| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
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| 20080224694 | Semiconductor component and method for testing such a component - A semiconductor component on a semiconductor chip comprises at least one sensor element for measuring a physical quantity and an evaluator. The semiconductor component can be switched between a first and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, the sensor element is sensitive to the physical quantity to be measured and a measurement signal output of the sensor element is connected to an input connection of the evaluator. In the second operating mode, the sensor element is not sensitive to the physical quantity to be measured and/or the signal path between the measurement signal output and the input connection is interrupted. A test signal source for generating a test signal simulating the measurement signal of the sensor element is arranged on the semiconductor chip. In the second operating mode, the test signal source is connected or capable of being connected to the input connection of the evaluator. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080265880 | Magnetic Sensor Circuit and Portable Terminal Provided With Such Magnetic Sensor Circuit - A Hall element ( | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080265881 | Direction Control Apparatus - A direction control apparatus is provided. The direction control apparatus includes an input unit, and a magnetic sensing unit. The input unit includes an operation member, a magnetic member, an elastic member, and a base. The elastic member is an elastic structure. The magnetic sensing unit includes a magnetic sensor, and a magnetic signal processing device. The magnetic sensor is a device for sensing a distribution of a magnetic field, and the magnetic signal processing device is an electronic calculating device. The elastic member is provided for restricting the operation member at either a first status position or a second status position. When at the first status position, the operation member is positioned at balanced position where the elastic member achieves an elastic balance. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090009164 | MAGNETO-SENSITIVE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A magneto-sensitive integrated circuit which amplifies a magneto-sensitive output voltage of a Hall element by an amplifier to generate an amplified voltage, converts an output voltage of the amplifier into a digital signal by an A/D converter; and generates a reference voltage of magnitude corresponding to an indicated value. The amplifier includes voltage superposition means which superposes a DC voltage corresponding to the reference voltage on the amplified voltage to generate the output voltage of the amplifier. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090058411 | MAGNETIC SENSOR, HALL ELEMENT, HALL IC, MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT ELEMENT, METHOD OF FABRICATING HALL ELEMENT, AND METHOD OF FABRICATING MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT ELEMENT - An aspect of the present invention provides a magnetic sensor which is operated better at a high temperature range not lower than 300° C. compared with a conventional magnetic sensor. A operating layer having a heterojunction interface is formed by laminating a first layer made of GaN whose electron concentration is not more than 1×10 | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090108839 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH STRESS SENSING ELEMENT - An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor die, and a stress sensing element. The stress sensing element comprises a first lateral resistor and a first vertical resistor. The stress sensing element is formed in the semiconductor die and is configured to indicate a level of at least one stress component within the semiconductor die. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090108840 | Power Line Sensor - A wireless sensor system for detecting electrical power lines in proximity to equipment including a sensor element for detecting the presence of power lines; a transmitter element responsive which generates a wireless signal that conveys the sensed information; and a base station for receiving the wireless signal. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090153138 | SENSOR MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SENSOR MODULE - A method of manufacturing a sensor module includes providing a substrate comprising an array of magnetically sensitive elements on a first main face of the substrate. An array of conducting lines is applied over the first main face of the substrate. An array of electrical interconnects is applied over the first main face of the substrate. The substrate is singulated after application of the electrical interconnects. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090174401 | MAGNETIC DETECTION CIRCUIT - A magnetic detection element is employed. An output voltage from the magnetic detection element is amplified by an amplifying circuit. A switch circuit is connected between the magnetic detection element and the amplifying circuit. The switch circuit reverses the polarity of the output voltage from the magnetic detection element selectively and inputs an output signal to the amplifying circuit. A comparator compares the output signal from the amplifying circuit and a reference value to output a comparison result. First and second storage circuits are provided to receive output signal from the comparator. An electric power control unit controls at least the electric power to be provided to the magnetic detection element. First and second gated signals are provided to the first and second storage circuits respectively. A signal based on the first and second gated signals is supplied to the electric power control unit. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090201017 | HALL SENSOR ARRAY - A Hall sensor array has two Hall sensors arranged in opposed quadrants of a two by two array. Each Hall sensor has four contacts, arranged as two pairs of opposite contacts, the axes of each pair being substantially perpendicular. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090256559 | HALL EFFECT DEVICE AND METHOD - A semiconductor device including a Hall effect sensor and related method. The Hall effect device includes a substrate having a first conductivity type and an epitaxial layer having a second conductivity type defining a Hall effect portion. A conductive buried layer having the second conductivity type is situated between the epitaxial layer and the substrate. First and second output terminals and first and second voltage terminals are provided, with the second voltage terminal being coupled to the conductive buried layer. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090261821 | SENSOR SYSTEM - A system including a spinning current Hall sensor and a chopping circuit. The spinning current Hall sensor is configured to provide input signals and the chopping circuit is configured to receive the input signals. Spinning phases of the spinning current Hall sensor are lengthened in residual offset adjustment phases to obtain signals that correspond to the residual offset voltages of the spinning phases. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090295380 | CIRCUIT THAT PROVIDES OUTPUT VOLTAGES IN A HOMOGENOUS MAGNETIC FIELD - A circuit including Hall plates and an amplifier. The Hall plates are configured to provide Hall voltages in a homogenous magnetic field such that a first Hall plate has a first positive voltage and a first negative voltage and a second Hall plate has a second positive voltage and a second negative voltage. The amplifier is configured to receive the Hall voltages and provide a first output voltage that corresponds to the first positive voltage and the second positive voltage and a second output voltage that corresponds to the first negative voltage and the second negative voltage. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090315549 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING SENSOR SIGNALS SUBJECT TO AN OFFSET AND SENSOR ARRANGEMENT DESIGNED TO CARRY OUT THE METHOD - The present invention relates to a method and a sensor arrangement for processing sensor signals, which are subject to an offset, of a sensor ( | 12-24-2009 |
| 20090315550 | CIRCUIT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A HALL SENSOR HAVING AN UPSTREAM CONTROLLER - A method for programming a Hall sensor having a controller in which the Hall sensor or a programmable circuit component integrated therein is programmed by clocking or modulating a Hall sensor power supply voltage (VDD). A clocked or modulated controller power supply voltage (VBAT) is applied to the controller in clocked or modulated form; and where the clock or modulated Hall sensor power supply voltage (VDD) is applied to the Hall sensor by the controller as a function of the clocked or modulated controller power supply voltage (VBAT). | 12-24-2009 |
| 20100052671 | MAGNETIC SENSOR AND MAGNETIC MEASUREMENT METHOD - For a Hall element of a magnetic sensor, a current is caused to pass along a +X-direction and a first voltage is measured in a +Y-direction, a current is caused to pass along the +Y-direction and a second voltage is measured in the +X-direction, a current is caused to pass along a −X-direction and a third voltage is measured in the +Y-direction, and a current is caused to pass along a −Y-direction and a fourth voltage is measured in the +X-direction. Then, a calculation is performed which strengthens effects of Hall voltage mutually and weakens effects of offset voltage mutually based on a value of the first voltage and a value of the second voltage, and the result is compared with a reference value. Furthermore, a calculation is performed which strengthens effects of Hall voltage mutually and weakens effects of offset voltage mutually based on a value of the third voltage and a value of the fourth voltage, and the result is compared with the reference value. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100079138 | MICRO-POWER MAGNETIC SWITCH - A sensor having a power management mechanism controlled by an external trigger signal is presented. The sensor includes a magnetic field signal generating circuit and a control circuit coupled to the magnetic field signal generating circuit. The control circuit, responsive to an externally generated trigger signal, initiates a supply current pulse that activates the magnetic field signal generating circuit for a predetermined time interval. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100097059 | MEMS 2D AND 3D MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS AND ASSOCIATED MANUFACTURING METHOD - The disclosure provides Hall effect device configurations capable of measuring magnetic fields in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D) along with associated microelectromechanical system (MEMS) manufacturing methods. The present invention includes various geometric layout configurations for 2D and 3D Hall effect devices with multidimensional magnetic field sensing elements. Advantageously, the present invention can provide, simultaneously and independently, absolute measurement of each of the components (i.e., x-, y-, and z-components) of a magnetic field. Additionally, the geometric layout configurations enable the Hall effect devices to be constructed with MEMS fabrication techniques. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100109661 | HALL-EFFECT SWITCH CIRCUIT ALLOWING LOW VOLTAGE OPERATION - A hall-effect switching system comprises a hall-effect switch, a voltage comparison module, and a resistance bypass module. The voltage comparison module compares a supply voltage and a reference voltage. The resistance bypass module selectively adjusts a voltage output to the hall-effect switch based on the comparison. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100117640 | MAGNETIC SENSOR CIRCUIT - A magnetic sensor circuit is provided in which an offset of the magnetic sensor circuit can be eliminated to detect a weak magnetic field with high precision. A reference voltage source is provided to charge an input capacitor of a comparator included in the magnetic sensor circuit to a predetermined voltage. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100123458 | TWIN VERTICAL HALL SENSOR - A Hall sensor comprises two separate wells and each having respective contacts provided thereover. An oppositely directed bias current is supplied via contacts. Accordingly, a differential signal can be obtained from the two output contacts. As in each well the middle contact can be precisely centred between the two outer contacts, the intrinsic offset is small. The sensor | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100127700 | MAGNETIC SENSOR CIRCUIT - A magnetic sensor circuit includes: a Hall element; a comparator circuit for comparing a Hall voltage corresponding to a magnetic flux passing through the Hall element with a threshold voltage; an output logic determination circuit for determining output logic of the magnetic sensor circuit based on an output signal from the comparator circuit; a threshold voltage control circuit for determining the threshold voltage based on a data signal output from the output logic determination circuit; and a threshold voltage output circuit for outputting the threshold voltage for the comparator circuit based on a data signal output from the threshold voltage control circuit. Therefore, the magnetic sensor circuit in which a circuit scale is small, and increase in current consumption and cost is suppressed can be provided. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100134101 | BROAD-RANGE MAGNETIC SENSOR AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS THEREOF - A magnetic sensor is formed by a fluxgate sensor and by at least one Hall sensor integrated in a same integrated device, wherein the magnetic core of the fluxgate sensor is formed by a magnetic region that operates also as a concentrator for the Hall sensor. The magnetic region is manufactured in a post-machining stage on the metallization layers wherein the energizing coil and sensing coil of the fluxgate sensor are formed; the energizing and sensing coils are formed on a semiconductor substrate housing the conductive regions of the Hall sensor. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100156404 | ULTRASONIC PROBE FOR PRODUCING FOUR DIMENSIONAL IMAGE - The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe for producing a real-time three dimensional live action image (a four dimensional image), which has a long lifetime, and an improved image quality, can prevent malfunction. The ultrasonic probe for producing a four dimensional image includes power transmission means for transmission of power from an upright motor to a module ( | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100164491 | Magnetic Field Sensor For Measuring A Direction Of A Magnetic Field In A Plane - A magnetic field sensor for measuring a direction of a magnetic field in a plane comprises a sensing structure comprising a ring-shaped well, a plurality of contacts of equal size placed at equal distance from each other along the ring-shaped well, and an electronic circuit comprising a plurality of electronic switches associated with the contacts of the sensing structure, a logic block for controlling the electronic switches, at least one current source, a means for measuring a difference between a first voltage and a second voltage, a timing circuit providing a control signal for controlling the logic block and providing a reference signal, wherein the logic block is adapted to close and open the electronic switches under the control of the control signal according to a predetermined scheme such that a predetermined number of contacts of the plurality of contacts form a vertical Hall element that is supplied with current from the at least one current source and that has two contacts connected to the means for measuring, and such that the vertical Hall element is moved in steps along the ring-shaped well, and a means for measuring a phase shift between the reference signal and an output signal of the voltage measuring means. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100188078 | MAGNETIC SENSOR WITH CONCENTRATOR FOR INCREASED SENSING RANGE - A sensor that includes a magnetic flux concentrator is presented. The sensor includes a sensor integrated circuit with a structure that includes a magnetic field sensor to sense a magnetic field generated by an external magnetic flux source comprising a magnetic article. The stricture has a first surface to face the external magnetic flux source and an opposing second surface. The sensor integrated circuit also includes a lead frame connected to the structure and having a base portion with a first base portion surface to support the stricture and an opposing second base portion surface. Also provided in the sensor is a magnetic flux concentrator to concentrate magnetic flux of the magnetic field. The magnetic flux concentrator can be disposed proximate to the second base portion surface such that the structure and lead frame base portion are located between the magnetic flux concentrator and the external magnetic flux source when the sensor integrated circuit is positioned relative to the external magnetic flux source. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100213932 | MAGNETIC SENSOR CIRCUIT - Provided is a magnetic sensor circuit capable of a low-voltage operation, which comprises a Hall element and a magnetic offset cancellation circuit for the Hall element. In the magnetic sensor circuit using the Hall element, at the time of turning on transmission gates for switching connections between input terminals of an amplifier circuit in the magnetic offset cancellation circuit and electrodes of the Hall element in order to cancel a magnetic offset of the Hall element, gates of N-channel transistors in the transmission gates are set at voltages higher than a power supply voltage by a drive circuit. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100219821 | VERTICAL HALL EFFECT SENSOR - A complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor system in one embodiment includes a doped well extending along a first axis of a doped substrate, a first electrical contact positioned within the doped well, a second electrical contact positioned within the doped well and spaced apart from the first electrical contact along the first axis, a third electrical contact positioned within the doped well and located between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact along the first axis, and a fourth electrical contact electrically coupled to the doped well at a location of the doped well below the third electrical contact. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100308815 | MAGNETIC SENSOR DEVICE - Provided is a magnetic sensor device including: a switching circuit that controls switching of a terminal pair of the magnetoelectric conversion element to which a supply voltage is applied and a terminal pair to which detection voltage of a magnetic intensity is output; a differential amplifier that differentially amplifies the detection voltage; a first capacitor connected to a first output terminal of the differential amplifier; a second switch connected to a second output terminal of the differential amplifier; a comparator that has a first input terminal connected to the first capacitor and a second input terminal connected to the second switch; a first switch connected between the first input terminal and an output terminal of the comparator; and a second capacitor connected to the second input terminal of the comparator; and a detection voltage setting circuit connected to the second capacitor, in which effects of respective offset voltages of the magnetoelectric conversion element, the amplifier, and the comparator are suppressed, and an arbitrary detection magnetic field intensity is set to enable accurate magnetic reading. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100327863 | DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING MAGNETIC HEAD, DEVICE FOR INSPECTING MAGNETIC HEAD, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MAGNETIC HEAD - A device for transporting a magnetic head, a device for inspecting a magnetic head, and a method for manufacturing a magnetic head are provided. The device for transporting a magnetic head is capable of freely changing a posture of a thin film magnetic head when transporting a row bar-shaped thin film magnetic head. The transporting device for transporting a slender rectangular plate-like, that is, row bar-shaped magnetic head, cut from a wafer is capable of performing vertical installation and horizontal installation. The transporting device for transporting a slender rectangular plate-like, i.e., row bar-shaped magnetic head, is capable of performing the vertical installation and horizontal installation, and changing the posture of the magnetic head from vertical installation into horizontal installation and from horizontal installation into vertical installation when transporting the magnetic head between processes. The transporting device is capable of performing a slantwise installation in a slantwise state between the vertical installation and the horizontal installation. Therefore, with respect to a vertically or horizontally installed tray when transporting the magnetic head between processes, the row bar-shaped thin film magnetic head can be transported easily. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110006763 | HALL EFFECT CURRENT SENSOR SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED FLIP-CHIP PACKAGING - A Hall effect current sensor system comprises a semiconductor die, a lead frame structure and a PCB board. The semiconductor die has Hall effect sensor fabricated on it. The lead frame structure comprises at least two extended electrical leads. A conductor bar is printed on the PCB board. The two extended electrical leads and the conductor bar form a closed current path for generating a direct magnetic field. When the Hall effect sensor is inside the closed loop of the current path, current information can be obtained. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110018532 | INTEGRATED MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATION AND DETECTION PLATFORM - An integrated magnetic field generation and detection platform is described that is capable of manipulating and detecting individual magnetic particles, such as spherical super-paramagnetic beads, and providing biosensing functionality. The platform is implemented in an integrated circuit, a portion of the surface of which is functionalized with one or more biochemical agents that binds tightly (i.e., specifically) with a target analyte. The magnetic beads are similarly functionalized with one or more biochemical agents that that bind specifically with the target analyte. When a sample is introduced, magnetic beads that specifically bind to the integrated circuit can be separated from non-specifically bound beads and detected. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110018533 | Circuits and Methods for Generating a Diagnostic Mode of Operation in a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110018534 | DIAGNOSABLE HALL SENSOR - A measuring device for determining the strength of magnet fields using a Hall probe and a method for evaluating the function of a Hall sensor. The measuring device comprises a sensor having a Hall probe and an electric diagnosis conductor which is galvanically isolated from the Hall probe. The measuring device being able to continually monitor the sensor. In particular, the sensor can not only be checked qualitatively in regard to function or failure, but also quantitatively in regard to correct calibration such that, if necessary, an immediate correction or re-calibration of the sensor can be performed. In particular, measuring errors for instance, due to a temperature drift or because of mechanical stress of the sensor, can easily be eliminated. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110050218 | NON-CONTACT MAGNETIC CURRENT SENSING AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING INDIVIDUAL POWER READINGS FROM A PLURALITY OF POWER SOURCES - A non-contact magnetic current sensing system ( | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110050219 | CURRENT MEASURING DEVICE BY MEANS OF MAGNETICALLY SENSITIVE SENSOR FOR A POWER ELECTRONICS SYSTEM - A current measuring device in a power electronics system includes at least one circuit board and an electrical conductor which is guided through a frame surrounding the circuit board. The current measuring device includes a soft magnetic core surrounding the insulation of the electrical conductor, which core is arranged in the frame. The soft magnetic core is open at one location. A magnetically sensitive sensor, in particular a Hall sensor, is arranged in the recess of the soft magnetic core surrounding the insulation of the electrical conductor in order to detect the magnetic field strength. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110050220 | SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - A sensor arrangement and a method for its use for detecting the proximity of a ferrous target, the sensor arrangement comprising a sensor body including a magnetic field source and a Hall effect device, wherein the magnetic field source is an electromagnetic solenoid. The invention has particularly utility, but is not so limited, to the field of fuel injection pumps in which it is necessary to determine the volume of fuel that is delivered to the cylinders of the engine without affecting the operation of the engine. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110062956 | MEMS DEVICE WITH SUPPLEMENTAL FLUX CONCENTRATOR - A microelectromechanical modulating magnetic device comprising: a base; a magnetic transducer that provides an output in response to a magnetic field associated with the base; at least one movable flux concentrator positioned to move relative to the magnetic transducer; at least one flux collector positioned to collect flux for transfer onto at least one movable flux concentrator; which transfers the magnetic flux to the magnetic transducer for detection and measurement purposes; support structure for enabling the at least one movable flux concentrators to move within a predetermined frequency range; a power source for causing the movable flux concentrators to move at a frequency within the predetermined frequency range; whereby magnetic flux may enter through the flux collector, pass through the at least one movable flux concentrator for transfer to the magnetic transducer, and due to the movement of the movable flux concentrator, the signal outputted from the transducer is modulated. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110068784 | EDDY CURRENT INSPECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A multi-frequency eddy current (MFEC) inspection system is provided for inspection of case hardening depth on a part. The MFEC inspection system comprises a generator configured to generate one or more multi-frequency excitation signals and an eddy current probe configured to be disposed at one side of the part. The eddy current probe comprises one or more drivers and one or more pickup sensors. The one or more drivers are configured to receive the one or more multi-frequency excitation signals to induce eddy currents in the part. The one or more pickup sensors are configured to detect the induced eddy currents within a local area of the part to generate one or more multi-frequency response signals. The MFEC system further comprises a processor configured to receive the one or more multi-frequency response signals for processing to determine a case hardening depth of the local area of the part. A pulse eddy current inspection system and an eddy current inspection method are also presented. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110068785 | HALL SENSOR WITH TEMPERATURE DRIFT CONTROL - Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing approaches to remove or reduce thermal drift of the magnetic sensitivity of Hall sensor devices, to improve the stability of resulting signals of interest. Samples of a particular signal or signals of interest having improved stability make for advantageous use in conjunction with electricity meters. At the same time, associated designs and related components have greater simplicity, for reduced complexity in implementation. Among alternative embodiments, a gating structure selected of various present alternative designs may be used to partially cover, to an intentionally selected degree, an active area of a Hall sensor, so that a zero-drift supply current value may likewise be selected so as to satisfy other criteria which may be applicable to use of the Hall sensor. In other alternative embodiments, a gate structure is used which fully covers the Hall sensor active area, but a gate-control technique is practiced which is based on combined use with an external, relatively high resistance voltage-divider circuitry arrangement, again for eliminating temperature-based drift of the magnetic sensitivity of the Hall sensor arrangement, regardless of the end use to which such Hall sensor is applied. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110074404 | MAGNETIC SENSOR CIRCUIT - Provided is a magnetic sensor circuit of low power consumption, in which a magnetic detection level less depends on a resistance value of an internal resistor of a power source. A comparator circuit compares a voltage which is based on a magnetic field and generated after sampling under a state in which power is supplied to mainly a Hall element and an amplifier circuit to drop a power supply voltage, with a reference voltage after sampling under the same state. Both the voltages are generated based on the power supply voltage dropped by an internal resistor. Therefore, the magnetic detection level less depends on a resistance value of the internal resistor. The comparator circuit may be disabled during a sample period, and the Hall element and the amplifier circuit may be disabled during a comparison period, and hence power consumption of the magnetic sensor circuit is reduced by corresponding power. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110074405 | Magnetic Field Sensor with Automatic Sensitivity Adjustment - Magnetic field sensors have a magnetic field sensing element and also a feedback circuit to provide a gain-adjustment signal to affect a sensitivity associated with the magnetic field sensing element. In some arrangements, the feedback circuit can include piezoresistors to sense a strain of a substrate over which the magnetic field sensor is disposed. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed strain. In other arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate pulsed magnetic fields proximate to the magnetic field sensing element in order to directly measure the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensing element. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed sensitivity. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110101975 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR MEASURING A DIRECTION OF A MAGNETIC FIELD IN A PLANE AND CURRENT SENSOR - A magnetic field sensor for measuring a direction of a magnetic field in a plane comprises two sensing structures ( | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110101976 | Device for Detecting Metallically Conductive Parts - A facility for generating a detection signal upon the presence of metallic-conductive parts in a conveyed flow that is at least largely non-conductive, in which, for example, an alternating electromagnetic field is established in a section of the conveyed flow to be monitored by means of an alternating current generator and a transmitter coil system, whereby a variation of the signal of said field that is triggered by passage of a part is detected by a receiver coil system and converted into a detection signal by an analytical circuit. The individual components of the system are distributed over separate circuit modules which in turn act in concert by means of a bus system. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110121827 | SLOTTED CURRENT TRANSDUCER USING MAGNETIC FIELD POINT SENSORS - A current transducer is disclosed that is capable of measuring DC or AC currents in a conductor. The transducer housing has one or more slots into which a conductor is located. The current transducer maintains accuracy independent of the conductor position. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110133732 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED FREQUENCY RESPONSE OF MAGNETIC SENSORS - Methods and apparatus for providing an integrated circuit package device, comprising a conductive leadframe, a magnetic sensor element disposed on the leadframe, wherein the leadframe includes a slot configuration to reduce eddy current flow about the magnetic sensor, the slot configuration including a first slot generally perpendicular to a second slot, wherein the first slot extends under the sensor element. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110175605 | Magnetic Sensor - Provided is a magnetic sensor for detecting a magnetic field. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetic layer of a closed loop shape; a pair of current terminals which face each other contacting with the closed loop and through which current is input/output; and a pair of voltage terminals which face each other contacting with the closed loop and from which output voltage is detected. Both an anisotropic magnetoresistance effect (AME) and a planar Hall effect (PHE) contribute to the output voltage and a hysteresis of the output voltage is eliminated by exchange coupling of a ferromagnetic layer by a ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic layer structure and a ferromagnetic-metal-antiferromagnetic layer structure. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a hysteresis due to a demagnetization factor of the closed loop, stabilize the output voltage of the magnetic sensor and enhance sensitivity. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20110187360 | MRI SENSOR BASED ON THE HALL EFFECT FOR CRM IMD APPLICATIONS - A method and device can include a Hall effect sensor, which can be formed as a portion of an integrated circuit of an implantable device and which can produce a non-linear current path such as to permit detecting a magnetic field parallel with the orientation of the Hall effect sensor of the implantable device. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20110193556 | INTEGRATED MAGNETIC SENSOR FOR DETECTING VERTICAL MAGNETIC FIELDS AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS THEREOF - An integrated magnetic sensor formed in a body including a substrate of semiconductor material, which integrates a Hall cell. A trench is formed in the body, for example, on the back of the substrate, and is delimited by lateral surface portions that extend in a direction transverse to the main face of the body. The trench has a depth in a direction perpendicular to the main face that is much greater than its width in a direction parallel to the main face of the body, between the lateral surface portions. A concentrator made of ferromagnetic material is formed within the trench and is constituted by two ferromagnetic regions, which are set at a distance apart from one another and extend along the lateral surface portions of the trench towards the first Hall cell. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110204887 | CURRENT SENSORS AND METHODS - Embodiments relate to current sensors and methods. In an embodiment, a current sensor comprises a conductor portion having a first portion and a second portion; at least three slots formed in the conductor portion between the first and second portions, each of the at least three slots having a length and at least one tip portion; at least two bridge portions each having a width separating two of the at least three slots and a length coupling the first and second portions; a first contact region disposed relative to the first portion and a second contact region disposed relative to the second portion; and at least one pair of magnetic sensor elements, a first pair of magnetic sensor elements arranged relative to and spaced apart from a first of the at least two bridge portions. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110204888 | HALL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT WITH ADJUSTABLE HYSTERESIS - A Hall integrated circuit with adjustable hysteresis is disclosed. The circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a magnetic field-pulse convertor, which outputs a pulse-shaped voltage difference pulse by converting a change in two voltages as a pulse and in which the change occurs in accordance with a magnitude of a magnetic field inputted by a Hall sensor, a polarity determining unit, which determines polarities of two signals outputted by the Hall sensor by using the voltage difference pulse and one of the two signals outputted by the Hall sensor, a magnetic flux density determining unit, which outputs a high signal or a low signal by comparing the voltage difference pulse with a set value, and a first flip-flop outputs a result signal having a hysteresis characteristic according to inputs by the polarity determining unit and the magnetic flux density determining unit. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110221432 | SENSOR UNIT AND MAGNETIC FLUX CONCENTRATING MODULE - A sensor unit includes a printed circuit board, a Hall IC, a terminal member, and a capacitor. The printed circuit board has a conductive pattern. The Hall IC is disposed on the printed circuit board. The Hall IC includes an element part that detects magnetic flux. The element part is arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board and is away from the conductive pattern. The terminal member is disposed on an end portion of the printed circuit board and is configured to be electrically coupled with an external device. The capacitor is disposed on the printed circuit board. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110227568 | HALL EFFECT MEASURING DEVICE - A Hall effect measuring device under the hood of a motor vehicle, includes:
| 09-22-2011 |
| 20110248711 | MAGNETIC FIELD CURRENT SENSORS - Current sensors, conductors and methods are disclosed. A magnetic current sensor includes a conductor including a first sheet metal layer having a first thickness and including at least one notch extending inwardly from a first edge of the first sheet metal layer, and a second sheet metal layer having a second thickness less than the first thickness and including at least one notch, the second sheet metal layer being coupled to the first sheet metal layer such that the at least one notch of the first sheet metal layer is generally aligned with the at least one notch of the second sheet metal layer; and an integrated circuit (IC) die including at least one magnetic sensor element and being coupled to the conductor such that the at least one magnetic sensor element is generally aligned with a tip of the at least one notch of the second sheet metal layer. | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110260723 | HALL DEVICE AND MAGNETIC SENSOR CIRCUIT - A Hall device includes: a main plate, formed as a first metal plate, including first and second terminals that can be selectively connected to a power source terminal, third and fourth terminals that can be selectively connected to a ground, fifth and sixth terminals that can be connected to first and third terminals, respectively, a first resistor disposed between the first and second terminals, a second resistor disposed between the fifth and sixth terminals, a third resistor disposed between the third and fourth terminals, and a fourth resistor disposed between the second and fourth terminals, all of which being formed on the first metal plate; and a first auxiliary plate, formed as a second metal plate adjacent to the first metal plate of the main plate, including first and second auxiliary terminals that can be connected to the first and third terminals, and a fifth resistor disposed between the first and second auxiliary terminals, all of which being formed on the second metal plate. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110291650 | SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP AND METHOD FOR GENERATING PULSE EDGES, ASSIGNED SYNCHRONOUSLY TO THE MOVEMENT OF A MECHANICAL PART - In a method for generating pulse edges, assigned synchronously to the movement of a mechanical part, a magnetic field is generated. At least two measuring signals phase-shifted to one another for the magnetic field are detected. The magnetic field is changed as a function of the movement of the mechanical part in such a way that the measuring signals are modulated. A first measuring signal is compared with at least one first reference value. A second measuring signal is compared with at least one second reference value and/or the value of the first measuring signal is compared with the value of the second measuring signal. When at least one of these comparisons produces an agreement or the result of the relevant comparison changes its sign, a pulse edge is generated. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110298452 | MAGNETIC INPUT FOR COMPUTER DEVICE - A magnetic input apparatus and method for a computer device are disclosed. A grid pattern of magnetic sensors can include a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is selectively coupled to a Hall voltage sensor. A source of magnetic field can be placed in proximity to the grid pattern and one or more Hall voltage measurements for one or more of the regions can be collected with the Hall voltage sensor. The measurements can be analyzed to determine a position of the source of the magnetic field with respect to the grid pattern. Input can be provided to the computer program based on the determined position of the source of the magnetic field. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20110298453 | HALL ELEMENT CONTROL CIRCUIT - A first terminal supplies the bias voltage to a high-potential-side input terminal of a hall element. A second terminal supplies the ground potential to a low-potential-side input terminal of the hall element. A P-channel type transistor is configured such that the source terminal is connected to the power supply potential and the drain terminal is connected to the first terminal. An operational amplifier differentially amplifies the voltage between a predetermined set voltage and the voltage at the first terminal so as to control the gate voltage of the P-channel type transistor. | 12-08-2011 |
| 20120025817 | Magnetic Field Sensor with Improved Differentiation Between a Sensed Magnetic Field Signal and a Noise Signal - A magnetic field sensor includes a Hall element configured to generate a Hall element output signal in response to a magnetic field, the Hall element output signal comprising a magnetic field signal component and an offset signal component. The magnetic field sensor also includes a Hall element modulation circuit coupled to receive the Hall element output signal and configured to generate a modulation circuit output signal. The Hall element modulation circuit is modulated with a modulation signal having a changing modulation frequency that changes between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120025818 | Non-Contacting Position Sensor Using a Rotating Magnetic Vector - A sensor for sensing the position of an object includes a magnet and a magnetic flux sensor. The magnet has dimensions that include a length, a width and a height. The magnet is adapted to generate a flux field. The flux field has a magnitude of flux and a flux direction. The flux direction changes along at least one of the dimensions. The magnetic flux sensor is mounted adjacent the magnet. The magnet provides a rotating magnetic field vector. A method for magnetizing a magnet to create the rotating magnetic field vector is also disclosed. | 02-02-2012 |
| 20120038356 | Methods and Apparatuses for Low-Noise Magnetic Sensors - Magnetic sensors are disclosed, as well as methods for fabricating and using the same. In some embodiments, an EMR effect sensor includes a semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, the EMR effect sensor may include a conductive layer substantially coupled to the semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, the EMR effect sensor may include a first voltage lead coupled to the semiconductor layer. In some embodiments, the first voltage lead may be configured to provide a voltage for measurement by a voltage measurement circuit. In some embodiments, the EMR effect sensor may include a second voltage lead coupled to the conductive layer. In some embodiments, the second voltage lead may be configured to provide a voltage for measurement by a voltage measurement circuit. Embodiments of a Hall effect sensor having the same or similar structure are also disclosed. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120038357 | TIRE METALLIC CABLE ANOMALY DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS - Disclosed is an apparatus and methodology for detecting anomalies in cables within a tire structure. A plurality of magnetic field sensitive sensors are aligned within a magnetic field provided by a magnet. The alignment of sensors and magnet is such that flux lines from the magnet are generally parallel to the plane occupied by the magnetic sensors. A tire cable anomaly present between the magnetic field sensitive sensors produces a detectable difference in signals produced by the magnetic field sensitive sensors as a result of the formation of perpendicular flux patterns produced by the anomaly. A signal processing circuit receiving input signals from the sensors evaluates differences between the signals from each of the plurality of sensors by pairing the output signal from each sensor with the output signal from each of the others of the plurality of sensors and produces an output signal upon the differences meeting selected criteria. The output signal may include an externally measurable signal and/or may include a visual signal indicating presence of a tire anomaly. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120062222 | MAGNETIC DETECTION DEVICE - An aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a magnetic detection device including a magnetic detection unit including a magnetic sensor unit and a comparison unit, the magnetic sensor unit detecting a magnetic flux density, amplifying the detection signal and outputting an output signal to the comparison unit as a mode selected from one of a first mode and a second mode of which power consumption is lower than that of the first mode, the comparison unit comparing the output signal and a reference voltage as a threshold level which determines magnetic field being formed or not, and outputting a comparison result, a conversion gain control unit outputting a mode signal based on the comparison result to the magnetic sensor unit as the second mode when the mode signal is larger than the threshold level or as the first mode when the mode signal is smaller than the threshold level so as to control the magnetic sensor unit. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120081109 | Hall sensor arrangement for the redundant measurement of a magnetic field - In various embodiments, a Hall sensor arrangement for the redundant measurement of a magnetic field may include a first Hall sensor on a top side of a first semiconductor substrate; a second Hall sensor on a top side of a second semiconductor substrate; a carrier having a top side and an underside; wherein the first Hall sensor is arranged on the top side of the carrier and the second Hall sensor is arranged on the underside of the carrier; and wherein the measuring area of the first Hall sensor projected perpendicularly onto the carrier at least partly overlaps the measuring area of the second Hall sensor projected perpendicularly onto the carrier. | 04-05-2012 |
| 20120086444 | Apparatus and Method for Reducing a Transient Signal in a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120086445 | TRANSMISSION DEBRIS SENSOR - A debris sensor for a motor vehicle transmission includes a permanent magnet disposed on the inside bottom of the transmission pan to attract and retain magnetically attracted debris such as filings and particulates and a magnetic sensor such as a Hall effect sensor adjacent the permanent magnet. The magnetic sensor monitors, over time, the magnetic field of the debris collecting magnet. The output of the magnetic sensor is provided to a transmission control module (TCM) or similar electronic control or monitoring device. The output of the sensor is monitored and when the output changes sufficiently, relative to experimental or empirical data, a signal or alarm code is generated or stored relating to the possible need for transmission service. Alternatively, data from the sensor may be read at any time to infer the state of the transmission, the quantity of material on the magnet, a possible service issue based upon the quantity of material on the magnet and the vehicle mileage and the remaining service life of the magnet, for example. | 04-12-2012 |
| 20120098532 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT OF THE RESIDUAL MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH OF MAGNETIZED FERROMAGNETIC WORKPIECES - The invention relates to a method for the automated measurement of the residual magnetic field strength of magnetized ferromagnetic workpieces, especially steel tubes, the residual magnetic field exiting the face of the tube end being measured by means of a measuring probe. Instead of directly measuring the residual field strength on the face, the curve of at least one magnetic field component is measured on the outer surface of the tube at least in the region of the tube ends and beyond the tube ends and the residual field strength on the face is inferred on the basis of the previously determined correlations between the residual field strength measured on the face and on the tube surface. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120105057 | HALL-EFFECT SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - A sensor arrangement is operative to sense a relative kinematic state of a magnet ( | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120112739 | Derailleur Cable Detecting Assembly For An Electric-Auxiliary Bicycle - A derailleur cable detecting assembly for an electric-auxiliary bicycle has a body and a detecting device. The body is mounted on a frame of the electric-auxiliary bicycle, is connected to a derailleur cable and has a casing and a cover. The casing has a chamber and a through hole. The cover is detachably mounted on the casing to mount a cable wire of the derailleur cable in the body. The detecting device is mounted in the body, is connected to the derailleur cable and has a circuit board and a magnetic element. The circuit board is mounted in the chamber of the casing, faces the cable wire and has an electric wire and multiple magnetic sensors. The magnetic sensors are mounted on the circuit board at intervals. The magnetic element is mounted on the cable wire between the casing and the cover, facing the magnetic sensors of the circuit board. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120112740 | HALL DEVICE MODULE EQUIPPED WITH INTERCONNECTED DOUBLE HALL DEVICES - There is provided a hall device module equipped with interconnected double hall devices. The hall device module includes: a first hall device having a first pair of terminals for excitation and a pair of output terminals; and a second hall device having a second pair of terminals for excitation and a pair of output terminals, wherein the first and second hall devices have the same equivalent circuit, the second hall device is disposed to be rotated by a predetermined angle based on the first hall device, a first terminal of the first pair of terminals is interconnected to a first terminal of the second pair of terminals to receive driving power for excitation, a second terminal of the first pair of terminals is interconnected to a second terminal of the second pair of terminals and is grounded, terminals outputting a positive component, which is a voltage rising according to an applied external magnetic field, among the pair of output terminals of the first hall device and the pair of output terminals of the second hall device, are interconnected, and terminals outputting a negative component, which is a voltage falling according to the applied external magnetic field, are interconnected, to thereby remove an offset. | 05-10-2012 |
| 20120119734 | HALL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT USING RECTIFIER CIRCUIT - There is provided a hall integrated circuit using a rectifier circuit including: a hall device receiving a power supply voltage for excitation and outputting a hall voltage which is in proportion to the intensity of an applied magnetic field; an amplifier amplifying the hall voltage; and a rectifying unit rectifying the amplified hall voltage to improve sensitivity and modify for user convenience by ensuring a high headroom at even a low power supply voltage. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120153945 | Hall Effect Sensor with Reduced Offset - A Hall element sensor circuit in one embodiment includes a Hall element, a Hall element source, a switch matrix operatively connected to the Hall element and the Hall element source to establish a spinning current in the Hall element and to receive a Hall element signal from the Hall element based upon the spinning current, a front end amplifier including a first input operatively connected to a first switch matrix output and a second input operatively connected to a second switch matrix output, and at least one voltage source operatively connected to the front end amplifier at a location in the Hall element sensor circuit between the switch matrix and the front end amplifier. | 06-21-2012 |
| 20120169328 | Current Measuring Systems and Methods of Assembling the Same - A current measuring system for measuring a current through a conductor is described. The system includes a first sensor configured to measure a first magnetic flux and to generate a first signal proportional to the first magnetic flux. The system also includes a second sensor configured to measure a second magnetic flux and to provide a second signal proportional to the second magnetic flux, the second sensor having a higher sensitivity to stray magnetic fields than the first sensor. The system also includes a processor coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal. The processor is further configured to determine a presence of a stray magnetic field by comparing the first signal and the second signal. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120169329 | HALL SENSOR ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR MEASURING A MAGNETIC FIELD - The invention provides a Hall sensor element having a substrate, which has a main surface, having an electrically conductive active region, which extends from the main surface into the substrate, and having a first electrically conductive, buried layer in the substrate, which contacts the active region at a first lower contact surface. From another standpoint, the invention provides a method for measuring a magnetic field with the aid of such a Hall sensor element, in which an electrical measuring current is conducted through the active region between a first upper contact electrode at the main surface and the first lower contact surface. A Hall voltage is picked up in the active region along a path running inclined with respect to a connecting line between the first lower contact surface and the first upper contact electrode. Alternatively, a measuring current is conducted through the active region over such a path, and a Hall voltage is picked up between the first upper contact electrode and the first lower contact surface. | 07-05-2012 |
