US 12,455,177 B2
Position detection device
Tsuyoshi Umehara, Tokyo (JP); Hayato Miyashita, Tokyo (JP); Keisuke Uchida, Tokyo (JP); and Hiraku Hirabayashi, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to TDK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by TDK CORPORATION, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 6, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/597,013.
Application 18/597,013 is a continuation of application No. 18/140,094, filed on Apr. 27, 2023, granted, now 11,953,347.
Application 18/140,094 is a continuation of application No. 16/890,284, filed on Jun. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,674,822, issued on Jun. 13, 2023.
Application 16/890,284 is a continuation of application No. 16/117,778, filed on Aug. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,712,177, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2017-210250 (JP), filed on Oct. 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0210213 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01D 5/16 (2006.01); G01D 5/14 (2006.01); G02B 7/00 (2021.01); G03B 3/00 (2021.01); G03B 5/00 (2021.01)
CPC G01D 5/16 (2013.01) [G01D 5/145 (2013.01); G02B 7/00 (2013.01); G03B 3/00 (2013.01); G03B 5/00 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A magnetic sensor device comprising a first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor, and a signal generator, wherein
the first magnetic sensor is configured to detect, at a first detection position in a first reference plane, a first detection-target magnetic field and to generate a first detection signal that varies in magnitude according to a direction of the first detection-target magnetic field, wherein the first detection-target magnetic field is a magnetic field component parallel to the first reference plane,
the second magnetic sensor is configured to detect, at a second detection position in a second reference plane, a second detection-target magnetic field and to generate a second detection signal that varies in magnitude according to a direction of the second detection-target magnetic field, wherein the second detection-target magnetic field is a magnetic field component parallel to the second reference plane,
the signal generator generates a third detection signal by using the first detection signal and the second detection signal,
the first detection-target magnetic field includes a first magnetic field component and a second magnetic field component,
a strength of the second magnetic field component varies whereas none of a strength of and direction of the first magnetic field component and a direction of the second magnetic field component vary, wherein the first magnetic field component is a component of a first magnetic field at the first detection position, the component of the first magnetic field being parallel to the first reference plane, and the second magnetic field component is a component of a second magnetic field at the first detection position, the component of the second magnetic field being parallel to the first reference plane,
the second detection-target magnetic field includes a third magnetic field component and a fourth magnetic field component,
a strength of the fourth magnetic field component varies whereas none of a strength and direction of the third magnetic field component and a direction of the fourth magnetic field component vary, wherein the third magnetic field component is a component of a third magnetic field at the second detection position, the component of the third magnetic field being parallel to the second reference plane, and the fourth magnetic field component is a component of a fourth magnetic field at the second detection position, the component of the fourth magnetic field being parallel to the second reference plane,
the direction of the third magnetic field component is opposite to the direction of the first magnetic field component,
the direction of the fourth magnetic field component is opposite to the direction of the second magnetic field component, and
a variable range of the first detection signal includes a first reference value, and a variable range of the second detection signal includes a second reference value, wherein the first reference value is an average value of a maximum value and a minimum value of the first detection signal when the direction of the first detection-target magnetic field varies over a range of 360°, and the second reference value is an average value of a maximum value and a minimum value of the second detection signal when the direction of the second detection-target magnetic field varies over the range of 360°.