MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA

A sensing system and a method for sensing position include a first magnetic track comprising a first number of multipoles for generating a magnetic field solidarily fixed to a second magnetic track for generating a magnetic field and a second sensor for sensing magnetic field, forming a magnetic structure. At least two sensors are included. The first sensor is positioned proximal to the first magnetic track, closer to the first magnetic track than to the second magnetic track. The second sensor is positioned between the first sensor and the second magnetic track. The distance between the first sensor and the second magnetic track is larger than the distance between the second sensor and the second magnetic track. The magnetic flux density generated by the first and second magnetic tracks follow a ratio of two or more.

Method of determining a position (f a sensor device movable relative to a magnetic source, or vice versa; the sensor device comprising at least two magnetic sensors; the method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a plurality of magnetic sensor signals from said magnetic sensors; b) determining or estimating the position of the sensor device based on said plurality of sensor signals or signals derived therefrom; wherein step b) comprises: determining said position (sing an artificial neural network; the artificial neural network being a recurrent neural network trained for determining said position using at most three hundred trainable parameters per degree of freedom. A position sensor system. A position sensor device.

A sensor system includes: a magnetic source with a through-opening; a magnetic sensor located at a fixed position relative to the magnetic source; an object capable of influencing a magnetic field generated by the magnetic source, the object being movable relative to the magnetic source and being located completely outside of the through-opening; a processing circuit configured for providing a signal indicative of a presence, a position or an orientation of the movable object, or a value derived therefrom; wherein a smallest distance (sd 1 ) between the movable object and the magnetic source is smaller than a smallest distance (sd 2 ) between the movable object and the magnetic sensor, or wherein the magnetic source is located between the magnetic sensor and the movable object. A method is for determining a position of a movable object as well as a sensor module, a sensor device, and a sensor assembly.

A sensor including at least one sensor element configured for measuring an external parameter and outputting one or more results representative for the external parameter, an output buffer configured for receiving the one or more results or a processed version thereof and for applying an analog signal representative for the result or a time multiplexed sequence of analog signals representative for the results on a sensor terminal, and a control circuit configured for obtaining an ID of the sensor, and for receiving a trigger signal, and for determining whether the trigger signal matches the ID of the sensor, and for enabling the output buffer during a predefined period when the trigger signal matches the ID of the sensor.

A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

A position sensing device for measuring a position, comprises a position sensing device for measuring a position; a plurality of sensors arranged to produce sense signals each being a function of an input phase representative of a position to be measured; a combiner circuit arranged to generate an error signal by combining the sense signals according to an array of weight factors; a processing block including a loop filter to filter the error signal and arranged to output a phase value representative of the position; and a feedback loop comprising a feedback signal unit arranged for receiving the output phase value and for adjusting based on the received output phase value of the array of weight factors.

Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

A linear magnetic position sensor circuit includes at least one first sensor arranged to generate a first sensing signal indicative of a first magnetic field gradient of a first magnetic field component oriented in a first direction; a second sensor arranged to generate a second sensing signal indicative of a second magnetic field gradient of a second magnetic field component oriented in a second direction different from the first direction; a processing circuit arranged to compute a gradient magnitude value. The processing circuit is arranged to output a position signal based on a ratio of the first and the second sensing signal if the magnitude value is higher than the first predetermined value and to output a position signal based on a predetermined stored value and/or based on a function of the magnitude value if the magnitude value is lower than the first predetermined value.