Calibration Patents (Class 324/202)
  • Patent number: 11972674
    Abstract: An electric utility meter including a Hall Effect sensor configured to sense a magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter. The electric utility meter also includes a controller having an electronic processor, the controller configured to receive a signal indicative of a magnitude of the magnetic field proximate the electric utility meter from the sensor, determine whether the magnitude of the magnetic field exceeds a first magnitude threshold and whether a threshold flag has been set, set the threshold flag when the threshold flag has not been set and the magnitude exceeds the first magnitude threshold, determine an amount of time for which the magnitude has exceeded the first magnitude threshold when the threshold flag has been set, and generate an alert indicative of a magnetic tamper event when the amount of time exceeds a time threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Aclara Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lee McDougall, Jr., Charles Andrew Waters
  • Patent number: 11927647
    Abstract: A current measurement device (1 and 2) is for measuring a current (I) flowing through measurement target conductors (MC1 and MC2), and the current measurement device includes: a plurality of triaxial magnetic sensors (11, 12, and 13) disposed so that a magnetic sensing direction and a relative position have a prescribed relationship; a noise remover (25a) configured to remove noise components included in detection results of the plurality of triaxial magnetic sensors; a sign adder (25b) configured to add a sign to the detection results from which the noise components have been removed, based on sign information of each of the detection results of the plurality of triaxial magnetic sensors obtained at a specific point in time; and a current calculator (25c and 25d) configured to calculate a current flowing through the measurement target conductors by using the detection results to which the sign has been added by the sign adder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuma Takenaka, Minako Terao, Kotaro Ogawa, Saki Kobako, Naoki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 11892477
    Abstract: A current sensor has: a magneto-resistive effect element which is arranged near a current line, to which a signal magnetic field is applied, the signal magnetic field being is induced by a current that flows in the current line, and which generates a magneto-resistive change in accordance with a change of the signal magnetic field; cancelling magnetic field generating means that is provided near the magneto-resistive effect element and that generates a cancelling magnetic field that cancels the signal magnetic field; a first soft magnetic body that is provided between the magneto-resistive effect element and the current line; and a pair of second soft magnetic bodies that are provided on both sides of the magneto-resistive effect element with regard to a magnetization detecting direction of the magneto-resistive effect element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Saito, Kenichi Takano, Hiraku Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11881881
    Abstract: A determination apparatus includes circuitry configured to: compare signal separation results obtained by a plurality of signal separation algorithms executed on a mixed signal in which signals emitted from a plurality of signal sources are mixed, each of the plurality of signal separation algorithms being an algorithm separating a signal of interest from the mixed signal; and determine a parameter of each of the plurality of signal separation algorithms based on a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuhisa Kanaya
  • Patent number: 11873711
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to investigate a multiple nested conductive pipe structure can be implemented in a variety of applications. An electromagnetic pulsed tool disposed in the multiple nested conductive pipe structure in a wellbore can make a set of log measurements and provide a measured log at different depths in the multiple nested conductive pipe structure. The total thickness of the multiple nested conductive pipes can be determined at each depth in the measured log using a remote field eddy current look-up curve. The remote field eddy current look-up curve can be correlated to a remote field eddy current regime in time-domain associated with time decay response. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services , Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Elsayed Fouda, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 11828818
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a magnetometer may include; obtaining at least four measurement values using the magnetometer, calculating a center and a radius of a sphere in accordance with the measurement values, wherein the center and the radius of the sphere correspond to an internal magnetic field associated with an electronic device including the magnetometer, and calibrating an output of the magnetometer in accordance with the center of the sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Inventors: Andrey Zobenko, Gwon Sedo, Jungwoong Yoon
  • Patent number: 11815568
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a magnetometer that outputs magnetometer sensor signals and a gyroscope that outputs gyroscope sensor signals. The electronic device includes a magnetometer calibration module that calibrates the magnetometer utilizing the gyroscope sensor signals. The electronic device generates a first magnetometer calibration parameter based on a Kalman filter process. The electronic device generates a second magnetometer calibration parameter based on a least squares estimation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahaveer Jain, Mahesh Chowdhary
