Abstract: A sensor device includes a first sensor element that generates a first sensor signal based on a varying magnetic field; a second sensor element that generates a second sensor signal based on the varying magnetic field; a signal processing circuit configured to generate a first pulsed signal based on the first sensor signal and generate a second pulsed signal based on the second sensor signal; a fault detector that detects a fault and generates an error signal indicating the fault; and an output generator that receives the error signal based on a first condition that the fault detector detects the fault, and simultaneously outputs a first output signal and a second output signal. In response to the first condition being satisfied, the output generator maintains the first output signal in a steady state and outputs the second pulsed signal as the second output signal.

Abstract: Sensor device, control system and method of communication between a sensor device and a control system. Sensor devices, control systems and methods for communication between sensor devices and control systems are provided. In these, sensor data are transmitted via first interfaces and redundant sensor data and/or other data are transmitted via second interfaces.

Abstract: A device comprises a magnet and an angle sensor, wherein the angle sensor is configured to detect a rotation angle of the magnet. The device also contains a rotation counter, wherein the rotation counter is configured to record a number of rotations of the magnet. The angle sensor and the rotation counter are implemented in physically separate components.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting a direction of a magnetic field comprises an xMR sensor designed to produce an xMR sine signal and an xMR cosine signal based on the magnetic field, and an AMR sensor designed to produce an AMR sine signal and/or an AMR cosine signal based on the magnetic field. A processing circuit is designed to determine the direction of the magnetic field using the xMR sine signal, the xMR cosine signal, a first phase difference between the xMR sine signal and the AMR sine signal or the AMR cosine signal, and a second phase difference between the xMR cosine signal and the AMR sine signal or the AMR cosine signal.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a first sensor element that generates a first sensor signal based on a varying magnetic field; a second sensor element that generates a second sensor signal based on the varying magnetic field; a signal processing circuit configured to generate a first pulsed signal based on the first sensor signal and generate a second pulsed signal based on the second sensor signal; a fault detector that detects a fault and generates an error signal indicating the fault; and an output generator that receives the error signal based on a first condition that the fault detector detects the fault, and simultaneously outputs a first output signal and a second output signal. In response to the first condition being satisfied, the output generator maintains the first output signal in a steady state and outputs the second pulsed signal as the second output signal.

Abstract: Sensor device, control system and method of communication between a sensor device and a control system. Sensor devices, control systems and methods for communication between sensor devices and control systems are provided. In these, sensor data are transmitted via first interfaces and redundant sensor data and/or other data are transmitted via second interfaces.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting a direction of a magnetic field comprises an xMR sensor designed to produce an xMR sine signal and an xMR cosine signal based on the magnetic field, and an AMR sensor designed to produce an AMR sine signal and/or an AMR cosine signal based on the magnetic field. A processing circuit is designed to determine the direction of the magnetic field using the xMR sine signal, the xMR cosine signal, a first phase difference between the xMR sine signal and the AMR sine signal or the AMR cosine signal, and a second phase difference between the xMR cosine signal and the AMR sine signal or the AMR cosine signal.

Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor including a first Wheatstone bridge circuit having a plurality of first magnetoresistive elements; and a second Wheatstone bridge circuit having a plurality of second magnetoresistive elements, wherein the plurality of second magnetoresistive elements have diversity with respect to the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements.

Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor including a first Wheatstone bridge circuit having a plurality of first magnetoresistive elements; and a second Wheatstone bridge circuit having a plurality of second magnetoresistive elements, wherein the plurality of second magnetoresistive elements have diversity with respect to the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements.

Abstract: A system including a sensor circuit and comparison circuitry. The sensor circuit is configured to provide a sensed signal. The comparison circuitry is configured to receive an input signal that corresponds to the sensed signal. The comparison circuitry provides output signals that switch state at different levels of the input signal.

Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor may include a first bridge circuit. The first bridge circuit may include a first half-bridge to generate a first signal indicative of a first angular component of a direction of a magnetic field. The first bridge circuit may include a second half-bridge to generate a second signal indicative of a second angular component of the direction of the magnetic field. The second angular component may be linearly independent from the first angular component.

Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor including a first Wheatstone bridge circuit having a plurality of first magnetoresistive elements; and a second Wheatstone bridge circuit having a plurality of second magnetoresistive elements, wherein the plurality of second magnetoresistive elements have diversity with respect to the plurality of first magnetoresistive elements.

Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor may include a first bridge circuit. The first bridge circuit may include a first half-bridge to generate a first signal indicative of a first angular component of a direction of a magnetic field. The first bridge circuit may include a second half-bridge to generate a second signal indicative of a second angular component of the direction of the magnetic field. The second angular component may be linearly independent from the first angular component.

Abstract: A system including a sensor circuit and comparison circuitry. The sensor circuit is configured to provide a sensed signal. The comparison circuitry is configured to receive an input signal that corresponds to the sensed signal. The comparison circuitry provides output signals that switch state at different levels of the input signal.

Abstract: A micromechanical capacitive acceleration sensor is described for picking up the acceleration of an object in at least one direction. The sensor includes a frame structure (110), a sensor inertia mass (101) made of a wafer and movably mounted relative to the frame structure (110) about a rotation axis, and a capacitive pick-up unit (120) for producing at least one capacitive output signal representing the position of the sensor mass (101) relative to the frame structure (110). The sensor inertia mass (101) has a center of gravity which offset relative to the rotation axis in a direction perpendicularly to a wafer plane for measuring accelerations laterally to the wafer plane. The sensor mass (101) and the frame structure (110) are made monolithically of one single crystal silicon wafer. A cover section (112) forms a common connector plane (150) for the connection of capacitor electrodes (125,126). Torqueable elements (105) form an electrically conducting bearing device for the sensor mass (101).

Abstract: A micromechanical capacitive acceleration sensor is described for picking up the acceleration of an object in at least one direction. The sensor includes a frame structure (110), a sensor inertia mass (101) made of a wafer and movably mounted relative to the frame structure (110) about a rotation axis, and a capacitive pick-up unit (120) for producing at least one capacitive output signal representing the position of the sensor mass (101) relative to the frame structure (110). The sensor inertia mass (101) has a center of gravity which offset relative to the rotation axis in a direction perpendicularly to a wafer plane for measuring accelerations laterally to the wafer plane. The sensor mass (101) and the frame structure (110) are made monolithically of one single crystal silicon wafer. A cover section (112) forms a common connector plane (150) for the connection of capacitor electrodes (125,126). Torqueable elements (105) form an electrically conducting bearing device for the sensor mass (101).

Abstract: A multi-axial monolithic acceleration sensor has the following features. The acceleration sensor consists of plural individual sensors with respectively a main sensitivity axis arranged on a common substrate. Each individual sensor is rotatably moveably suspended on two torsion spring elements and has a seismic mass with a center of gravity. Each individual sensor has components that measure the deflection of the seismic mass. The acceleration sensor preferably consists of at least three identical individual sensors. Each individual sensor is suspended eccentrically relative to its center of gravity and is rotated by 90°, 180° or 270° relative to the other individual sensors.

Abstract: Micromachined vibratory gyroscope having two or more coplanar movable masses suspended over a planar substrate. Two perpendicular axes (x and y) are defined within the substrate plane, while a third, the z-axis or input axis, is defined to be perpendicular to the substrate plane. The movements of the two masses along the x-axis are coupled through an electrostatic coupling means so that the natural resonant frequency of the in-phase mode and that of the anti-phase mode are separated from each other for the resonances along the x-axis. When the two masses are driven to vibrate along the x-axis in the anti-phase mode and the device experiences rotation about the z-axis, Coriolis forces act differentially on the masses in the Y-direction, causing the two masses to dither in an anti-phase motion along the y-axis. The anti-phase dithering along the y-axis can be sensed directly by a rate sensor to measure the rate of rotation about the z-axis.

Abstract: Micromachined vibratory gyroscope having two or more coplanar movable masses suspended over a planar substrate. Two perpendicular axes (x and y) are defined within the substrate plane, while a third, the z-axis or input axis, is defined to be perpendicular to the substrate plane. The movements of the two masses along the x-axis are coupled through an electrostatic coupling means so that the natural resonant frequency of the in-phase mode and that of the anti-phase mode are separated from each other for the resonances along the x-axis. When the two masses are driven to vibrate along the x-axis in the anti-phase mode and the device experiences rotation about the z-axis, Coriolis forces act differentially on the masses in the Y-direction, causing the two masses to dither in an anti-phase motion along the y-axis. The anti-phase dithering along the y-axis can be sensed directly by a rate sensor to measure the rate of rotation about the z-axis.