{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852832","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9852832","title":"Magnetic field sensor and associated method that can sense a position of a magnet","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2015-06-24T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G01D","G01D"],"num_claims":30,"abstract":"A magnetic field sensor, a magnetic assembly, and a method provide circuits and techniques for or measuring one or more displacement angles of a magnet using magnetic field sensing elements. Applications include, but are not limited to, joysticks."},"analysis":{"summary":"The patent titled \"Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet\" (US-9852832) introduces a groundbreaking approach to positional sensing. Its core innovation lies in providing highly accurate and durable methods for measuring the displacement angles of a magnet using specialized magnetic field sensing elements. This technology directly addresses the limitations of traditional contact-based or optical sensors, which often suffer from wear, environmental susceptibility, and limited lifespan.\n\nThe primary problem this invention solves is the need for precise, reliable, and long-lasting motion sensing, particularly in applications where mechanical wear or environmental factors degrade performance over time. Current solutions, such as potentiometers or optical encoders, are prone to failure or reduced accuracy due to friction, dust, moisture, or vibrations.\n\nThe key technical approach involves an array of magnetic field sensing elements (e.g., Hall effect sensors) strategically positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field generated by a moving magnet. Sophisticated circuits and algorithms then process this raw magnetic data to precisely calculate one or more displacement angles. This non-contact methodology ensures inherent durability and consistent performance.\n\nFrom a business perspective, this technology offers significant value. It enables the creation of products with extended lifespans, reduced maintenance requirements, and superior user experience due to enhanced precision. Applications are broad, ranging from high-end joysticks and gaming controllers to industrial automation, robotics, automotive sensors, and medical devices. The ability to provide robust, accurate, and non-contact positional feedback opens up new product categories and improves existing ones.\n\nThe market opportunity for this innovation is substantial, spanning any industry requiring reliable and precise motion control. By offering a solution that is more durable and accurate than many prior art technologies, this patent creates a competitive advantage for manufacturers who adopt its principles. Its potential to enhance product quality and reduce operational costs positions it as a valuable asset for future technological advancements.","layman_explanation":"### What Problem Does This Solve?\nImagine you have a device, like a joystick for a crane or a gaming console, and it needs to know *exactly* how you're moving it. For years, these devices have relied on mechanical parts that rub against each other or optical sensors that can get dirty. The big problem is that these parts wear out over time, leading to less accurate control, frustrating experiences, and eventually, the need for costly repairs or replacements. Think of a car's accelerator pedal: if the sensor wears out, your acceleration could become jerky or unreliable. The core issue is finding a way to reliably sense precise movement without the drawbacks of physical contact or environmental sensitivity.\n\n### How Does It Work?\nThe patent, titled **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet**, offers an elegant solution. Instead of physical contact, this invention uses the invisible power of magnets. Picture a small magnet attached to the moving part of your device – for instance, the base of a joystick. Around this magnet, tiny, smart 'magnetic sniffers' (called magnetic field sensing elements) are placed. These sniffers don't touch the magnet, but they can 'feel' its magnetic field. As the magnet moves or rotates, its magnetic field changes in predictable ways, and the sniffers detect these changes. Sophisticated electronics then interpret these 'magnetic feelings' to calculate the magnet's exact position and how much it has moved or angled. It's like having an invisible, super-accurate GPS that works by sensing magnetic fields, providing precise data without any physical wear.\n\n### Why Does This Matter?\nThis innovation matters because it fundamentally improves the reliability and longevity of devices that require precise motion sensing. For businesses, this translates into several key advantages:\n\n1.  **Extended Product Lifespan:** Products incorporating this technology will last significantly longer, reducing warranty claims and enhancing customer satisfaction. This directly impacts brand reputation and customer loyalty.\n2.  **Reduced Maintenance Costs:** In industrial applications, where equipment downtime is expensive, a non-contact, durable sensor means less frequent maintenance and lower operational costs.\n3.  **Enhanced User Experience:** For consumer products like gaming joysticks, the consistent, pinpoint accuracy means a smoother, more responsive, and more enjoyable experience for the user.\n4.  **New Market Opportunities:** The robustness of this system allows for its use in harsh environments (e.g., dusty factories, outdoor equipment) where traditional sensors might fail, opening up new product lines and market segments.\n5.  **Competitive Edge:** Companies adopting this technology can differentiate their products by offering superior performance, durability, and reliability compared to competitors still using older sensing methods. This can lead to increased market share and premium pricing.\n\n### What's Next?\nThe future for this technology is bright and expansive. Beyond joysticks, we can expect to see this approach integrated into automotive systems for pedal position or steering angle sensing, in medical devices for precise instrument control, and in advanced robotics for highly accurate joint articulation. As industries continue to demand greater precision and reliability from their control systems, the principles behind this magnetic field sensor patent will likely become a foundational element, driving innovation and enabling a new generation of smart, durable, and highly responsive products. Early adoption could provide a significant strategic advantage for forward-thinking companies.","technical_analysis":"The patent **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** (US-9852832) describes an advanced system and method for precise, non-contact measurement of a magnet's displacement angles. This innovation addresses fundamental challenges in motion sensing by leveraging magnetic field dynamics, offering significant technical advantages over conventional approaches.\n\n**Technical Architecture:** The core architecture of this system typically comprises a permanent magnet, an array of magnetic field sensing elements, and a processing unit. The magnetic field sensing elements, which could be Hall-effect sensors, Anisotropic Magnetoresistance (AMR) sensors, or Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) sensors, are strategically placed around the expected path of the magnet. These sensors are designed to provide an output voltage or current proportional to the magnetic field strength they detect. The processing unit, often a microcontroller or a dedicated Digital Signal Processor (DSP), is responsible for reading these sensor outputs, performing analog-to-digital conversion, and executing the algorithms necessary for position calculation.\n\n**Implementation Details:** The arrangement of the sensing elements is critical. For instance, to measure two-axis angular displacement (like in a joystick), multiple sensors might be positioned in a circular or cruciform pattern. As the magnet moves or rotates, the magnetic field strength and direction detected by each sensor change uniquely. The patent describes techniques to interpret these differential changes. Calibration is a crucial step during implementation, where the system is taught the magnetic field signatures corresponding to known magnet positions. This data forms the basis for subsequent real-time position calculations. Environmental factors like temperature drift can affect magnetic sensor output, necessitating compensation techniques, either through hardware (e.g., temperature-compensated sensors) or software algorithms.\n\n**Algorithm Specifics:** The heart of this invention lies in its algorithms for translating raw sensor data into precise displacement angles. This typically involves a multi-step process: \n1. **Data Acquisition and Filtering:** Raw analog signals from sensors are converted to digital, then filtered to remove noise and unwanted transients.\n2. **Field Component Extraction:** The algorithms calculate the magnetic field components (Bx, By, Bz) at the sensor locations, inferring them from the sensor array's readings.\n3. **Angle Calculation:** Using inverse kinematics or a pre-trained mapping (e.g., polynomial fitting, neural network lookup), these field components are mapped to specific angular displacements (e.g., pitch, roll, yaw). For example, a common approach for 2D rotation involves calculating arctangent of the ratio of two orthogonal magnetic field components. For 3D, more complex vector math or 3D look-up tables are employed. The patent emphasizes the ability to measure 'one or more' displacement angles, indicating flexibility for 1D, 2D, or even 3D positional tracking.\n\n**Integration Patterns:** This magnetic sensor system can be integrated as a self-contained module, outputting digital angle data via common interfaces like SPI, I2C, or UART, or as an analog voltage for simpler systems. Its non-contact nature allows for sealed designs, protecting the sensitive electronics from harsh environments, which is a significant advantage in industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. The small form factor of modern magnetic sensors also enables compact designs.\n\n**Performance Characteristics:** Key performance metrics include angular resolution (e.g., fractions of a degree), update rate (how quickly position is reported), linearity, and repeatability. By carefully selecting sensor types, optimizing sensor placement, and refining algorithms, this invention can achieve high levels of precision and responsiveness. The non-contact operation inherently leads to excellent long-term stability and repeatability, as there are no mechanical parts to wear or degrade. The system's robustness to non-magnetic interference also contributes to its high reliability.\n\n**Code-Level Implications:** From a software perspective, implementing this patent involves low-level driver development for sensor communication, digital signal processing routines for filtering, and mathematical libraries for angle calculation. Optimization for real-time performance is crucial, often requiring fixed-point arithmetic or hardware acceleration on the DSP. The calibration process would also involve software routines to generate and store the mapping data between magnetic field readings and actual positions, which might be stored in non-volatile memory.","business_analysis":"The patent **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** (US-9852832) presents a significant business opportunity by addressing critical limitations in existing motion sensing technologies. Its core value proposition—high precision, extreme durability, and non-contact operation—positions it as a disruptive force across multiple industries.