Multi-Point Balanced Configuration Magnetometer

Abstract

A magnetic field device determines external magnetic influence. The device has a component with ferromagnetic material. The component has one or more magnetizable tracks arranged adjacent to each other having opposing directions of magnetization and arranged axially in relation to the component. A first magnetic field sensor is arranged radially in relation to the component and is assigned to the two tracks. A second magnetic field sensor is arranged radially in relation to the component and is assignable to two magnetisable tracks. The signal of each of the magnetic field sensors is set in relation to the signal of the at least one another magnetic field sensor. The signals produced by the magnetic field sensors form at least one individual signal channel. The first and second magnetic field sensors are combined with each other axially along the direction of magnetization of the assigned magnetic track to form the signal channel.

Claims

1. A magnetic field sensor device for determining an external magnetic influence, comprising: a component formed with an at least partially ferromagnetic material, the component having a magnetisable region comprising at least two magnetizable tracks which are arranged adjacent to each other, the magnetizable tracks having opposing directions of magnetization, the at least two magnetizable tracks being arranged axially in relation to the component; a first magnetic field sensor comprising at least one coil, the first magnetic field sensor being arranged radially in relation to the component, the first magnetic field sensor being adapted and configured for detecting magnetic information from at least one of environment in which the magnetic field sensor device is exposed and the component, the first magnetic field sensor being adapted and configured for emitting a first signal, the first magnetic field sensor being assignable to at each of the least two magnetizable tracks of the component; a second magnetic field sensor comprising at least one coil, the second magnetic field sensor being arranged radially in relation to the component, the second magnetic field sensor being adapted and configured for detecting magnetic information from at least one of environment in which the magnetic field sensor device is exposed and the component, the second magnetic field sensor being adapted and configured for emitting a second signal, the second magnetic field sensor being assignable to each of the at least two magnetizable tracks of the component; wherein the first signal of the first magnetic field sensor is set in relation to the second signal of the second magnetic field sensor; wherein the second signal of the second magnetic field sensor is set in relation to the first signal of the first magnetic field sensor; wherein the first and second signals produced by the respective magnetic field sensors assigned to each of the at least two magnetizable tracks of the component form at least one individual signal channel; wherein the first magnetic field sensor and the second magnetic field sensor are arranged in a manner such that the at least one coil of the corresponding magnetic field sensor are set in relation with each other axially along the direction of magnetization of the magnetic track of the component assigned to the magnetic field sensor to form the at least one individual signal channel.

2. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that the magnetic field sensors for the at least one individual signal channel are positioned radially relative to the component.

3. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that the magnetic field sensors for the at least one individual signal channel are positioned in the proximity of the component.

4. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one magnetic field sensor is adapted and configured to produce a common signal of differential signals of a magnetic flux.

5. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that a common channel is formed by at least two individual channels.

6. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that the least one individual signal channel can be calibrated individually.

7. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that each individual channel is adapted and configured to measure magnetic flux resulting from at least one of a magnetoelastic effect, a common mode field effect, and a near field effect.

8. A magnetic field sensor device according claim 1, characterised in that the at least one individual signal channel is adapted and configured to reject a common mode field effect.

9. A magnetic field sensor device according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one individual signal channel is adapted and configured to be calibrated to reject diverging fields or unbalanced common mode fields.

10. A method for determining an external magnetic influence, comprising: magnetizing a component wherein the component comprises at least partially ferromagnetic material; generating at least two magnetizable tracks on the component, the at least two magnetizable tracks having opposing directions of the magnetization; providing at least two magnetic field sensors, each magnet field sensor having at least one corresponding coil, each magnet field sensor being adapted and configured to emit a signal; arranging the at least two magnetic field sensors in a manner such that the at least one coil of the corresponding magnetic field sensor are set in relation with each other axially along the direction of magnetization of the magnetizable track of the component assigned to the magnetic field sensor; measuring magnetic flux of the at least one magnetizable track of the component with the at least one magnetic field sensor to form an individual signal channel; generating a signal resulting from the measurement of the individual signal channel; determining a presence of a magnetic noise in the individual signal channel; and balancing the at least one individual signal channel to cancel the noise present in the signal.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the component comprises a dual-dual band configuration.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the component comprises a tri-band configuration.

