Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a magnetic field sensor having a squat soft-magnetic body disposed on a surface of a substrate including a magnetic sensor array having a plurality of spatially diverse magnetic sensor elements disposed in a predetermined configuration. In the presence of an external magnetic field the squat soft-magnetic body becomes magnetized to generate a reactionary magnetic field. The plurality of magnetic sensor elements respectively measure a magnetic field value of a superposition of the external magnetic field and the reactionary magnetic field along a first axis (e.g., a z-axis), resulting in a plurality of spatially diverse measurements of the magnetic field component along the first axis. The plurality of spatially diverse measurements may be used to compute magnetic field components of the external magnetic field along a plurality of axes (e.g., x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis).

Abstract: A lateral bipolar junction transistor (BJT) magnetic field sensor that includes a layout of two or more adjacent lateral BJT devices. Each BJT includes a semiconductor base region of a first conductivity type doping, a semiconductor emitter region of a second conductivity type doping and laterally contacting the base region; and a first semiconductor collector region of a second conductivity type doping contacting said base region on an opposite side thereof. A second collector region of the second conductivity type doping is also formed contacting the base region on the opposite side thereof in spaced apart relation with the first collector region. The first adjacent lateral BJT device includes the emitter, base and first collector region and the second adjacent lateral BJT device includes the emitter, base and second collector region. The sensor induces a detectable difference in collector current amounts in the presence of an external magnetic field transverse to a plane defined by the layout.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising a first measurement bridge circuit. The first measurement bridge circuit comprises a first half bridge for providing a first half bridge signal in response to a quantity to be measured and a second half bridge for providing a second half bridge signal in response to the quantity. The apparatus further comprises a second measurement bridge circuit. The second measurement bridge circuit comprises a third half bridge for providing a third half bridge signal in response to the quantity and a fourth half bridge for providing a fourth half bridge signal in response to the quantity. The apparatus also comprises an error detector. The error detector is configured to determine an error signal indicative of an error of the measurement of the quantity based on a combination of the first, the second, the third and the fourth half bridge signal.

Abstract: A closed-loop current transducer comprising a magnetic circuit, a magnetic field detector, and a compensation coil assembly configured to generate a magnetic field opposing a magnetic field created by an electrical current to be measured flowing in one or more primary conductors extending through a central opening of the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit comprises a first branch, a second branch, and first and second end branches, interconnecting the first and second branches such that the branches surround a central passage through which the one or more primary conductors may extend, the second branch forming a receptacle that defines a cavity extending in an axial direction A for receiving a sensing portion of the magnetic field detector, the second branch comprising two second branch portions separated by an interface resulting from the bringing together of opposed ends of a single piece magnetic circuit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a position of a movable component. One system includes a controllable source of varying magnetic flux. In a particular embodiment, the magnetic flux is directed through a magnetic sensor using a first flux concentrator and a second flux concentrator. The sensor generates a sensor signal that is provided to an electrical circuit designed to demodulate the signal. The demodulated signal is provided to a controller. The controller converts the signal and calculates the position of the second flux concentrator relative to the first flux concentrator. The controller may take a predetermined action based on the calculated position of the second flux concentrator.

Abstract: An integrated magnetoresistive sensing device includes a substrate, a magnetoresistive sensing element and a built-in self test (BIST) unit. The substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The magnetoresistive sensing element is disposed above the first surface and comprises at least a magnetoresistive layer not parallel to the first surface. The BIST unit is disposed above the first surface and comprises at least a conductive part corresponding to the magnetoresistive layer. The conductive part is configured to generate a magnetic field along a direction perpendicular to the first surface. A projection of the conductive part on the first surface does not overlap with a projection of the magnetoresistive layer on the first surface.

Abstract: Buried object locators including an omnidirectional antenna array and a gradient array are disclosed. A locator display may include information associated with a buried object based on both omnidirectional antenna array signals and gradient antenna array signals.

Abstract: A linear magnetic sensor shield system comprises first and second shield parts. The system may include first and second field sensor assemblies, each having field sensors disposed therein. The first shield part may be disposed adjacent to a first side of the first field sensor assembly, and the second shield part may be disposed adjacent to a second side of the second field sensor assembly. The shield parts may be formed of mu metal or a mu metal and steel composite, by of example. A torque transmitting device is also provided.

