Sensor Controller Selective Activation for Magnetic Field Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing physical quantity measuring apparatuses, particularly for magnetic fields and accelerations, face challenges in achieving a high Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) due to high noise components, which are exacerbated by the need for large current sources.
Innovation Solution
A physical quantity measuring apparatus that selectively activates one sensor at a time to measure and amplify signals for two axes, using a combination of sensors and equations to calculate X, Y, and Z component values, thereby reducing noise and minimizing current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all sensors are activated simultaneously to measure three axes, then measurement completeness is improved, but noise and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic activation of sensors by dividing measurement into multiple cycles. In each cycle, only specific sensors are activated based on the measurement phase, while others remain inactive. This periodic operation reduces cumulative noise and power consumption while maintaining complete three-axis measurement capability across multiple cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement process is segmented into multiple phases, with different sensor subsets activated in each phase. The sensor controller divides the three-axis measurement task into segments that can be executed sequentially with different sensor combinations, allowing complete measurement without simultaneous activation of all sensors.
2Measurement precision
If all sensors are activated simultaneously to measure three axes, then measurement completeness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are activated periodically rather than continuously. The sensor controller manages power consumption by activating specific sensors only during their required measurement phases and keeping them in low-power states during other phases, while maintaining complete measurement capability through coordinated periodic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The power consumption burden is segmented across time and sensor subsets. Instead of all sensors consuming power simultaneously, the measurement task is divided into phases where different sensor groups are activated sequentially, reducing total instantaneous power consumption while achieving complete three-axis measurement.
3Productivity
If sensors measure all three axes simultaneously, then measurement speed is improved, but signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement process uses periodic sensor activation where sensors are turned on only during their specific measurement windows and kept off during other periods. This reduces accumulated noise from continuously active sensors while maintaining efficient measurement throughput through coordinated periodic operation of sensor subsets.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a physical quantity measuring apparatus includes a signal measurer configured to include sensors configured to measure component values of two axes from among component values of three axes including an X(Hx), a Y(Hy) and a Z(Hz) measured component value of a physical quantity to be measured, a sensor controller configured to select one from among the sensors to be controlled to output a measured value from the selected sensor, an A/D transformer configured to transform an outputted signal selected by the sensor control unit into a digital signal, and a signal processor configured to receive the digital signal from the A/D transformer and to combine the received digital signal with other received digital signals to calculate X, Y and Z component values of the physical quantity.