Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The sensor device includes a counter for counting the number of count commands used to perform measurements while maintaining among multiple sensor devices the ratio of measurement intervals; a ratio-holding-unit for setting the ratio to a desired ratio and holding respective values of the ratio for each of the multiple sensor devices; a sampling-timing-generating-unit for receiving a count value of the counter and the setting value of the ratio held by the ratio-holding-unit, and for generating a sampling timing signal based on the comparison result between the count value and the setting value; and a sampling-unit for sampling a detection signal detected by the detecting unit, by using the sampling timing signal generated by the sampling-timing-generating-unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hall electromotive force signal detection circuit and a current sensor thereof each of which is able to achieve excellent wide-band characteristics and fast response as well as high accuracy. A difference calculation circuit samples a component synchronous with a chopper clock generated by a chopper clock generation circuit, out of an output voltage signal of a signal amplifier circuit, at a timing obtained from the chopper clock, so as to detect the component. An integrating circuit integrates an output from the difference calculation circuit in the time domain. An output voltage signal from the integrating circuit is fed back to a signal amplifier circuit via a third transconductance element.

Abstract: A rotation angle measurement apparatus includes: a first Hall element pair for detecting a magnetic component in a first direction; a second Hall element pair for detecting a magnetic component in a second direction different from the first direction; a third Hall element pair for detecting a magnetic component in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction; and a fourth Hall element pair for detecting a magnetic component in a fourth direction different from the first to third directions. An angle calculation unit calculates a first rotation angle ? of a rotating magnet based upon the strengths of the output signals from the first Hall element pair and the second Hall element pair, and calculates a second rotation angle ?c of the rotating magnet based upon the strengths of the output signals from the third Hall element pair and the fourth Hall element pair.

Abstract: 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 Hall element includes first to fourth terminals, and generates a Hall electromotive force signal voltage Vhall1. Another Hall element generates another Hall electromotive force signal voltage Vhall2. A first switching circuit selects a terminal position for applying a drive current from the four terminals of the Hall element. A second switching circuit selects a terminal position for applying a drive current from the four terminals of the another Hall element, which is different from the terminal position selected by the first switching circuit. A chopper clock generation circuit supplies a chopper clock signal ?1, ?2 having two different phases to the switching circuit, and also supplies the chopper clock signal ?1, ?2 to the first and second switching circuits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an output-current detection IC chip for diode sensors and a diode sensor device, which reduce the influence by a leak current of a protection circuit. The present invention is equipped with a sensor unit in which anodes of N (N being an integer of 2 or more) diode sensors are connected to each other, a common terminal connected to a connection portion where the anodes are connected to each other, N input terminals connected to cathodes of the diode sensors, N+1 protection circuits connected to the input terminals and the common terminal, an I-V conversion circuit which converts an output current of each diode sensor into a voltage, a chopper circuit which switches the polarity of the output current and inputs the same to the I-V conversion circuit, and a dummy protection circuit connected to the input of the I-V conversion circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image stabilizer and a camera module. The image stabilizer for a lens that moves, with respect to an imaging element, in an auto-focus direction and a camera shake direction, includes a first position sensor, a distance signal calculation unit, a target position signal calculation circuit and a drive signal generation unit. A first detection position signal that indicates a position of the lens that moves in the camera shake direction, a second detection position signal that indicates a position of the lens that moves in the auto-focus direction, and an angular velocity signal that indicate an angular velocity when the lens is inclined from the optical axis direction to output a drive signal. A drive unit moves the lens in the camera shake direction depending on the drive signal.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus includes an autofocus mechanism and an optical image stabilization mechanism by using a closed loop control, in which a magnet is commonly used as an autofocus magnet and an optical image stabilization magnet to achieve downsizing. The position detection apparatus includes the autofocus mechanism that moves a lens along an optical axis (Z axis) of the lens, and the optical image stabilization mechanism that moves the lens in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. A permanent magnet is secured to the lens, and moves according to the movement of the lens. The amount of movement thereof is detected by position sensors. The permanent magnet for autofocus used in the autofocus mechanism and the permanent magnet for optical image stabilization used in the optical image stabilization mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the lens for common use.

Abstract: An adjusting method of a camera module, a lens position control device, a control device of a linear movement device, and a controlling method of the same are provided in a state of the cameral module in which an imaging element and an actuator are combined. The camera module includes a position sensor (53) that detects a position of a lens (50) to output a detection position signal, a storage unit (541) that stores and rewrites a position code value corresponding to the position of the lens, a target position signal generation unit (542) that outputs a target position signal based on the position code value and the target position code value, and a control unit (543) that generates a control signal based on the target position signal and the detection position signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic sensor and a magnetic detecting method of the same capable of detecting at least a magnetic field perpendicular to a substrate and a magnetic field parallel to the substrate in a state where the respective magnetic field components are mixed. One embodiment of the magnetic sensor detects a magnetic field of the orthogonal three axes, and includes a magnetic detector including a magnetic field sensitive material configured to detect a magnetic field component in a first direction, a magnetic field direction converters configured to convert a magnetic field component in a second direction and a magnetic field component in a third direction into magnetic field components in the first direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, the third direction being perpendicular to both of the first and the second directions.

