Method and apparatus for calibrating a magnetic sensor and/or a calibrating magnet

Abstract

A method for calibrating a magnetic sensor and/or a calibrating magnet, said sensor, when subjected to a magnetic field {right arrow over (B)} (Bx; By; Bz)T exhibiting an output voltage V governed by V=Vo+{right arrow over (S)}·{right arrow over (B)}, wherein V0 denotes an offset voltage of the magnetic sensor, and {right arrow over (S)}·{right arrow over (B)} denotes a scalar product of a sensitivity vector {right arrow over (S)}=(Sx; Sy; Sz)T of the magnetic sensor and the magnetic field vector {right arrow over (B)}, the method comprising the steps of a. measuring a first output voltage V1 for a first orientation of the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic field; b. rotating the magnetic sensor relative to the magnetic field to assume N−1 further orientations, wherein 2≤N∈ and each orientation is defined by a rotation matrix n, wherein n≠ for n ∈{2, . . . , N} and n≠m for n≠m∈{2, . . . , N}; c. for each further orientation, measuring one further output voltage Vn, with n∈{2; . . . ; N}; and d. solving a system of N equations Vn=V0+n{right arrow over (S)})·{right arrow over (B)} with 1= for one or more of Vo, Sx, Sy, Sz, Bx, By, and/or Bz.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.