  • Patent number: 11802947
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe using a moveable component on a vehicle to calibrate a sensor (e.g., a LIDAR sensor). While a LIDAR sensor can be calibrated using a specially designed configuration component mounted on a vehicle, this increases the cost of manufacturing the vehicle and complexity for identifying a suitable location for the calibration component. Rather than adding a new component, embodiments herein use a moveable component already part of the design of the vehicle as a calibration component. That is, the embodiments herein use components that are primarily used for a different purpose to also perform LIDAR calibration, such as a wheel or a robotic arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Pohl
  • Patent number: 11789092
    Abstract: A method of magnetic sensing uses at least two magnetic sensing elements including a first and a second magnetic sensor element. The method includes: a) measuring in a first configuration a combination of the first and second signal obtained from both sensors; b) measuring in a second configuration an individual signal obtained from the first sensor only; c) testing a consistency of the combined signal and the individual signal, or testing a consistency of signals derived therefrom, in order to detect an error. A sensor device is configured for performing this method. A sensor system includes the sensor device and optionally a second processor connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Zsombor Lazar, Mathieu Poezart, Lionel Tombez
  • Patent number: 11747850
    Abstract: A current generating circuit includes a current generator configured to supply a reference current, switches connected to the current generator, wherein one switch of the switches is selected and configured to operate, according to a switch selection signal, and one or more resistors, respectively connected to the switches, wherein a rate of current change according to a temperature change of the current generator is adjusted based on a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of resistors connected to the one switch, according to adjustment of the one switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MagnaChip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Seop Noh, Hyoung Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 11726035
    Abstract: A method of foreign object debris discrimination incudes illuminating particulates located within a sensing volume with a first electromagnetic radiation pulse emitted from a first source, and illuminating the particulates within the sensing volume with a second electromagnetic radiation pulse emitted from a second source, wherein the second electromagnetic radiation pulse has a second wavelength range within the terahertz (THz) regime. The first electromagnetic radiation returns and the second electromagnetic radiation returns are compared to determine a scattering ratio from the comparing step. The scattering ratio is then utilized to determine a resultant foreign object debris type of the solid objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Lincoln, Jose-Rodrigo Castillo-Garza
  • Patent number: 11693067
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor system includes two magnetic sensors that detect components in two directions of an external magnetic field, an additional magnetic field generation section, and a signal processing circuit. The additional magnetic field generation section is capable of generating two additional magnetic fields for use in measuring the sensitivities of the two magnetic sensors. The signal processing circuit includes a sensitivity measurement processing section and a detection signal correction processing section. The sensitivity measurement processing section measures the sensitivities based on data concerning changes in the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors when the additional magnetic field generation section is controlled to generate two additional magnetic fields. The detection signal correction processing section performs processing for reducing change components attributable to the two additional magnetic fields on the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Saruki, Shinichirou Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11680927
    Abstract: The present invention provides a way to increase the density of Hall effect sensors on a MFL inline inspection tool mounting the sensors on a first circuit board which overlies a second circuit board. Op amps for the sensors which condition and filter the analog signal from the sensors are mounted on the first circuit board. Microprocessors mounted on the second circuit board receive the analog signal from the op amp and translate it into a digital signal. Use of the stacked circuit boards doubles the amount of area to mount the sensors and their op amps and microprocessors while maintaining the same footprint. This results in being able to increase the number of Hall effect sensors in that footprint area. In other embodiments the number of layers of circuit boards may be increased beyond two.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Cypress In-Line Inspection, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Fox, Calvin L. Simmons, Michael P. Sheffield, William Geoffrey Callahan
  • Patent number: 11676474
