Rotary Angle Sensor Initialization After Wiegand Count Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rotary angle measuring systems with Wiegand multiturn sensors face issues with unintended counting pulses during transport and assembly, leading to undefined actual partial rotation counts after installation, necessitating reliable and easy initialization.

Innovation Solution

A method for initializing the system by setting predefined initialization angle positions, comparing actual and target sub-segment values, and correcting the actual partial rotation count to ensure a defined initial state, using a single-turn sensor and Wiegand multiturn sensor to detect and adjust the rotor's angular position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the rotor unit is transported and assembled separately from the stator unit, then the system can be manufactured and installed more flexibly, but unintended counting pulses occur during transport causing undefined actual partial rotation count

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in manufacturing and installationVSAvoiddefined initial state of actual partial rotation count
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing initialization after installation to set a defined initial state. The evaluation unit determines an actual partial segment value from the stored actual partial rotation count and compares it with a target partial segment value corresponding to a predefined initialization angle position. If they differ, the actual partial rotation count is corrected before system operation begins, ensuring reliable initialization despite separate transport and assembly of rotor and stator units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the actual partial rotation count is incremented or decremented during operation, then the rotation position can be tracked, but the system requires a defined initial state which is difficult to establish after installation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking of rotation positionVSAvoidinitialization process
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the relationship between the actual partial rotation count and the rotor's angular position. The evaluation unit determines the actual partial segment value from the stored count and compares it with the target partial segment value based on the predefined initialization angle position. This feedback mechanism allows the system to detect and correct any discrepancies, ensuring accurate rotation position tracking while simplifying the initialization process through automatic correction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate assemblies are used for rotor and stator units, then the system can be assembled at the point of use, but uncontrolled movements during assembly trigger unintended counting pulses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to assemble at point of useVSAvoidunintended counting pulses during assembly
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing initialization after installation to eliminate the harmful effects of unintended counting pulses generated during assembly. The evaluation unit determines the actual partial segment value from the stored actual partial rotation count and compares it with the target partial segment value. If they differ, the system corrects the actual partial rotation count before operation begins, thereby compensating for any spurious pulses triggered during the assembly process and ensuring accurate measurement from the start.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Ensures a defined actual partial rotation count is stored in the data memory, enabling simple and reliable initialization of the rotary angle measuring system.

Implementation Method 1

a stationary stator unit with a Wiegand multiturn sensor... by which an angular position of the rotor unit relative to the stator unit can be detected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field sensing: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

a stationary stator unit with a Wiegand multiturn sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWiegand effect: Wiegand Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4320410B1Method for initializing an angle-of-rotation measurement system, and angle-of-rotation measurement system
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 FRABA
  • EP4320410B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4320410B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4320410B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for initializing an angle-of-rotation measurement system (10) and to an angle-of-rotation measurement system (10) having a corresponding initialization unit (38). According to the invention, in order to initialize the angle-of-rotation measurement system (10), a specified initialization angular position of a rotor unit (18) is set relative to a stator unit (20); a stored actual partial-rotation counter value (Un) is read which indicates a number of (360°/N) partial-rotations of the rotor unit (18) relative to the stator unit (20); an actual sub-segment value (HSn) that indicates in which (360°/N) sub-segment of a full rotation the rotor unit (18) is located relative to the stator unit (20) is determined from the actual partial-rotation counter value (Un); and the stored actual partial-rotation counter value (Un) is increased or reduced if the actual sub-segment value (HSn) does not match a target sub-segment value (HS1-4) assigned to the specified initialization angular position. Thus, an angle-of-rotation measurement system (10) is provided which can be initialized in a reliable and simple manner.