Abstract: Defects in a pipeline may be detected by an in-line inspection tool passing therethrough. However, as the tool travels through the pipeline, errors associated with certain onboard components may accumulate. These errors may reduce the accuracy with which the locations of detected defects can be determined. Accordingly, markers may be positioned at various locations along the pipeline. Each marker may include a radio receiver to receive signal transmitted by an in-line tool passing thereby and one or more magnetic flux detection systems that may detect a magnetic field emanating from the in-line tool. The radio receiver may include an antenna comprising two or more coils connected in series and positioned side-by-side. The flux detection system may include one or more flux concentrators to amplify the strength of the magnetic field.

Abstract: An electromagnetic sensing apparatus for measuring the position of a touch object by electromagnetic induction and a method for controlling the same are provided. The apparatus includes a loop unit including first and second sub-loop units for alternately receiving current and sensing an electromagnetic change; and a controller for controlling the first sub-loop unit to alternate between receiving the current and sensing the electromagnetic change in every one of a predetermined time period and controlling the second sub-loop unit to alternate between receiving the current and sensing the electromagnetic change in every predetermined time period, alternately with the first sub-loop unit.

Abstract: In a position sensor, two field sensors are placed along a line parallel to the movement to be detected. Two magnets are placed at an angle to each other to generate a magnetic field such that their position is a linear or approximately linear function of the difference between the outputs of the sensors.

Abstract: A measuring system, having a magnetic device for generating a magnetic field and having a magnetic field sensor with a sensor surface for detecting a flux density of the magnetic field penetrating the sensor surface at least in a first spatial direction, whereby the magnetic field sensor is fixedly positioned relative to the magnetic device. The magnetic device can have at least one permanent magnet and a flux concentrator made of a ferromagnetic material. The permanent magnet has at least two pole surfaces and an outer surface. The flux concentrator can have a smaller dimensions than the outer surface of the permanent magnet. The flux concentrator can be positioned within the outer surface of the permanent magnet and the flux concentrator and the permanent magnet can have a magnetic force closure.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a power aggregation system. In one implementation, a method includes establishing a communication connection with each of multiple electric resources connected to a power grid, receiving an energy generation signal from a power grid operator, and controlling a number of the electric resources being charged by the power grid as a function of the energy generation signal.

Abstract: Provided are a rotation angle detector and a rotation angle detecting method. Each of the rotation angle detector and rotation angle detecting method detects a rotation angle of a rotating body according to a plurality of detection signals that vary depending on the rotation angle of the rotating body and have phases different from each other, to output the detected rotation angle as a detection angle, generates pseudo harmonics based on a multiplied detection angle obtained by multiplying the detection signal by a specified number, and removes the pseudo harmonics from the detection signals, to output a corrected detection signals from which the pseudo harmonics are removed to the detecting of the rotation angle, the detection angle being generated based on the correction detection signals.

Abstract: Buried object locator systems including transmitters and associated buried object locators using phase-synchronized signals are disclosed. A transmitter may generate output current signals that are phase-synchronized such that an associated locator may receive magnetic field signals from the output current signal and determine information about the current flow based on independent phase-synchronization timing information.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sensor with magnetic blocks unevenly distributed in a housing includes, sequentially connected, a sensing element, a power assistance model processor (21), a digital-to-analog converter (27), and an operational amplifier (28). The sensing element includes permanent magnetic blocks (2) and a Hall element (3) arranged in a cavity fitted together by a rotating disk (1) and a fixing disk (40). Multiple permanent magnetic blocks (2) are fixedly arranged on the rotating disk (1) in a circular-annular distribution, and at most two of the permanent magnetic blocks (2) are different in intervals. On a certain side of the rotating disk (1), the magnetic polarities of adjacent permanent magnetic blocks (2) are opposite, namely, the magnetic polarities of all of the permanent magnetic blocks (2) on the certain side of the rotating disk (1) are distributed in a pattern of pole N, pole S, pole N.

Abstract: A non-ferrous shaft includes multiple non-integral ferrous tooth components, thereby allowing a sensor to detect the shaft speed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment a method of performing a calibration correlation test for a calibration assembly includes sweeping a head module having a magnetic read sensor along a y-axis of the calibration assembly. The calibration assembly has at least one calibration trench having at least one nanoparticle at a known y-axis location in the calibration trench and the magnetic properties are known for the at least one nanoparticle. A read response of the at least one nanoparticles is obtained from the magnetic read sensor and a correlation is determined from the read response. The correlation of the read response is compared to a correlation threshold. The read response correlation is stored in memory in response to determining that the correlation of the read response is greater than the correlation threshold. When the correlation of the read response is not greater than the correlation threshold, a correlation test error is indicated.

Abstract: 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.