Sensor arrangement for position sensing
First Claim
1. A sensor arrangement for position sensing, comprisinga first magnetoresistive element (1) and a second magnetoresistive element (2), each of the magnetoresistive elements (1, 2) comprising a stack (11) of layers including at least a conductive layer (112) in between two magnetic layers (111, 113) which layers have a longitudinal extension (L) along a longitudinal axis (X) and a lateral extension along a transverse axis (Y),a magnetic field source (3) providing a magnetic field with a first magnetic pole (N) and a second magnetic pole (S), the magnetic field source has a dipole axis (DA) defined by the first and the second magnetic pole (N, S) extending along a vertical axis (Z) orthogonal to a plane defined by the longitudinal axis (X) and the transverse axis (Y), anda measurement unit, wherein the magnetic field source (3) is arranged between the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetoresistive element (2) with the first magnetic pole (N) facing the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetic pole (S) facing the second magnetoresistive element (2), and said magnetic field source (3) being movable relative to the first and second magnetoresistive element (1, 2) along the vertical axis (Z), a position (z) thereof along the vertical axis (Z) is to be sensed by the sensor arrangement,wherein the first magnetoresistive element (1) is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a first output signal (R1) dependent on a position of the first magnetoresistive element (1) relative to the magnetic field source (3),wherein the second magnetoresistive element (2) is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a second output signal (R2) dependent on a position of the second magnetoresistive element (2) relative to the magnetic field source (3), wherein the measurement unit is configured to determine the position (z) along the vertical axis (Z) of the magnetic field source (3) relative to the first and the second magnetoresistive element (1, 2) dependent on the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2) by computing a difference between the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor arrangement for position sensing comprises a first magnetoresistive element (1) and a second magnetoresistive element (2). A magnetic field source (3) provides a magnetic field with a first magnetic pole (N) and a second magnetic pole (S). The magnetic field source (3) is arranged between the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetoresistive element (2) with the first magnetic pole (N) facing the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetic pole (S) facing the second magnetoresistive element (2). The first magnetoresistive element (1) is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a first output signal (R1) dependent on a position of the first magnetoresistive element (1) relative to the magnetic field source (3). The second magnetoresistive element (2) is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a second output signal (R2) dependent on a position of the second magnetoresistive element (2) relative to the magnetic field source (3). A measurement unit is configured to determine a position of the magnetic field source (3) relative to the first and the second magnetoresistive elements (1, 2) dependent on the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2).
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10 Claims
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1. A sensor arrangement for position sensing, comprising
a first magnetoresistive element (1) and a second magnetoresistive element (2), each of the magnetoresistive elements (1, 2) comprising a stack (11) of layers including at least a conductive layer (112) in between two magnetic layers (111, 113) which layers have a longitudinal extension (L) along a longitudinal axis (X) and a lateral extension along a transverse axis (Y), a magnetic field source (3) providing a magnetic field with a first magnetic pole (N) and a second magnetic pole (S), the magnetic field source has a dipole axis (DA) defined by the first and the second magnetic pole (N, S) extending along a vertical axis (Z) orthogonal to a plane defined by the longitudinal axis (X) and the transverse axis (Y), and a measurement unit, wherein the magnetic field source (3) is arranged between the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetoresistive element (2) with the first magnetic pole (N) facing the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetic pole (S) facing the second magnetoresistive element (2), and said magnetic field source (3) being movable relative to the first and second magnetoresistive element (1, 2) along the vertical axis (Z), a position (z) thereof along the vertical axis (Z) is to be sensed by the sensor arrangement, wherein the first magnetoresistive element (1) is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a first output signal (R1) dependent on a position of the first magnetoresistive element (1) relative to the magnetic field source (3), wherein the second magnetoresistive element (2) is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a second output signal (R2) dependent on a position of the second magnetoresistive element (2) relative to the magnetic field source (3), wherein the measurement unit is configured to determine the position (z) along the vertical axis (Z) of the magnetic field source (3) relative to the first and the second magnetoresistive element (1, 2) dependent on the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2) by computing a difference between the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2).
Specification