Sensor arrangement for position sensing
First Claim
1. A method for determining the position of an object, comprising:
- coupling one ofa magnetic field source (3) providing a magnetic field with a first magnetic pole (N) and a second magnetic pole (S) anda first and a second magnetoresistive element (1, 2) with an object (5), each of the first and second 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),arranging the magnetic field source (3) between the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetoresistive element (2), the magnetic field source having 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), with the first magnetic pole (N) facing the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetic pole (S) facing the second magnetoresistive element (2) to form a sensor arrangement,moving the magnetic field source (3) 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,receiving, at a measurement unit, output signals (R1, R2) from the first and the second magnetoresistive elements (1, 2) dependent on their position (x) relative to the magnetic field source (3), anddetermining, by the measurement unit, a position (z) along the vertical axis (Z) of the object (5) by computing a difference between the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining of a position of an object using a sensor arrangement that includes a first magnetoresistive element and a second magnetoresistive element. A source provides a magnetic field with first and second magnetic poles. The source is arranged between the first magnetoresistive element and the second magnetoresistive element with the first magnetic pole facing the first magnetoresistive element and the second magnetic pole facing the second magnetoresistive element. The first magnetoresistive element is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a first output signal dependent on a position of the first magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source. The second magnetoresistive element is arranged in the magnetic field and provides a second output signal dependent on a position of the second magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source. A measurement unit determines a position of the magnetic field source relative to the first and the second magnetoresistive elements dependent on the first output signal and the second output signal.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for determining the position of an object, comprising:
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coupling one of a magnetic field source (3) providing a magnetic field with a first magnetic pole (N) and a second magnetic pole (S) and a first and a second magnetoresistive element (1, 2) with an object (5), each of the first and second 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), arranging the magnetic field source (3) between the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetoresistive element (2), the magnetic field source having 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), with the first magnetic pole (N) facing the first magnetoresistive element (1) and the second magnetic pole (S) facing the second magnetoresistive element (2) to form a sensor arrangement, moving the magnetic field source (3) 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, receiving, at a measurement unit, output signals (R1, R2) from the first and the second magnetoresistive elements (1, 2) dependent on their position (x) relative to the magnetic field source (3), and determining, by the measurement unit, a position (z) along the vertical axis (Z) of the object (5) by computing a difference between the first output signal (R1) and the second output signal (R2). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification