TW201621341A - Magnetic field sensing device and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A magnetic field sensing device comprises a substrate, a magnetic flux guider arranged along the mounting surface of the substrate, at least three magnetic field sensors respectively measuring spatial magnetic field to obtain sensing data, and a drive control unit for driving the magnetic field sensors, which can be used in conjunction with the magnetic field sensing method of this invention for arranging the magnetic field sensors around the magnetic flux guider on the mounting surface and using the magnetic flux guider to concentrate the magnetic flux in the space and deflect and guide to the plane on which the magnetic field sensors are arranged, such that the combination of the three magnetic field sensors can measure the magnetic field of any direction in the space and increase sensitivity, and the sensing data measured by each magnetic field sensor can be linearly accumulated and converted so as to make the measurement of spatial magnetic field more accurate and reliable.

Description

Magnetic field sensing device and method

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring magnetic variables, and more particularly to a magnetic field sensing apparatus and method for sensing a spatial magnetic field.

The application of magnetic fields is inseparable from the daily life of modern people. For traffic navigation in the field of people's livelihood, hard disk head reading and writing, as well as current sensing, steering control, material property measurement, etc. for academic or industrial applications, The direction and intensity of the magnetic field of the observed position of interest are accurately known in the three-dimensional space to obtain reliable spatial positioning or measurement results.

The existing magnetic field sensing method is to apply a plurality of magnetic field sensors capable of measuring a magnetic field of a plane of the sensing axis along the sensing axis along a first axial direction and a second axial direction orthogonal to each other. a third axial arrangement, wherein each magnetic field sensor measures a first magnetic field component along the first axial direction, a second magnetic field component along the second axial direction, and a sensing element thereof The third magnetic field component along the third axial direction is further integrated by the measured first magnetic field component, the second magnetic field component, and the third magnetic field component into a magnetic field direction and intensity of the entire space, and then utilized Spatial positioning or other subsequent applications.

Since the magnetic field lines in the space are not concentrated and the direction is different, if only the plurality of magnetic field sensors are orthogonal to each other, the two are orthogonal to each other. The first axial direction, the second axial direction and the third axial direction are measured and measured to obtain a magnetic field component, and then the self-magnetic field component is integrated into a sensing mode of the spatial magnetic field distribution. The biggest problem is that the magnetic field sensors can only The three-dimensionally orthogonal first, second, and third axial directions are combined to have a bulky overall device. Secondly, because the magnetic field sensors do not have the function of magnetic flux density amplification, when the spatial magnetic field is weak, the sensitivity will not be sufficient to measure the correct spatial magnetic field strength. Furthermore, the sensing axes of the magnetic field sensors must be arranged orthogonally to each other. If the requirements of perfect orthogonality are not achieved due to slight deviations in manufacturing assembly, the first magnetic field component, the second The magnetic field component and the third magnetic field component interfere with each other, resulting in insufficient accuracy of the sensing result, and the correct spatial magnetic field measurement cannot be obtained.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic field sensing device that is small in size, high in sensitivity, and accurate in spatial magnetic field measurement results.

Further, another object of the present invention is to provide an accurate magnetic field sensing method for spatial magnetic field measurement results.

Accordingly, a magnetic field sensing device of the present invention includes a substrate, a flux guide, at least three magnetic field sensors, and a drive control unit.

The substrate has a setting surface defined by a first axial direction and a second axial direction, and defines a normal vector direction of the setting surface as a space defining a space together with the first axial direction and the second axial direction Three axial directions.

The flux guide is disposed on the setting surface, and guides a magnetic field of the space to form a guiding magnetic field along the setting surface.

Each of the magnetic field sensors has a sensing axis for measuring a magnetic field of the plane of the sensing axis according to the input signal, and the magnetic field sensor is located at the setting surface and surrounds the magnetic field with the sensing axis The guide is disposed on the substrate.

The driving control unit provides a plurality of driving signals to the magnetic field sensors, so that each magnetic field sensor measures a sensing signal corresponding to the input driving signal to obtain a sensing data about the guiding magnetic field, and senses the sense The measured data is linearly superposed and converted to obtain a first magnetic field component, a second magnetic field component and a third magnetic field component of the space along the first axial direction, the second axial direction and the third axial direction, respectively.

Furthermore, a magnetic field sensing method of the present invention measures a first magnetic field component along a first axial direction, a second magnetic field component in a second axial direction, and a third magnetic field component in a third axial direction. The space is defined by the first axial direction, the second axial direction and the third axial direction. The magnetic field sensing method comprises a setting step, a data obtaining step, and a data conversion step.

