Analog Devices International Unlimited Company

Enda Joseph Nicholl

Jochen Schmitt

Brian O'Mara

Jan Kubik

John O'Dowd

Stephen O'Brien

Peter James Tonge

Monsoon Dutt

Robert Guyol

Aude Richard

Wenmei Wang

Michael Mueller-Aulmann

Colin P Giles

Christian Nau

Michael J Cusack

Dara Lorcan O'Sullivan

Aspects of this disclosure relate to multi-turn magnetic sensing systems and related methods. A system can include a first multi-turn magnetic sensor and a second multi-turn magnetic sensor, in which domain walls propagate in an opposite direction in the second multi-turn magnetic sensor relative to the first multi-turn magnetic sensor in response to a magnetic field. A decoder can output a turn count that is based on states of the first and second multi-turn sensors. The first and second multi-turn sensors can have a reset state that corresponds to the turn count having a value between minimum and maximum values of a counting range relative to the reset state.

Multi-turn magnetic sensor mid-range reset

A magnetic sensor package comprising a magnetic multi-turn sensor die and a magnetic single turn sensor die, in which both sensor dies are packaged on the same lead frame. A method of manufacturing the magnetic sensor package is also provided. A magnetic sensor system comprising a rotating magnet and the magnetic sensor package, where the sensor package is arranged so that both sensor dies sit within a homogenous magnetic field, thereby ensuring that the output signal of each sensor is not corrupted by any stray fields.

Magnetic sensor package and magnetic sensing system

Magnetic sensor package

The present disclosure provides a magnetic sensor system for monitoring the position of the rotor relative to the stator for use in electronic motor commutation. The system uses two magnetic sensors with a back bias magnet, the magnetic sensors being configured to detect changes in the magnetic field direction caused by the magnetic field interacting with two moveable targets that are being rotated by the motor shaft. The unique phase shift between the signals measured at each sensor can thus be used to determine the relative position between the stator and the rotor. In this respect, the system makes use of the Nonius or Vernier principle to measure rotational displacement, however, the scale of the encoder is defined by the number of motor pole pairs.

Magnetic sensor system for motor control

A system includes a magnetic sensor that can store a magnetic state associated with a number of accumulated turns of a magnetic target. The magnetic sensor may work in conjunction with a magnetic target. The magnetic target may produce a magnetic field that, at some positions, drops below a magnetic window of the magnetic sensor. The magnetic target may produce a magnetic field that is within the magnetic window when needed to update the magnetic state of the sensor to keep track of the accumulated turns of the magnetic target. The magnetic sensor may be initialized with one or more domain walls.

Methods and devices for using multi-turn magnetic sensors with extended magnetic windows

A magnetic field sensor package is disclosed. The package includes a substrate that has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The substrate can comprise a lead frame. The package also includes a first magnetic field sensor die that is electrically and mechanically mounted on the front side of the substrate. The package also includes a second magnetic field sensor die that is electrically and mechanically mounted on the front side of the substrate. The package further includes a magnet that is disposed on the back side of the substrate. The magnet can provide a bias field for the first magnetic field sensor die and the second magnetic field sensor die. The package can also include a molding material that is disposed about the lead frame, the first magnetic field sensor die, the second magnetic field sensor die, and the magnet.

Magnetic field sensor package

Aspects of this disclosure relate to a magnetic sensor system for measuring any desired combination of measuring torque, rotation angle, and turn count of a shaft. The shaft may include two portions connected by a torsion element. The system can measure rotation angle using a magnetic target coupled to the shaft that produces a magnetic field that varies as a function of rotation angle. The system can measure torque applied to the shaft by measuring the difference in rotation angles between the two portions of the shaft and factoring in a torsion coefficient. The system can track a turn count of the shaft using a multi-turn sensor. The magnetic sensor system may be part of an electric power assisted steering (EPAS) system.

Magnetic field torque and/or angle sensor

Techniques for sensing position using a magnetic field direction sensor are provided. In an example, a system can include a magnet, a first magnetic field direction sensor, positioned between the magnet and a magnetic feature of a first structure, the sensor configured to move with the magnet and to measure a direction of a magnetic field produced by the magnet relative to a first axis (x). In certain examples, the magnetic feature is configured change position with respect to the magnetic sensor along the first axis (x) as a relative position between the magnet and the magnetic feature changes with respect to a second axis (y).

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Kilmallock, Ireland

Enda Joseph Nicholl