HALL SENSOR - MAGNET GEOMETRY FOR LARGE STROKE LINEAR POSITION SENSING

Abstract

Position sensing units, comprising a magnetic assembly (MA) having a width W measured along a first direction and a height H measured along a second direction and including at least three magnets having respective magnetic polarizations that define along the first direction at least a left MA domain, a middle MA domain and a right MA domain, wherein the magnetic polarizations of each MA domain are different, and a magnetic flux measuring device (MFMD) for measuring a magnetic flux B, wherein the MA moves relative to the MFMD along the first direction within a stroke L that fulfils 1 mm≤L≤100 mm, stroke L beginning at a first point x.sub.0 and ending at a final point x.sub.max, and wherein a minimum value D.sub.min of an orthogonal distance D, measured along the second direction between a particular MA domain and the MFMD, fulfills L/D.sub.min>10.

Claims

1. A position sensing unit, comprising: a) a magnetic assembly (MA) having a width W measured along a first direction and a height H measured along a second direction and including at least three magnets having respective magnetic polarizations that define along the first direction at least a left MA domain, a middle MA domain and a right MA domain, wherein the magnetic polarizations of each MA domain are different; and b) a magnetic flux measuring device (MFMD) for measuring a magnetic flux B, wherein the MA is configured to move relative to the MFMD along the first direction within a stroke L that fulfils 1 mm≤L≤100 mm, stroke L beginning at a first point x.sub.0 and ending at a final point x.sub.max, and wherein a minimum value D.sub.min of an orthogonal distance D measured along the second direction between a particular MA domain and the MFMD of the position sensing unit, fulfills L/D.sub.min>10.

2. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the MA has a symmetry axis parallel to the second direction.

3. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein D is not constant for different positions within stroke L.

4. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L/D.sub.min>15.

5. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L/D.sub.min>20.

6. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein B at x.sub.0 is B.sub.0 and B at x.sub.max is B.sub.max and wherein a slope S=(B.sub.0−B.sub.max)/L is larger than 10 mT/mm.

7. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein B at x.sub.0 is B.sub.0 and B at x.sub.max is B.sub.max and wherein a slope S=(B.sub.0−B.sub.max)/L is larger than 100 mT/mm.

8. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein B at x.sub.0 is B.sub.0 and B at x.sub.max is B.sub.max and wherein a slope S=(B.sub.0−B.sub.max)/L is larger than 1000 mT/mm.

9. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein B at x.sub.0 is B.sub.0 and B at x.sub.max is B.sub.max and wherein a slope S=(B.sub.0−B.sub.max)/L is larger than 2500 mT/mm.

10. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the magnetic polarization of the left MA domain is directed towards the MFMD.

11. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the magnetic polarization of the right MA domain is directed away from the MFMD.

12. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the magnetic polarization of the middle MA domain is directed parallel or anti-parallel to the first direction.

13. The position sensing unit of claim 1, included in a voice coil motor (VCM).

14. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the MFMD is a Hall sensor.

15. The position sensing unit of claim 2, wherein the symmetry axis is located at a center of the middle MA domain.

16. The position sensing unit of claim 3, wherein a value of D between the left MA domain and MFMD is D(x.sub.0), wherein a value of D between the right MA domain and the MFMD is D(x.sub.max), wherein a value of D between the middle MA domain and the MFMD is D(x.sub.max/2) and wherein D(x.sub.0)≤D(x.sub.max/2) and D(x.sub.max)≤D(x.sub.max/2).

17. The position sensing unit of claim 3, wherein a value of D between the left MA domain and MFMD is D(x.sub.0), wherein a value of D between the right MA domain and the MFMD is D(x.sub.max), wherein a value of D between the middle MA domain and the MFMD is D(x.sub.max/2) and wherein D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)≤D(x.sub.max/2).

18. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the left, middle and right MA domains are rectangular.

19. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the left and right MA domains are trapezoids, and the middle MA domain is a convex pentagon.

20. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the left and right MA domains are trapezoids, and the middle MA domain is a concave pentagon.

21. The position sensing unit of claim 13, wherein the VCM includes four coils.

22. The position sensing unit of claim 13, wherein the VCM is included in smartphone camera.

23. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the MA additionally includes a fourth MA domain and a fifth MA domain having respective magnetic polarizations, wherein the fourth MA domain is located to the left of the left MA domain and wherein the fifth MA domain is located to the right of the right MA domain.