    Abstract: A mobile cart that holds a bag for receiving solid waste generated during a medical or surgical procedure. The cart includes a sensor that monitors whether or not an object containing metal is placed in the bag. A processor monitors the signal output by the sensor. If the sensor signal indicates that an object with a minimal amount of metal is placed in the bag, the processor momentarily asserts an audible alarm and continuously asserts a light alarm. The light alarm remains asserted until turned off. If, while the light alarm is on, the sensor signal indicates a second object with the minimal amount of waste is placed in the container, the processor again momentarily asserts the audible alarm. This provides notice that it may be necessary to investigate the contents of the bag to determine if not one but two or more objects were inadvertently discarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce D. Henniges, Richard F. Huyser, Chris Philipp, Dennis A. Stratton
  • Patent number: 11668771
    Abstract: A magnetic field measurement apparatus including a magnetic sensor array having magnetic sensor cells capable of detecting magnetic fields in three axial directions arranged in three dimensions, each magnetic sensor cell including a plurality of magnetic sensors that each have a magnetoresistive element and a magnetic flux concentrator arranged at least at one of one end and another end of the magnetoresistive element; AD converters that respectively convert analog detection signals output by the magnetic sensors into digital measurement data; a magnetic field acquiring section that acquires the digital measurement data; a calibration computing section that calibrates the digital measurement data from the magnetic field acquiring section, using at least one of a main-axis sensitivity, cross-axis sensitivities, and an offset; and a gradient magnetic field computing section that calculates a gradient magnetic field using magnetic field measurement data resulting from the calibration of the digital measurement d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Takenobu Nakamura, Shigeki Okatake, Yoshitaka Moriyasu
  • Patent number: 11630167
    Abstract: A position sensing system has a trim unit to trim hall voltages generated by a first sensor and a second sensor in response to an excitation current, to compensate a non-orthogonality of the first sensor and the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Chengdu Monolithic Power Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tianzhu Zhang, Serge Reymond, Pavel Kejik
  • Patent number: 11624632
    Abstract: A position detection device includes two detection systems that are respectively fed from power supply systems different from each other, and displace together with a shift lever. Each detection system can output detection patterns with four digits. A detection pattern when being located at a given position is different from a detection pattern when being located at another position. In any detection pattern, outputs of certain two digits among the four digits are set so as to be identical to each other, and to be different from outputs of two other digits. Alternatively, outputs of certain three digits among the four digits are set to be identical to each other, and to be different from an output of another digit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seigo Yamanaka, Masamine Yasui, Ryo Shimada, Masahiro Mizukami
  • Patent number: 11619556
    Abstract: A construction monitoring method and system for a V-shaped column in an underground foundation pit, a terminal and a storage medium can include the following steps: acquiring different stress-related data at a plurality of preset positions of stand columns in real time; and analyzing and judging whether the change rate of the stress-related data exceeds a preset change rate range or not or whether the stress-related data exceeds a preset stress-related data range or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiangsheng Chen, Jun Shen, Xiaohua Bao, Min Zhu, Hongzhi Cui, Yong Zhao, Changqing Xia, Jiqiang Liu
  • Patent number: 11551538
    Abstract: A waste cart includes a base housing; a center upright having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the base housing; a top housing secured to the distal end of the center upright, wherein the top housing has two or more disposal openings for two or more separate disposal portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; an electronics module which operates each metal detector independently; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with the electronics module which is activated when the electronics module detects the passage of a metal item through an opening into a waste portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DITEQT, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morgan Starkey, Lloyd Stephen Riggs, Aubrey Nathan Beal
  • Patent number: 11525705
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic-field sensor. The magnetic field sensor includes a first and second magnetoresistance circuitries configured to receive a magnetic field signal from a target and convert the magnetic field signal received to a first signal and second signal; analog circuitry configured to receive the first and second signals; digital circuitry configured to receive a first and second analog output signals from analog circuitry and to convert the first and second analog output signals to a first and second digital signals representing a first and second channel output signals; and diagnostic circuitry configured to receive, from the digital circuitry, an input signal related to a separation of the first and second channel output signals, and configured to provide a test signal at a pin of the IC indicating whether a distance between the IC and the target complies with at least one rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Maffei
