Reliable position sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025067577-A1
Application number	US-202418941379-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 8, 2024
Priority date	Apr 29, 2021
Publication date	Feb 27, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hybrid position sensor for determining a position of a hybrid target includes a conductive target and a magnet configuration which are rigidly connected and at least partially overlapping. The position sensor has a first transducer configured for generating a first signal induced by the conductive target and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a second transducer, at least partially overlapping with the first transducer, and configured for generating a second signal induced by the magnet configuration and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a processing device configured for receiving the first signal to determine a first position of the hybrid target and for receiving the second signal to determine a second position of the hybrid target and for determining reliability of the position sensor based on the determined first and second position.

First claim

1 . A hybrid position sensor for determining an angular position of a hybrid target which comprises a conductive target and a magnet configuration which are rigidly connected, the hybrid position sensor comprising:
a first transducer configured for generating a first signal induced by the conductive target and indicative for the angular position of the hybrid target, a second transducer configured for generating a second signal induced by the magnet configuration and indicative for the angular position of the hybrid target, a processing device configured for receiving the first signal to determine a first angular position of the hybrid target and for receiving the second signal to determine a second angular position of the hybrid target and for determining reliability of the hybrid position sensor based on the determined first and second angular position, wherein the conductive target and the magnet configuration are stacked.

2 . The hybrid position sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first transducer comprises one or more coils and wherein the second transducer is a magnetic sensor mounted such that the one or more coils at least partially overlap the second transducer.

3 . The hybrid position sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the second transducer comprises a Hall sensor or a magnetoresistive sensor.

4 . The hybrid sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first transducer comprises at least one transmit coil to generate a magnetic field and at least one receive coil to receive the magnetic field and is configured for generating the magnetic field using the transmit coil and for receiving a signal from the receive coil.

5 . The hybrid sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are packaged in a same package.

6 . A position device comprising the hybrid target which comprises the conductive target and the magnet configuration which are stacked and rigidly connected, the position device, moreover, comprising the hybrid position sensor according to claim 1 .

7 . The position device according to claim 6 , wherein the conductive target and the first transducer are configured such that the first angular position can be obtained with a first accuracy and wherein the magnet configuration and the second transducer are configured such that the second angular position can be obtained with a second accuracy, wherein the first accuracy is different from the second accuracy.

8 . The position device according to claim 6 , wherein the conductive target and the first transducer are configured such that the first angular position can be obtained within a first range and wherein the magnet configuration and the second transducer are configured such that the second angular position can be obtained within a second range, wherein the first range is at least partially overlapping with the second range.

9 . The position device according to claim 6 , wherein the magnet configuration comprises a magnet having at least 4 poles.

10 . The position device according to claim 6 , wherein the second transducer is a differential sensor which comprises a plurality of Hall sensors or magnetoresistive sensors.

11 . A hybrid position sensor for determining an angular position of a hybrid target which comprises a conductive target and a magnet configuration which are rigidly connected, the hybrid position sensor comprising:
a first transducer configured for generating a first signal induced by the conductive target and indicative for the angular position of the hybrid target, a second transducer configured for generating a second signal induced by the magnet configuration and indicative for the angular position of the hybrid target, a processing device configured for receiving the first signal to determine a first angular position of the hybrid target and for receiving the second signal to determine a second angular position of the hybrid target and for determining reliability of the hybrid position sensor based on the determined first and second angular position, wherein the magnet configuration is electrically isolating and the conductive target is non-magnetic.

12 . The hybrid position sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the first transducer comprises one or more coils and wherein the second transducer is a magnetic sensor mounted such that the one or more coils at least partially overlap the second transducer.

13 . The hybrid position sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the second transducer comprises a Hall sensor or a magnetoresistive sensor.

14 . The hybrid sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the first transducer comprises at least one transmit coil to generate a magnetic field and at least one receive coil to receive the magnetic field and is configured for generating the magnetic field using the transmit coil and for receiving a signal from the receive coil.

15 . The hybrid sensor according to claim 11 , wherein the first transducer and the second transducer are packaged in a same package.

16 . A position device comprising the hybrid target which comprises the conductive target and the magnet configuration which are stacked and rigidly connected, the position device, moreover, comprising the hybrid position sensor according to claim 11 .

17 . The position device according to claim 16 , wherein the conductive target and the first transducer are configured such that the first angular position can be obtained with a first accuracy and wherein the magnet configuration and the second transducer are configured such that the second angular position can be obtained with a second accuracy, wherein the first accuracy is different from the second accuracy.

18 . The position device according to claim 16 , wherein the conductive target and the first transducer are configured such that the first angular position can be obtained within a first range and wherein the magnet configuration and the second transducer are configured such that the second angular position can be obtained within a second range, wherein the first range is at least partially overlapping with the second range.

19 . The position device according to claim 16 , wherein the magnet configuration comprises a magnet having at least 4 poles.

20 . The position device according to claim 16 , wherein the second transducer is a differential sensor which comprises a plurality of Hall sensors or magnetoresistive sensors.

Assignees

• Melexis Tech Sa

Inventors

• Brajon Bruno
• Close Gael
• Lugani Lorenzo
• Tombez Lionel

Classifications

• G01D5/244

  influencing characteristics of pulses or pulse trains; generating pulses or pulse trains · CPC title

• G01D5/20

  by varying inductance, e.g. by a movable armature · CPC title

• G01D5/2053

  by a movable non-ferromagnetic conductive element · CPC title

• G01D5/145 Primary

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

• G01D5/56

  using electric or magnetic means · CPC title