Position sensor, position sensor arrangement and method of operating the same by measuring the angular orientation of a local magnetic field vector
First Claim
1. Position sensor for a contactless determination of a position by means of redundant magnet-sensitive sensor elements, comprising:
- a giver unit and a sensor unit that is movable in relation to the giver unit within a predetermined position determination range, whereinthe giver unit comprises permanent magnet areas disposed in a ring or ring segment pattern and comprises an alternating pole sequence in the direction of the relative movement, so that for the sensor unit an inhomogeneous, alternating magnetic field results,the sensor unit comprises at least two magnet-sensitive sensor elements that generate one or more electrical output signals that are at least dependent on the respective local magnetic field direction, and that are disposed at different positions adjacent to the surface of the giver unit, wherein the predetermined position determination range and the pole sequence of the giver unit are to interact such that each sensor element during a relative motion between giver and sensor unit over the entire given determination range senses a change of the magnetic field direction of maximally 360 deg., so that each sensor element over the given position determination range generates an output signal that is definite for each particular relative position between giver and sensor unit, andat least two pairs of poles on the giver unit and at least two sensor elements are provided, wherein each sensor element is arranged in the magnetic sphere of influence of another pole of the giver unit,wherein at least one of the sensor elements is a multidimensionally measuring sensor element that measures an angular orientation of the magnetic field in at least 2 dimensions for determining the direction of a respective local magnetic field vector; and
the sensors are connectable to a data processing unit for computing an interference vector and determining corrected vectors by subtracting that interference vector from measured real magnetic field vectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A position sensor, a position sensor arrangement and a method of operating the position sensor and position sensor arrangement is described, working on the basis of magnetic field sensing sensors maximizing reliability against defects and external interference signals and providing redundancy, in particular for shift-by-wire systems in automobiles. The invention includes various aspects and preferred embodiments including individual sensors that can either only measure the direction of the magnetic field or in addition to that the absolute value of the magnetic field. The specific embodiments depend on the desired diagnostic options, redundancy and compensation capabilities both as to interfering magnetic fields and sensor failures or non-plausible output signals of individual sensors. An evaluation unit can be provided for compensating measurement deviations. Goals are to make the position sensor compact in size, cost effective, maximize reliability against defects and external interference signals, have diagnostic ability and provide redundancy.
17 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Position sensor for a contactless determination of a position by means of redundant magnet-sensitive sensor elements, comprising:
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a giver unit and a sensor unit that is movable in relation to the giver unit within a predetermined position determination range, wherein the giver unit comprises permanent magnet areas disposed in a ring or ring segment pattern and comprises an alternating pole sequence in the direction of the relative movement, so that for the sensor unit an inhomogeneous, alternating magnetic field results, the sensor unit comprises at least two magnet-sensitive sensor elements that generate one or more electrical output signals that are at least dependent on the respective local magnetic field direction, and that are disposed at different positions adjacent to the surface of the giver unit, wherein the predetermined position determination range and the pole sequence of the giver unit are to interact such that each sensor element during a relative motion between giver and sensor unit over the entire given determination range senses a change of the magnetic field direction of maximally 360 deg., so that each sensor element over the given position determination range generates an output signal that is definite for each particular relative position between giver and sensor unit, and at least two pairs of poles on the giver unit and at least two sensor elements are provided, wherein each sensor element is arranged in the magnetic sphere of influence of another pole of the giver unit, wherein at least one of the sensor elements is a multidimensionally measuring sensor element that measures an angular orientation of the magnetic field in at least 2 dimensions for determining the direction of a respective local magnetic field vector; and
the sensors are connectable to a data processing unit for computing an interference vector and determining corrected vectors by subtracting that interference vector from measured real magnetic field vectors.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for a contactless determination of a position by means of redundant magnet-sensitive sensor elements, comprising the steps of:
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providing and fixing a giver unit comprising permanent magnet areas disposed in a ring or ring segment pattern and comprises an alternating pole sequence in a direction of relative movement, so that for the sensor unit an inhomogeneous, alternating magnetic field results, providing and moving a sensor unit having at least 2 sensor elements in the direction of relative movement in relation to the giver unit along a predetermined rotational movement path within a predetermined position determination range of less than 360 degrees, measuring an angular orientation of the magnetic field in at least 2 dimensions for determining the direction of respective local magnetic field vectors by at least one of the 2 sensor elements, correlating the angular orientation of the local magnetic field vectors to the relative movement position between the giver unit and the sensor unit; and
computing an interference vector and determining corrected vectors by subtracting that interference vector from measured real magnetic field vectors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification