Multi-turn magnetic sensing with rollover counting
AssigneeAnalog Devices International Unlimited Company
InventorsEnda Joseph Nicholl, Dara Lorcan O'Sullivan
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Abstract
Aspects of this disclosure relate to multi-turn magnetic sensing systems and methods with rollover counting. In response to a multi-turn magnetic sensor reaching a maximum value, the multi-turn magnetic sensor can be reset and an index value can be updated. A decoder can determine a turn count based on the index value and the state of the multi-turn magnetic sensor. The turn count can have a magnitude greater than a number of turns of the multi-turn magnetic sensor.
Claims18
A method of multi-turn magnetic sensing with rollover counting, the method comprising:
- resetting a multi-turn magnetic sensor to a reset state, wherein the multi-turn magnetic sensor comprises a magnetic spiral having N turns, and wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
- updating an index value in association with the resetting;
- and
- determining a turn count based on output signals from the multi-turn magnetic sensor, output signals from a second multi-turn magnetic sensor, and the index value, wherein the output signals from the multi-turn magnetic sensor are indicative of a state of the multi-turn magnetic sensor, wherein the turn count has a value having a magnitude that is greater than N, and wherein domain walls propagate in an opposite direction in the second multi-turn magnetic sensor compared to the multi-turn magnetic sensor.
A multi-turn magnetic sensing system with rollover counting, the multi-turn magnetic sensing system comprising:
- a multi-turn magnetic sensor comprising a magnetic spiral with N turns, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
- a second multi-turn magnetic sensor comprising a second magnetic spiral, wherein domain walls propagate in opposite directions in the magnetic spiral and the second magnetic spiral;
- and
- processing circuitry comprising:
- memory configured to store an index value;
- and
- a decoder configured to determine a turn count with a value having a magnitude that is greater than N based on output signals from the multi-turn magnetic sensor, output signals from the second multi-turn magnetic sensor and the index value, wherein the output signals from the multi-turn magnetic sensor are indicative of a state of the multi-turn magnetic sensor, wherein the turn count represents a number of rotations of a magnetic field.
A multi-turn magnetic sensing system with rollover counting, the multi-turn magnetic sensing system comprising:
- a first multi-turn magnetic sensor comprising a first magnetic spiral with N turns, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1;
- a second multi-turn magnetic sensor, wherein domain walls propagate in opposite directions in the second multi-turn magnetic sensor and the first multi-turn magnetic sensor in response to a magnetic field;
- and
- a decoder configured to output a turn count based on an index value and states of the first multi-turn magnetic sensor and the second multi-turn magnetic sensor, wherein the decoder is configured to determine the turn count for more than N full clockwise rotations of the magnetic field from an initialization state and to determine the turn count for more than N full counterclockwise rotations of the magnetic field from the initialization state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.