  • Patent number: 11519796
    Abstract: A method for stress-induced magnetic field signal acquisition and stress measurement is disclosed. The method can include the following steps: a1, conducting AC magnetization on a to-be-tested structure by using an AC magnetic field with preset frequencies and strengths, and acquiring the excitation magnetic field signals in at least one cycle; a2, subtracting the excitation magnetic field signals in at least one cycle of a stress-free sample having the same material as the to-be-tested structure from the excitation magnetic field signals acquired in step a1 to obtain a stress-induced magnetic field signals of the to-be-tested structure; a3, quantitatively assessing the stresses in the to-be-tested structure by comparing the mean values of the stress-induced magnetic field signals acquired in step a2 with the pre-calibrated relationship of stresses and the mean values of the stress-induced magnetic field signals for the material of the to-be-tested structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Hongmei Li, Fuchen Zhang, Chengxiang Shi
  • Patent number: 11504023
    Abstract: A calibration method includes receiving magnetic field values, which are generated by a plurality of real magnetic transmitters and are measured at multiple positions on a grid in a region containing a magnetic field perturbing element. Approximate locations of the real magnetic transmitters are received. Using the approximate locations, a respective plurality of imaginary magnetic sources is characterized inside the field perturbing element. Using the measured magnetic field values, the approximate locations, and the characterized imaginary sources, there are iteratively calculated (i) actual locations of the real and imaginary magnetic sources in the region, and (ii) modeled magnetic field values that would result from the real and imaginary magnetic sources at the actual locations. Using the calculated locations, and the modeled magnetic field values at the multiple positions on the grid, a magnetic field calibration function is derived for the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Helen Wolfson, Avram Dan Montag, Meir Bar-Tal, Yoav Pinsky, Noam Racheli
  • Patent number: 11482665
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate: a vertical Hall element formed in the semiconductor substrate, and having a magnetosensitive portion; a first excitation wiring disposed above the magnetosensitive portion, and configured to apply a first calibration magnetic field (M1) to the magnetosensitive portion; and second excitation wirings disposed above the magnetosensitive portion on one side and on another side of the first excitation wiring, respectively, along the first excitation wiring as viewed in plan view from immediately above a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and configured to apply second calibration magnetic fields (M2) to the magnetosensitive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Ogawa, Hirotaka Uemura
  • Patent number: 11460323
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor package is disclosed. The package includes a substrate that has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The substrate can comprise a lead frame. The package also includes a first magnetic field sensor die that is electrically and mechanically mounted on the front side of the substrate. The package also includes a second magnetic field sensor die that is electrically and mechanically mounted on the front side of the substrate. The package further includes a magnet that is disposed on the back side of the substrate. The magnet can provide a bias field for the first magnetic field sensor die and the second magnetic field sensor die. The package can also include a molding material that is disposed about the lead frame, the first magnetic field sensor die, the second magnetic field sensor die, and the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Jochen Schmitt, Michael J. Cusack, Enda Joseph Nicholl, Brian O'Mara
  • Patent number: 11455267
    Abstract: A calibration device includes a main control unit, an interface conversion unit and an electronic load generation unit. The electronic load generation unit provides an electronic load, so that a USB control chip generates a constant load current. The USB control chip uses at least one preset conversion parameter to generate an analog-to-digital conversion value according to the constant load current. The main control unit generates a to-be-calibrated output current according to the analog-to-digital conversion value. The main control unit generates at least one calibrated conversion parameter according to the constant load current and the to-be-calibrated output current. The USB control chip uses the at least one calibrated conversion parameter to generate a calibrated analog-to-digital conversion value, so that an over current protection mechanism is accurately enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: PRIMAX ELECTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Shun-Fu Yang, Wei-Cheng Chen, Jen-Cheng Li, Wen-Hsien Chan, Po-Yao Fang
  • Patent number: 11391791