24. The position sensing unit of claim 23, wherein the magnetic polarization of the fourth MA domain is directed away from the MFMD.

25. The position sensing unit of claim 23, wherein the magnetic polarization of the fifth MA domain is directed towards the MFMD.

26. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L<20 mm.

27. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L<10 mm.

28. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L<7.5 mm.

29. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L<5 mm.

30. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L/W>0.5.

31. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L/W>0.75.

32. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L/H>3.

33. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein L/H>5.

34. The position sensing unit of claim 1, wherein the at least three magnets are made from a Neodymium based material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Non-limiting examples of embodiments disclosed herein are described below with reference to figures attached hereto that are listed following this paragraph. The drawings and descriptions are meant to illuminate and clarify embodiments disclosed herein, and should not be considered limiting in any way. Like elements in different drawings may be indicated like numerals.

[0026] FIG. 1A shows a first known example of a position sensing unit;

[0027] FIG. 1B shows a second known example of a position sensing unit;

[0028] FIG. 2A shows in cross-section an embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein;

[0029] FIG. 2B shows a magnetic field distribution of a MA in the position sensing unit of FIG. 2A;

[0030] FIG. 2C shows the magnetic field density sensed by a MFMD in the position sensing unit of FIG. 2A;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows in cross-section another embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows in cross-section yet another embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein;

[0033] FIG. 5A shows in cross-section yet another embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein;

[0034] FIG. 5B shows an embodiment of a voice coil motor (“VCM”) disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein and numbered 200, comprising a magnet assembly 202 and a magnetic flux measuring device 206. Graph 207 shows B measured by MFMD 106 versus the x position of MA 102. FIG. 2B shows a magnetic field distribution 210 of MA 202. Box 212 indicates a y position within stroke L where a magnetic flux density 214 as shown in FIG. 2C is sensed by MFMD 206.

[0036] MA 202 includes three rectangular permanent magnets 202a, 202b and 202c having respective magnetic polarizations 204a, 204b and 204c. Magnets 202a and 202c are identical in shape and dimensions, but opposite respective magnetizations 204a and 204c. Magnets 202a and 202c are positioned symmetrically with respect to magnet 202b, i.e. both magnets 202a and 202c are (i) located at a same distance d202 from magnet 202b and (ii) are positioned at a same relative y coordinate ΔH with respect to magnet 202b. A center “C” of MA 202 is located at symmetry axis SA 209 of both magnet 202b and MA 202. MA 202 is shaped symmetrically around C with respect to y. MA 202 has a width W202 and a height H202.

[0037] Magnets described herein may be made from any material known to be used in the industry, specifically in digital cameras used in mobile electronic devices such as smartphones, for example any Neodymium based material, e.g. N48H, N48SH etc. x.sub.0 and x.sub.max may be chosen so that their middle or symmetry point x.sub.S=x.sub.max/2 is located at C, or they may be chosen otherwise. That is, the symmetry axis of the stroke with respect to y is located at x.sub.S=x.sub.max/2 and may be identical with the SA 209 of MA 202 located at C (such as shown in FIG. 2A) or it may be located at another position.

[0038] The orthogonal distance between any component included in MA 202 and MFMD 206 is marked “D”. “Orthogonal distance” means that it represents only the y-component of a distance between any component included in MA 202 and MFMD 206. Values of D at points x.sub.0, C and x.sub.max are marked respectively D(x.sub.0), D.sub.C and D(x.sub.max). At x.sub.0 and x.sub.max, D has a minimal value D.sub.min.

[0039] As an example, D between magnet 202a and MFMD 206 is D(x.sub.0) and D between magnet 202b and MFMD 206 is D.sub.C, irrespective from the actual relative distance between magnet 202a and 202b respectively and MFMD 206. As to the relative motion of MA 202 and MFMD 206, in general an actual relative distance is composed of a distance component measured along x and a distance component measured along y. It is noted here that D refers to a distance between a magnet and a packaging device that includes a MFMD, and not to the distance the MFMD itself. In general, a MFMD is included in a packaging device having a housing, wherein the MFMD is located at a MFMD-housing distance of about 50 μm-250 μm from the housing. For calculating the distance between a magnet and the MFMD, the MFMD-housing distance must be added to D. Additionally, it is noted that D is not shown in scale.

