Patent ID: 9042716
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: G01B,G01D,G01R,G02B,G03B

Abstract:
1. A machine-implemented method for estimating a relative linear position of an object using a magnet and multiple magnetic field sensors, the multiple magnetic field sensors being held in fixed relation to one another and in moveable relation to the magnet, wherein one of the magnet or the multiple magnetic field sensors is fixed to the object, the method comprising: calculating an estimate of a frequency of an approximately sinusoidal field reading versus position characteristic associated with the multiple magnetic field sensors and the magnet; acquiring readings of a first magnetic field sensor and a second magnetic field sensor of the multiple magnetic field sensors; and calculating an estimated position of the magnet relative to the first and second magnetic field sensors using the readings of the first and second magnetic field sensors, the estimated frequency, and a fixed distance between the first and second magnetic field sensors.