| 20120194179 | SENSOR SYSTEM - A system including a spinning current Hall sensor and a chopping circuit. The spinning current Hall sensor is configured to provide input signals and the chopping circuit is configured to receive the input signals. Spinning phases of the spinning current Hall sensor are lengthened in residual offset adjustment phases to obtain signals that correspond to the residual offset voltages of the spinning phases. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120200290 | Low Offset Spinning Current Hall Plate and Method to Operate it - One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing the effect of contact resistances for Hall effect device contacts. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a Hall effect device comprising a plurality of force and sense contact pairs. The force and sense contact pairs comprise a force contact and a separate and distinct sense contact. The force contact is configured to act as a supply terminal that receive an input signal while the sense contact is configured act as an output terminal to provide an output signal indicative of a measured magnetic field value. By utilizing separate contacts for inputting a signal (e.g., an applied current) and reading out a signal (e.g., an induced voltage) the non-linearities generated by contact resistances may be removed, thereby minimizing the zero point offset voltage of the measured magnetic field. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120212216 | CALIBRATABLE MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME - Magnetic field sensor having a vertical Hall sensor element arranged in a semiconductor substrate, and an exciting conductor arrangement having at least one exciting conductor, the exciting conductor being arranged within an exciting conductor plane which is spaced apart, in parallel to the substrate surface, from the vertical Hall sensor element at a vertical distance h | 08-23-2012 |
| 20120229132 | STACKED TYPE MAGNETIC FIELD DETECTION SENSOR - Disclosed herein is a stacked type magnetic field sensor. The stacked type magnetic field detection sensor includes a vertical hall device including a first substrate of a thickness having a first gate length on which a first circuit pattern in a vertical direction is formed so as to sense magnetic field horizontally input and converting the magnetic field into a voltage signal; and a signal processing circuit unit including a second substrate having a thickness having a second gate length to receive the voltage signal so as to detect a magnitude in the magnetic field according to the magnitude in the voltage and detecting the magnitude in the magnetic field by processing the voltage signal through the plurality of second circuit patterns. By this configuration, magnetic detection sensitivity can be improved, the magnetic field detection sensor can be miniaturized, and IC manufacturing costs can be saved. | 09-13-2012 |
| 20120256621 | Method and Apparatus for Preventing Contamination from Affecting Magnetic Field Sensors - A magnetic field sensor is employed to determine a rotational velocity of an element by sensing frequency variations in a magnetic flux during rotation of the element. The magnetic field sensor includes a sensor face provided with obstacles, such as a series of spaced, substantially parallel grooves arranged perpendicular to a direction in which contamination tends to move across the face during operation of the sensor. The obstacles inhibit movement of contamination across the face such that the contamination does not cause false variations in the magnetic flux which would degrade sensor signals. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120256622 | HALL SENSOR HAVING OFFSET REMOVAL FUNCTION AND OFFSET REMOVING METHOD THEREOF - There are provided a hall sensor having an offset removal function removing an offset included in a hall voltage, and an offset removing method thereof. The hall sensor includes: a converting unit converting first and second detection voltages detected for each of a plurality of preset detection directions by a hall device detecting a magnetic field as a voltage according to the plurality of preset detection directions into a pulse having a level difference therebetween as a width; a sign determining unit comparing the first and second detection voltages with each other and determining whether the pulse has a positive sign or a negative sign according to the comparison result; a counter counting the width of the pulse from the converting unit with a preset reference time unit; and an operating unit removing an offset voltage included in the first and second detection voltages by performing a minus operation with the numbers counted by the counter according to the sign determined by the sign determining unit. | 10-11-2012 |
| 20120262163 | HALL SENSOR FOR CANCELING OFFSET - There is provided a Hall sensor for canceling an offset, including: a Hall element unit including at least one pair of Hall elements, each having a preset detection direction, and connecting detection terminals of the pair of Hall elements to different paths according to a preset calibration mode and a preset operation mode; and a calibration unit calibrating an offset of a detection voltage in the operation mode of the Hall element unit according to an detection voltage in the calibration mode of the Hall element unit. | 10-18-2012 |
| 20120280680 | HALL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE - A Hall integrated circuit package includes a Hall integrated circuit and a field line guiding module. The Hall integrated circuit and the field line guiding module are assembled together with a connecting pin of the Hall integrated circuit exposed to outside. Magnetic field causing by carrying current of a cable passing through the field line guiding portion will be detected by the Hall integrated circuit more accurately so that current measurement based on the detection of magnetic field will be more sensitive and precise. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120280681 | Magnetic Field Sensor Having A Control Node To Receive A Control Signal To Adjust A Threshold - An integrated magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field sensing element output signal in response to a magnetic field. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a threshold control node configured to receive a control signal from outside of the integrated magnetic field sensor, wherein the integrated magnetic field sensor is configured to provide an adjustable threshold signal in response to the control signal. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a comparator having a first input node coupled to receive a first signal representative of the magnetic field sensing element output signal, a second input node coupled to receive a second signal representative of the adjustable threshold signal, and an output node at which is generated an output signal responsive to the first and second signals. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120286776 | Low Offset Vertical Hall Device and Current Spinning Method - One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120299588 | Circuits and Methods for Processing a Signal Generated by a Plurality of Measuring Devices - Circuits and methods use a feedback arrangement to select one or more measuring devices from a plurality of measuring devices in order to rapidly identify a direction of a sensed parameter. In some embodiments, the plurality of measuring devices corresponds to a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and the sensed parameter is a magnetic field. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20120306485 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR - A magnetic field sensor is provided, having a first Hall sensor with a first terminal contact and with a second terminal contact and with a third terminal contact and with a fourth terminal contact and with a fifth terminal contact, and a second Hall sensor with a sixth terminal contact and with a seventh terminal contact and with an eighth terminal contact and with a ninth terminal contact and with a tenth terminal contact, whereby the first terminal contact is connected to the fifth terminal contact and to the sixth terminal contact and to the tenth terminal contact, and the second terminal contact is connected to the ninth terminal contact, and the fourth terminal contact is connected to the seventh terminal contact. | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120306486 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING A CURRENT FLOWING THROUGH AN ELECTRIC CABLE - A device for measuring a current flowing through an electric cable comprises a printed circuit board, a magnetic field sensor and a ferromagnetic component. The ferromagnetic component comprises two tongues whose front faces are disposed opposite of each other and are separated by an air gap and further comprises at least two feet, with the tongues and/or the feet being bent off. The cable is guidable through an opening which is enclosed by the ferromagnetic component. The ferromagnetic component and the magnetic field sensor are mounted on a surface of the printed circuit board. The magnetic field sensor is sensitive to a magnetic field extending parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board. The tongues of the ferromagnetic component extend parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board ( | 12-06-2012 |
| 20120313635 | ARRANGEMENTS FOR SELF-TESTING A CIRCULAR VERTICAL HALL (CVH) SENSING ELEMENT AND/OR FOR SELF-TESTING A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR THAT USES A CIRCULAR VERTICAL HALL (CVH) SENSING ELEMENT - A switching arrangement around a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element can provide a normal mode configuration responsive to magnetic fields at some times, and at least one of a first and a second self-test mode configuration not responsive to a magnetic field but simulating a magnetic field at other times. A corresponding method is also described. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20130015853 | HALL SENSOR - A Hall sensor is provided having a first Hall element with a first terminal contact and with a second terminal contact and with a third terminal contact, a second Hall element with a fourth terminal contact and with a fifth terminal contact and with a sixth terminal contact, a third Hall element with a seventh terminal contact and with an eighth terminal contact and with a ninth terminal contact, and a fourth Hall element with a tenth terminal contact and with an eleventh terminal contact and with a twelfth terminal contact. The first Hall element and the second Hall element and the third Hall element and the fourth Hall element are connectable in series. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130021026 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH RING-CONNECTED HALL EFFECT REGIONS - An electronic device includes a number of n Hall effect regions with n>1, wherein the n Hall effect regions are isolated from each other. The electronic device also includes at least eight contacts in or on surfaces of the n Hall effect regions, wherein the contacts include: a first and a second contact of each Hall effect region. A first contact of the (k+1)-th Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the k-th Hall effect region for k=1 to n−1, and the first contact of the first Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the n-th Hall effect region. The at least eight contacts include at least two supply contacts and at least two sense contacts. Each Hall effect region includes at most one of the at least two supply contacts and at most one of the at least two sense contacts. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130021027 | VERTICAL HALL SENSOR WITH HIGH ELECTRICAL SYMMETRY - A vertical Hall sensor includes a Hall effect region and a plurality of contacts formed in or on a surface of the Hall effect region. The plurality of contacts are arranged in a sequence along a path extending between a first end and a second end of the Hall effect region. The plurality of contacts includes at least four spinning current contacts and at least two supply-only contacts. The spinning current contacts are configured to alternatingly function as supply contacts and sense contacts according to a spinning current scheme. The at least four spinning current contacts are arranged along a central portion of the path. The at least two supply-only contacts are arranged on both sides of the central portion in a distributed manner and are configured to supply electrical energy to the Hall effect region according to an extension of the spinning current scheme. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130021028 | Height Sensor Module for Vehicle - A height sensor module is disclosed, the module including a sensor housing formed at an upper side with an opening; a shaft rotatably formed at the sensor housing; a magnet arranged at an upper side of the shaft; a PCB mounted at a surface opposite to the magnet with at least one magnetic element, and accommodated at an upper end of a plurality of support lugs protrusively formed at an interior of the sensor housing; a sensor cover closing the opening; a sealing member interposed between the sensor housing and the sensor cover to inhibit moisture and contaminant materials from entering the sensor housing; a plurality of elastic members interposed between the sensor cover and the PCB to push the PCB to a support lug side; and a support unit supporting both ends of the plurality of elastic members. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130043865 | PAIR COMPRISING PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AND FURTHER BOARD AND METHOD FOR MEASURING CURRENT INTENSITY - A current measurement is implemented with the aid of magnetoresistive sensors or Hall sensors. The sensors are arranged on one or two printed circuit boards, which provide a passage when coupled to one another, through which passage an electrical line passes. The printed circuit boards can also be fitted retrospectively to electrical lines, with the result that the electrical lines need not be interrupted. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130049746 | Semiconductor Chip Package and Method - A semiconductor chip package and a method to manufacture a semiconductor chip package are disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a substrate and a semiconductor chip disposed on the substrate and laterally surrounded by a packaging material. The package further comprises a current rail adjacent the semiconductor chip, the current rail isolated from the semiconductor chip by an isolation layer, a first external pad, and a via contact contacting the current rail with the first external pad. | 02-28-2013 |
| 20130057271 | MAGNETOSTATIC MEASUREMENT METHOD AND SENSOR FOR ASSESSING LOCAL HYSTERESIS PROPERTIES IN FERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS - Method and sensor for obtaining comparative measurements of hysteresis loss in a ferromagnetic sample. A permanent magnet, polarized normal to the sample surface, is positioned on one side of the surface and is movable along a line of travel between motion limits. A field sensor is mounted in fixed spatial relation on the opposite side of the sample surface at the center of the line of travel. The magnet is moved in forward and reverse directions between the motion limits. The longitudinal magnetic field intensity and the coincidental magnet to field sensor longitudinal distance are sensed at a plurality of distances along the forward and reverse line of travel. For each distance, the difference, D(x), between forward and reverse magnetic fields is calculated and plotted against distance for determining the comparative hysteresis of the sample. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130069640 | VERTICAL HALL SENSORS - Embodiments relate to vertical Hall sensors for use with spinning current techniques. In an embodiment, a symmetric arrangement of two vertical Hall devices is used, in which all sense terminals of the Hall devices are used in all clock phases. Such a configuration can achieve better offset error suppression as compared with conventional solutions. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130069641 | HALL SENSORS HAVING FORCED SENSING NODES - Embodiments relate to forced spinning Hall sensors. In embodiments, forced Hall sensors can provide reduced residual offset, lower current consumption and improved or complete rejection of nonlinear backbias effects when compared with conventional approaches. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130076351 | METERING DEVICE AND METERING METHOD - Provided is a metering device and a metering method. The metering device includes a Hall sensor configured to output a Hall voltage generated by a magnetic field generated from a power supply line, an analog-digital converter configured to receive a voltage signal between a minimum voltage value and a maximum voltage value to convert the voltage signal into a digital signal and output the digital signal, an output adjustment unit connected between the Hall sensor and the analog-digital converter, and configured to attenuate and output the Hall voltage when the Hall voltage output from the Hall sensor is larger than the maximum voltage value and output adjustment information that adjusted the Hall voltage, and a control unit connected to the analog-digital converter and the output adjustment unit, and calculate the digital signal output from the analog-digital converter and the adjustment information output from the output adjustment unit to calculate wattage. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130099781 | CURRENT SENSOR AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A CURRENTLESS STATE - A current sensor having a magnetic field sensor, and a variable current source connected to the magnetic field sensor, and a first differential amplifier, connected to the magnetic field sensor, for amplifying a first sensor voltage. A second differential amplifier is provided and the second differential amplifier is connected to the first differential amplifier and to the current source. In the case of the first sensor voltage, a first operating current is present at the magnetic field sensor and in the case of a second sensor voltage, a second operating current is present, whereby the second Hall voltage is smaller than the first sensor voltage and the second operating current is greater than the first operating current. | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130099782 | HALL SENSOR SYSTEM - Integrated circuit Hall sensor system comprising a plurality of elementary blocks (EB), each elementary block including a Hall cell ( | 04-25-2013 |
