A hybrid position sensor for determining the position of a hybrid target includes a main transducer for obtaining a first signal indicative for a position of the hybrid target within a first range and with a first resolution using a first or second technology; a support transducer for obtaining a second signal indicative for the position of the hybrid target within a second range and with a second resolution using the second technology if the main transducer is using the first technology and vice versa, wherein the first range is smaller than the second and the first resolution is higher than the second, and wherein the first technology is magnet based and the second technology is an inductive technology; a combiner for combining the obtained first signal and second signal to determine the position of the hybrid target.

A method for detecting a phase shift in an output signal of an inductive position sensor by calculating the phase spectrum of the position signal based on a Fast Fourier Transformation of the position signal and comparing the calculated phase spectrums over time to detect changes in the phase spectrums.

Magnetic field sensors of mobile devices are used for providing the mobile devices with information at a locally extremely restricted area in that, specifically, a magnetic field modulated with the information is locally generated at this position by an information signal generator.

A method for installing a stroke sensor is provided such that the stroke sensor can be easily adjusted using a simple process. The method has the steps of; obtaining a relationship between the magnetic field and the indicator value while moving the magnet in the first direction relative to the magnetic field detecting element within a predetermined relative movable range, and writing the relationship in the processor; after the relationship is written in the processor, preventing the predetermined relative movable range from being shifted in the first direction by means of a jig for preventing positional shift, wherein the jig includes an element that fixes relative positions between the magnetic field detecting element and the magnet; attaching the magnet and the magnetic field detecting element, which have been prevented from being shifted, to different structures that are movable in the first direction relative to each other, and removing the jig.

In some embodiments, a position sensor calibration and linearization system for position sensors is provided. A method of calibrating and linearization of a position sensor includes reading Spatial Angle data from a position sensor at a set of positions of a target swept over receive coils in the position sensor; calculating calibration parameters from the Spatial Angle data; determining an initial position values from the Spatial Angle data and the calibration parameters; determining linearization parameters from the initial position values; and writing the calibration parameters and the linearization parameters into the position sensor.

A method for measuring a position, is performed by a vehicle assembly (VA) for alignment between a ground assembly (GA) and the VA. The method includes transmitting low frequency (LF) signals to initiate alignment with the GA and estimating a position of a vehicle using at least one sensor mounted on the vehicle. Information regarding the estimated position of the vehicle is provided to the GA and information regarding a position of the vehicle measured by LF receive antennas of the GA and an acceleration flag calculated by the GA is received. Accordingly, a transmission strength of the LF signals transmitted by the VA is adjusted based on the information regarding the position of the vehicle measured by the LF receive antennas and the acceleration flag.

Illustrative embodiments of systems and methods for enhanced vibration and electrical noise performance in magnetostrictive transmitters are disclosed. In one embodiment, a signal conditioning circuit may comprise an instrumentation amplifier configured to receive and amplify an analog measurement signal, an active high pass filter configured to reduce noise in a signal output by the instrumentation amplifier, a variable gain amplifier stage configured to further amplify a signal output by the active high pass filter, a distance detection module configured to process a signal output by the variable gain amplifier stage to determine a distance measurement associated with the analog measurement signal received by the instrumentation amplifier, and a programmable control circuit configured to control a gain level of the variable gain amplifier stage and to receive data concerning the signal output by the variable gain amplifier stage, including the distance measurement, from the distance detection module.

A Halbach-based magnetic position sensor includes a Halbach magnetic element having a spatially rotating magnetization pattern along an extent, producing a focused and augmented magnetic field on a working side relative to a magnetic field on a non-working side. A sensing element on the working side is co-configured with the Halbach magnetic element for relative motion therebetween. The sensing element includes encoder circuitry and magnetic sensors that sense the working-side magnetic field and produce corresponding sensor signals. The encoder circuitry translates the sensor signals into position signals indicating relative position between the sensing element and the Halbach magnetic element. In one example the Halbach magnetic element has a closed curve (e.g., substantially circular or ring-like) configuration.

A method and apparatus for reducing magnetic tracking error in the position and orientation determined in a magnetic tracking system having a magnetic field generator. In some embodiments, the measured position and orientation of a sensor is compared to an expected theoretical position and orientation. Any error is assumed to be from “floor distortion,” i.e., eddy currents in the floor caused by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field transmitter. The floor distortion is modeled as being caused by eddy currents caused by a second magnetic field transmitter that is a reflection of the actual transmitter. An algorithm iteratively searches over a parameter space to minimize the difference between the measured position and orientation and the theoretical position and orientation, and applies a correction to the measured position and orientation. The measurements and corrections of the position and orientation run in real-time with no additional hardware or calibration required.

A method and apparatus for determining pose of a transmitter, and by extension the pose of one or more receivers, in an electromagnetic tracking system when the transmitter is allowed to move freely in the physical environment. The method operates in a system that incorporates two separate tracking technologies and an Inertial Measurement Unit, one determining the pose of a device relative to a global reference frame and another determining the pose of the same device relative to a local reference frame, thereby avoiding the latency problem and resulting inaccuracy of pose determinations of known prior approaches.