Magnetic angle sensor device and method of operation

A magnetic sensor device comprising:

• a first group of magnetic angle sensors and a second group of magnetic angle sensors arranged on a plane,
• wherein a first axis of the plane is parallel to a rotation axis of a shaft,
• wherein the first group of magnetic angle sensors and the second group of magnetic angle sensors are arranged separated from each other,
• wherein the first group of magnetic angle sensors comprises at least one first type of angle sensor and at least one second type of angle sensor,
• wherein the second group of magnetic angle sensors comprises the at least one first type of angle sensor and the at least one second type of angle sensor,
• wherein the at least one first type of angle sensor of the first group of magnetic angle sensors determines a first signal based on a magnetic field Bx at a first location in an x-direction perpendicular to the plane,
• wherein the at least one first type of angle sensor of the second group of magnetic angle sensors determines a second signal based on the magnetic field Bx at a second location in the x-direction,
• wherein the at least one second type of angle sensor of the first group of magnetic angle sensors determines a third signal based on a magnetic field By at a third location in a y-direction parallel to a second axis of the plane,
• wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis, and
• wherein the at least one second type of angle sensor of the second group of magnetic angle sensors determines a fourth signal based on the magnetic field By at a fourth location in the y-direction.

A method for determining a combined rotation angle by a magnetic angle sensor device,

• wherein the magnetic angle sensor device comprises a first group of magnetic angle sensors and a second group of magnetic angle sensors arranged on a plane,
• wherein a first axis of the plane is parallel to a rotation axis of a shaft,
• wherein the first group of magnetic angle sensors and the second group of magnetic angle sensors are located on different positions on the plane,
• wherein the first group of magnetic angle sensors comprises at least one first type of angle sensor and at least one second type of angle sensor,
• wherein the second group of magnetic angle sensors comprises the at least one first type of angle sensor and the at least one second type of angle sensor, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• detecting, by the magnetic angle sensor device via the at least one first type of angle sensor, a first magnetic field component in a first direction perpendicular to the plane;
• detecting, by the magnetic angle sensor device via the at least one second type of angle sensor, a second magnetic field component in a second direction parallel to a second axis of the plane,
• the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis;
• and
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device, the combined rotation angle based on the detected first magnetic field components and the detected second magnetic field components.

A method for determining a combined rotation angle by a magnetic angle sensor device,

• wherein the magnetic angle sensor device comprises a first group of magnetic angle sensors and a second group of magnetic angle sensors arranged on a plane,
• wherein a first axis of the plane is parallel to a rotation axis of a shaft,
• wherein the first group of magnetic angle sensors and the second group of magnetic angle sensors are arranged separated from each other,
• wherein the first group of magnetic angle sensors comprises at least one first type of angle sensor and at least one second type of angle sensor,
• wherein the second group of magnetic angle sensors comprises the at least one first type of angle sensor and the at least one second type of angle sensor,
• wherein the method comprises:
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device via the at least one first type of angle sensor of the first group of magnetic angle sensors, a first signal based on a magnetic field Bx at a first location in an x-direction perpendicular to the plane;
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device via the at least one first type of angle sensor of the second group of magnetic angle sensors, a second signal based on the magnetic field Bx at a second location in the x-direction;
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device via the at least one second type of angle sensor of the first group of magnetic angle sensors, a third signal based on a magnetic field By at a third location in a y-direction parallel to a second axis of the plane,
• the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis;
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device via the at least one second type of angle sensor of the second group of magnetic angle sensors, a fourth signal based on the magnetic field By at a fourth location in the y-direction;
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device, a first difference between the first signal and the second signal;
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device, a second difference between the third signal and the fourth signal;
• and
• determining, by the magnetic angle sensor device, the combined rotation angle of a shaft based on the first difference and the second difference.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• detect, via at least one first type of angle sensor, a first magnetic field component in a first direction perpendicular to a plane,
• a first group of magnetic angle sensors and a second group of magnetic angle sensors being arranged on the plane,
• a first axis of the plane being parallel to a rotation axis of a shaft,
• the first group of magnetic angle sensors comprising the at least one first type of angle sensor and at least one second type of angle sensor, and
• the second group of magnetic angle sensors comprising the at least one first type of angle sensor and the at least one second type of angle sensor;
• detect, via the at least one second type of angle sensor, a second magnetic field component in a second direction parallel to a second axis of the plane,
• the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis, and
• determine a combined rotation angle based on the first magnetic field components and the second magnetic field components.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• determine, via at least one first type of angle sensor of a first group of magnetic angle sensors, a first signal based on a magnetic field Bx at a first location in an x-direction perpendicular to a plane,
• the first group of magnetic angle sensors and a second group of magnetic angle sensors being arranged on the plane,
• a first axis of the plane being parallel to a rotation axis of a shaft,
• the first group of magnetic angle sensors comprising the at least one first type of angle sensor and at least one second type of angle sensor, and
• the second group of magnetic angle sensors comprising the at least one first type of angle sensor and the at least one second type of angle sensor;
• determine, via the at least one first type of angle sensor of the second group of magnetic angle sensors, a second signal based on the magnetic field Bx at a second location in the x-direction;
• determine, via the at least one second type of angle sensor of the first group of magnetic angle sensors, a third signal based on a magnetic field By at a third location in a v-direction parallel to a second axis of the plane,
• the first axis being perpendicular to the second axis;
• determine, via the at least one second type of angle sensor of the second group of magnetic angle sensors, a fourth signal based on the magnetic field By at a fourth location in the y-direction;
• determine a first difference between the first signal and the second signal;
• determine a second difference between the third signal and the fourth signal;
• and
• determine combined rotation angle of the shaft based on the first difference and the second difference.