Incremental position, speed and direction detection apparatus and method for rotating targets utilizing magnetoresistive sensor

摘要

A magnetic sensor apparatus (50) for sensing a magnet (52) is mounted to a rotating target (51), wherein the magnet spins with the rotating targe. The apparatus includes a substrate (56), a first (54) and a second (55) magnetoresistive sensor placed in a bridge configuration on the substrate to detect magnetic flux in a magnetic field created by said magnet, and to output analog bridge signals having an angular frequency. An interpolating integrated circuit (57) analyzes the analog bridge signals and converts the analog bridge signals into digital data. A processor (58) determines speed, position and direction of the rotating target from the digital data.