The step of setting is to arrange at least three magnetic field sensors respectively having a sensing axis around a magnetic flux guide with the sensing axis in the same plane, wherein the magnetic flux guiding device guides the magnetic field of the space A guiding magnetic field is generated along a plane of the sensing axis of the magnetic field sensors.

The data acquisition step is to input a plurality of driving signals correspondingly to the magnetic field sensors, so that each magnetic field sensor measures a sensing data about the guiding magnetic field corresponding to the input driving signal.

The data conversion step linearly superimposes the sensing data obtained by each magnetic field sensor to obtain the first magnetic field of the space. The amount, the second magnetic field component, and the third magnetic field component.

The effect of the invention is that the magnetic field sensors are arranged on the same plane to reduce the assembly volume, and the magnetic flux guides are used to guide the magnetic flux concentration and deflection of the space to the magnetic field sensors. a plane such that the combination of the at least three magnetic field sensors can accurately measure the magnetic field in any direction in the space and increase the sensitivity, and then linearly superimpose and convert the sensing data obtained by each magnetic field sensor. The measured first, second and third magnetic field components are more accurate and reliable.

1‧‧‧ Magnetic field sensing method

11‧‧‧Setting steps

12‧‧‧ Calibration procedure

13‧‧‧Information acquisition steps

14‧‧‧Data conversion steps

2‧‧‧ Magnetic field sensing device

21‧‧‧Substrate

22‧‧‧Magnetic guides

23‧‧‧ Magnetic Field Sensor

24‧‧‧Drive Control Unit

241‧‧‧Drive Circuit Module

242‧‧‧Data Conversion Module

25‧‧‧Correction coil module

X‧‧‧first axial direction

Y‧‧‧second axial

Z‧‧‧third axial

Other features and effects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the magnetic field sensing method of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a top plan view. A magnetic field sensing device used in the embodiment is illustrated; FIG. 3 is a schematic view, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the embodiment; FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a calibration step of the embodiment; FIG. 4 illustrates the calibration procedure of this embodiment; and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram, and FIG. 5 illustrates the calibration procedure of this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of the magnetic field sensing method 1 of the present invention includes a setting step 11, a data obtaining step 13, and a data conversion step 14 for accurately measuring a first axis along a space. First to X a magnetic field component, a second magnetic field component along a second axial direction Y, and a third magnetic field component along a third axial direction Z, wherein the first axial direction X, the second axial direction Y, and the first The three axial directions Z are orthogonal to each other, and the space is defined by the first axial direction X, the second axial direction Y, and the third axial direction Z.

First, the setting step 11 is performed, and the magnetic field sensor 23 having three sensing axes respectively and measuring the magnetic field of the sensing axis according to the input signal is located on the setting surface of the substrate 21 with the sensing axis thereof and The magnetic field sensing device 2 is disposed on the substrate 21 to obtain a magnetic field sensing device 2, wherein a normal vector direction of the setting surface is the third axial direction Z, and the magnetic field sensors 23 Sensing the axial position at the setting surface defined by the first axial direction X and the second axial direction Y, and positioning the long axis of the magnetic flux guide 22 parallel to the third axial direction Z The setting surface is configured to allow the magnetic lines of force in the magnetic field to be concentrated or deflected at the boundary thereof to guide the magnetic field of the space to form a guiding magnetic field along the setting surface, so that the sensing axes are all in the same plane. The detector 23 measures. Wherein, the magnetic field sensors 23 are one selected from the group consisting of an anisotropic magnetoresistance, a giant magnetoresistance, and a tunneling magnetoresistance, and are equipped with a built-in Wheatstone circuit to utilize the low power consumption thereof. And high sensitivity, etc., sensitively measure the weak spatial magnetic field.

In this embodiment, the magnetic flux guide 22 is shaped to select a cylinder that is rotationally symmetric about its long axis, and the mounting surface of the substrate 21 is also substantially circular, and the magnetic field sensors 23 respectively The magnetic flux guides 22 are disposed at an angular interval from each other on the substrate 21, and the magnetic flux guides 22 are rotationally symmetric with the arrangement surface of the substrate 21, and each of the magnetic field sensors 23 respectively Equidistant from the substrate with the flux guide 22 The peripheral edge of 21 extends outwardly, and its respective sensing axes all fall on the same plane formed by the first axial direction X and the second axial direction Y, thereby uniformly measuring the magnetic field of the space. However, the shape of the flux guide 22 is not limited to a cylinder. For example, it may be a triangular cylinder, a hexagonal cylinder or a cone with a rotational symmetry about the longitudinal axis thereof, and the mounting surface of the substrate 21 is simultaneously In conjunction with the peripheral shape of the flux guide 22, the sensing axes of the magnetic field sensors 23 can also be placed on the same plane to evenly measure the magnetic field of the space.