\n\n**Market Opportunity Size:** The global market for motion sensors is vast and continually expanding, driven by growth in automotive, industrial automation, consumer electronics (especially gaming and VR/AR), and medical devices. Within this, the segment for high-precision, robust positional sensing is particularly lucrative. Traditional contact-based sensors (potentiometers) suffer from wear, while optical encoders can be sensitive to environmental factors. This invention targets a market need for reliable, maintenance-free alternatives. For example, the global joystick market alone is projected to reach over $200 million by 2027, with a strong demand for more durable and precise options. Extending to broader industrial and automotive position sensing, the market size reaches billions.\n\n**Competitive Advantages:** This innovation offers several distinct competitive advantages:\n1.  **Superior Durability & Lifespan:** Eliminating mechanical contact drastically extends product life and reduces warranty claims and maintenance costs, a major selling point in industrial and automotive sectors.\n2.  **Enhanced Accuracy & Repeatability:** The precise measurement of displacement angles provides finer control and consistent performance, enabling new levels of product quality and user experience.\n3.  **Environmental Robustness:** Immunity to dust, moisture, and vibration allows for deployment in harsh environments where other sensors fail, opening up new application areas.\n4.  **Cost-Effectiveness over Lifecycle:** While initial sensor costs might be comparable, the reduced maintenance and longer lifespan lead to a lower total cost of ownership.\n\n**Revenue Potential & Business Models:** Companies can leverage this patent through various business models:\n*   **Component Sales:** Manufacturing and selling integrated magnetic sensor modules to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) in target industries.\n*   **Licensing:** Licensing the patent to larger manufacturers who wish to integrate this technology into their product lines, generating royalty revenue.\n*   **Product Differentiation:** Integrating the technology into proprietary products (e.g., 'next-gen' joysticks, industrial controllers) to command premium pricing and capture market share.\n*   **Custom Solutions:** Developing bespoke sensing solutions for specific industrial or defense applications requiring unique form factors or performance characteristics.\n\n**Strategic Positioning:** This technology strategically positions adopters as innovators capable of delivering 'future-proof' sensing solutions. It enables a shift from reactive maintenance to proactive reliability, a key differentiator in competitive markets. For companies in gaming, robotics, and automotive, this patent offers a pathway to superior product performance and customer satisfaction. It also supports the trend towards Industry 4.0 and IIoT, where reliable sensor data is foundational.\n\n**ROI Projections:** Investing in this technology can yield significant ROI through:\n*   **Reduced Warranty & Support Costs:** Fewer product failures mean lower post-sales expenses.\n*   **Increased Market Share:** Superior product attributes attract new customers and allow for premium pricing.\n*   **New Market Entry:** The robustness and precision open doors to previously inaccessible market segments (e.g., extreme environment sensing).\n*   **Intellectual Property Leverage:** The patent itself provides a strong defensive and offensive IP strategy, protecting market position and enabling cross-licensing opportunities.","faqs":[{"answer":"The **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** (US-9852832) is a patent for an innovative technology that provides circuits and techniques for precisely measuring the position and angular displacement of a magnet.\n\nEssentially, this invention describes a system that uses specialized magnetic field sensing elements to detect changes in a magnetic field generated by a moving magnet. Unlike traditional sensors that rely on physical contact or optical signals, this approach is entirely non-contact. This allows for superior durability and consistent accuracy over long periods.\n\nThe patent aims to improve motion sensing capabilities in various applications by offering a more robust and reliable method for tracking movement. It represents a significant advancement in the field of positional sensing, moving beyond the limitations of prior art technologies.","question":"What is Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet?"},{"answer":"The **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** works by leveraging the principles of magnetism and advanced signal processing. A permanent magnet is attached to the component whose movement or angle needs to be measured. Around this magnet, an array of magnetic field sensing elements, such as Hall effect sensors, are strategically placed.\n\nAs the magnet moves or rotates, its magnetic field changes its strength and direction relative to each sensor. These sensors detect these minute changes and convert them into electrical signals. These signals are then fed into a processing unit, which uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze the data from multiple sensors.