    Abstract: A sensor device comprises an electrically conductive chip carrier, wherein the chip carrier comprises an auxiliary structure, wherein the auxiliary structure comprises a first precalibration current terminal and a second precalibration current terminal, a magnetic field sensor chip arranged on a mounting surface of the chip carrier, wherein the magnetic field sensor chip comprises a sensor element, wherein the shape of the auxiliary structure is embodied such that an electrical precalibration current flowing from the first precalibration current terminal to the second precalibration current terminal through the auxiliary structure induces a predefined precalibration magnetic field at the location of the sensor element, wherein during measurement operation of the precalibrated sensor device, no precalibration current flows between the first precalibration current terminal and the second precalibration current terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Gernot Binder, Riccardo Dapretto, Diego Lunardini, Mario Motz, Volker Strutz
  • Patent number: 11380188
    Abstract: A waste cart includes a base housing; a center upright having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the base housing; a top housing secured to the distal end of the center upright, wherein the top housing has two or more disposal openings for two or more separate disposal portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; an electronics module which operates each metal detector independently; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with the electronics module which is activated when the electronics module detects the passage of a metal item through an opening into a waste portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: DITEQT, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morgan Starkey, Lloyd Stephen Riggs, Aubrey Nathan Beal
  • Patent number: 11367831
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface perpendicular to the first direction; a vertical Hall element formed in the semiconductor substrate, and including a magnetosensitive portion having a depth in the first direction, a width in the second direction, and a length in the third direction; and an excitation wiring extending in the third direction and disposed above the semiconductor substrate and at a position that overlaps the center position of the width of the magnetosensitive portion, and the value u derived from Expression (1) is 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ABLIC INC.
    Inventors: Yohei Ogawa, Hirotaka Uemura
  • Patent number: 11353520
    Abstract: A chopping technique, and associated structure, is implemented to cancel the magnetic 1/f noise contribution in a Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) field sensor. The TMR field sensor includes a first bridge circuit including multiple TMR elements to sense a magnetic field and a second circuit to apply a bipolar current pulse adjacent to each TMR element. The current lines are serially or sequentially connected to a current source to receive the bipolar current pulse. The field sensor has an output including a high output and a low output in response to the bipolar pulse. This asymmetric response allows a chopping technique for 1/f noise reduction in the field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: EVERSPIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley Neal Engel, Phillip G. Mather
  • Patent number: 11353519
    Abstract: A Hall sensor circuit includes a first Hall sensor, a second Hall sensor, a first preamplifier circuit, a second preamplifier circuit, a subtractor circuit, and a duty cycling circuit. The first preamplifier circuit includes an input and an output. The input is coupled to the first Hall sensor. The second preamplifier circuit includes a first input, a second input, and an output. The first input is coupled to the second Hall sensor. The subtractor circuit includes a first input coupled to the output of the first preamplifier circuit, a second input coupled to the output of the second preamplifier circuit, and an output coupled to the second input of the second preamplifier circuit. The duty cycling circuit is coupled to the second preamplifier circuit and the second Hall sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arup Polley, Srinath M. Ramaswamy, Jo Bito, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 11307267
    Abstract: A system includes a first amplifier and a first Hall sensor group coupled to the first amplifier. The system includes a second amplifier and a second Hall sensor group coupled to the second amplifier, where the second Hall sensor group includes a spinning Hall group. The system includes a first demodulator, where the first demodulator input is coupled to the first amplifier output. The system includes a second demodulator, where the second demodulator input is coupled to the second amplifier output. The system also includes a subtractor, the first subtractor input coupled to the first demodulator output, and the second subtractor input coupled to the second demodulator output. The system includes a filter coupled to the subtractor output and to a second input of the first amplifier, and a calibration module coupled to the subtractor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arup Polley, Srinath M. Ramaswamy, Baher S. Haroun
  • Patent number: 11293950
    Abstract: A current sensor has: a magneto-resistive effect element which is arranged near a current line, to which a signal magnetic field is applied, the signal magnetic field being is induced by a current that flows in the current line, and which generates a magneto-resistive change in accordance with a change of the signal magnetic field; cancelling magnetic field generating means that is provided near the magneto-resistive effect element and that generates a cancelling magnetic field that cancels the signal magnetic field; a first soft magnetic body that is provided between the magneto-resistive effect element and the current line; and a pair of second soft magnetic bodies that are provided on both sides of the magneto-resistive effect element with regard to a magnetization detecting direction of the magneto-resistive effect element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Saito, Kenichi Takano, Hiraku Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 11290120
