US 12,007,255 B2
Position sensor system and method
Christian Schott, Bevaix (CH); Gael Close, Bevaix (CH); and Bruno Brajon, Bevaix (CH)
Assigned to MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA, Bevaix (CH)
Filed by Melexis Technologies SA, Bevaix (CH)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/185,521.
Application 18/185,521 is a continuation of application No. 17/544,014, filed on Dec. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,614,343.
Claims priority of application No. 20217151 (EP), filed on Dec. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0213359 A1, Jul. 6, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01D 5/14 (2006.01); G01D 5/244 (2006.01); G01R 33/09 (2006.01)
CPC G01D 5/145 (2013.01) [G01D 5/244 (2013.01); G01R 33/091 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position sensor system for determining a position of a sensor device movable along a predefined path relative to a magnetic source or vice versa, the position sensor system comprising:
said magnetic source comprising a first plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a first track having a first periodicity, and comprising a second plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a second track having a second periodicity different from the first periodicity, wherein a centreline of the first track is spaced from a centreline of the second track;
said sensor device being configured for measuring a first set of a least two orthogonal magnetic field components at a first sensor location, and for measuring a second set of at least two orthogonal magnetic field components at a second sensor location,
wherein the first sensor location is spaced from the second sensor location in a direction transverse to the tracks,
wherein a code-free region is provided between the first track and the second track; and
wherein the sensor device further comprises a processing unit configured for determining said position based on at least some or all of the measured signals;
wherein a first orthogonal projection of the first sensor location and a second orthogonal projection of the second sensor location are located on opposite sides of the code free region, or
wherein one of the first orthogonal projection and the second orthogonal projection is located in the code free region, and the other is located outside of the code free region.