Referring to FIG. 3, the data acquisition step 13 is performed, and a driving circuit module 241 of a driving control unit 24 is provided to input a plurality of driving signals to the magnetic field sensors 23, so that each magnetic field sensor 23 corresponds to The input driving signal measures the magnetic field of the space, and the magnetic field of the space is generated by the magnetic flux guide 22 along the setting surface of the sensing axis of the magnetic field sensor 23, so that the guiding magnetic field is generated. Each magnetic field sensor 23 measures a sensed data about the guided magnetic field. In this embodiment, the driving circuit module 241 is a signal generating circuit for generating the driving signals, a power amplifying circuit for amplifying the driving power of the driving signals, and receiving and amplifying the amount of the magnetic field sensors. The instrumentation amplifying circuit of the measured sensing data is implemented.

Then, the data conversion step 14 is implemented, and the sensing data measured by each of the magnetic field sensors 23 is linearly superimposed and converted by a data conversion module 242 of the driving control unit 24, and orthogonally converted by linear superposition conversion. Computational characteristics orthogonalize the sensing data to obtain the first magnetic field component of the first axial direction X and the second magnetic field component of the second axial direction The third magnetic field component of the third axial direction Z is as follows: Wherein, A represents a conversion coefficient matrix, and α _ji represents a conversion coefficient for converting the sensing data obtained by the i-th magnetic field sensor 23 into a magnetic field component along the j-th axis, and B _x represents the first magnetic field component. B _y represents the second magnetic field component, B _z represents the third magnetic field component, and V ₁ , V ₂ , V ₃ respectively represent the sensing data obtained by the three magnetic field sensor 23 with respect to the guiding magnetic field. .

In this embodiment, the data conversion module 242 is a data acquisition circuit that electrically connects the meter amplification circuit and converts the sensing data into digital information, and digital information obtained by the data extraction circuit. A phase-locked synchronization circuit for performing demodulation linear processing is implemented by a microprocessor, and it is worth mentioning that, since the driving signals in the data obtaining step 13 respectively include the signal generating circuit and the power amplifying circuit The generated alternating current modulation current is modulated by the alternating magnetic field generated when the alternating current modulation current is input to the magnetic field sensors 23, and the magnetic field sensor 23 itself is eliminated by the phase lock synchronization circuit The magnetic hysteresis, so that each magnetic field sensor 23 can output the sensing data linearly proportional to the measured intensity of the guiding magnetic field, so that the linear superposition conversion can be more accurate. The result of the operation.

Referring to FIG. 4, it should be particularly noted that the embodiment of the magnetic field sensing method 1 of the present invention can be used in the setting step 11 before the actual application. After the magnetic field sensing device is set, a calibration step 12 is performed to obtain the conversion coefficients.

Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , in detail, the calibration step 12 is a correction coil module 25 that first parallels the first axis X, the second axis Y, and the third axis Z by using three normal vectors. Generating, in the space, a first calibration magnetic field along the first axial direction X, a second calibration magnetic field along the second axial direction Y, and a third calibration magnetic field along the third axial direction Z, wherein The correction coil module 25 is a Helmholtz coil capable of generating a uniform linear magnetic field, and the driving circuit module 241 inputs a plurality of driving signals corresponding to the magnetic field sensor 23 to drive each magnetic field. The sensor 23 measures the first calibration magnetic field, the second calibration magnetic field, the third calibration magnetic field, and because the magnetic flux guide 22 will the first calibration magnetic field, the second calibration magnetic field, and the third calibration magnetic field Deflected into the guiding magnetic field, each magnetic field sensor 23 can measure the spatial magnetic field outside the plane of the sensing axis, and respectively obtain a sensing related to the first, second and third calibration magnetic fields. data. Next, the data conversion module 242 is used to respectively extract the linear components of each of the sensing data in the first axis X, the second axis Y, and the third axis Z, and the first, second, and third calibration magnetic fields. Calculating, and obtaining a plurality of conversion coefficients for performing linear superposition conversion when the data conversion step 14 is performed, as follows: Wherein, A represents a conversion coefficient matrix, and α _ji represents a conversion coefficient for converting the sensing data obtained by the i-th magnetic field sensor 23 into a magnetic field component along the j-th axis, and B _cal represents a calibration magnetic field matrix, V _Cal represents the matrix of sensing data obtained by the magnetic field sensors 23 measuring the calibration magnetic field, and B _xx represents the first calibration magnetic field, B _yy represents the second calibration magnetic field, B _zz represents the third calibration magnetic field, and V _ij denote the i-th magnetic sensor 23 sensing information obtained in the j-th axial linear components, and i is a positive integer of 1 to 3, j is the first axis X, the second One of the axial direction Y and the third axial direction Z.