    Abstract: A data acquisition system (DAS) for processing an input signal from a resistive sensor (e.g., Hall effect sensor) includes a sensor signal path that digitizes the input signal. An input impedance of the sensor signal path attenuates the input signal. A gain error corrector applies a gain error correction factor in a digital domain of the DAS to the digitized input signal to compensate for a loading effect to the resistive sensor. The sensor signal path includes an inverting amplifier that provides low distortion for the input signal and an ADC (e.g., delta-sigma, SAR, pipelined, auxiliary) that digitizes the input signal. A sensor characterization path digitizes the sensor resistance which the gain error corrector uses, along with the inverting amplifier input impedance, to calculate the gain error correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Bae Lee, John L. Melanson, Anindya Bhattacharya, Prashanth Drakshapalli
  • Patent number: 11262422
    Abstract: A sensor comprising: a first magnetoresistive (MR) bridge having a first stray field sensitivity; a second MR bridge having a second stray field sensitivity; and a driver circuitry configured to: (i) supply a first voltage to the first MR bridge, and (ii) supply a second voltage to the second MR bridge that is different from the first voltage, wherein supplying the first voltage and the second voltage to the first MR bridge and the second MR bridge, respectively, causes the first stray field sensitivity to match the second stray field sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Hernán D. Romero
  • Patent number: 11243274
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor system includes two magnetic sensors that detect components in two directions of an external magnetic field, an additional magnetic field generation section, and a signal processing circuit. The additional magnetic field generation section is capable of generating two additional magnetic fields for use in measuring the sensitivities of the two magnetic sensors. The signal processing circuit includes a sensitivity measurement processing section and a detection signal correction processing section. The sensitivity measurement processing section measures the sensitivities based on data concerning changes in the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors when the additional magnetic field generation section is controlled to generate two additional magnetic fields. The detection signal correction processing section performs processing for reducing change components attributable to the two additional magnetic fields on the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunji Saruki, Shinichirou Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 11243270
    Abstract: A packaged sensor chip includes a lead frame to which there is attached a sensor element designed to generate a sensor signal that depends on a magnetic field to which the sensor element is exposed; and a package therefor, wherein the lead frame has function terminals and wherein the lead frame has at least two calibration terminals that are arranged on two other opposing sides of the package, wherein the lead frame has conductive structures that connect the at least two calibration terminals, wherein the conductive structures are structured so as to generate a calibration magnetic field for the sensor element when a current flows through them, and wherein the conductive structures are part of a connection structure that connects a plurality of lead frames before the plurality of lead frames are disconnected from one another in a first direction in which the other two sides are opposite one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Gillinger, Wolfgang Granig
  • Patent number: 11234608
    Abstract: An integrated device of a patch and sensor assembly detects extravasation or infiltration. A transmitter is positioned to direct power into a body portion. A sensor is positioned to receive the power transmitted through the body portion. A substrate is attachable to an outer surface of the body portion and supports the transmitter and the sensor. A signal processor is coupled to the transmitter and the sensor for detecting a change in a fluid level in the body portion from extravasation or infiltration based on the power received by the sensor. A power supply is coupled to the transmitter and the sensor. An indicator is responsive to the signal processor to indicate a detected change in a fluid level in the body portion from extravasation or infiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Chad E. Bouton
  • Patent number: 11193988
    Abstract: Provided is a method of measuring a magnitude of magnetization of a perpendicular magnetic thin film, including: forming a stripe pattern in which a first magnetic domain that extends in a y direction and is magnetized in a z direction and a second magnetic domain that extends in the y direction and is magnetized in a direction opposite to the z direction are arranged alternately in an x direction, in a perpendicular magnetic thin film that extends in an xy plane; changing widths in the x direction, of the first and second magnetic domains by applying a magnetic field having a predetermined magnitude, in the z direction, to the perpendicular magnetic thin film; and calculating an absolute value of the magnetization of the perpendicular magnetic thin film on the basis of a ratio between the widths in the x direction, of the first magnetic domain and the second magnetic domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Kyoung-Woong Moon, Chan Yong Hwang, Byoung-Chul Min, Seung-young Park
