Position sensor device, periodically biases soft magnetic structure into nonlinear saturation region and detects dip in induced voltage

摘要

The position sensor has a soft magnetic structure (12) applied to an elongate circuit board (10), and a electrically conductive structure forming an excitation coil device (14). A number of planar sensor coils (15) are arranged along the circuit board. A permanent magnet is movable along the circuit board and its relative position is detected. The excitation coil device periodically biases the soft magnetic structure so that it reaches the non-linear saturation region. A device then detects the dip in the induced voltage of the respective planar sensor coil.