It should be emphasized that the manners of the magnetic field sensors 23 are not limited by the angular interval of each other, regardless of the angle between each other, the magnetic fields of the sensing axes are all in the same plane. The magnetic flux guide 22 can deflect the magnetic lines of force such as the third axial direction Z outside the plane to the plane, and concentrate the magnetic lines of force distributed in the plane to the flux guide 22 The circumference, the respective magnetic fields of the space are measured, that is, the sensing axis shape of each of the magnetic field sensors 23 is equivalently bent to sufficiently measure the plane in and out of the plane in which it is located. The magnetic field, in this way, not only the magnetic field sensors 23 are disposed on the setting surface to reduce the assembly volume, but also the sensitivity of the sensing axis measurement of the magnetic field sensors 23 is improved, and the sensitivity is solved when the spatial magnetic field is weak. The sensory data obtained by the measurement does not reflect the correct spatial magnetic field strength. And, by performing the calibration step 12, each of the magnetic hysteresis-removing magnetic field sensors 23 outputs the sensing data linearly proportionally according to the measured spatial magnetic field strength to obtain a plurality of conversion coefficients, and then borrow Linearly superimposing the sensed data and the plurality of conversion coefficients by a data conversion step 14 Performing an operation to accurately obtain the first magnetic field component of the first axis X orthogonal to the space, the second magnetic field component of the second axial direction Y, and the third axial direction Z The third magnetic field component solves the problem that the sensing axes are not orthogonal to each other due to a slight deviation of the assembly of the magnetic field sensors 23, so that the accuracy of the sensing result is insufficient.

In addition, in order to prevent the magnetic field in the space from being affected by other factors, and causing other changes in the magnetic field line distribution to affect the measurement result, the substrate 21 is selected from one of a crystal plate or a fiberglass plate, and the material of the fiberglass plate is It is composed of a combination of glass cloth epoxy resin, glass cloth polytetrafluoroethylene, and these non-magnetic materials. In addition, the flux guide 22 has a predetermined aspect ratio and is selected from the group consisting of ferrite, cobalt iron alloy, or nickel-iron alloy and such high magnetic permeability materials, except that it can avoid its own material. The hysteresis affects the level of the sensed data obtained by the magnetic field sensors 23, and the factor that causes the magnetic lines to concentrate or deflect when passing through the boundary thereof is determined only by the predetermined aspect ratio, when the magnetic permeability The higher the coefficient, the lower the hysteresis, and the predetermined aspect ratio is close to 1, the magnetic permeability of the surface of the flux guide 22 is determined only by the predetermined aspect ratio, which can reduce the concentration or deflection of the spatial magnetic field. The nonlinear error that occurs at the time provides a good flux guiding effect and improves the accuracy in sensing use.

As can be seen from the above description, when the magnetic field sensing device 2 of the present invention measures the magnetic field of any observation position in the space in conjunction with the magnetic field sensing method 1, each magnetic field sensor 23 of the magnetic field sensing device 2 can be configured by the magnetic field sensing device 2 The surface is assembled in the same plane, and the magnetic flux guide 22 is used to concentrate or deflect the magnetic lines of force, so that the sensing axis of each magnetic field sensor 23 bends equivalently. The folding can accurately measure the magnetic field in any direction in the space and increase its sensitivity, so that the sensing data measured by the magnetic field sensors 23 can correctly reflect the spatial magnetic field strength, and then by each The linear superposition conversion operation of the sensed data measured by the magnetic field sensor 23 after orthogonalization is accurately obtained, and the first magnetic field component of the first axial X orthogonal to the space is accurately obtained. The second magnetic field component of the second axial direction Y and the third magnetic field component of the third axial direction Z, thereby enabling the magnetic field sensing device 2 to achieve small volume and high sensitivity, and cooperate with the magnetic field sensing method 1 The effect of the spatial magnetic field measurement result is accurate, so the object of the present invention can be achieved.

However, the above is only the embodiment of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, that is, the simple equivalent changes and modifications made by the patent application scope and the patent specification of the present invention are still It is within the scope of the patent of the present invention.

