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The SACD is for interfacing between a microcontroller or
microprocessor and air-core meter movements commonly
used in automotive vehicles for speedometers and
tachometers. These movements are built using 2 coils
placed at a 90 orientation to each other. A magnetized
disc floats in the middle of the coils and responds to the
magnetic field generated by each coil. The disc has a shaft
attached to it that protrudes out of the assembly. A point-
er indicator is attached to this shaft and in conjunction
with a separate printed scale displays the vehicles speed
or the engines speed.
The disc (and pointer) respond to the vector sum of the
voltages applied to the coils. Ideally, this relationship fol-
sine
cosine
lows a
non-linear function, devices of this type use an approxi-
mation for this relationship. The SACD uses a tangential
algorithm as shown in Figure 1. Only 1 output varies in
any 45 degree range.
equation. Since this is a transcendental and
Figure 1. Major gauge outputs.
Quadrant I
q
= Tan
-1
For
q
= 0.176 to 44.824:
V
SIN
= Tan
q ′
0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= 0.748
′
V
BB
For
q
= 45.176 to 89.824:
V
SIN
= 0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= Tan(90 D
q
)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
Quadrant II
q
= 180 D Tan
-1
For
q
= 90.176 to 134.824:
V
SIN
= 0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= -Tan(
q
D 90)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
For
q
= 135.176 to 179.824:
V
SIN
= Tan(180 D
q
)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= -0.748
′
V
BB
Quadrant III
q
= 180 + Tan
-1
For
q
= 180.176 to 224.824:
V
SIN
= -Tan(
q
D 180)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= -0.748
′
V
BB
For
q
= 225.176 D 269.824:
V
SIN
= -0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= -Tan(270 D
q
)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
Quadrant IV
q
= 360 D Tan
-1
For
q
= 270.176 to 314.824:
V
SIN
= -0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= Tan(
q
D 270)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
For
q
= 315.176 D 359.824:
V
SIN
= -Tan(360 D
q
)
′
0.748
′
V
BB
V
COS
= 0.748
′
V
BB
Graph 1. Major gauge response.
II
V
COS+
360/0
°
I
q
270
°
V
SIND
90
°
V
SIN+
III
IV
180
°
V
COS-
0.748V
BB
0.748V
BB
0.748V
BB
0.748V
BB
]
V
SIN+
D V
SIN-
V
COS+
D V
COS-
[
]
V
SIN+
D V
SIN-
V
COS+
D V
COS-
[
]
V
SIN+
D V
SIN-
V
COS+
D V
COS-
[
]
V
SIN+
D V
SIN-
V
COS+
D V
COS-
[
0
°
45
°
90
°
135
°
180
°
225
°
270
°
315
°
360
°
Max (128)
Min (0)
Max (128)
Min (0)
Max (128)
Min (0)
Max (128)
Min (0)
SIN
+
Output
SIN
D
Output
COS
+
Output
COS
D
Output
Degrees of Rotation
MUX bits (D9 D D7)
000
001
010
011
100
101
110
111
000
Theory of Operation
Applications Information
C