| 20130113476 | CIRCUIT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A HALL SENSOR HAVING AN UPSTREAM CONTROLLER - A circuit assembly having a controller in which the Hall sensor or a programmable circuit component integrated therein is programmed by clocking or modulating a Hall sensor power supply voltage. A clocked or modulated controller power supply voltage is applied to the controller in clocked or modulated form; and where the clock or modulated Hall sensor power supply voltage is applied to the Hall sensor by the controller as a function of the clocked or modulated controller power supply voltage. | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130127453 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING HALL EFFECT REGION WITH THREE CONTACTS - An electronic device is disclosed as a part of a magnetic field sensor or a mechanical stress sensor. The electronic device includes a Hall effect region, a first contact (temporarily functioning as a first supply contact), a second contact (second supply contact), and a third contact (temporarily functioning as a first sense contact) that are arranged in or on a surface of the Hall effect region. The first contact and the third contact are arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner to each other with respect to the second contact. An electrical current distribution within the Hall effect region is influenced by a physical quantity (e.g. magnetic field strength or mechanical stress) to be measured. A sense signal tapped at the third contact is a function of the current distribution, the sense signal thus being indicative of the physical quantity. A corresponding sensing method using the electronic device is also disclosed. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130127454 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR INCLUDING AN ANISOTROPIC MAGNETORESISTIVE MAGNETIC SENSOR AND A HALL MAGNETIC SENSOR - A magnetic field sensor, including a Hall magnetic sensor, formed within a first die and configured to detect a first magnetic field, and a first anisotropic magnetoresistive magnetic sensor, having a first anisotropic magnetoresistive transducer, formed within a second die and configured to generate an electrical measurement quantity as a function of a second magnetic field. An electronic reading circuit formed within the first die, is electrically connected to the first anisotropic magnetoresistive transducer, and provides a first measure indicating the second magnetic field, on the basis of the electrical measurement quantity. The first and second dice are fixed with respect to one another and have main surfaces parallel to the same reference plane. The first magnetic field being oriented in a first direction perpendicular to the reference plane and the second magnetic field being oriented in a second direction parallel to the reference plane. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130154633 | ELECTRIC CURRENT-SPIN CURRENT CONVERSION DEVICE - An electric current-spin current conversion device according to the invention performs conversion between electric current and spin current utilizing the spin Hall effect or the inverse spin Hall effect of a 5 | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130187644 | HALL-EFFECT SENSOR ISOLATOR - A coupler is disclosed that employs hall-effect sensing technology. Specifically, the coupler is configured to produce an output voltage by converting the magnetic field generated by a current conductor at an input side. The output and input sides may be electrically isolated from one another but may be coupled via the hall-effect sensing technology, such as a hall-effect sensor. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130193962 | HALL ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE SIGNAL DETECTION CIRCUIT AND CURRENT SENSOR THEREOF - A Hall electromotive force signal detection circuit combines offset cancellation means by a spinning current method of a Hall element with a continuous-time signal processing circuit. A first Hall element includes first to fourth terminals, and generates a Hall electromotive force signal voltage Vhall | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130207650 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR - A magnetic field sensor includes: a circuit board having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a recess extending from the first surface to the second surface; a Hall sensor component having a Hall sensor situated in a housing, the Hall sensor component having an active sensor area situated parallel to the first surface and in the area of the recess on the side of the second surface on the circuit board; and a first magnetic flux concentrator made of a magnetically permeable material and situated on the side of the first surface opposite to the Hall sensor component, the magnetic flux concentrator having a lateral surface which faces away from the circuit board and includes a first surface area and a lateral surface which faces toward the circuit board and includes a second surface area which is smaller than the first surface area. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130214774 | Circuits And Methods Using Adjustable Feedback For Self-Calibrating Or Self-Testing A Magnetic Field Sensor With An Adjustable Time Constant - A magnetic field sensor includes a reference-field-sensing circuit channel that allows a self-test or a self-calibration of the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor. The self-test or the self calibration can have at least two different bandwidths that provide a respective at least two different rates of self-test or self-calibration. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130214775 | VERTICAL HALL DEVICE WITH ELECTRICAL 180 DEGREE SYMMETRY - A vertical Hall device indicative of a magnetic field parallel to a surface of a substrate comprises first, second, third and fourth terminals. The vertical Hall device further comprises contacts to generate a Hall effect signal indicative of the magnetic field. At least one pair of Hall effect regions is provided which comprises a first Hall effect region and a second Hall effect region formed in the substrate. A first group of the contacts is arranged in or at a surface of the first Hall effect region, the first group comprising a first and second outmost contacts. A second group of contacts is arranged in or at a surface of the second Hall effect region, the second group comprising third and fourth outmost contacts. Each of the first, second, third and fourth terminals is connected to a same number of outmost contacts. | 08-22-2013 |
| 20130249543 | Correction Circuit for Output Duty of Hall Element, Hall Sensor and Method of Correcting Output Duty of Hall Element - Disclosed herein are a correction circuit for output duty of a Hall element, a Hall sensor, and a method of correcting the output duty of the Hall element. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the correction circuit includes an amplification and output unit for amplifying an output of the Hall element and outputting a sqaure wave signal; a duty detection unit for detecting a duty ratio of the sqaure wave signal output by the amplification and output unit; and a duty correction unit for applying a feedback correction signal to the amplification and output unit accoring to the detected duty ratio. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130257423 | HYBRID MAGNETIC SENSOR - A magnetic sensor is disclosed. The magnetic sensor includes a first magnetic sensing device, a second magnetic sensing device and a third magnetic sensing device. The first magnetic sensing device and the second magnetic sensing device sense X-axis and Y-axis magnetic fields. The third magnetic sensing device is a Hall device to sense Z-axis magnetic field by Hall effect. The first magnetic sensing device is disposed in a 90 degrees position related to the second magnetic sensing device. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130271124 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING IN-PACKAGE SENSOR ADJUSTMENTS - An illustrative packaged magnetic field sensor includes a power input terminal and a sensor output terminal, both accessible from outside of the package housing. A sensing block is situated in the package housing and electrically coupled to the magnetic field sensing device and the sensor output terminal. An adjustment block is situated in the package housing and coupled to the power input terminal and the sensing block. In some cases, the adjustment block may receive one or more messages that include sensor adjustment information. The one or more messages may be modulated onto the power input signal. The adjustment block may decode the received sensor adjustment information from the messages, and store the decoded adjustment information into a memory. The adjustment block may then adjust the output signal of the sensing block based on the decoded adjustment information. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20130314084 | APPARATUS FOR DETECTING CRACK USING HETEROGENEOUS MAGNETIC SENSORS - Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for detecting a crack. The apparatus includes a power supply unit, a sensor module, and a signal reception module. The power supply unit supplies power. The sensor module receives the input power from the power supply unit, and outputs sensing power corresponding to the magnetic field of an object to be measured. The signal reception unit converts the sensing power output from the sensor module into a quantitative value, and computes the distribution of the magnetic field. The sensor module includes a first sensor array configured to detect magnetic field vectors in a direction vertical to a sensor surface, and a second sensor array placed on the first sensor array in an overlapping manner and configured to detect magnetic field vectors in a direction lateral with respect to the sensor surface. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130320970 | GEAR TOOTH SENSOR WITH PEAK AND THRESHOLD DETECTORS - Presented herein is a magnetic field sensor architecture that uses outputs of a peak detector and threshold detector operating in parallel to detect magnetic anomalies that may be associated with the target being sensed, e.g., a rotational ferromagnetic object such as a toothed gear, and use such detection to prevent sensor malfunction. The sensor includes an edge detection circuit and an error detection circuit. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit includes circuits to detect edges (or transitions) of the threshold and peak detector output signals and the error detection circuit includes circuits, responsive to the edge detection circuit, to indicate an error when a “missed transition” occurs or a peak-to-peak value of an input signal as detected by the peak detector for a current cycle differs from an expected peak-to-peak value by a predetermined amount. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130342194 | VERTICAL HALL SENSOR WITH SERIES-CONNECTED HALL EFFECT REGIONS - A vertical Hall sensor includes first and second vertical Hall effect regions in a semiconductor substrate, with first and second pluralities of contacts arranged at one side of the first or second vertical Hall effect regions, respectively. The second vertical Hall effect region is connected in series with the first vertical Hall effect region regarding a power supply. The vertical Hall sensor further includes first and second layers adjacent to the first and second vertical Hall effect regions at a side other than a side of the first or second pluralities of contacts. The first and second layers have different doping properties than the first and second vertical Hall effect regions and insulate the first and second vertical Hall effect regions from a bulk of the semiconductor substrate by at least one reverse-biased p-n junction per vertical Hall effect region during an operation of the vertical Hall sensor. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130342195 | VERTICAL HALL DEVICE COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND CONTACT INTERCONNECTIONS - A vertical Hall device includes a Hall effect region formed in a substrate and a sequence of at least six contacts arranged in or at a surface of the Hall effect region between a first contact and a last contact. The vertical Hall device also includes a first contact interconnection connecting the first contact with a third to the last contact. A vertical Hall device further includes a second contact interconnection connecting a third contact with the last contact. Further embodiments made to a sensing method for sensing a magnetic field parallel to a surface of a substrate. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130342196 | Vertical Hall Device Comprising a Slot in the Hall Effect Region - A vertical Hall device includes a Hall effect region, a separator, a first plurality of contacts, and a second plurality of contacts. The Hall effect region includes a first straight section, a second straight section that is offset parallel to the first straight section, and a connecting section that connects the first straight section and the second straight section. The separator separates a portion of the first straight section from a portion of the second straight section. The first and second plurality of contacts are arranged in or at the surface of the first and second straight sections, respectively. With respect to a first clock phase of a spinning current scheme, the first plurality of contacts comprises a first supply contact and a first sense contact. The second plurality of contacts comprises a second supply contact and a second sense contact. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140028304 | HALL SENSORS AND SENSING METHODS - Embodiments relate to multi-contact sensor devices and operating methods thereof that can reduce or eliminate offset error. In embodiments, sensor devices can comprise three or more contacts, and multiple sensor devices can be combined. The sensor devices can comprise Hall sensor devices, such as vertical Hall devices, or other sensor types. Operating modes can be implemented for the multi-contact sensor devices which offer significant modifications of and improvements over conventional spinning current principles. In a first operating mode, the sensor is supplied with the same input current in all operating phases, with the output voltages of all operating cycles sensed and processed. In another operating mode, the sensor device is supplied with the same input voltage in all operating phases, the sense terminals are forced to constant potentials, and the currents flowing into or out of the sense terminals are sensed and processed. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140028305 | HALL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MAGNET - One or more embodiments are directed to a motor configured to rotate at least one magnet at a first frequency, a sensor configured to generate a reference signal of the at least one magnet's rotation, and a lock-in detection system configured to receive the reference signal, supply an excitation current at a second frequency to a device under test, measure a voltage from the device under test and demodulate the second frequency, and demodulate the first frequency from the measured voltage using the reference signal to obtain a Hall voltage associated with the device under test. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140028306 | HALL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MAGNET - One or more embodiments are directed to a motor configured to rotate at least one magnet at a first frequency, a sensor configured to generate a reference signal of the at least one magnet's rotation, and a lock-in detection system configured to receive the reference signal, supply an excitation current at a second frequency to a device under test, measure a voltage from the device under test and demodulate the second frequency, and demodulate the first frequency from the measured voltage using the reference signal to obtain a Hall voltage associated with the device under test. | 01-30-2014 |
| 20140084911 | HALL SENSORS AND SENSING METHODS - Embodiments relate to multi-terminal sensor devices and operating methods thereof that can reduce or eliminate offset error. In embodiments, sensor devices can comprise three or fewer terminals, and multiple such sensor devices can be combined. The sensor devices can comprise Hall sensor devices, such as vertical Hall devices, or other sensor devices in embodiments. Operating modes can be implemented for the multi-terminal sensor devices which offer improvements over conventional spinning current techniques, including reduced residual offset. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140084912 | HALL SENSOR EXCITATION SYSTEM - A Hall plate excitation system provides reduced offset and temperature dependence. The Hall plate excitation system includes a current source, a switching network, and a controller. The current source is configured to provide an excitation current to a Hall plate. The switching network is configured to switchably connect the current source to each of a plurality of terminals of the Hall plate. The controller is configured to adjust the excitation current no more than once during each spinning cycle; and to sequentially switch the excitation current to each of the plurality of terminals of the Hall plate during each spinning cycle. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140097835 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DIRECTION OF A MAGNETIC FIELD - An integrated system of sensors that can be used to detect a direction of an externally applied magnetic field is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system can be incorporated into a compact package that can be used within an electronic device. A processor can use signals provided by the sensor system to provide an indication of the direction of the externally applied magnetic field. In one embodiment, the sensors can take the form of analog sensors such as Hall Effect sensors configured in such a way that the direction of the externally applied magnetic field can be deduced based in part upon detection signals provided by the Hall Effect sensors. In one embodiment, the Hall Effect sensors can be stacked one atop the other in such a way that relative signal strength of the detection signals from the sensors can indicate the direction of the externally applied magnetic field. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140103921 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR BIASING A PLATE-SHAPED SENSOR ELEMENT OF SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL - Circuit and method for biasing a plate-shaped sensor element ( | 04-17-2014 |
