Method and system for magnetizing elements of a magnetic field sensor array

A method for magnetizing elements of a magnetic field sensor array using a magnetizing device, the magnetic field sensor array including a plurality of sensor segments, each of the sensor segments including a plurality of magnetic field sensors, a magnetizing current conductor of the magnetizing device being situated so as to run in an area of the magnetic field sensors in such a way that elements of the magnetic field sensors may be magnetized, the magnetizing device including a plurality of parallel-connected half-bridges, each of the half-bridges including a high switch pJ and a low switch nJ and each of the half bridges including a center tap connection situated between the switches pJ and nJ the magnetizing current conductor being connected to each of the center tap connection, by means of which the magnetizing current conductor is divided into separately activatable magnetizing segments, each of the magnetizing segments being provided to magnetize the elements of the magnetic field sensors of a respective one of the sensor segments, the method comprising the following steps:

• applying an electrical voltage to the magnetizing device;
• and
• magnetizing the elements of individual sensor segments of the plurality of sensor segments, the elements of each sensor segment SJ being magnetized in that two switches nJ and pJ+1 having different electrical potentials, or alternatively pJ and nJ+1, of two directly adjacent half-bridges are closed simultaneously, by means of which an electrical current is applied to a corresponding magnetizing segment MJ, wherein at least one further switch nX<J or pY>J+1 or alternatively pX<J or nY>J+1 is closed,
• wherein elements of consecutive sensor segments of the plurality of sensor elements are magnetized sequentially along the magnetizing current conductor, starting with a first sensor segment situated at an outermost end of the magnetizing current conductor.

A system for magnetizing elements of a magnetic field sensor array, comprising:

• a magnetic field sensor array;
• and
• a magnetizing device;
• wherein the magnetic field sensor array includes a plurality of sensor segments, each of the sensor segments including a plurality of magnetic field sensors;
• wherein the magnetizing device includes a magnetizing current conductor, the magnetizing current conductor being situated so as to run in an area of the magnetic field sensors in such a way that elements of the magnetic field sensors may be magnetized;
• wherein the magnetizing device includes a plurality of parallel-connected half-bridges, each of the half-bridges including a high switch pJ and a low switch nJ, and each of the half-bridges including a center tap connection situated between the switches pJ and nJ, the magnetizing current conductor being connected to each of the center tap connections, by means of which the magnetizing current conductor is divided into separately activatable magnetizing segments, each of the magnetizing segments being provided to magnetize the elements of the magnetizing field sensors of a respective one of the sensor segments;
• and
• wherein the magnetizing device includes two additional switches pAUX and nAUX, the additional switches pAUX and nAUX being situated at opposite ends of the magnetizing current conductor and being connected in parallel to switches pJ and nJ having the same electrical potential, the additional switches pAUX and nAUX being provided to be always closed during the magnetization of elements of the magnetic field sensor array.