[0040] In all examples shown herein, D(x.sub.0) and D(x.sub.max) can be smaller than or equal to D(x) fulfilling D(x.sub.0), D(x.sub.max)≤D(x). The closest distance between one of the magnets and the MFMD D.sub.min=D(x.sub.0)=D.sub.max. That is, D(x.sub.0) and D(x.sub.max) are smaller than or equal to all other distances in that range. In position sensing unit 200, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)<D.sub.C and L/D.sub.min>10. Typically, D.sub.min≥0.1 mm.

[0041] At x.sub.0, magnetic polarization 204a is directed substantially towards MFMD 206. At x.sub.max, magnetic polarization 204c is directed substantially away from MFMD 206. At C, magnetic polarization 204b is directed substantially in parallel or anti-parallel to X. Magnets 202a, 202b and 202c define three MA domains, a left, a middle and a right MA domain respectively, wherein the magnet polarizations of each MA domain are different from each other.

[0042] Magnetic flux density B is a function of x, i.e. B=B(x). In L, the slope S=(B.sub.max−B.sub.0)/Δx of B is linear. In all following examples, S is given for an ideally linear slope such as 216 (see FIG. 2C) which has a same starting point (x.sub.0, B.sub.0) and a same end point (x.sub.max, B.sub.max) as an actual slope 214 (see FIG. 2C). Values of S are given at D.sub.C.

[0043] As mentioned, graph 207 in FIG. 2C shows magnetic flux densities versus x, so it is a “B vs. x curve”. Actual magnetic flux density slope 214 is sensed along the coordinates indicated by the arrow L in FIG. 2A. Ideal (linear) magnetic flux density slope 216 is shown for comparison. Clearly, actual magnetic flux density slope 214 deviates from ideal magnetic flux density slope 216.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein and numbered 300. Unit 300 comprises a MA 302 that includes three permanent magnets 302a, 302b and 302c having respective magnetic polarizations 304a, 304b and 304c, and a MFMD 306. Magnets 302a, 302b and 302c are not rectangular. Magnets 302a and 302c have identical shape and dimensions, but opposite magnetization 304a and 304c. Magnets 302a and 302c are positioned symmetrically with respect to 302b, i.e. both 302a and 302c are (i) located at a same distance d302 from 302b and (ii) are positioned at a same relative y coordinate ΔH302 with respect to 302b. Center C of MA 302 (with respect to x) is located at the SA 309 (with respect to y) of both magnet 302b and MA 302. MA 302 is shaped symmetrically around C with respect to y.

[0045] MA 302 causes a magnetic field (not shown). At C, MFMD 306 is located at D.sub.C away from MA 302. MA 302 moves along a stroke in x direction relative to MFMD 306. The position of MA 302 along x varies from x.sub.0 to x.sub.max. x.sub.0 and x.sub.max may be chosen so that their middle or symmetry point x.sub.s=x.sub.max/2 is located at C, or they may be chosen otherwise. It is noted that D is not shown in scale.

[0046] Between x.sub.0 and x.sub.max, orthogonal distance D is a function of x, D=D(x). For 300, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)≤D.sub.C, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)=D.sub.min and L/D.sub.min>10. Typically, D.sub.min≥0.1 mm. For the purpose of illustrating the definition of D, D is shown at 2 further, arbitrary positions x.sub.1 and x.sub.2, where D is given by D(x.sub.1) and D(x.sub.2) respectively. At x.sub.0, magnetic polarization 304a is substantially directed towards MFMD 306. At x.sub.max, 304c is substantially directed away from MFMD 306. At C, 304b is directed substantially parallel or anti-parallel to x. Magnets 302a, 302b and 302c define three MA domains, a left, a middle and a right MA domain respectively, wherein the magnet polarizations of each MA domain are different from each other.