| 20140117983 | HALL SENSOR SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE HALL SENSOR SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENT - The Hall sensor semiconductor component comprises an arrangement of at least two Hall sensors ( | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140139213 | Systems and Methods for Detection of Magnetic Fields - Apparatuses for detecting the strength of magnetic fields may include a first magnetic field detection circuit that produces a first signal indicating a strength of a magnetic field, and a second magnetic field detection circuit that can be turned on and off, and produces a second signal indicating the strength of the magnetic field. A control circuit may be configured to determine whether the first signal indicates a change greater than a predetermined amount in the strength of the magnetic field. If the change is greater than the predetermined amount, the control circuit may turn on the second magnetic field detection circuit. The control circuit may turn off the second magnetic field detection circuit to conserve power if the strength of the magnetic field is relatively stable. Methods for detecting the strength of the magnetic field are also disclosed. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140167749 | HALL SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Disclosed herein are a Hall sensor and a method of manufacturing the Hall sensor. The Hall sensor includes: a flexible substrate in which a groove is formed; a magnetic field flux concentrator formed in the groove of the flexible substrate; an electrode that is patterned to contact the magnetic field flux concentrator; a passivation layer formed around the electrode; and a sensor layer stacked on the passivation layer. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140167750 | CURRENT SENSOR - A current sensor includes: a lower housing; a lower magnetic core that is housed in the lower housing, and includes a first gap on which a first hall element for detection of a magnetic field is arrangeable; a central housing that detachably engages with the lower housing, and houses the lower magnetic core along with the lower housing; an upper magnetic core that is arranged on the central housing, and forms a ring structure for surrounding a conductor along with the lower magnetic core; and an upper housing that detachably engages with the central housing, and houses the upper magnetic core along with the central housing. | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140203803 | Current detector to sense current without being in series with conductor - A current detector senses current flowing through a conductor, such as a conductive trace of a circuit board, without being placed in series with the conductor. A first magnetically conductive partial ring is located above the conductor, and a second magnetically conductive partial ring is located below the conductor. Ends of one of the partial rings may be inserted through holes of the circuit board to either side of the conductive trace. The partial rings, upon being contactively aligned with one another, form a magnetically conductive complete ring around the conductor. A Hall effect sensor disposed within one of the partial rings outputs a signal corresponding to the current flowing through the conductor. | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140210461 | VERTICAL HALL DEVICE WITH HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE OPPOSITE FACE NODE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING FIRST AND SECOND HALL EFFECT REGIONS - Vertical Hall device with highly conductive node for electrically connecting first and second Hall effect regions. A vertical Hall device comprises a first Hall effect region and a different second Hall effect region, both in a common semiconductor body. The first and second Hall effect regions have a main face and an opposite face, respectively. A highly conductive opposite face node is in ohmic contact to the opposite face of the first Hall effect region and the opposite face of the second Hall effect region in the semiconductor body. The vertical Hall device also comprises a first pair of contacts in or at the main face of the first Hall effect region and a second pair of contacts in or at the main face of the second Hall effect region. A convex circumscribing contour of the second pair of contacts is disjoint from a convex circumscribing contour of the first pair of contacts. Alternative embodiments comprise a pair of contacts and an opposite face node contact. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140210462 | MAGNETISM DETECTION DEVICE AND MAGNETISM DETECTION METHOD - The present invention relates to a magnetism detection device. First and second switch units switch a direction of a current flown from a bias generating unit across two opposite terminals of four terminals of a hall sensor, and switch a direction of a voltage to be available in remaining two opposite terminals in the direction orthogonal to the direction of the current, respectively, so that in a first period, a polarity of a hall electromotive force is a first polarity and a polarity of the hall offset voltage alternates four times, and in a second period, the polarity of the hall electromotive force is a second polarity opposite to the first polarity and the polarity of the hall offset voltage alternates four times. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140218019 | SENSOR PACKAGE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SENSOR PACKAGE - Some embodiments herein relate to a sensor package. The sensor package includes a printed circuit board with a laminar current conductor arranged on a first main surface of the printed circuit board. The sensor package also includes a sensor chip adapted to measure a current flowing through the laminar current conductor, wherein the sensor chip comprises a magnetic field sensor. The sensor chip is electrically insulated from the current conductor by the printed circuit board, and is arranged on a second main surface of the printed circuit board opposite to the first main surface. The sensor chip is hermetically sealed between the mold material and the printed circuit board, or is arranged in the printed circuit board and hermetically sealed by the printed circuit board. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20140232387 | MAGNETIC SENSOR DEVICE - Provided is a magnetic sensor device capable of performing signal processing at high speed with high accuracy. The magnetic sensor device includes: a plurality of Hall elements; a plurality of differential amplifiers to which the plurality of Hall elements are connected, respectively; a detection voltage setting circuit for outputting a reference voltage; and a comparator including: a plurality of differential input pairs connected to the plurality of differential amplifiers, respectively; and a differential input pair connected to the detection voltage setting circuit. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140232388 | MAGNETIC SENSOR DEVICE - Provided is a magnetic sensor device capable of performing signal processing at high speed with high accuracy. The magnetic sensor device includes: a plurality of Hall elements; a plurality of differential amplifiers to which the plurality of Hall elements are connected, respectively; a detection voltage setting circuit for outputting a reference voltage; and a comparator including: a plurality of differential input pairs connected to the plurality of differential amplifiers, respectively; and a differential input pair connected to the detection voltage setting circuit. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140232389 | MEASUREMENT HEAD FOR A MAGNETOELASTIC SENSOR - A measurement head ( | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140239947 | CURRENT DETECTION DEVICE - A current detection busbar has a penetrating portion that penetrates a hole portion of a magnetic core and two flat plate-like terminal portions that are respectively continuous with opposite sides of the penetrating portion. The terminal portions have a larger width and a smaller thickness than the penetrating portion. An insulating casing has busbar holes that are penetrated by the respective terminal portions of the current detection busbar. An edge portion of each busbar hole is constituted by flat surfaces that face the terminal portion with a gap left between each flat surface and the terminal portion, a plurality of projecting portions that sandwich the terminal portion while coming into contact with the front and back surfaces of the terminal portion, and curved surfaces that face respective corner portions of the terminal portion with a gap left between each curved surface and the corresponding corner portion. | 08-28-2014 |
| 20140247043 | HIGH RESOLUTION PLANAR HALL EFFECT SENSORS - The present invention discloses a planar Hall-effect sensor with a magnetic sensing region of an elongated shape, wherein, for a ratio of long axis length to short axis length greater than a predetermined number, effective single magnetic domain behavior is exhibited in the sensing region, the sensing having shape-induced uniaxial magnetic anisotropy with the easy axis parallel to the long axis of the magnetic sensing region; further wherein the magnitude of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy depends on the ratio of the thickness of the sensing region to the length of the short axis. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140253114 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FORCE INFORMATION IN A MAGNETIC FIELD ENVIRONMENT - The disclosure is directed at a method of providing force feedback information experienced by an object of interest (OOI) within a magnetic field comprising determining location of OOI within the magnetic field; determining new location of OOI within the magnetic field; determining expected position of the OOI within the magnetic field; comparing the new location with the expected position of the OOI and calculating force feedback information being experienced on the OOI. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140253115 | MAGNETIC FIELD CURRENT SENSORS - Current sensors, conductors and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a magnetic current sensor comprises a conductor comprising a first sheet metal layer having a first thickness and comprising at least one hole, and a second sheet metal layer having a second thickness less than the first thickness and comprising at least one notch, the second sheet metal layer being coupled to the first sheet metal layer such that the at least one hole of the first sheet metal layer at least partially overlaps with the at least one notch of the second sheet metal layer; and an integrated circuit (IC) die comprising at least one magnetic sensor element and being coupled to the conductor such that the at least one magnetic sensor element is generally aligned with a tip of the at least one notch of the second sheet metal layer. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140266180 | SENSORS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESIDUAL CURRENT DETECTION - Embodiments relate to sensor systems and methods for detecting residual currents. In embodiments, a sensor comprises a magnetic core and a plurality of conductors passing through an aperture of the core. The magnetic core comprises a gap in the core itself, and a magnetic field sensor is arranged proximate to but not within this gap, in contrast with conventional approaches, in order to detect a net flux in the core. Advantageously, embodiments can be used in applications in which it is desired to detect AC or DC currents. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266181 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING AN EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE COIL - Methods and apparatus for magnetic field sensor having a sensing element, an analog circuit path coupled to the sensing element for generating an output voltage in response to a magnetic field applied to the sensing element, and a coil in proximity to the sensing element, the coil having a first terminal that is accessible external to the magnetic field sensor. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266182 | Vertical Hall Effect Sensor with Offset Reduction - A vertical Hall Effect sensor assembly in one embodiment includes a first sensor with a first doped substrate, a first doped well, the first doped well having a doping opposite to the first doped substrate, a first endmost inner contact accessible at a first surface of the first sensor and located at a first end portion of the first doped well, a first intermediate inner contact accessible at the first surface and located between the first endmost inner contact and a second end portion of the first doped well, and a first electrode positioned on the first surface immediately adjacent to the first endmost inner contact and the first intermediate inner contact, the first electrode electrically isolated from the first doped well, and a first voltage source operably connected to the first electrode. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140266183 | Magnetic Sensor - A magnetic sensor of the present invention includes a Hall-effect sensor configured to detect magnetism and an IC being configured to drive the Hall-effect sensor and perform signal processing therefor and having two or more metal interconnection layers. The Hall-effect sensor and the IC are electrically connected to each other via wire interconnections and sealed in one package. Metal interconnections on the IC to input output voltage of the Hall-effect sensor to a signal processing unit of the IC have a grade-separation junction portion in order to suppress an induced electromotive force which a change in the magnetic flux density externally applied generates at output terminals of the Hall-effect sensor, the wire interconnections connected to output electrode pads of the Hall-effect sensor, and the metal interconnections to input the output voltage of the Hall-effect sensor to the signal processing unit of the IC. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140306701 | VERTICAL HALL SENSOR CIRCUIT COMPRISING STRESS COMPENSATION CIRCUIT - A vertical Hall sensor circuit comprises an arrangement comprising a vertical Hall effect region of a first doping type, formed within a semiconductor substrate and having a stress dependency with respect to a Hall effect-related electrical characteristic. The vertical Hall sensor circuit further comprises a stress compensation circuit which comprises at least one of a lateral resistor arrangement and a vertical resistor arrangement. The lateral resistor arrangement has a first resistive element and a second resistive element, which are parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate and orthogonal to each other, for generating a stress-dependent lateral resistor arrangement signal on the basis of a reference signal inputted to the stress compensation circuit. The vertical resistor arrangement has a third resistive element of the first doping type for vertically conducting an electric current flow, for generating a stress-dependent vertical resistor arrangement signal on the basis of the reference signal. The vertical Hall sensor circuit further comprises a first circuit for providing a first signal to the arrangement, the first signal being based on at least one of the stress-dependent lateral resistor arrangement signal and the stress-dependent vertical resistor arrangement signal. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140312893 | INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC SENSORS FOR MONITORING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS - Intelligent electronic sensors, system containing such sensors, and methods for using such sensors for monitoring electrical circuits are described herein. The electronic sensors can monitor current flow through a conducting line and are oriented substantially parallel to the conducting line. The electronic sensors comprise a sensor module comprising a current sensor chip, a shield, a conductor stabilizer located proximate the conducting line, and a securement device to connect the electronic sensor to the conducting line. These sensors may be non-intrusive, intelligent, multipurpose, have both a standalone and open architecture, and may be submersible. The sensors may be quickly mounted to live conducting lines without requiring outages and disturbing control circuitry and their outputs may be easily marshaled to new or existing IEDs. Other embodiments are described. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140327435 | HALL SENSOR - A Hall sensor comprises at least three Hall sensor elements ( | 11-06-2014 |
| 20140333300 | REGULATED MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY FOR EXTENDED CURRENT MEASUREMENT - A current sensor senses a primary current in a conductor. The current sensor includes a core, a sensing device, and a magnetizing coil. The core is configured so that the primary current generates a first magnetic field concentrated in the core. A magnetic flux density of the core is established based upon the first magnetic field and a magnetic permeability of the core. The sensing device senses the magnetic flux density of the core and provides a voltage representative of the primary current. The magnetizing coil receives a magnetizing current when the primary current is greater than a threshold value. The magnetizing coil generates a coil magnetic field in response to the magnetizing current to decrease the magnetic permeability of the core. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140333301 | DEVICE FOR CURRENT MEASUREMENT - A device for current measurement comprises a substrate with a first current conductor and a current sensor with a second current conductor. The current sensor is mounted above the first current conductor on the substrate. The second current conductor is formed with integrally attached first and second terminal leads through which the current to be measured is supplied and discharged. The current sensor further comprises a semiconductor chip with a magnetic field sensor mounted on the second current conductor on the side of the second current conductor facing the substrate. The magnetic field sensor is sensitive to a component of the magnetic field extending parallel to the surface of the semiconductor chip and perpendicular to the second current conductor. The second current conductor extends above and parallel to the first current conductor. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20140347044 | Magnetic Field Sensor for Detecting a Magnetic Field In Any Direction Above Thresholds - A magnetic field sensor includes first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements having respective first, second and third maximum response axes, the first second and third maximum response axes pointing along respective first, second, and third different coordinate axes. In response to a magnetic field, the first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements are operable to generate first second, and third magnetic field signals. Signals representative of the first, second, and third magnetic field signals are compared with thresholds to determine if the magnetic field is greater than the thresholds. A corresponding method is also provided. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140347045 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL HALL SENSOR FOR DETECTING A SPATIAL MAGNETIC FIELD - A three-dimensional Hall sensor can be used for detecting a spatial magnetic field. A method for measuring a spatial magnetic field can be performed using this Hall sensor. The Hall sensor comprises an electrically conducting base body and at least three electrode pairs, wherein each electrode pair has a first terminal and a second terminal, which are arranged such on the base body, that a current can flow from the first terminal to the second terminal through the base body. At least three first terminals are arranged on a first surface of the base body and at least three second terminals are arranged on the second surface, different from the first surface of the base body, wherein the first and the second surfaces oppose each other. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140347046 | USE OF FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC THIN LAYER SENSOR ELEMENTS - The invention concerns the field of electrical, materials and mechanical engineering and relates to the use of flexible magnetic thin layer sensor elements, which can be used for measuring magnetic flux density in electromagnetic energy converters and magnetomechanical energy converters. The aim of the invention is to specify the use of flexible magnetic thin layer sensor elements in electric machines and magnetic bearings, which can be placed in air gaps without substantially limiting the air gap widths. Said aim is achieved by the use of at least one flexible magnetic thin layer sensor element, which is attached to non-planar surfaces in the air gap on at least one of the main elements of electromagnetic energy converters and magnetomechanical energy converters and at least partially covers the non-planar surface of at least one of the main elements in the air gap in order to measure the magnetic flux density in the air gap and/or to regulate and/or monitor electromagnetic energy converters and magnetomechanical energy converters. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140354276 | INTEGRATED HALL EFFECT SENSOR - The generation of a Hall voltage within a semiconductor film of an integrated Hall effect sensor uses the flow of a current within the semiconductor film when subjected to a magnetic field. The film is disposed on top of an insulating layer, referred to as buried layer, which is itself disposed on top of a carrier substrate containing a buried electrode that is situated under the insulating layer. A biasing voltage is applied to the buried electrode. | 12-04-2014 |
| 20140361766 | HALL SENSOR AND SENSOR ARRANGEMENT - A Hall sensor (HS) comprises at least four sensor terminals (EXT_A, EXT_B, EXT_C, EXT_D) for connecting the Hall sensor (HS) in at least two Hall sensing elements ( | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150022197 | MAGNET WITH OPPOSING DIRECTIONS OF MAGNETIZATION FOR A MAGNETIC SENSOR - In one aspect, a magnetic field sensor is configured to detect a ferromagnetic object. The magnetic field sensor includes a magnet that includes two North regions and two South regions configured to generate opposing directions of magnetization to form a magnetic flux. The magnetic field sensor also includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate an is output signal responsive to changes in the magnetic flux caused by movement of the ferromagnetic object. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150022198 | Method and Apparatus for Magnetic Sensor Producing a Changing Magnetic Field - Methods and apparatus for detecting a magnetic field include a semiconductor substrate, a coil configured to provide a changing magnetic field in response to a changing current in the coil; and a magnetic field sensing element supported by the substrate. The coil receives the changing current and, in response, generates a changing magnetic field. The magnetic field sensing element detects the presence of a magnetic target by detecting changes to the magnetic field caused by the target and comparing them to an expected value. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150028865 | PROGRAMMABLE SENSORS - Disclosed are methods, systems, devices, sensors, and other implementations, including a programmable sensor system that includes a variable voltage source (“VVS”) to receive an external input voltage and provide a variable output voltage from the input voltage, the VVS configured to be controlled to adjust behavior of the VVS, and a programmable sensor coupled to an output of the VVS to receive the variable output voltage. The sensor is configured to be programmed when a programming voltage of at least a predetermined level is provided by the VVS to power the sensor, and to perform regular sensor operations when regular-operation voltage is provided by the VVS to power the sensor. The sensor system further includes a controller to cause controllable adjustment of the VVS to provide the programming voltage for a predetermined period of time to power the sensor so as to cause the sensor to be programmed. | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150035527 | SENSOR COMPRISING A MAGNET AND A HALL-EFFECT PROBE - The invention relates to a sensor ( | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150042325 | HYBRID CLOSED-LOOP/OPEN-LOOP MAGNETIC CURRENT SENSOR - Hybrid magnetic current sensors and sensing apparatus are presented with closed-loop and open-loop circuitry employs first and second integrated magnetic sensors to sense a magnetic field in a magnetic core structure gap to provide high accuracy current measurement via a closed-loop magnetic circuit with the first sensor in a nominal current range as well as open-loop current measurement using the second sensor in an extended second range to accommodate over-current conditions in a host system as well as to provide redundant current sensing functionality. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150042326 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MEASURING CURRENTS OR MAGNETIC FIELDS USING HALL SENSORS - The present invention relates to a method and a device for measuring currents or magnetic fields using at least one Hall sensor, which is operated with spinning current technology. In addition to first sample values for calculating a spinning current measurement value ( | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150061661 | LOW OFFSET VERTICAL HALL DEVICE AND CURRENT SPINNING METHOD - One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150070007 | HALL EFFECT SENSOR SYSTEM WITH DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES - In a method for verifying measurements obtained from a hall effect sensor in a hall effect sensor system, the hall effect sensor is excited with an excitation current having a first value. A first measurement corresponding to a voltage output of the hall effect sensor when the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having the first value is obtained. Additionally, the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having a second value, the second value different than the first value. A second measurement corresponding to a voltage output of the hall effect sensor when the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having the second value is obtained. Operation of the hall effect sensor is then verified based at least on the first measurement and the second measurement. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150070008 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS AND SYSTEMS WITH SENSOR CIRCUIT PORTIONS HAVING DIFFERENT BIAS VOLTAGES AND FREQUENCY RANGES - Embodiments relate to Hall effect sensor circuits and devices that provide improved performance, such as reduced residual offset errors and/or improved S/N ratios. In an embodiment, a Hall effect sensor circuit comprises two circuit portions, a first with a higher bandwidth for higher frequencies and having an improved S/N ratio, and a second with a lower bandwidth for lower frequencies and having low residual offset. First and second Hall plates or devices are incorporated in the first and second circuit portions. The first Hall plate can be operated with a larger bias voltage and a larger, high-pass-filtered signal bandwidth, while the second Hall plate can be operated with a smaller bias voltage and a smaller, low-pass-filtered signal bandwidth. Individual output signals from each of the first and second Hall plates can be scaled and combined to provide an overall output signal with the benefits of each circuit portion, including reduced residual offset error and negligible increased noise. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150070009 | Electronic Device Comprising Hall Effect Region with Three Contacts - An electronic device is disclosed as a part of a magnetic field sensor or a mechanical stress sensor. The electronic device includes a Hall effect region, a first contact (temporarily functioning as a first supply contact), a second contact (second supply contact), and a third contact (temporarily functioning as a first sense contact) that are arranged in or on a surface of the Hall effect region. The first contact and the third contact are arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner to each other with respect to the second contact. An electrical current distribution within the Hall effect region is influenced by a physical quantity (e.g. magnetic field strength or mechanical stress) to be measured. A sense signal tapped at the third contact is a function of the current distribution, the sense signal thus being indicative of the physical quantity. A corresponding sensing method using the electronic device is also disclosed. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150077100 | Magnetic Field Sensing Element Combining a Circular Vertical Hall Magnetic Field Sensing Element with a Planar Hall Element - A magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and at least one planar Hall element. The CVH sensing element has contacts arranged over a common implant region in a substrate. In some embodiments, the at least one planar Hall element is formed as a circular planar Hall (CPH) sensing element also having contacts disposed over the common implant region. A CPH sensing element and a method of fabricating the CPH sensing element are separately described. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150091557 | HALL EFFECT SENSOR CORE WITH MULTIPLE AIR GAPS - A hall effect current sensor including a mounting bracket, a sensor assembly, and a sensor core. The sensor assembly includes a flux sensor. The sensor core includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion define a first air gap and a second air gap between the first portion and the second portion. The first air gap is adapted to receive the sensor assembly. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150091558 | APPARATUS FOR HIGH BANDWIDTH CURRENT SENSING - A device for measuring electrical current in a line may include, among other things, a Hall effect sensor wherein a first response is generated by electrical current in the line; a current transformer disposed with the line extending axially therethrough and connected in series to the Hall effect sensor wherein a second response is generated by the electrical current in the line. An equalizer may be connected to the Hall effect sensor and to the current transformer and may be configured to flatten the first and second responses relative to each other. The permeability magnetic path length and cross section of the current transformer is selected such that low frequency roll-off of the current transformer is at a lower frequency than high frequency roll-off of the Hall effect sensor. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150102807 | Hall effect sensor with graphene detection layer - A Hall Effect sensor with a graphene detection layer implemented in a variety of geometries, including the possibility of a so-called “full 3-d” Hall sensor, with the option for integration in a BiCMOS process and a method for producing said Hall Effect sensor is disclosed. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150115950 | HALL EFFECT SENSOR DEVICE - A hall effect sensor device implemented on a semiconductor body, having a first Hall effect sensor and a second Hall effect sensor, each of the two Hall effect sensors has at least four individual Hall effect elements and the four Hall effect elements are connected in series, and each Hall effect element has three contact terminals arranged in a row, and the series connection is implemented through a coupling or interconnection of the two outer contact terminals. Semiconductor well regions of the individual Hall effect elements are separated from one another, and the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor are connected in parallel, whereby a middle contact terminal of a Hall effect element of the first Hall effect sensor is connected in each case with a middle contact terminal of a Hall effect element of the second Hall effect sensor. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150123654 | WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK FOR MEASUREMENT OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION - There is described a system to measure the electrical consumption of a household. This system consists of a network of measuring devices that are attached to wires between electrical appliances and circuit breakers and of a communication and processing unit that receives measurement data from the measuring devices. Low precision sensors based on the Hall effect may be used for obtaining precise measurements of energy consumption by providing a casing for the measuring devices that ensures a fixed, known, and precise alignment with respect to the wire to which it is attached. Low precision sensors based on the Hall effect may also be used by performing a correction calibration of measured data. | 05-07-2015 |
| 20150137805 | Vertical Hall Sensor with Series-Connected Hall Effect Regions - A vertical Hall sensor includes first and second vertical Hall effect regions formed in a semiconductor substrate and of the same doping type, with first and second pluralities of contacts arranged at one side of the first or second vertical Hall effect regions, respectively. The second vertical Hall effect region is connected in series with the first vertical Hall effect region regarding a power supply to the first and second vertical Hall effect regions. The vertical Hall sensor further includes first and second layers adjacent to the first and second vertical Hall effect regions at a side other than a side of the first or second pluralities of contacts. The first and second layers have different doping properties than the first and second vertical Hall effect regions and insulate the first and second vertical Hall effect regions from a bulk of the semiconductor substrate by at least one reverse-biased p-n junction per vertical Hall effect region during an operation of the vertical Hall sensor. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150309080 | Hybrid Current Sensor Assembly - A hybrid current sensor assembly has a conductor, Hall core, Hall sensor, shunt terminal, and a microprocessor. The conductor has a first terminating end and a second terminating end. The Hall core generates a magnetic field from current flow in the conductor. The Hall sensor measures potential difference between first terminating end and the second terminating end of the conductor based on the magnetic field applied to the Hall core. The shunt terminal is positioned on a central portion of the conductor. The microprocessor is connected to the shunt terminal to measure the current flow in the conductor. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150316623 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS WITH REDUCED OFFSET AND IMPROVED ACCURACY - A magnetic field sensor with a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is provided herein. The magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element comprising a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged over a common implant and diffusion region in a substrate, wherein the plurality of vertical Hall elements is configured to generate a plurality of magnetic field signals, each magnetic field signal responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor further includes a sequence switches circuit coupled to the plurality of vertical Hall elements, wherein the sequences switches circuit is operable to select from among the plurality of vertical Hall elements, wherein each selected one of the one or more of the plurality of vertical Hall elements comprises a respective plurality of active vertical Hall element contacts and at least one respective skipped contact, the at least one skipped contact disposed between at least one respective pair of active vertical Hall element contacts, wherein a position of the at least one skipped contact is selected to reduce an offset voltage of a respective one of the plurality of vertical Hall elements. An associated method is also disclosed herein. | 11-05-2015 |
