MAGNETIC SENSOR SYSTEM FOR MEASURING LINEAR POSITION
First Claim
1. A magnetic sensor system, comprising:
- a first magnetic sensor having a first sensor element, a second sensor element, and a third sensor element for measuring a magnetic field,wherein the first sensor element, the second sensor element, and the third sensor element are aligned linearly along a direction of movement,wherein a first pair of differential signals, output by the first magnetic sensor, indicates a position of the magnetic sensor system, along the direction of movement, relative to a magnetic pole pair, wherein the first pair of differential signals are phase shifted by substantially ninety degrees, and wherein the position is calculated based on a first angle of the first pair of differential signals; and
a second magnetic sensor having a fourth sensor element, a fifth sensor element, and a sixth sensor element for measuring the magnetic field,wherein the fourth sensor element, the fifth sensor element, and the sixth sensor element are aligned linearly along the direction of movement,wherein the second magnetic sensor is positioned relative to the first magnetic sensor such that a second angle, calculated based on a second pair of differential signals output by the second magnetic sensor, in combination with the first angle, indicates a position of the magnetic sensor system across multiple pole pairs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic sensor system may include a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor. The first magnetic sensor may include a first triplet of sensor elements for measuring a magnetic field. The first triplet of sensor elements may be aligned linearly along a direction of movement. A first pair of differential signals, output by the first magnetic sensor, may indicate a position of the magnetic sensor system, along the direction of movement, relative to a magnetic pole pair. The second magnetic sensor may include a second triplet of sensor elements for measuring the magnetic field. The second triplet of sensor elements may be aligned linearly along the direction of movement. The second magnetic sensor may be positioned relative to the first magnetic sensor such that a second pair of differential signals, output by the second magnetic sensor, indicates a position of the magnetic sensor system across multiple pole pairs.
7 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A magnetic sensor system, comprising:
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a first magnetic sensor having a first sensor element, a second sensor element, and a third sensor element for measuring a magnetic field, wherein the first sensor element, the second sensor element, and the third sensor element are aligned linearly along a direction of movement, wherein a first pair of differential signals, output by the first magnetic sensor, indicates a position of the magnetic sensor system, along the direction of movement, relative to a magnetic pole pair, wherein the first pair of differential signals are phase shifted by substantially ninety degrees, and wherein the position is calculated based on a first angle of the first pair of differential signals; and a second magnetic sensor having a fourth sensor element, a fifth sensor element, and a sixth sensor element for measuring the magnetic field, wherein the fourth sensor element, the fifth sensor element, and the sixth sensor element are aligned linearly along the direction of movement, wherein the second magnetic sensor is positioned relative to the first magnetic sensor such that a second angle, calculated based on a second pair of differential signals output by the second magnetic sensor, in combination with the first angle, indicates a position of the magnetic sensor system across multiple pole pairs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method performed by a magnetic sensor system, comprising:
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generating a first pair of differential signals, with substantially ninety degrees phase shift, that permit determination of a first linear position of the magnetic sensor system relative to a magnetic pole pair that generates a magnetic field measured by the magnetic sensor system; generating a second pair of differential signals that permit determination of a second linear position of the magnetic sensor system relative to the magnetic pole pair or another magnetic pole pair included in a series of magnetic pole pairs; and outputting information that identifies the first linear position and the second linear position to permit determination of a position of the magnetic sensor system relative to the series of magnetic pole pairs. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for position determination, comprising:
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a first magnetic sensor that includes a first set of magnetic sensor elements aligned linearly along a direction of movement of the first magnetic sensor relative to a magnetic pole pair, wherein the first magnetic sensor is configured to; generate a first pair of differential signals based on measurements from the first set of magnetic sensor elements; and output the first pair of differential signals; and a second magnetic sensor that includes a second set of magnetic sensor elements aligned linearly along the direction of movement, wherein the second magnetic sensor is configured to; generate a second pair of differential signals based on measurements from the second set of magnetic sensor elements; and output the second pair of differential signals; and wherein the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are positioned relative to one another to permit a position, along a series of magnetic pole pairs that include the magnetic pole pair, to be determined using the first pair of differential signals and the second pair of differential signals. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification