US 12,111,185 B2
Magnetic sensor device, system and method
Nicolas Dupre, Neuchatel (CH); Lionel Tombez, Bevaix (CH); Gael Close, Morges (CH); Yves Bidaux, Yverdon-les-Bains (CH); and David Goyvaerts, Alken (BE)
Assigned to MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA, Bevaix (CH)
Filed by Melexis Technologies SA, Bevaix (CH)
Filed on May 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/750,114.
Application 17/750,114 is a continuation of application No. 16/996,167, filed on Aug. 18, 2020, granted, now 11,371,862.
Claims priority of application No. 19193068 (EP), filed on Aug. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0276072 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01D 5/14 (2006.01); G01B 7/30 (2006.01)
CPC G01D 5/145 (2013.01) [G01B 7/30 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a permanent magnet, the sensor device having a substrate comprising a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements, the permanent magnet configured for generating a magnetic field, the method comprising:
measuring at a first sensor location a first magnetic field component oriented in a first direction parallel to the substrate, and a second magnetic field component oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
measuring at a second sensor location spaced from the first sensor location along the first direction, a third magnetic field component oriented in said first direction, and a fourth magnetic field component oriented in said second direction;
determining a first magnetic field gradient based on the first and the third magnetic field component;
determining a second magnetic field gradient based on the second and the fourth magnetic field component; and
calculating the position of the sensor device based on said first magnetic field gradient and said second magnetic field gradient;
wherein the first sensor location and the second sensor location are spaced from the permanent magnet in a radial direction of the permanent magnet, and/or
wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the substrate.