[0047] B 309 measured by MFMD 306 is shown versus the x position of MA 202 (“B versus x curve”). B is a function of x, i.e. B=B(x). In L, S=(B.sub.max−B.sub.0)/Δx of B is linear. Example values of given in Table 1. Values of S are given at D.sub.C. An advantage of MA 302 over MA 202 is that a B versus x curve within L exhibits a higher linearity. That is, the B vs. x curve of MA 302 varies less from an ideal linear shape such as 216 than the B vs. x curve of MA 202.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Value Unit W302 8 mm H302 See HL302a W302a 2.2 mm HL302a 0.9 HR302a 0.55 W302b 2.7 H302b 0.6 d302 0.45 ΔH302b 0.1 S  10-6000 mT/mm, at D.sub.C. L 7.5 mm D.sub.C 0.2-1   mm D.sub.min 0.1-0.7 mm L/W302 0.94 L/H302 8.33 HL302a/HR302a 1.64 H302b/ΔH302b 6 L/D.sub.min 10.7-75  

[0048] FIG. 4 shows yet another embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein and numbered 400. Unit 400 comprises a MA 402 that includes three non-rectangular permanent magnets 402a, 402b and 402c having respective magnetic polarization 404a, 404b and 404c, and a MFMD 406. Magnets 402a and 402c have the same shape and dimensions, but opposite magnetizations 404a and 404c. Magnets 402a and 402c are positioned symmetrically with respect to 402b, i.e. both 402a and 402c are (i) located at a same distance d402 from 402b and (ii) are positioned at a same relative Y coordinate ΔH402 with respect to 402b. Center C of MA 402 (with respect to x) is located at the SA 409 (with respect to y) of both magnet 402b and MA 402. MA 402 is shaped symmetrically around C with respect to y.

[0049] MA 402 causes a magnetic field (not shown). At C, MFMD 406 is located at D.sub.C away from MA 402. MA 402 moves along a stroke in x direction relative to MFMD 406. The position of MA 402 along x varies from x.sub.0 to x.sub.max. x.sub.0 and x.sub.max may be chosen so that their middle or symmetry point x.sub.s=x.sub.max/2 is located at C, or they may be chosen otherwise.

[0050] Between x.sub.0 to x.sub.max, orthogonal distance D is a function of x, D=D(x). For 400, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)≤D.sub.C, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)=D.sub.min and L/D.sub.min>10. Typically, D.sub.min≥0.1 mm. At x.sub.0, the magnetic polarization 404a is substantially directed towards MFMD 406. At x.sub.max, 404c is substantially directed away from MFMD 406. At C, 404b is directed substantially parallel or anti-parallel to X. Magnets 402a, 402b and 402c define three MA domains, a left, a middle and a right MA domain respectively, wherein the magnet polarizations of each MA domain are different from each other. It is noted that D is not shown in scale.

[0051] B 409 measured by MFMD 406 is shown versus the x position of MA 202. B is a function of x, i.e. B=B(x). In L, S=(B.sub.max−B.sub.0)/ΔX of B is linear. Example values of position sensing unit 400 are given in Table 2. Values of S are given at D.sub.C. An advantage of MA 402 over MA 202 is that a B versus x curve within L exhibits a higher linearity.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Value Unit W402 5.35 H402 See HL402a W402a 1.55 HL402a 0.8 HR402a 0.55 WR402a 0.625 W402b 1.2 H402b 0.55 d402 0.525 ΔH402b 0.05 S  10-6000 mT/mm, at D.sub.C. L 5 mm D.sub.min 0.1-0.5 mm D.sub.C 0.2-1   mm L/W402 0.93 L/H402 6.25 HL402a/HR402a 1.45 H402b/ΔH402b 11 L/D.sub.min 10.0-50  

[0052] FIG. 5A shows yet another embodiment of a position sensing unit disclosed herein and numbered 500. Unit 500 comprises a MA 502 that includes five permanent magnets 502a, 502b, 502c, 502d and 502e having respective magnetic polarizations 504a, 504b, 504c, 504d and 504e, and a MFMD 506. Magnets 502a, 502b and 502c are not rectangular, while magnets 502d and 502e are rectangular. Magnets 502a and 502c as well as 502d and 502e have the same shape and dimensions, but opposite magnetizations 504a and 504c and 504d and 504e respectively. Magnets 502a, 502c, 502d and 502e are positioned symmetrically with respect to magnet 502b. A magnet sub-assembly including magnets 502a, 502b and 502c is identical with MA 302 shown in FIG. 3. Center C of MA 502 (with respect to x) is located at the SA 509 (with respect to y) of both magnet 502b and MA 502. MA 502 is shaped symmetrically around C with respect to y.

