Patent ID: 11933641
Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 9:
10. A method of position detection, comprising:
arranging a plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors in an array, wherein each anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor comprises:
a magnetic field transducer comprising magnetoresistive material, the magnetic field transducer configured to provide an output signal based on an interaction between the magnetic field transducer and a magnet; and
a sensor signal conditioning circuit comprising a converter and a processor, the sensor signal conditioning unit configured to receive the output signal and generate processed digital position data;

providing a central processor in electrical communication with each anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor, wherein the plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors are configured to be electrically powered at a lower operating voltage than the operating voltage of the central processor, and wherein the central processor is configured to:
periodically scan the output of each anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor to obtain the processed digital position data;
receive and compare the processed digital position data from at least two of the plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors to determine a position of the magnet, and
power down one or more anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors of the plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors, wherein the one or more anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors are in an inactive region of the plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors determined to be farther from the magnet than one or more other anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors of the plurality of anisotropic magnetoresistive sensors.