Abstract: This invention describes circuits and methods which can allow multiple radar receiver chips to be adjusted to have very low phase offset between them. Multiple receiver chips are used in frequency-modulated carrier-wave (FMCW) radar systems for beamforming to enable angle-of-arrival measurements. FMCW radar systems are widely used in collision-avoidance and adaptive cruise control systems in vehicles, which today are operating in the 76-81 GHz frequency band. In a multi-receiver system, each receive element must have a well-controlled phase response which can be calibrated over process, voltage, and temperature. Without calibration, phase offsets can result in erroneous beamforming receiver measurements. The inventive circuit provides a technique to adjust the phase of multiple receivers across multiple chips using a single local oscillator reference and built-in-test circuitry which consist of phase shifters, a multi-frequency nonlinear phase detection circuit, and power coupling circuits.

Abstract: A physical quantity data correcting device accurately and rapidly makes corrections of physical quantity data by appropriately controlling an approximate ellipsoid computing unit and/or a correction coefficient computing unit on the basis of a control parameter group. A physical quantity data acquiring unit acquires physical quantity data output from a physical quantity detecting unit that detects physical quantities. A data selecting unit selects the acquired physical quantity data. An approximate ellipsoid computing unit computes an approximate expression of an n-dimensional ellipsoid indicating a distribution shape obtained by distributing the selected physical quantity data in an n-axis coordinate space. A correction coefficient computing unit computes correction coefficients for correcting the computed n-dimensional ellipsoid to an n-dimensional sphere.

Abstract: It is intended to reduce manufacturing cost in a current sensor including a primary conductor having a U-shaped current path. A current sensor includes a primary conductor having a U-shaped current path, a support portion for supporting a magneto-electric conversion element, and a lead terminal connected to the support portion, and wherein the current path is not overlapped with the support portion in a plan view, while being formed so as to have a height different from that of the support portion in a side view.

Abstract: The DA converter according to the present invention includes: first and second analog segment units a plurality of capacitors of sampling capacitor groups charged according to signal levels of digital signals input in a sampling phase; and a calculation unit that outputs an analog signal according to a charged voltage of each capacitor of the sampling capacitor group of the first or second analog segment unit in an integral phase, wherein, when one analog segment unit of the first and second analog segment units is in the sampling phase, the other analog segment unit is in the integral phase.

Abstract: A position detection apparatus includes an autofocus mechanism and an optical image stabilization mechanism by using a closed loop control, in which a magnet is commonly used as an autofocus magnet and an optical image stabilization magnet to achieve downsizing. The position detection apparatus includes the autofocus mechanism that moves a lens along an optical axis (Z axis) of the lens, and the optical image stabilization mechanism that moves the lens in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. A permanent magnet is secured to the lens, and moves according to the movement of the lens. The amount of movement thereof is detected by position sensors. The permanent magnet for autofocus used in the autofocus mechanism and the permanent magnet for optical image stabilization used in the optical image stabilization mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the lens for common use.

Abstract: An A/D converter includes an incremental delta-sigma A/D modulator and a digital operation unit to which a signal from the A/D modulator is input. The A/D modulator includes an analog integrator configured to integrate input signals, a quantizer configured to quantize output signals of the analog integrator, a D/A converter configured to D/A convert an output of the quantizer, and a reset signal output device configured to reset the analog integrator and the digital operation unit. The analog integrator includes plural switched capacitors and a first analog integrator connected to the switched capacitors. The first analog integrator includes an operational amplifier connected to the switched capacitors and a feedback capacitor each connecting an input and an output of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: The magnetic sensor includes a magnetic flux concentrator member having a length in a direction of a second axis, a first magnetic detector arranged on a negative side of a first axis from the magnetic flux concentrator member and on a positive side of the second axis from a midpoint of the magnetic flux concentrator member in a length direction, a second magnetic detector arranged on a positive side of the first axis from the magnetic flux concentrator member and on the positive side of the second axis from the midpoint of the magnetic flux concentrator member in the length direction, and a third magnetic detector arranged on the negative side of the first axis from the magnetic flux concentrator member and on a negative side of the second axis from the midpoint of the magnetic flux concentrator member in the length direction.

Abstract: A voltage detector for detecting whether an input voltage is no lower than a predetermined threshold voltage, includes a reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage, and a comparator configured to receive the input voltage and the reference voltage and to detect whether the input voltage is no lower than the threshold voltage that is determined by the reference voltage. Here, the reference voltage generator includes a first write MOS transistor, a second write MOS transistor, a first output MOS transistor and a second output MOS transistor each including a control gate and a floating gate.

Abstract: A small-size reliable gas sensor that can reduce a measurement error can be provided. The gas sensor includes: a first light source (20); a first sensor unit (31) and a second sensor unit (32) disposed to receive light output from the first light source (20); a first substrate (41) having a first principal surface (411) on which the first light source (20) and the first sensor unit (31) are provided; and a second substrate (42) having a first principal surface (422) on which the second sensor unit (32) is provided. The first sensor unit (31) is disposed at a location where light output from the first light source (20) and reflected on the second principal surface (412) strikes the first principal surface (422) of the first substrate (41).

Abstract: A current sensor includes a first current pathway, a first magnetic sensor arranged near the first current pathway, a second magnetic sensor arranged opposite the first magnetic sensor with the first current pathway in between, a second current pathway, a third magnetic sensor arranged near the second current pathway, a fourth magnetic sensor arranged opposite the third magnetic sensor with the second current pathway in between, and a signal processor that generates a signal based on a quantity of the first measured current from output of the first magnetic sensor and output of the second magnetic sensor, and also generates a signal based on a quantity of the second measured current from output of the third magnetic sensor and output of the fourth magnetic sensor.