Abstract: A sensor circuit includes a plurality of half-bridge sensor circuits. The sensor circuit includes a sensor output value determination circuit configured to determine a sensor output value. The sensor circuit further includes an error determination circuit configured to generate an error signal based on a first half-bridge sensor signal and a second half-bridge sensor signal. The sensor circuit further includes a control circuit configured to control a selection of one of the first half-bridge sensor circuit and the second half-bridge sensor circuit for providing one of the first half-bridge sensor signal and the second half-bridge sensor signal to the sensor output value determination circuit to determine the sensor output value.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to integrated magnetic field sensor-controlled switch devices, such as transistors, current sources, and power switches, among others. In an embodiment, a magnetic switch and a load switch are integrated in a single integrated circuit device. In embodiments, the magnetic switch is configured to sense a dynamic change in magnetic field caused by movement of a magnet in at least one of a linear, three-dimensional, and rotational direction.

Abstract: An example of a device comprises a signal generator to generate a signal causing a magnetic self test field for a magneto-resistive sensing element. A signal input is configures to receive a first sensor signal at a first time instant before the magnetic self test field is applied and a second sensor signal at a second time instant after the magnetic self test field is applied. An evaluation circuit is configured to determine information indicating a safe operation based on an evaluation of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

Abstract: An embodiment relates to an integrated circuit comprising measurement means for detection of a current change, wherein said measurement means comprise at least one coil.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to measurement of temperature and current in semiconductor devices. In particular, embodiments relate to monolithic semiconductor, such as power semiconductor, and sensor, such as a current or temperature sensor, device. In embodiments, temperature and/or current sensing features are monolithically integrated within semiconductor devices. These embodiments thereby can provide direct measurement of temperature and current, in contrast with conventional solutions that provide temperature and current sensing near or alongside but not integrated within the actual semiconductor device. For example, in one embodiment an additional layer structure is applied to a power semiconductor stack in backend processing. This monolithic integration provides for localized measurement of temperature and/or current, an advantage over conventional side-by-side configurations.

Abstract: A method for optical measuring data acquisition of a component that moves in a rotary or translatory manner, in particular for optical angle, torque, or distance measurement, includes generation of a first pair of periodic line patterns extending in the movement direction of the component and a second pair of periodic line patterns extending in the movement direction of the component, which each have m periods, in particular n+1 periods, over the movement range of the moving component determination of respective phases of the line patterns of the first pair and of the second pair, determination of the phase position of the first pair of line patterns on the basis of the phases and of the second pair of line patterns on the basis of the phases, and determination of the position of the component on the basis of the phase positions.

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A composite material (5) including a first and a second component (11, 12), which are integrally joined, is described. The first component (11) behaves like a piezoelectric material and the second component (12) behaves like a magnetoelastic material. The composite material is in particular well-suited for use in a sensing element or in an actuating element, for example, a rotational speed sensor, current sensor, torque sensor, force sensor or a passive sensing element. Also described are methods of manufacturing the composite material. A first method is based on a powder mixture, which is made up of a first powder having the first component (11) and of a second powder having the second component (12), which is compacted and sintered. A second method involves the application of a coating having one of the two components (11, 12) onto nanoscale powder particles having the other particular component (11, 12).

Abstract: A method for optical measuring data acquisition of a component that moves in a rotatory or translatory manner, in particular for optical angle, torque, or distance measurement, with the following steps:

Abstract: A device for measuring an angle and/or the torque acting on a rotatable body is proposed according to the invention, whereby the rotational angle is detected by means of magnetic or optical sensors. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment, two devices (7, 8) are proposed, each of which comprises two optically readable code tracks. The two code tracks (1a, 1b or 2a, 2b) on one device (7 or 8) are similar in design and are offset in relation to each other, so that associated sensors (4) output a digital signal. The rotational angle is calculated based on the lag between the two digital signals. In a further embodiment it is provided that a torsion element (5) having a known torsional stiffness is situated between the two devices (7, 8). Torque transferred by the rotatable body (3) can also be calculated therefore from the angular difference of the two devices 7, 8. The device is used preferably in the steering axle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: An electronic element, in particular a chip element, with at least one first magnetoresistive element that is disposed on a substrate and fulfills a sensor function and with at least one second magnetoresistive element that is disposed on the substrate and fulfills a memory function.

Abstract: A method of calibrating the offset of angle sensors, which determine an angle to be determined on the basis of a sine signal assigned to the angle and a cosine signal assigned to the angle. This method includes determining the sine signal and the cosine signal for at least three different angles to obtain at least three value pairs, each pair containing one sine signal value and one cosine signal value; displaying the at least three value pairs in an at least two-dimensional coordinate system that represents a sine signal-cosine signal plane and determining a point, representing the offset to be calibrated, in the coordinate system with regard to which point the at last three value pairs are located on an arc.

Abstract: An angle encoder for determination of an angle between a sensor device (4, 5, 6, 7) and a magnetic field, having a magnet (2) that generates the magnetic field, a number of Hall elements (4, 5, 6, 7) disposed in the magnetic field, and flux-conducting parts (3) made of ferromagnetic material disposed between the Hall elements and rotationally fixed in relation to them, wherein the magnet (2) is embodied so that it can rotate in relation to the Hall elements and the flux-conducting parts, wherein at least four Hall elements (4, 5, 6, 7) are provided.

Abstract: An arrangement for detecting the angle of rotation of a rotatable element, in which, with evaluation of magnetically variable properties of a sensor arrangement, a first magnetic field, generated or varied by a rotatable element, is detectable in an evaluation circuit and usable for ascertaining the angle of rotation, wherein the sensor arrangement, utilizing the magnetoresistive effect, furnishes signals that can be associated unambiguously with one direction of the magnetic field Bext over a first angular range, in particular an angular range of 360°, having means to for is selective application of a magnetic auxiliary field BH the sensor arrangement, by means of which signals a modification of the signals that can be associated with the direction of the first magnetic field Bext, attainable for the sake of unambiguous association of an angle over a second angular range, in particular 360°.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor element, in particular an angle sensor element, has a first, magnetic layer (3) whose direction of magnetization represents a reference direction, a second, nonmagnetic layer (2) formed on the first layer (3), a third magnetic layer (1), formed on the second layer (2), whose direction of magnetization can be varied by an external magnetic field, and an additional layer consisting of a current conductor (5) for selective orientation of the direction of magnetization of the first layer (3). A current flow direction of an electric current that passes through the current conductor (5) can be switched to change the magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer (3) to create different reference directions. An insulation layer (4) for galvanic separation of the first magnetic layer (3) from the additional layer (5) is also provided between them.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a GMR bridge detector as well as the bridge detector itself in which magnetoresistive resistors are interconnected in the form of a bridge to detect a magnetic field. The resistors consist of a material that exhibits the giant magnetoresistive ratio (GMR) effect. The magnetoresistive sensitivity of the individual resistors is produced through annealing. The annealing of the resistors takes place through selective feeding of a current that is sufficient for reaching the temperature required for annealing into the bridge connections. Depending on the wiring of the bridge connections, the resistors are provided with the property necessary for the GMR effect either singly or in pairs. As the material for the resistors, in particular, a material of the class of discontinuous multilayer materials, particularly NiFe/Ag, is used in which the GMR property is produced through single annealing at a specific temperature.

Abstract: The sensor device accurately measures small angle changes of mechanical parts that rotate relative to each other. The sensor device includes only one cylindrical magnet (3) extending axially from a first part; two magnetoresistive sensors (5′,5″) mounted on a second part and located in the magnetic field of the sole magnet (3), the two magnetoresistive sensors having respective magnetic field sensitive layers (MS) facing a magnetic pole of the magnet (3), extending tangentially to a rotation direction in which the parts rotate relative to each other and generating respective output signals according to magnetic field line direction; and a device (PT) for combining the respective output signals of the two magnetoresistive sensors (5′,5″) to produce a combined output signal characteristic of the relative rotation angle of the parts. The combined output signal is set to zero when the parts are at a predetermined relative rotation angle.

Abstract: The contactless magneto-resistive angle sensing device (1) includes two sensor components (10,11) oriented at a fixed angle relative to each other, a controllable power supply (PW) to heat and maintain the sensor components (10,11) at different temperatures, a magnet (MG) producing a magnetic field (B) in which the sensor components are arranged and an evaluating device (12) to receive output signals (U1,U2) from the sensor components (10,11). Each sensor component (10,11) includes magneto-resistive resistors (MR) connected in a respective bridge (B1,B2) having input terminals (I1,I1';I2,I2') for supply of current and output terminals (O1,O1';O2,O2') for the output signal (U1,U2).

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the angle of a rotatable body, in particular a body rotatable by more than 360.degree., are described. In this case this rotatable body cooperates with at least two further rotatable bodies, for example gear wheels, whose angular positions are determined with the aid of two sensors. The angular position of the rotatable body is determined from the angular positions detected in this way. So that unequivocal statements can be made, it is necessary for all three rotatable bodies or gear wheels to have defined predetermined numbers of teeth. The method and the device can be used, for example, for determining the steering angle of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A process for adjusting a magneto-resistive sensor having a pair of current contacts and a pair of voltage contacts to compensate an offset error, without additional components. The magneto-resistive sensor (10) is charged with a homogeneous, definitely oriented magnetic field, a defined control current (I) is applied between its current contacts (22, 24) and at least one of the voltage contacts (30, 32) is trimmed, for example, by a laser beam (38), during the measurement of a pseudo-Hall voltage across the voltage contacts.