2‧‧‧ Magnetic field sensing device

21‧‧‧Substrate

22‧‧‧Magnetic guides

23‧‧‧ Magnetic Field Sensor

X‧‧‧first axial direction

Y‧‧‧second axial

Z‧‧‧third axial

Claims (15)

A magnetic field sensing device includes: a substrate having a setting surface defined by a first axial direction and a second axial direction, and defining a normal vector direction of the setting surface as a first axial direction and the first The two axial directions jointly define a third axial direction of the space; a magnetic flux guide is disposed on the setting surface, and guides the magnetic field of the space to form a guiding magnetic field along the setting surface; at least three magnetic field sensors, each A magnetic field sensor has a sensing axis for measuring a magnetic field of a plane of the sensing axis according to the input signal, wherein the magnetic field sensor is located at the setting surface and surrounds the magnetic flux The guiding device is disposed on the substrate; and a driving control unit provides a plurality of driving signals to the magnetic field sensors, so that each of the magnetic field sensors measures the driving signal corresponding to the input thereof to obtain a guide Sensing data of the magnetic field, and performing linear superposition conversion on the sensing data to obtain a first magnetic field component, a second along the first axial direction, the second axial direction and the third axial direction respectively a magnetic field component and a third magnetic field component. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensors are disposed at an angular interval from each other on a setting surface of the substrate. The magnetic field sensing device according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensors are disposed at an angular interval from each other on a setting surface of the substrate. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 1, wherein the driving control unit comprises a driving circuit module for inputting the driving signals to each of the magnetic field sensors, and a data conversion module for calculating the sensing materials. group. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 1, comprising a correction coil module in which the three normal vectors are parallel to the first axial direction, the second axial direction, and the third axial direction, respectively. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 4, wherein the driving signals respectively comprise an alternating current modulation current that causes each magnetic field sensor to linearly output the sensing data according to the spatial magnetic field strength. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic flux guide has a predetermined aspect ratio and is selected from the group consisting of ferrite, cobalt iron alloy, or nickel iron alloy and a combination of such high magnetic permeability materials. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 1, wherein the magnetic field sensors are one selected from the group consisting of an anisotropic magnetoresistance, a giant magnetoresistance, and a tunneling magnetoresistance. The magnetic field sensing device of claim 1, wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of twin, glass fiber, glass cloth epoxy, glass cloth polytetrafluoroethylene, and combinations of the materials. A magnetic field sensing method for measuring a first magnetic field component of a space along a first axis, a second magnetic field component of a second axial direction, and a third magnetic field component of a third axial direction, wherein the space is determined by Defining the first axial direction, the second axial direction and the third axial direction, the magnetic field sensing method comprises: a setting step, each of the at least three having a sensing axis and measuring the sensing according to the input signal a magnetic field sensor of a magnetic field in the plane of the axis, with the sensing axis positioned on the same plane around a flux guide, wherein the flux guide directs the magnetic field of the space along the magnetic field sensor The plane of the sensing axis generates a guiding magnetic field; a data acquisition step of inputting a plurality of driving signals to the magnetic field sensors, so that each magnetic field sensor measures a sensing data about the guiding magnetic field corresponding to the input driving signal; and a data conversion In step, the sensing data is linearly superposed and converted to obtain the first magnetic component, the second magnetic component, and the third magnetic component of the space. The magnetic field sensing method of claim 10, wherein the setting step is that the magnetic flux director is disposed on a setting surface of a substrate, and the magnetic field sensors are located at the setting surface with the sensing axis thereof And disposed on the substrate around the magnetic flux guide, wherein a setting surface of the substrate is defined by the first axial direction and the second axial direction, and a long axis of the magnetic flux guide and the third axial direction parallel. The magnetic field sensing method of claim 11, wherein the magnetic field sensors are respectively disposed around the magnetic flux guide and angularly spaced apart from a setting surface of the substrate. The magnetic field sensing method according to claim 12, wherein the magnetic field sensors are respectively disposed around the magnetic flux guide and are disposed at an angular interval from each other on a setting surface of the substrate. The magnetic field sensing method of claim 10, further comprising a calibration step of respectively generating a first calibration magnetic field along the first axis, a second calibration magnetic field along the second axis, and a third calibration magnetic field along the third axis causes each magnetic field sensor to measure, and the sensing data obtained by each magnetic field sensor is extracted in the first axial direction, the second axial direction, and The linear component of the third axis and the first, second, Three calibration magnetic field calculations are performed to obtain a plurality of conversion coefficients for performing linear superposition conversion when the data conversion step is performed. The magnetic field sensing method of claim 10, wherein the driving signals input by the data obtaining step respectively comprise an alternating current modulation current that causes each magnetic field sensor to linearly output the sensing data according to the spatial magnetic field strength. .