Magnetoresistive sensor

• US 20060261801A1
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Busch, Nicholas F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,425,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.210
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 2205/771 Toothed profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/147 influenced by the movement of a third element, the position of Hall device and the source of magnetic field being fixed in respect to each other

Abstract

A magnetic sensor, system and method include a magnet located proximate to a target comprising a plurality of teeth and a plurality of slots formed therebetween. An integrated circuit is located on a side of the magnet wherein the integrated circuit comprises a plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components. The integrated circuit and the magnet are configured into a sensor package, such that the magnetoresistive bridge components enable the detection of a target tooth when one half of the plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components come into proximity with an edge of a tooth before that of another half of the magnetoresistive bridge components as the tooth and an associated slot thereof pass by the sensor package.

Claims

1. A magnetic sensor, comprising:

a magnet located proximate to a target comprising a plurality of teeth and a plurality of slots formed therebetween;

an integrated circuit located on a side of said magnet wherein said integrated circuit comprises a plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components, wherein said integrated circuit and said magnet are configured into a sensor package, such that said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components enables a detection of at least one tooth among said plurality of teeth when a half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components come into proximity with an edge of said at least one tooth before that of another half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components as said at least one tooth and an associated slot thereof pass by said sensor package.

2. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise a first group of magnetoresistive bridge components and a second group of magnetoresistive bridge components, wherein said first group of magnetoresistive components are located within a first region of said integrated circuit and said second group of magnetoresistive bridge components are located within a second region of said integrated circuit.

3. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise an AMR Wheatstone bridge configuration.

4. The sensor of claim 3 wherein said AMR Wheatstone bridge configuration comprises four magnetoresistors.

5. The sensor of claim 3 wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) transducers.

6. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said target comprises a crankshaft.

7. The sensor of claim 1 wherein said target comprises a camshaft.

8. The sensor of claim 1 wherein plurality of teeth comprises gearteeth and wherein said at least one tooth among said plurality of teeth comprises a geartooth.

19. The method of claim 3 wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) transducers.

9. A magnetic sensing system, comprising:

a sensor package;

a magnet configured within said sensor package, wherein said magnet is located proximate to a target comprising a plurality of teeth and a plurality of slots formed therebetween;

an integrated circuit located on a side of said magnet wherein said integrated circuit comprises a plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components, wherein said integrated circuit and said magnet are configured into said sensor package, such that said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components enables a detection of at least one tooth among said plurality of teeth when a half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components come into proximity with an edge of said at least one tooth before that of another half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components as said at least one tooth and an associated slot thereof pass by said sensor package; and

wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise a first group of magnetoresistive bridge components and a second group of magnetoresistive bridge components, wherein said first group of magnetoresistive components are located within a first region of said integrated circuit and said second group of magnetoresistive bridge components are located within a second region of said integrated circuit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise an AMR Wheatstone bridge configuration.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said AMR Wheatstone bridge configuration comprises four magnetoresistors.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components comprise anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) transducers.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said target comprises a crankshaft.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said target comprises a camshaft.

15. A magnetic sensing method, comprising:

providing a magnet proximate to a target comprising a plurality of teeth and a plurality slots formed therebetween;

locating an integrated circuit on a side of said magnet wherein said integrated circuit comprises a plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components;

configuring said integrated circuit and said magnet into a sensor package; and

enabling a detection of at least one tooth among said plurality of teeth by said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components when a half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components come into proximity with an edge of said at least one tooth before that of another half of said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components as said at least one tooth and an associated slot thereof pass by said sensor package.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components to comprise a first group of magnetoresistive bridge components and a second group of magnetoresistive bridge components, wherein said first group of magnetoresistive components are located within a first region of said integrated circuit and said second group of magnetoresistive bridge components are located within a second region of said integrated circuit.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising arranging said plurality of magnetoresistive bridge components into an AMR Wheatstone bridge configuration.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising configuring said AMR Wheatstone bridge configuration to comprise four magnetoresistors.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said plurality of teeth comprises gearteeth and wherein said at least one tooth among said plurality of teeth comprises a geartooth.