\n\nBy interpreting the unique 'magnetic signature' at different positions, the system can precisely calculate the magnet's angular and/or linear displacement. The non-contact nature of this method ensures there's no mechanical wear, leading to exceptional durability and consistent accuracy.","question":"How does Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet work?"},{"answer":"The **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** primarily solves the problem of unreliable, short-lived, and environmentally sensitive motion sensing in various devices. Traditional sensors often suffer from several drawbacks:\n\n1.  **Mechanical Wear:** Contact-based sensors like potentiometers wear out due to friction, leading to degraded accuracy and eventual failure.\n2.  **Environmental Vulnerability:** Optical sensors can be affected by dust, moisture, and temperature fluctuations, leading to errors or malfunctions.\n3.  **Limited Lifespan:** Both mechanical and optical sensors often have a finite operational lifespan, requiring frequent replacement and maintenance.\n\nThis invention provides a robust, non-contact solution that is immune to these issues. It ensures high precision and durability, even in challenging environments, significantly extending the lifespan and reliability of products that incorporate this technology. Keywords: sensor limitations, mechanical wear, environmental robustness, reliability.","question":"What problem does Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet solve?"},{"answer":"The patent for **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** (US-9852832) does not explicitly list the inventors in the provided data. However, the assignee and inventors would be detailed in the full patent document filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).\n\nTypically, such innovations are developed by teams of engineers and researchers within companies or academic institutions specializing in sensor technology, electronics, and control systems. The invention's focus on precise magnetic field sensing suggests expertise in electromagnetics and signal processing.\n\nFor specific inventor details, one would need to consult the complete patent filing available through official patent databases. Keywords: patent inventors, assignee, USPTO, magnetic sensor development.","question":"Who invented Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet?"},{"answer":"The **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** offers several key benefits that make it a superior choice for many applications:\n\n1.  **Exceptional Durability:** Being non-contact, there are no mechanical parts to wear out, leading to a significantly longer operational lifespan and reduced need for maintenance or replacement.\n2.  **High Precision and Accuracy:** The system can measure one or more displacement angles with impressive accuracy and linearity, ensuring consistent and reliable positional feedback over time.\n3.  **Environmental Robustness:** It is immune to common contaminants like dust, dirt, and moisture, making it ideal for use in harsh industrial, automotive, or outdoor environments where other sensors fail.\n4.  **Enhanced User Experience:** For consumer products, this translates to smoother, more responsive, and consistently accurate control, leading to greater user satisfaction.\n5.  **Reduced Total Cost of Ownership:** The extended lifespan and minimal maintenance requirements result in lower long-term costs for businesses and consumers. Keywords: sensor benefits, durability, precision, reliability, non-contact, total cost of ownership.","question":"What are the key benefits of Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet?"},{"answer":"The **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** distinguishes itself significantly from prior art in several critical ways:\n\n1.  **Non-Contact for Complex Angles:** Unlike potentiometers (which are contact-based) or basic Hall effect switches (which offer limited angular resolution), this invention provides precise measurement of *one or more displacement angles* entirely without physical contact. Optical encoders are non-contact mechanically but are vulnerable to environmental contaminants, which this magnetic sensor is not.\n2.  **Immunity to Wear and Contamination:** It eliminates mechanical wear inherent in resistive sensors and overcomes the environmental sensitivities (dust, moisture) that plague optical sensors. This leads to unparalleled long-term stability and reliability.\n3.  **Superior Long-Term Performance:** While prior art sensors degrade in accuracy and linearity over time due to wear or contamination, this system maintains its high precision consistently throughout its lifespan. It offers a robust solution where other technologies fall short in demanding applications. Keywords: prior art comparison, sensor differentiation, non-contact advantages, wear resistance, environmental immunity.","question":"How is Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet different from prior art?"},{"answer":"The **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** is poised to impact a wide range of industries due to its versatile benefits:\n\n1.  **Consumer Electronics:** Particularly in gaming joysticks, VR/AR controllers, and other input devices, offering enhanced durability and precision.\n2.  **Industrial Automation and Robotics:** Providing highly reliable and accurate positional feedback for robotic arms, automated machinery, and control panels, reducing downtime and improving manufacturing quality.\n3.  **Automotive:** Applications include robust sensors for accelerator pedals, steering angle detection, gear shifters, and suspension systems, contributing to vehicle safety and performance.\n4.  **Medical Devices:** Enabling precise control in surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, and rehabilitation robotics where fine, consistent movement is critical.\n5.  **Aerospace and Defense:** For control systems requiring extreme reliability and performance in challenging environments. Keywords: industry impact, consumer electronics, industrial automation, robotics, automotive sensors, medical devices, aerospace.","question":"What industries will Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet impact?"},{"answer":"The patent for **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** (US-9852832) was filed on **June 24, 2015**.\n\nIt was subsequently published (or granted) on **December 26, 2017**. This timeline indicates the period during which the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) examined the application, ensuring its novelty, non-obviousness, and utility before granting the patent rights. The publication date marks when the patent's details become publicly accessible, signaling the formal recognition of the innovation. Keywords: patent filing date, patent publication date, USPTO, patent timeline.","question":"When was Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet filed/granted?"},{"answer":"The commercial applications of the **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** are extensive, driven by its superior performance characteristics:\n\n1.  **High-End Joysticks and Game Controllers:** Providing unparalleled precision, durability, and a consistently smooth user experience for gaming, professional simulations, and industrial control panels.\n2.  **Robotic Joint Position Feedback:** Enabling more accurate and reliable robotic arms for manufacturing, logistics, and service robotics, reducing maintenance and improving operational efficiency.\n3.  **Automotive Control Systems:** Used in accelerator pedals, steering columns, gear selectors, and even active suspension systems for enhanced safety, longevity, and driver experience.\n4.  **Medical Instrument Control:** Implementing fine, stable control in surgical tools, endoscopic devices, and diagnostic equipment where high precision is paramount for patient outcomes.\n5.  **Industrial Machinery and Heavy Equipment:** For positional sensing in cranes, excavators, forklifts, and other heavy-duty machinery operating in harsh environments, minimizing downtime and improving operator control. Keywords: commercial applications, joysticks, robotics, automotive, medical devices, industrial machinery, precision control.","question":"What are the commercial applications of Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet?"},{"answer":"Future developments for the **Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet** are likely to focus on enhancing its capabilities and expanding its integration:\n\n1.  **Miniaturization and Integration:** Further reduction in the size of magnetic field sensing elements and associated electronics, allowing for integration into even smaller and more diverse devices, including wearables and micro-robotics.\n2.  **Increased Precision and Multi-Dimensional Sensing:** Development of more sophisticated sensor arrays and algorithms to achieve even higher angular and linear resolution, potentially enabling full 6-degrees-of-freedom (6DoF) motion tracking with extreme accuracy.\n3.  **Self-Calibration and Adaptive Systems:** Integration of machine learning and AI to enable the sensors to self-calibrate over time, compensate for environmental changes autonomously, and adapt to different operational scenarios without manual intervention.\n4.  **Energy Efficiency:** Optimization of power consumption, making this technology suitable for battery-powered devices and remote IoT applications where long battery life is crucial.\n5.  **Integration with Haptic Feedback:** Combining the precise input sensing with advanced haptic output to create more immersive and intuitive human-machine interfaces, particularly in VR/AR and remote operation. Keywords: future developments, miniaturization, 6DoF tracking, AI integration, self-calibration, energy efficiency, haptic feedback.","question":"What are the future developments expected for Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet?"}],"topics":["magnetic field sensor","position sensing","displacement angle","joystick technology","motion control","quest","precise","durable"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet - Patent US-9852832","description":"Discover the Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Sense a Position of a Magnet patent, revolutionizing motion sensing with non-contact precision and extreme durability for joysticks and more.","keywords":["magnetic field sensor","position sensing","displacement angle","joystick technology","motion control","non-contact sensor","patent US-9852832","magnetic sensor innovation","precision control","sensor durability","robotics sensors","industrial automation"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852832","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852832","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Magnetic field sensor and associated method that can sense a position of a magnet\" (US-9852832). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852832","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9852832","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9852832","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-06-06T10:32:57.302Z"}