| 20150323612 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR CONFIGURED TO MEASURE A MAGNETIC FIELD IN A CLOSED LOOP MANNER - A magnetic field sensor for sensing an external magnetic field includes at least one magnetic field sensing element for measuring a magnetic field produced by a first magnetic field generating source and a current generator configured to receive one or more drive current signals at an input thereof and to generate a drive current signal having a periodic waveform and an amplitude offset at an output thereof. Also included is a second magnetic field generating source configured to receive the drive current signal at an input thereof and in response thereto, provide a magnetic field to the at least one magnetic field sensing element. Additionally included is a comparator configured to receive a reference voltage as a first input and an output signal from the at least one magnetic field sensing element as a second input, and in response thereto to generate a comparator output signal having a duty cycle. Further included is a compensation circuit configured to receive the comparator output signal having a duty cycle at an input thereof and to generate an offset signal for correcting the duty cycle to a predetermined duty cycle as an output. A corresponding method is also provided. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150323613 | VERTICAL HALL EFFECT-DEVICE - A vertical Hall effect device is provided and includes a Hall effect layer having a first, second, third, and fourth Hall effect region, which are at least partly decoupled from each other. The Hall effect layer has first and second opposite faces and the vertical Hall effect device has a terminal composition comprising a first, second, third and fourth terminal. A low ohmic connecting composition at the first face connects the terminal composition with contacts of the Hall effect regions so that at each Hall effect region the terminal composition is connected to a same first number of at least two contacts being connected to the respective Hall effect region at the first face. The second and third terminals selectively output an electrical signal responsive to a magnetic field, and the first and fourth terminals selectively output the electrical signal responsive to the magnetic field. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150323614 | VERTICAL HALL EFFECT DEVICE - A vertical Hall effect device includes at least four Hall effect regions which are partly decoupled from each other, and each of the at least four Hall effect regions has first and second opposite faces. Each of the Hall effect regions has on the first face a first contact and a second contact that are placed symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry at the respective Hall effect region, wherein the plane of symmetry is orientated perpendicular to a straight line between the first contact and the second contact of the respective Hall effect region. Each of the Hall effect regions has at least one contact area placed in an area around the respective plane of symmetry, wherein low ohmic connection means include at least one low ohmic connecting path connecting the contact areas of the Hall effect regions. | 11-12-2015 |
| 20150331068 | HALL SENSOR - A Hall sensor including multiple Hall elements which have a first terminal contact and a second terminal contact and a third terminal contact, the multiple Hall elements being electrically connected in series. The first terminal contacts and the third terminal contacts of the individual Hall elements are connected to each other, and the second terminal contacts of the Hall elements are supply voltage terminals or as Hall voltage taps. A beginning of a first branch being electrically connected in series to an end of a second branch, in such a way that the direction of the current flow through the Hall elements of the first branch is counter to the direction of the current flow through the Hall elements of the second branch. | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150338473 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR WITH IMPROVED ACCURACY RESULTING FROM A DIGITAL POTENTIOMETER - A magnetic field sensor with a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is presented. The magnetic field sensor includes a sequences switches circuit to sequentially select from among the plurality of magnetic field signals. The magnetic field sensor further includes a memory device to store a plurality of potentiometer control values. Also included is a variable potentiometer to attenuate an offset of each one of the plurality of magnetic field signals by using a respective plurality of offset attenuation factors responsive to one or more of the plurality of potentiometer control values. A corresponding method is also described. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150346289 | Hall Effect Sensor Arrangement - A Hall effect sensor arrangement comprises at least four (2×n) Hall effect components (where n=integer and n≧2), wherein the Hall effect components each have two contact terminals C | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150355292 | METHOD FOR REDUNDANTLY MEASURING A MAGNETIC FIELD - A method for redundantly measuring a magnetic field for a sensor arrangement including a carrier having a first side and a second side, a first sensor disposed on a first semiconductor substrate on the first side of the carrier, and a second sensor disposed on a second semiconductor substrate on the second side of the carrier, the method including: sensing a component of a magnetic field perpendicular to the carrier with the first sensor and sensing the same component of the magnetic field perpendicular to the carrier with the second sensor. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150355293 | SENSOR SYSTEM - A spinning current Hall sensor configured to provide a sequence of input signals in response to a bias current being applied to a sequence of terminals of Hall sensing elements of the Hall sensor, the terminals of the Halls sensing elements configured to be interconnected in a sequence of configurations between a bias current supply and ground, with the bias current supply being connected to and applying the bias current to a different one of the terminals of each configuration. A chopping circuit demodulates the sequence of input signals to provide a corresponding sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals, with a residual offset calibration signal for the spinning current Hall sensor being based on the sequence of demodulated positive and negative signals. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150362565 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A HALL SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND A HALL SENSOR ASSEMBLY - An assembly of Hall sensors provides the following: the three averaged values for the magnetic field components are assigned to the same point in space, at the center of the Hall sensor assembly. This allows for the instantaneous measurement of the full field vector. With the appropriate electrical connections of the Hall elements from opposing surfaces of each pair, undesired planar Hall effect is practically cancelled out. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150369881 | LOW OFFSET VERTICAL HALL DEVICE AND CURRENT SPINNING METHOD - One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150377932 | ELECTRIC CURRENT SENSOR - An electric current sensor includes a core having a coupling portion formed by bending a part of a plate member, and one end portion and the other end portion of the plate member are disposed to oppose to each other through a constant magnetic gap on a side opposite from the coupling portion. The core has: a first tapered portion in which a width of the plate member continuously decreases from one end of the coupling portion adjacent to the one end portion to a distal end of the one end portion; and a second tapered portion in which the width of the plate member continuously decreases from an other end of the coupling portion adjacent to the other end portion to a distal end of the other end portion. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20150377983 | MAGNETIC SENSOR DEVICE - To provide a magnetic sensor device which maintains accuracy thereof while reducing current consumption by switching drive power of a Hall element to two drive power. A magnetic sensor device is equipped with a driving circuit which supplies power to a sensor element, a switch changeover circuit which restricts the supply of the power from the driving circuit to the sensor element, a differential amplifier circuit which performs arithmetic processing on an output signal of the sensor element, a threshold voltage generating circuit which generates a threshold voltage used in magnetism determination, a comparison circuit which compares and determines a voltage of the differential amplifier circuit and the threshold voltage, and a logic circuit which according to the output of the comparison circuit, switches the power outputted from the driving circuit, switches the threshold voltage and controls on/off of the switch changeover circuit in a constant cycle. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160011241 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING GEOMAGNETICALLY INDUCED CURRENTS (GIC) IN HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION CONDUCTORS | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160033586 | Method And Apparatus For Determining A Stray Magnetic Field In The Vicinity Of A Sensor - An apparatus ( | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160033587 | MAGNETIC FIELD MEASURING DEVICE - A magnetic field measuring device includes a first semiconductor body having a surface formed in a first x-y plane, the first semiconductor body having two magnetic field sensors, spaced a distance apart on the surface, and the magnetic field sensors each measuring one z component of a magnetic field. A first magnet has a planar main extension surface formed in a second x-y plane, the direction of magnetization changing from a north pole to a south pole along the main extension surface on a symmetry surface of the magnet. One of the two magnetic field sensors being disposed in the vicinity of the north pole and the other of the two magnetic field sensors being situated in the vicinity of the south pole, so that signals having opposite polarities with respect to each other are formed in a z component of the magnetic field. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160041237 | MULTI-BIT MAGNETIC MEMORY CELL - Apparatus includes a first Hall sensor having a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal and a fourth terminal and a second Hall sensor having a fifth terminal, a sixth terminal, a seventh terminal and an eighth terminal. A conductor connects the third terminal to the fifth terminal. A processor is configured to measure a first potential between the fourth terminal and the sixth terminal while transferring a first current from the first terminal to the seventh terminal via the conductor, to measure a second potential between the first terminal and the seventh terminal while transferring a second current from the fourth terminal to the sixth terminal via the conductor, and to determine a resultant voltage generated by the first and second Hall sensors in response to the first and second potentials. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160047845 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING AND MEASURING A CURRENT ON A MAGNETICALLY BIASED CHOKE - In order to measure a choke current through a choke, a flux density of a magnetic field which is emitted by the choke is consecutively measured at a sampling rate at a location which is fixed in relation to the choke. A magnetic bias of the choke is ascertained from the measurement values of the flux density at a known choke current which occurs during operation of the choke, wherein the choke current is known only in longer time intervals than the inverse value of the sampling rate during measurement of the flux density. The actual choke current is determined from the actual measurement values of the flux density taking into account the ascertained magnetic bias. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160047846 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING CURRENT - In an embodiment, a body of apparatus includes an opening, such as a V-shaped jaw, that deterministically locates a position of a wire in at least one dimension when the wire is placed in the opening. The apparatus also includes a plurality of sensors. At least one differential signal can be generated from signals from magnetic sensors, such as anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) sensors, of the plurality of sensors to cancel out common mode interference. An additional sensor of the plurality of sensors provides an output from which the location of the wire in another dimension is determined. The current flowing through the wire can be derived from at least the at least one differential signal and the location of the wire the other dimension. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160097823 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL OF A MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATED BY AN ELECTROMAGNET - A device for the measuring and closed-loop control of a magnetic field generated by means of an electromagnet ( | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160097826 | THREE 3-CONTACT VERTICAL HALL SENSOR ELEMENTS CONNECTED IN A RING AND RELATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - A vertical Hall effect sensor having three Hall effect regions interconnected in a ring can be operated in a spinning scheme. Each Hall effect region has three contacts: the first Hall effect region includes first, second, and third contacts; the second Hall effect region has fourth, fifth, and sixth contacts, and the third Hall effect region has seventh, eighth, and ninth contacts. Interconnections between the Hall effect regions are provided such that a first terminal is connected to a third contact, a second interconnection is arranged between the second and fourth contacts, a third terminal is connected to the sixth contact, a fourth interconnection is arranged between the fifth and seventh contacts, a fifth terminal is connected to the ninth contact, and a sixth interconnection is arranged between the first and eighth contacts. | 04-07-2016 |
| 20160116506 | FLEXIBLE CURRENT SENSOR - Apparatus and methods for measuring current flowing through a conductor include a device comprised of a magnetically conductive loop having a plurality of strands and a magnetic field sensor. Each strand has a magnetically conductive material. The strands are configured to pass a magnetic field to a first magnetic field sensor that is positioned adjacent to an end of the first plurality of strands. The plurality of strands may be arranged in various patterns that allow the magnetically conductive loop to be more bendable or flexible than a current-clamp device. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160124055 | BIAS CIRCUIT FOR STACKED HALL DEVICES - Embodiments relate to stacks of Hall effect structures, in which the potential at the contacts of each Hall effect structure throughout a stack of Hall effect structures changes monotonically. An output associated with the Hall effect structure in each layer of the stack can be compared against the output of a counterpart Hall effect structure in another stack to ascertain the strength of an incident magnetic field. | 05-05-2016 |
| 20160139214 | SYSTEMS AND ARRANGEMENTS OF THREE-CONTACT HALL-EFFECT DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS - Embodiments relate to vertical Hall effect devices comprising Hall effect structures with three contacts in each Hall effect region. In one embodiment, the contacts are interconnected with terminals such that the Hall effect device has symmetry and nominally identical internal resistances in the absence of externally applied magnetic fields. Embodiments are capable of operating in multiple operating phases, such that spinning can be used to measure field redundantly and improve magnetic field measurement accuracy. | 05-19-2016 |
| 20160146905 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR WITH IMPROVED ACCURACY RESULTING FROM A VARIABLE POTENTIOMETER AND A GAIN CIRCUIT - A magnetic field sensor includes a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is configured to generate a plurality of magnetic field signals, each magnetic field sisal responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor additionally includes a sequence switches circuit coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements. The sequence switches circuit is configured to sequentially select from among the plurality of magnetic field signals to generate a sequenced output signal representative of sequentially selected ones of the plurality of magnetic field signals. The magnetic field sensor also includes a variable potentiometer coupled to the sequence switches circuit. The magnetic field sensor additionally includes a gain circuit coupled to receive a signal representative of the offset attenuated sequenced output signal. A corresponding method is also provided. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160169988 | ELECTRONIC DEVICES | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160178709 | SENSOR UNIT AND MAGNETIC COLLECTOR MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME | 06-23-2016 |
| 20160252590 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR WITH IMPROVED ACCURACY AND METHOD OF OBTAINING IMPROVED ACCURACY WITH A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160252599 | Magnetic Field Sensor | 09-01-2016 |
| 20170234910 | HALL ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE SIGNAL DETECTION CIRCUIT AND CURRENT SENSOR | 08-17-2017 |
| 20170234911 | Method of Sensing Current Flowing in a Power Module | 08-17-2017 |
| 20220137100 | CURRENT SENSING SYSTEM - A current sensor system has a conductor and a packaged integrated circuit for sensing a current in the conductor. The conductor is external to the packaged integrated circuit. The packaged integrated circuit includes a substrate having an active surface and a back surface; one or more magnetic sensing elements; a processing circuit arranged to process signals received from the one or more magnetic sensing elements to derive an output signal indicative of a sensed current in the conductor; a housing; a plurality of leads; electrical connections between the leads and the active surface. The back surface of the substrate is disposed on a support formed by at least two inner lead portions of the plurality of leads and the active side of the substrate is oriented towards the outer ends of the outer lead portions of the leads in a direction perpendicular to a plane defined by the support. | 05-05-2022 |
| 20220137161 | MAGNETIC SENSOR DEVICE - An integrated sensor device includes: a semiconductor substrate comprising a horizontal Hall element, and an integrated magnetic flux concentrator located substantially above said horizontal Hall element, wherein the first magnetic flux concentrator has a shape with a geometric center which is aligned with a geometric centre of the horizontal Hall element; and wherein the shape has a height H and a transversal dimension D, wherein H≥30 μm and/or wherein (H/D)≥25%. The integrated magnetic flux concentrator may be partially incorporated in the “interconnection stack”. A method is provided for producing such an integrated sensor device. | 05-05-2022 |
