Test equipment for analysis of magnetic position and orientation sensor systems

Abstract

Magnetic position and orientation detection systems are used in various industrial applications. The large production quantities and high safety standards that such systems must often fulfill requires a stable magnetic field signal. In order to evaluate sensors and such reference signals, we introduce a custom made high precision test equipment for magnetic linear position and orientation detection, which can be used to analyze a permanent magnet's magnetic field behavior and a sensor's response to its excitation. A case study shows differences between datasheet values and actual component values for a commercial permanent magnet. The features and validation of the test equipment as well as measurement samples are presented and discussed.