13. A device for determining an external magnetic influence, comprising: a component formed at least partially of ferromagnetic material, the component having a magnetizable region comprising at least three magnetic tracks, the at least three magnetic tracks being arranged axially in relation to the component; a first magnetic field sensor with at least two coils, the first magnetic field sensor being arranged radially in relation to the component, the first magnetic field sensor being assigned to the first and second magnetic tracks of the component, the first magnetic field sensor being adapted and configured for emitting a first signal; a second magnetic field sensor with at least two coils, the second magnetic field sensor being arranged radially in relation to the component, the second magnetic field sensor being assigned to the second and third magnetic tracks of the component, the second magnetic field sensor being adapted and configured for emitting a second signal; wherein the first signal of the first sensor is adapted and configured to be set in relation to the second signal of the second sensor; and wherein the second signal of the second sensor is adapted and configured to be set in relation to the first signal of the first sensor.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0288] Further aspects and features are set forth in the following description of preferred embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0289] FIG. 1 shows the schematic view of two individual magnetic field sensors, wherein each magnetic field sensor refers to one individual magnetic track of a ferromagnetic component;

[0290] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of FIG. 2, showing three magnetic tracks instead of two magnetic tracks;

[0291] FIG. 3 shows the configuration of FIG. 2 with a different arrangement of magnetic field sensors;

[0292] FIG. 4 shows one aspect of the prior art;

[0293] FIG. 5 shows another aspect of the prior art; and

[0294] FIG. 6 shows a similar configuration as FIG. 3, having a different arrangement of the magnetic field sensors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0295] The FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 6 show the differences of the invention relative to the prior art, shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

[0296] In the FIG. 1 the channel Ch1 comprises the magnetic field sensor 153 and the magnetic field sensor 154. The channel Ch1 also comprises the at least one coil of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154. The coils of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154 are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0297] Thus, the channel Ch1 referring to the magnetic field sensor 153, 154 communicates with the coils of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154.

[0298] The channel Ch1 refers to the magnetic track 155. The magnetic field sensors 153, 154 which communicate with the channel Ch1 are arranged radially relative to the magnetic track 155 to which the channel Ch1 refers to as well.

[0299] The second channel Ch2 refers to the magnetic track 156. The magnetic field sensors 157, 163 which communicate with the channel Ch2 are arranged radially relative to the magnetic track 156 to which the channel Ch2 refers to as well.

[0300] FIG. 2 shows the configuration of FIG. 1 differing in that the ferromagnetic component 1 has an additional magnetic track 161. Therefore in FIG. 2 there are three magnetic tracks 155, 156, 161 arranged next to each other on the ferromagnetic component 1.

[0301] In FIG. 2 an additional channel Ch3 is added relative to the configuration of FIG. 1. The third channel Ch3 of the FIG. 2 refers to the magnetic track 161.

[0302] The magnetic field sensors 158, 159 which communicate with the channel Ch3 are arranged radially to the magnetic track 161 to which the channel Ch3 refers to as well.

[0303] FIG. 3 shows a configuration displaying three channels Ch1, Ch2, Ch3. In the FIG. 3 each of the channels Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 corresponds with at least two of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 157, 163, 158, 159, 160, 164 respectively.

[0304] Channel Ch1 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, whereas the third channel Ch3 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 157, 163.

[0305] The channel Ch2 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 158, 159, 160 and 164.

[0306] Therefore, the channel Ch2 has two additional magnetic field sensors 160 and 164. Thus, the channel Ch2 not only refers to the magnetic field sensors 158 and 159 but also to the additional magnetic field sensors 160 and 164.

[0307] Each of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 157, 163, 158, 159, 160, 164 and related coils associated with the corresponding channel Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 refers to the magnetic track 155, 156, 161 of the ferromagnetic component 1 to which the relevant channel Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 corresponds to.

