Energy-Self-Sufficient Multiturn Rotary Encoder Using Wiegand Effect
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multiturn rotary encoders face challenges in synchronizing single-turn and multiturn sensors for detecting absolute rotational angles with minimal effort, leading to increased installation complexity and reliability issues across varying temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An energy-self-sufficient multiturn rotary encoder system that includes a pulse sensor, magnetic-field sensor, revolution counter, history memory, and evaluation unit, utilizing a single excitation magnet to generate a sinusoidal magnetic field, sectionalized into quadrants for precise angle detection and synchronization, with an energy-storage device charged by remagnetization pulses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical speed-reducing gear system is used to connect multiple angle-encoding discs, then multiturn revolution detection is achieved, but the system becomes complex, expensive, and subject to wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the mechanical gear system from the encoder structure and replaces it with an electronic counting unit. The counting unit electronically counts pulses from a single angle-encoding disc to determine multiturn revolutions, eliminating the need for mechanical speed-reducing gear systems while maintaining revolution detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gear system with an electronic counting mechanism. The counting unit uses electronic circuits to multiply and count pulses from the angle-encoding disc, substituting mechanical transmission with electronic signal processing to achieve the same multiturn detection function without mechanical complexity.
2Reliability
If optical reading system with accumulator or battery is used for data buffering, then multiturn data is stored, but the device size increases and requires constant power supply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the counting unit self-service by powering it directly from the evaluation unit's power supply without requiring separate accumulators or batteries. The counting unit operates continuously as long as the encoder is powered, eliminating the need for large energy storage components while maintaining data buffering capability through electronic memory.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multiple sensors and additional components are used for energy self-sufficiency, then external power dependency is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the excitation magnet multi-functional by having it serve both as the magnetic field source for the angle-encoding disc and as the generator of remagnetization pulses for the pulse sensor. This universal component performs dual functions: enabling angle measurement and providing energy for the counting unit, thereby achieving energy self-sufficiency without adding separate power-generating components.
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
Enables efficient detection of complete 360° revolutions and fine-resolved positions within one revolution, providing unambiguous position determination and reducing the need for external power, while maintaining stability across temperature variations and simplifying installation.
Implementation Method 1
an excitation magnet is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner to the encoder shaft for generating an external magnetic field which is used at least for determining the fine-resolved position
Implementation Method 2
Such a method, by which kinetic energies are converted into electrical energy, is based on the so-called Wiegand effect. A corresponding revolution counter is shown, amongst other things, in the document DE 10 259 223 B3. The document DE 10 259 223 B3 discloses an energy-self-sufficient revolution counter on the basis of a Wiegand sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates einen energy-self-sufficient multiturn rotary encoder for detecting a number of complete 360° revolutions of an encoder shaft, rotating about a rotational axis and to which an excitation magnet is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner for generating an external magnetic field, as well as for determining an absolute rotational angle indicating a fine-resolved position within one 360° revolution of the encoder shaft, wherein the multiturn rotary encoder for energy-self sufficiently detecting the number of the complete 360° revolutions of the encoder shaft several functional blocks comprises. Further, a corresponding method is taught.