic field sensors (first and second magnetic field sensors) into a single integrated sensor arrangement that operates together to determine both angle and position. The sensor arrangement is designed to detect different magnetic field components simultaneously, merging the functions of separate sensors into a unified structure that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor arrangement is designed to perform multiple measurement functions simultaneously - it can determine both the angle of rotation and the position along the path using the same magnetic field detection capabilities. The evaluation circuit processes signals from the sensor arrangement to extract both angular and positional information, making the sensor system multi-functional and reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors for each measurement type.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to improve measurement resolution, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the measurement approach by using the amplitude modulation of the magnetic field signal to encode position information. Instead of adding more sensors to detect position, the system modulates the existing magnetic field signal with position-dependent amplitude variations, allowing a single sensor arrangement to extract both angular and positional information through signal processing in the amplitude domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the amplitude of the magnetic field signal as an intermediary carrier for position information. The magnetic field amplitude is modulated according to the position along the path, serving as an intermediary that encodes positional data without requiring additional physical sensors. The evaluation circuit then processes this amplitude-modulated signal to extract position information.
3Measurement precision
If complex signal processing is used to achieve precise position determination, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes periodic magnetic field changes generated by the encoder's magnets or teeth as the object moves. This periodic action creates predictable, rhythmic signal patterns in the magnetic field sensor arrangement. The evaluation circuit can exploit this periodicity through correlation or autocorrelation methods, which efficiently identify position information by matching the periodic signal pattern against reference patterns, reducing processing time compared to analyzing aperiodic signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or optical measurement systems with magnetic field-based detection and signal processing. Instead of using mechanical encoders with physical readout mechanisms or optical systems, the system uses magnetic field sensors to detect position through magnetic field amplitude modulation, substituting mechanical complexity with electromagnetic field interaction and digital signal processing, which can be faster and more precise.
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 achieves high resolution and accurate position determination within a revolution or along a path, utilizing the encoder's magnets or teeth to generate periodic magnetic field changes, enabling clear position measurement with a single set of measurement signals.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic field sensor arrangement (10) has a first magnetic field sensor (11, 12, 13) integrated in a semiconductor chip for measuring a first component (Bx, Bz) of a magnetic field vector (B) of a magnetic field in a first spatial direction (x, z) and a second magnetic field sensor (11, 12, 13) integrated in the semiconductor chip for measuring a second component (By) of the magnetic field vector (B) of the magnetic field in a second spatial direction (y)
Data Source
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AI summary
Measuring system, comprising a magnetic field sensor arrangement (10) comprising a first magnetic field sensor (11) for measuring a first component (Bx) of a magnetic field (B) in a first spatial direction (x) and a second magnetic field sensor (12) for measuring a second component (Bz) of the magnetic field (B) in a second spatial direction (z), comprising a sensor (31, 34) configured to generate a first magnetic field change with a first periodicity (T1) in the magnetic field sensor arrangement (10), and comprising an evaluation circuit (20) to which the first magnetic field sensor (11) and the second magnetic field sensor (12) are connected, wherein the evaluation circuit (20) is configured to generate a first signal (D) with the first periodicity (T1) from a first measurement signal (A) of the first magnetic field sensor (11) and a second measurement signal (B) of the second magnetic field sensor (12) according to an arctangent function (arctan (A/B)), wherein the Giver (31, 34) is trained,to generate a second magnetic field change with a second periodicity (T2) in the magnetic field sensor arrangement (10), and wherein the evaluation circuit (20) is configured to generate a second signal (C) with the second periodicity (T2) from the first measurement signal (A) of the first magnetic field sensor (11) and the second measurement signal (B) of the second magnetic field sensor (12) according to a magnitude function (|A|+|B|).