US 11,698,421 B2
Off-axis magnetic angular sensor using a magnetic sensing probe and multi-pole magnet array
Pascal Schweizer, Charlotte, NC (US); Christopher Kenney, Charlotte, NC (US); and Richard Andrews, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Honeywell International Inc., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/733,255.
Application 17/733,255 is a continuation of application No. 16/640,885, previously published as PCT/US2018/022423, filed on Mar. 14, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0260653 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01R 33/07 (2006.01); G01R 33/00 (2006.01); G01D 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 33/072 (2013.01) [G01D 5/145 (2013.01); G01R 33/0094 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position measurement system for measuring the position of a movable device versus a fixed device, the position measurement system comprising:
a two-dimensional (2D) surface magnet array with at least three adjacent magnetized tracks having sequentially alternating magnetic polarities, each magnetized track having a constant width w; and
at least one magnetic field sensor disposed proximate to, and maintaining a constant airgap with respect to, the 2D surface magnet array, wherein an airgap distance between the at least one magnetic field sensor and the 2D surface magnet array is between w/2 and w/4 to minimize signal distortion,
wherein the 2D surface magnet array and the at least one magnetic field sensor are in a specific relative orientation such that a relative trajectory of the at least one magnetic field sensor is configured to be at a tilted, acute angle θ with respect to a length direction of the at least three adjacent magnetized tracks of the 2D surface magnet array,
wherein in response to relative movement along the relative trajectory, the at least one magnetic field sensor is configured to generate a periodic position signal having a period Pθ that depends, at least in part, upon the width w and the tilted, acute angle θ according to the equation:

OG Complex Work Unit Math
with a=1 or a=2.