Method for calibrating gap sensor

1. A method for calibrating at least one gap sensor, the at least one gap sensor being provided on a magnetic bearing supporting a floating body in a non-contact manner by an electromagnetic force, the at least one gap sensor being configured to detect a gap between the floating body and a reference object that serves as a positional reference for position control of the floating body, the method comprising:

constructing a transformation formula for transforming an output signal of the at least one gap sensor into the gap, using three or more constraints that are set as conditions for associating the gap with the output signal of the at least one gap sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the constructing includes:

moving the floating body along a predetermined trajectory;

reading output signals from the gap sensors at a plurality of different positions on the trajectory; and

setting, so as to construct the transformation formula, the three or more constraints by assigning the output signals read from the radial gap sensors to a geometric relational expression between the gap and the trajectory, the geometric relational expression constraining the output signals of the radial gap sensors.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein

the trajectory is a trajectory along which the floating body is moved while being in contact with an auxiliary bearing that is in contact with, and supporting, the floating body to prevent contact between the floating body and the magnetic bearing.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein

in the reading, an output of the at least one gap sensor is read at least at an upper or lower limit of a movable range of the floating body, and

in the constructing, one of the constraints is set based on the upper or lower limit to construct the transformation formula.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the constructing includes:

moving the floating body along a trajectory passing through an upper or lower limit of a movable range of the floating body;

reading an output of the at least one gap sensor when the floating body is at the upper or lower limit, using a position detection sensor configured to detect that the floating body is present at the upper or lower limit; and

setting, so as to construct the transformation formula, the three or more constraints based on the read output of the at least one gap sensor and positional information on the upper or lower limit.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein

in the constructing, another gap sensor except the gap sensor serving as a target for constructing the transformation formula is used as the position detection sensor to determine that the floating body is present at the upper or lower limit, based on a fact that a value detected by the another gap sensor serving as the position detection sensor is a local maximum value or a local minimum value.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein

in the constructing, a current sensor configured to detect a current of an electromagnet of the magnetic bearing is used as the position detection sensor to superimpose a voltage having a predetermined amplitude on a voltage that moves the floating body along the trajectory and determine that the floating body is present at the upper or lower limit, based on a ratio between an amplitude of the superimposed voltage and an amplitude of the current detected by the position detection sensor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the constructing includes:

moving the floating body to a known initial position and applying a known force to the floating body so as to move the floating body at a known initial velocity; and

setting the three or more constraints based on an equation of motion indicating a relationship between the known force and a position of the floating body.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein

in the constructing, a highest position in a movable range of the floating body is used as the initial position, and gravity is used as the known force.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein

in the constructing, an electromagnetic force of an electromagnet of the magnetic bearing is applied, as the known force, to the floating body.