Patent ID: 6479987
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: G01B,G01D

Abstract:
A method for angle determination of an angle between a sensor device and a magnetic field through the use of an angle encoder having a magnet (2) that generates the magnetic field, a number of Hall elements (4, 5, 6, 7) disposed in the magneticfield, and flux-conducting parts (3) made of ferromagnetic material disposed between the Hall elements and rotationally fixed in relation to the latter, wherein the magnet (2) is embodied so that it can rotate in relation to the Hall elements and the flux-conducting parts, wherein at least four Hall elements (4, 5, 6, 7) are provided and wherein the magnet (2) has a diametrical magnetization, the method comprising the steps:alignment of the magnet (2) in such a way that a Hall voltage respectively induced in at least two Hall elements (4, 6) is proportional to the sine of the angle between a reference direction and a field direction produced by the magnet and that a Hall voltage respectively induced in at least two Hall elements (5, 7) is proportional to the cosine of the angle between the reference direction and the field direction produced by the magnet, measurement of the Hall voltages in the respective Hall elements (4, 6, 5, 7) arithmetical determination of the angle to be determined through the use of the four Hall voltages measured, whereby a sum signal is respectively formed from said at least two Hall voltages in Hall elements (4, 6), which voltages are proportional to the sine of the angle to be determined, and from said at least two Hall voltages in Hall elements (5, 7) which voltages are proportional to the cosine of the angle to be determined, and whereby the sum signals thus obtained are supplied to a sine-cosine evaluation circuit for arithmetical determination of the angle to be determined.