Hello, i am hoping someone can help me with this.
I know the earth has a magnetic field and it can vary from 25ut to 65ut.
With no magnet around my magnetometer i get a reading of 17ut (earth's magnetic field). I then put a magnetic exactly 100mm away along the z-axis. I then get a reading of 100ut, this seems perfectly fine to me.
I then put my magnetometer in a new location with no magnet near it and get a reading of 22ut (earth's magnetic field). I then put the same magnetic exactly 100mm away along the the z-axis. I then get a reading of 125ut.
Now i see something is not right. As the earth's magnetic field increase, the strength of the field around the magnetometer increase even with a much stronger magnet in place. so it looks like the magnetic field of the magnet and the magnetic field of the earth are combining together. It does not seems to be linear either.
Is there away of subtracting the earth magnetic field from the output of the magnetometer, to just leave me with the data of my magnet?
If anyone has had this problem, or knows how they can help, please contact me.
Regards,
Luke.
Luke,
There are a couple things at play here.
Check out the blog I wrote on the topic several years back at Hard and soft iron magnetic compensation explained .
Regards,
Mike
Luke,
For some reason, the web masters seem to be requiring that you log into your Freescale account to gain access. I will ask to have that fixed.
Mike
Yes, try this link instead: http://blogs.freescale.com/sensors/2011/03/hard-and-soft-iron-magnetic-compensation-explained/
Regards,
Mike
THank you for the link.
I have a question in relation to the soft iron as I think this is where my problem is arising.
My magnetometer is fixed and can not be moved in its location. I have a magnet about 100mm away which is pivoting about a point, this is what I am trying to detect.
I am only using the z axis of the magnetometer. How am I meant to account for the soft iron.
I Can send you pictures and explain better it if you give me your email address?
THanks,
Luke.
Luke,
You can contact me at mike.stanley @ freescale.com.
If your magnetometer location is fixed in space, you are not going to be able to take full advantage of our hard/soft iron compensation. At best, a one time calibration before fixing the sensor in 3D space. But send me your pictures and more information and let's see where it goes.
Mike