  • Patent number: 11143731
    Abstract: A marker detection device which detects a magnetic marker laid in a road by using a sensor unit in which a plurality of combinations of a magnetic sensor and a magnetic-field generation coil are arranged includes a storage part which stores characteristic information of each magnetic-field generation coil, an estimation part which estimates a magnetic differential value acting on the magnetic sensor due to a current differential value acting on the magnetic-field generation coil by referring to the characteristic information of each magnetic-field generation coil, and a calibration part which calibrates each magnetic sensor so as to enhance uniformity in sensitivity, which is a ratio between an output differential value of the magnetic sensor in accordance with a change of a current by the current differential value acting on the magnetic-field generation coil and the estimated magnetic differential value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: AICHI STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michiharu Yamamoto, Tomohiko Nagao, Hitoshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11092661
    Abstract: A ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement system is disclosed with a waveguide transmission line (WGTL) connected at both ends to a mounting plate having an opening through which the WGTL is suspended. While the WGTL bottom surface contacts a portion of magnetic film on a whole wafer, a plurality of microwave frequencies is sequentially transmitted through the WGTL. Simultaneously, a magnetic field is applied to the contacted region thereby causing a FMR condition in the magnetic film. After RF output is transmitted through or reflected from the WGTL to a RF detector and converted to a voltage signal, effective anisotropy field, linewidth, damping coefficient, and/or inhomogeneous broadening are determined based on magnetic field intensity, microwave frequency and voltage output. A plurality of measurements is performed by controllably moving the WGTL or wafer and repeating the simultaneous application of microwave frequencies and magnetic field at additional preprogrammed locations on the magnetic film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Santiago Serrano Guisan, Luc Thomas, Son Le, Guenole Jan
  • Patent number: 11060886
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to steering position rotary sensors including a housing defining an internal cavity, a center shaft extending through the housing, and a gear coupled to the center shaft, wherein the gear is positioned off-center relative to a central rotational axis extending through the center shaft. The steering position rotary sensor may further include a magnet coupled to the gear, a first Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent the gear and concentric with the magnet, and a second Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent the center shaft and concentric with the central rotational axis, wherein the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor are separated by a magnetic shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay Kruger
  • Patent number: 11061100
    Abstract: A system comprises a calibration current generator, which provides a calibration current to a first and a second Hall channel, and a bias current generator, which determines a difference between a calibration signal from the Hall channels and a threshold and adjusts a biasing current for the Hall channels based on the difference. In some embodiments, the bias current generator comprises a subtractor coupled to an ADC and a controller coupled between the ADC and a DAC. The subtractor obtains a first and a second signal from the first and second Hall channels, respectively, and subtracts the first from the second to obtain the calibration signal. The controller determines the difference between a sampled signal from the ADC and the threshold and an adjustment to the biasing current based on the difference. The DAC adjusts the biasing current based on a control signal from the controller indicating the adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Tony Ray Larson, Dimitar Trifonov, Chao-Hsiuan Tsay, Partha Sarathi Basu
  • Patent number: 11024799
    Abstract: A semiconductor process integrates three bridge circuits, each include magnetoresistive sensors coupled as a Wheatstone bridge on a single chip to sense a magnetic field in three orthogonal directions. The process includes various deposition and etch steps forming the magnetoresistive sensors and a plurality of flux guides on one of the three bridge circuits for transferring a “Z” axis magnetic field onto sensors orientated in the XY plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Everspin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Renu Whig, Phillip Mather, Kenneth Smith, Sanjeev Aggarwal, Jon Slaughter, Nicholas Rizzo
  • Patent number: 10955493
    Abstract: A calibration apparatus for calibrating a magnetic sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of magnetic field strength when a bias signal is applied to it is disclosed. The apparatus includes a test magnetic field generator (MFG) to generate magnetic fields of known magnitude, and further includes a processor to control the MFG to generate a known magnetic field, control the sensor to generate a test output signal when the MFG generates the known magnetic field and a known bias signal is applied to the sensor, and determine how to change the bias signal based on a deviation of the measured test output signal from an expected output signal. Using a test MFG that produces known magnetic fields when known bias signals are applied to sensors allows evaluating and compensating for changes in sensitivity of the sensors by accordingly changing bias signals applied to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES GLOBAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: Yogesh Jayaraman Sharma, Jochen Schmitt, Paul R. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 10908232
