Two channel eight bearings magnetic resolver circuit using differential amplifiers for lap counting and timing

• US 5,661,398 A
• Filed: 06/30/1995
• Issued: 08/26/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acumen Associates Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acumen Associates Incorporated (Roper Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sham, Ka Yiu, Wong, Philip Lim-Kong
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Application Number:
  US08/497,448
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 324/244, 324/247, 324/251, 324/252, 324/226, 377/12, 377/5, 377/6, 377/17, 377/24.2, 377/111
• US Class Current: 324/247
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0206 Three-component magnetometers

Abstract

A circuit for resolving a magnetic field, including a first channel including a first magnetic field sensor, a first amplifier coupled to and receiving an output from said first magnetic field sensor, and a first three band detector coupled to and receiving an output from said first amplifier. The first three band detector provides a first two bit output. A second channel includes a second magnetic field sensor, a second amplifier coupled to and receiving an output from said second magnetic field sensor, and a second three band detector coupled to and receiving an output from said second amplifier. The second three band detector provides a second two bit output. The first and second magnetic field sensors are arranged orthogonally to one another such that said first and second two bit outputs resolve the magnetic field into eight bearings.

Claims

1. A circuit for resolving a magnetic field, comprising:

a first channel including a first magnetic field sensor, a first amplifier coupled to and receiving an output from said first magnetic field sensor, and a first three band detector coupled to and receiving an output from said first amplifier, said first three band detector providing a first two bit output;

a second channel including a second magnetic field sensor, a second amplifier coupled to and receiving an output from said second magnetic field sensor, and a second three band detector coupled to and receiving an output from said second amplifier, said second three band detector providing a second two bit output;

wherein said first and second magnetic field sensors are arranged orthogonally to one another such that said first and second two bit outputs resolve the magnetic field into eight bearings;

a null field/offset adjustment circuit coupled to said first and second amplifiers; and

a high band switching reference adjustment circuit and a low band switching reference adjustment circuit coupled to said first and second three band window detectors.

2. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second magnetic field sensors comprise two linear Hall-effect sensors arrange back-to-back to provide a doubled output differential signal.

3. A circuit according to claim 2, wherein each of said first and second magnetic field sensors include a magnetic concentrator to provide a magnetic signal gain to said sensor.

4. A circuit according to claim 3, wherein said magnetic concentrator is a MU-metal rod arranged on each outward facing side of said two linear Hall-effect sensors.

5. A circuit according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second amplifiers include a differential amplifier having a feedback loop, a positive terminal of said differential amplifier receiving an output of one of said two linear Hall-effect sensors and a negative terminal receiving an output of the other of said two linear Hall-effect sensors and an output of said null field/offset adjustment circuit.

6. A circuit according to claim 5, wherein each of said first and second three band detectors include first and second comparators providing first and second bit outputs forming said two bit output, said first and second comparators having negative inputs which receive the output of said differential amplifier, a positive input of said first comparator receiving an output of said high band switching reference circuit and a positive input of said second comparator receiving an output of said low band switching reference circuit.

7. A circuit according to claim 6, wherein said first and second bit outputs of each of said first and second three band detectors provides a four bit output for resolving the magnetic field into the eight bearings.

8. A lap counter, comprising:

a microprocessor having a display; and

an eight bearing resolver circuit coupled to said microprocessor;

wherein said eight bearing resolver circuit comprises a first channel including a first magnetic field sensor, a first amplifier coupled to and receiving an output from said first magnetic field sensor, and a first three band detector coupled to and receiving an output from said first amplifier, said first three band detector providing a first two bit output;

a second channel including a second magnetic field sensor, a second amplifier coupled to and receiving an output from said second magnetic field sensor, and a second three band detector coupled to and receiving an output from said second amplifier, said second three band detector providing a second two bit output;

wherein said first and second magnetic field sensors are arranged orthogonally to one another such that said first and second two bit outputs are provided to said microprocessor for resolving the magnetic field into eight bearings, said microprocessing incrementing a lap count each time said eight bearings are crossed;

a null field/offset adjustment circuit coupled to said first and second amplifiers; and

a high band switching reference adjustment circuit and a low band switching reference adjustment circuit coupled to said first and second three band window detectors.

9. A circuit according to claim 8, wherein each of said first and second magnetic field sensors comprise two linear Hall-effect sensors arrange back-to-back to provide a doubled output differential signal.

10. A circuit according to claim 8, wherein each of said first and second magnetic field sensors include a magnetic concentrator to provide a magnetic signal gain to said sensor.

11. A circuit according to claim 8, wherein said magnetic concentrator is a MU-metal rod arranged on each outward facing side of said two linear Hall-effect sensors.

12. A circuit according to claim 8, wherein each of said first and second amplifiers include a differential amplifier having a feedback loop, a positive terminal of said differential amplifier receiving an output of one of said two linear Hall-effect sensors and a negative terminal receiving an output of the other of said two linear Hall-effect sensors and an output of said null field/offset adjustment circuit.

13. A circuit according to claim 12, wherein each of said first and second three band detectors include first and second comparators providing first and second bit outputs forming said two bit output, said first and second comparators having negative inputs which receive the output of said differential amplifier, a positive input of said first comparator receiving an output of said high-bind switching reference circuit and a positive input of said second comparator receiving an output of said low band switching reference circuit.

14. A circuit according to claim 13, wherein said first and second bit outputs of each of said first and second three band detectors provides a four bit output for resolving the negative field into the eight bearings.