Multi-turn counter sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10724844-B2
Application number	US-201815866206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2018
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Jul 28, 2020
Grant date	Jul 28, 2020

Abstract

An example multi-turn counter (MTC) sensor includes a magnetic strip that includes a domain wall generator located at a first end of the magnetic strip, where the domain wall generator is to generate at least one domain wall in the magnetic strip, the at least one domain wall configured to propagate based on a magnetic field caused by a magnet; wherein a location of the at least one domain wall indicates a turn count of the magnetic field of the magnet; the turn count to indicate one or more of a predefined fraction of a full rotation of the magnetic field; an end tip located at a second end of the magnetic strip, where the second end of the magnetic strip is opposite the first end; and a plurality of overlapping strip turns that cause a plurality of crossings in the magnetic strip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-turn counter (MTC) sensor comprising:
a magnetic strip comprising:
a domain wall generator located at a first end of the magnetic strip,
the domain wall generator to generate at least one domain wall in the magnetic strip,
wherein the at least one domain wall is configured to propagate based on a magnetic field caused by a magnet, and
wherein a location of the at least one domain wall indicates a turn count of the magnetic field of the magnet,
the turn count to indicate one or more predefined fractions of a full rotation of the magnetic field;

an end tip located at a second end of the magnetic strip,
wherein the second end of the magnetic strip is opposite the first end; and

a plurality of overlapping strip turns that cause a plurality of crossings in the magnetic strip,
wherein a width of the magnetic strip gradually decreases over a grading length of the magnetic strip as the magnetic strip approaches each crossing of the plurality of crossings, and
wherein the width of the magnetic strip gradually increases over the grading length of the magnetic strip after the magnetic strip goes through each crossing of the plurality of crossings.

2. The MTC sensor of claim 1 , wherein the turn count is further configured to indicate one or more full rotations of the magnetic field in terms of a further predefined multiplicity of the predefined fractions.

3. The MTC sensor of claim 1 , where the magnetic strip further comprises:
a plurality of phase delaying bends to cause a delay of propagation of the at least one domain wall with regards to an orientation of the magnetic field based on a rotation of the magnetic field.

4. The MTC sensor of claim 1 , wherein, there is no bend between a first crossing and a second crossing of one of the overlapping turns.

5. The MTC sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic strip includes a plurality of segments between bends,
wherein each segment of the plurality of segments comprises a portion of the magnetic strip between two bends of the magnetic strip, and
wherein each segment of the plurality of segments includes no more than one crossing of the plurality of crossings.

6. The MTC sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
an integrated magnetic concentrator (IMC) layer configured on or formed as a part of the MTC sensor to be situated between at least a part of the magnetic strip and the magnet.

7. A multi-turn counter (MTC) sensor comprising:
a magnetic strip comprising:
a domain wall generator located at a first end of the magnetic strip,
the domain wall generator to generate at least one domain wall in the magnetic strip,
wherein the at least one domain wall is configured to propagate based on a magnetic field caused by a magnet, and
wherein a location of the at least one domain wall indicates a turn count of the magnetic field of the magnet,
the turn count to indicate one or more of a predefined fraction of a full rotation of the magnetic field;

an end tip located at a second end of the magnetic strip,
wherein the second end of the magnetic strip is opposite the first end;

a plurality of overlapping strip turns that cause a plurality of crossings in the magnetic strip,
wherein a width of the magnetic strip gradually decreases over a first grading length of the magnetic strip as the magnetic strip approaches each crossing of the plurality of crossings, and
wherein the width of the magnetic strip gradually increases over a second grading length of the magnetic strip after the magnetic strip goes through each crossing of the plurality of crossings; and

a plurality of phase delaying bends to cause a delay of propagation of the at least one domain wall with regard to an orientation of the magnetic field based on a rotation of the magnetic field.

8. The MTC sensor of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of phase delaying bends causes the at least one domain wall to propagate across a crossing, of the plurality of crossings, and prevents the at least one domain wall from turning at the crossing.

9. The MTC sensor of claim 8 , wherein a reduced width of the magnetic strip at the crossing is between 50% and 90% of an original width of the magnetic strip, and
wherein the first grading length of the magnetic strip is at least twice the original width of the magnetic strip.

10. The MTC sensor of claim 7 , wherein, when the domain wall is located at a first phase delaying bend of the plurality of phase delaying bends, the first phase delaying bend is configured to cause a delay in propagation of the domain wall to a second phase delaying bend, of the plurality of phase delaying bends, based on a delay structure in the magnetic strip within the first phase delaying bend,
wherein the delay structure is configured to correspond to a direction of the magnetic field to cause the domain wall to propagate from the first phase delaying bend to the second phase delaying bend.

11. The MTC sensor of claim 7 , wherein, after a partial rotation of the magnetic field, at least one of the plurality of phase delaying bends prevents the at least one domain wall from propagating to another of the plurality of phase delaying bends,
where the partial rotation is less than a threshold rotation to cause the at least one domain wall to propagate to another of the plurality of phase delaying bends.

12. The MTC sensor of claim 7 , further comprising:
an integrated magnetic concentrator (IMC) layer configured on or formed as a part of the MTC sensor to be situated between at least a part of the magnetic strip and the magnet.

13. A multi-turn counter (MTC) sensor comprising:
a magnetic strip comprising:
a domain wall generator located at a first end of the magnetic strip,
an end tip located at a second end of the magnetic strip,
the second end of the magnetic strip being opposite the first end, and

a plurality of overlapping strip turns between the domain wall generator and the end tip, that cause a plurality of crossings in the magnetic strip,
wherein a width of the magnetic strip gradually decreases over a grading length of the magnetic strip as the magnetic strip approaches each crossing of the plurality of crossings, and
wherein the width of the magnetic strip gradually increases over the grading length of the magnetic strip after the magnetic strip goes through each crossing of the plurality of crossings; and

an integrated magnetic concentrator (IMC) layer configured between at least a part of the magnetic strip and a magnet that causes a magnetic field,
wherein the IMC is to reduce a strength of the magnetic field to enable the MTC sensor to count a number of rotations of the magnet based on detecting movement of domain walls in the magnetic strip caused by the magnetic field.

14. The MTC sensor of claim 13 , wherein the IMC layer is configured to be situated between the magnet and the end tip.

15. The MTC sensor of claim 13 , wherein the IMC layer is configured to be situated between the magnet and the magnetic strip and the IMC layer is configured to be omitted between the magnet and the domain wall generator.

16. The MTC sensor of claim 13 ,
wherein the IMC layer is configured to be situated between the magnet and each crossing of the plurality of crossings.

17. The MTC sensor of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of overlapping strip turns comprise at least one phase delaying bend.

18. The MTC sensor of claim 13 , wherein the IMC layer comprises a permeable film formed from at least one of a cobalt, iron, or nickel alloy.

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Zimmer Jürgen
• Luber Sebastian
• Bever Thomas
• Kuemmel Hansjoerg Walter
• Kegler Christian

Classifications

• G01D2205/26

  Details of encoders or position sensors specially adapted to detect rotation beyond a full turn of 360°, e.g. multi-rotation · CPC title

• G01D5/145

  influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06) · CPC title

• G01B7/30 Primary

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title

• G01D5/142

  using Hall-effect devices (measuring magnetic variables using Hall-effect or other galvanomagnetic devices G01R33/06) · CPC title

• G01D5/16

  by varying resistance · CPC title