[0053] MA 502 causes a magnetic field (not shown). At C, MFMD 506 is located at D.sub.C away from MA 502. MA 502 moves along a stroke in x direction relative to MFMD 506. The position of MA 502 along x varies from x.sub.0 to x.sub.max. x.sub.0 and x.sub.max may be chosen so that their middle or symmetry point x.sub.s=x.sub.max/2 is located at C, or they may be chosen otherwise.

[0054] Between x.sub.0 to x.sub.max, orthogonal distance D is a function of x, D=D(x). For 500, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)≤D.sub.C, D(x.sub.0)=D(x.sub.max)=D.sub.min and L/D.sub.min>10. Typically, D.sub.min≥0.1 mm. At x.sub.0, the magnetic polarization 504a is substantially directed towards MFMD 506. At x.sub.max, 504c is substantially directed away from MFMD 506. At C, 504b is directed substantially parallel or anti-parallel to X. 504d is directed substantially anti-parallel to 504a. 504e is directed substantially anti-parallel to 504c. Additionally to the three MA domains defined by magnets 502a, 502b and 502c, in MA 502 there are two additional MA domains defined by magnets 502d and 502e.

[0055] B (not shown) is measured by MFMD 506 versus the x position of MA 202. B is a function of x, i.e. B=B(x). In L, S=(B.sub.max−B.sub.0)/ΔX of B is linear. Example values of given in Table 3. For the values of magnet sub-assembly including magnets 502a, 502b and 502c see magnets 302a, 302b and 302c of Table 1 respectively. Values of S are given at D.sub.C.

[0056] An advantage of MA 502 over MA 302 is that a B versus x curve has a higher linearity for the same dimensions of magnets 502a, 502b and 502c (which have the same dimensions as magnets 302a, 302b and 302c).

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Value Unit W502 19.2 mm H502 See H502d mm W502d, W502e 2.55 mm H502d, H502e 0.9 mm S  10-6000 mT/mm, at D.sub.C. L 13.4 mm D.sub.min 0.1-1   mm D.sub.C 0.2-0.9 mm L/W502 0.70 L/H502 14.89 L/D.sub.min 13.4-134 

[0057] FIG. 5B shows an embodiment of a voice coil motor (“VCM”) disclosed herein and numbered 510. VCM 510 includes a coil assembly (“CA”) 520 and position sensing unit 500. CA 520 includes four coils 520a, 520b, 520c and 520d and can generate a magnetic field.

[0058] In VCM 510, the magnetic field caused by position sensing unit 500 additionally provides, together with the magnetic field generated by CA 520, the magnetic field configuration which is required for actuating a relative motion between MA 502 and CA 520 as well as MFMD 506. Typically and with respect to a device that includes VCM 510, MFMD 506 and CA 520 are at rest and MA 502 moves. In some examples for lens focusing in devices that include a camera, MA 502 may be fixedly coupled to the camera's lens for actuating the lens with respect to camera's image sensor which is at rest with respect to the device. An advantage of MA 502 over MA 302 is that it allows a faster VCM actuation.

[0059] In other embodiments, a VCM like VCM 510 may include position sensing unit 200, 300 or 400.

[0060] While this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of the embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

[0061] Unless otherwise stated, the use of the expression “and/or” between the last two members of a list of options for selection indicates that a selection of one or more of the listed options is appropriate and may be made.

[0062] It should be understood that where the claims or specification refer to “a” or “an” element, such reference is not to be construed as there being only one of that element.

[0063] Furthermore, for the sake of clarity the term “substantially” is used herein to imply the possibility of variations in values within an acceptable range. According to one example, the term “substantially” used herein should be interpreted to imply possible variation of up to 10% over or under any specified value. According to another example, the term “substantially” used herein should be interpreted to imply possible variation of up to 5% over or under any specified value. According to a further example, the term “substantially” used herein should be interpreted to imply possible variation of up to 2.5% over or under any specified value.

[0064] All references mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, citation or identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present invention.