[0308] In other words, the channel Ch1 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 153, 154 and refers to the magnetic track 155. The channel Ch2 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 158, 159, 160 and 164 and refers to the magnetic track 156. The channel Ch3 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 157, 163 and refers to the magnetic track 161.

[0309] In FIG. 3 the two outer channels Ch1 and Ch3 form one common channel Ch4. The common channel Ch4 refers to the magnetic tracks 155, 161.

[0310] Thus, the common channel Ch4 refers to the individual magnetic field sensor 153, 154, 163, 157 which refer to the magnetic tracks 155, 161. Any two or more of the channels Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 can be combined to form the common channel Ch4. Also, the common channel can be formed of any two or more magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 157, 163, 158, 159, 160, 164 and corresponding coils of said sensors.

[0311] In other words, the common channel Ch4 refers to the individual magnetic field sensor 153, 154, 163, 157 which are arranged radially relative to both the magnetic tracks 155 and 161.

[0312] The signals generated by the common channel Ch4 is compared to the signal generated by the channel Ch2, referring to the center magnetic track 156 which communicate with four magnetic field sensors 158, 159 and 160 and 164.

[0313] In FIG. 3. the number of the coils of the individual magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 163, 157 are also referred to by the common channel Ch4.

[0314] In FIG. 3 the ellipse 171 represents the channel Ch2. The ellipses 172 represents the channel Ch4 comprising the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 157, 163, 158, 159, 160, 164 and corresponding coils of the individual channels Ch1 and Ch3.

[0315] FIG. 6 shows a configuration displaying three channels Ch1, Ch2, Ch3. In the FIG. 6 each of the channels Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 corresponds with at least two of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 157, 163, 158, 159, 160, 164 respectively.

[0316] Channel Ch1 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, whereas the third channel Ch3 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 157, 163.

[0317] The channel Ch2 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 158, 159, 160 and 164.

[0318] Therefore, the channel Ch2 has two additional magnetic field sensors 160 and 164. Thus, the channel Ch2 not only refers to the magnetic field sensors 158 and 159 but also to the additional magnetic field sensors 160 and 164.

[0319] Each of the magnetic field sensors 153, 154, 157, 163, 158, 159, 160, 164 and related coils associated with the corresponding channel Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 refer to the magnetic track 155, 156, 161 of the ferromagnetic component 1 to which the relevant channel Ch1, Ch2, Ch3 corresponds to.

[0320] In other words, the channel Ch1 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 153, 154 and refers to the magnetic track 155. The channel Ch2 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 158, 159, 160 and 164 and refers to the magnetic track 156. The channel Ch3 is associated with the magnetic field sensors 157, 163 and refers to the magnetic track 161.

[0321] In FIG. 6 the ellipses 173 represents the channel Ch1, whereas the ellipse 171 represents the channel Ch2 and ellipse 174 representing the channel Ch3.

[0322] FIG. 6 shows three individual channels Ch1, Ch2 and Ch3. The signals generated by the individual channels Ch1, Ch2 and Ch3 are compared to each other.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0323] 1 ferromagnetic component [0324] Ch1 Channel A [0325] Ch2 Channel B [0326] 153 Magnetic field sensor A1 [0327] 154 Magnetic field sensor A2 [0328] 155 Magnetic track A [0329] 156 Magnetic track B [0330] 157 Magnetic field sensor A3 [0331] 158 Magnetic field sensor B1 [0332] 159 Magnetic field sensor B2 [0333] 160 Magnetic field sensor B3 [0334] 161 Magnetic track C [0335] Ch3 Channel C [0336] 163 Magnetic field sensor A4 [0337] 164 Magnetic field sensor B4 [0338] Ch4 Common channel [0339] 166 [0340] 167 [0341] 168 Ellipse [0342] 169 Ellipse [0343] 170 Ellipse [0344] 171 Ellipse [0345] 172 Ellipse [0346] 173 Ellipse [0347] 174 Ellipse