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for sensing external magnetic fields on multiple axes comprises a coil structure and a gain equalization circuit. The coil structure generates reference fields on magnetic field sensing elements in each axis. The gain equalization circuit measures and compares reference fields to generate gain-equalized output signals responsive to the external magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Latham, Craig S. Petrie
  • Patent number: 10889130
    Abstract: A device for printing a closure device for containers includes a first body and a second body each of which has a respective relative positioning element configured at least in a step of use of the closure device, to be arranged and/or oriented with respect to each other in a predetermined position. The printing device includes a supporting device for at least one of the bodies, a device for detecting the position or orientation of the relative positioning element of the body supported by the support device, and a device for digital printing of at least one portion of the body supported by the supporting device in order to perform a printing operation in a predetermined position and/or with a predetermined orientation with respect to the position and/or orientation of the respective relative positioning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: SACMI IMOLA S.C.
    Inventors: Fabrizio Pucci, Fiorenzo Parrinello, Gastone Sassatelli
  • Patent number: 10884028
    Abstract: A fluxgate current sensor comprising an excitation coil (13), an excitation module (20) for generating an excitation voltage (Ve), a measurement coil (14) conveying an induced measurement current (Iim), and a measurement synchronous demodulator (12) for the purpose of multiplying the induced measurement current by a demodulation signal of frequency 2f0 in order to obtain an image voltage that is the image of the current for measuring. The excitation voltage (Ve) is obtained from a first voltage of frequency f0 and from a second voltage of frequency 3f0, the fluxgate current sensor further includes a servo-control coil (15) conveying an induced servo-control current, and a servo-control synchronous demodulator (30) for the purpose of multiplying the induced servo-control current by a demodulation signal of frequency 3f0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventor: François Guillot
  • Patent number: 10883812
    Abstract: A calibration device comprising: a plurality of magnetic sensors positioned at the calibration device, the plurality of magnetic sensors defining a space; a controller configured to be positioned in the space defined by the plurality of magnetic sensors, wherein the controller includes a magnetic transmitter; and one or more processors configured to: cause the magnetic transmitter to generate magnetic fields; receive signals from the plurality of magnetic sensors that are based on characteristics of the magnetic fields received at the plurality of magnetic sensors; calculate, based on the signals received from the plurality of magnetic sensors, positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors relative to a position and orientation of the magnetic transmitter; and determine whether the calculated positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors are within one or more threshold limits of known positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Ascension Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Robert Schneider, Charles Robertson, Joseph Bruce Durfee
  • Patent number: 10876862
    Abstract: A rotary encoder may include a magnet, a magnetic sensor, and a control part configured to calculate a rotation position of the rotor body based on an output signal outputted from the magnetic sensor. The control part includes a temperature detecting section configured to detect temperature of the magnetic sensor, an offset voltage calculation section configured to calculate an offset voltage of the magnetic sensor based on the output signal from the magnetic sensor, and a storage section which stores a slope and an intercept of a primary approximate expression calculated by a relationship between temperatures previously detected by the temperature detecting section and the offset voltages previously calculated by the offset voltage calculation section. The control part executes offset voltage estimate processing based on the slope and the intercept stored in the storage section and correction processing which corrects the output signal from the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirokatsu Okumura, Yutaka Saito, Hitoshi Joko
  • Patent number: 10859407
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip including an array of asymmetrically distributed magnetic field sensing elements. Additionally, an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a substrate, a sensing coil supported by the substrate and enclosing a portion of substrate, and a Hall effect sensor supported by the portion of the substrate enclosed by the sensing coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Denis G. Chen, Arman Hajati, Manoj K. Bhattacharyya