Abstract: A position sensor system includes a magnetic source for generating a magnetic field, and a position sensor device movable relative to the magnetic source, or vice versa. The position sensor device comprises at least three magnetic sensor elements for measuring at least three magnetic field values of the magnetic field, and a processing circuit configured for determining at least two magnetic field gradients or magnetic field differences based on the at least three magnetic field values, and for deriving from the at least two magnetic field gradients or differences a first value indicative of a position of the position sensor device, and for deriving from the at least two magnetic field gradients or differences a second value indicative of integrity of the position sensor system.

Abstract: A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

Abstract: A position sensor system includes a magnetic source for generating a magnetic field, and a position sensor device movable relative to the magnetic source, or vice versa. The position sensor device comprises at least three magnetic sensor elements for measuring at least three magnetic field values of the magnetic field, and a processing circuit configured for determining at least two magnetic field gradients or magnetic field differences based on the at least three magnetic field values, and for deriving from the at least two magnetic field gradients or differences a first value indicative of a position of the position sensor device, and for deriving from the at least two magnetic field gradients or differences a second value indicative of integrity of the position sensor system.

Abstract: A position sensing device for measuring a position, comprises a position sensing device for measuring a position; a plurality of sensors arranged to produce sense signals each being a function of an input phase representative of a position to be measured; a combiner circuit arranged to generate an error signal by combining the sense signals according to an array of weight factors; a processing block including a loop filter to filter the error signal and arranged to output a phase value representative of the position; and a feedback loop comprising a feedback signal unit arranged for receiving the output phase value and for adjusting based on the received output phase value of the array of weight factors.

Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Abstract: A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

Abstract: A position sensor system is arranged for determining a position of a sensor device movable along a predefined path relative to a magnetic source. The system includes the magnetic source and the sensor device. The magnetic source has a first plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a first track and a second plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a second track, centrelines of the tracks are spaced apart by a predefined track distance. The sensor device is configured for measuring at least two orthogonal magnetic field components at a first sensor location, and at least two second orthogonal magnetic field components at a second sensor location. The first and second sensor location are spaced apart by a predefined sensor distance smaller than the predefined track distance, in a direction transverse to the tracks.

Abstract: A weight sensor comprises a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece by a product due to the weight of said product, the displacement of the target piece with respect to sensing elements can be sensed.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation ?,? of a magnet which is pivotable about a reference position having a predefined position relative to a semiconductor substrate, comprising: a) determining at least two of the following magnetic field gradients: i) a first magnetic field gradient dBx/dx; ii) a second magnetic field gradient dBy/dy; iii) a third magnetic field gradient dBz/dx; iv) a fourth magnetic field gradient dBz/dy; b) determining a first angle ? based on at least one of the magnetic field gradients; c) determining a second angle ? based on at least one of the magnetic field gradients. A sensor device is configured for performing this method. A sensor system includes such sensor device and a magnet, optionally connected to a joystick.

Abstract: A hybrid position sensor for determining a position of a hybrid target includes a conductive target and a magnet configuration which are rigidly connected and at least partially overlapping. The position sensor has a first transducer configured for generating a first signal induced by the conductive target and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a second transducer, at least partially overlapping with the first transducer, and configured for generating a second signal induced by the magnet configuration and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a processing device configured for receiving the first signal to determine a first position of the hybrid target and for receiving the second signal to determine a second position of the hybrid target and for determining reliability of the position sensor based on the determined first and second position.

Abstract: A magnetoelastic torque sensor system comprising a shaft having at least one axial section magnetized in a circumferential direction; and a magnetic sensor device comprising three or four magnetic sensors; the sensor device being arranged in the vicinity of the shaft; the sensor device comprising a first semiconductor substrate having a processing circuit, a second semiconductor substrate having a first magnetic sensor, and a third semiconductor substrate having a second magnetic sensor (S2), each magnetic sensor configured for measuring a magnetic field component; wherein the first, second and third semiconductor substrates are incorporated in a single packaged device; the system being configured for determining a torque exerted upon the shaft, based on the measured field components, or based on pairwise differences thereof. A method of measuring a torque exerted upon a shaft.

Abstract: A hybrid position sensor for determining a position of a hybrid target includes a conductive target and a magnet configuration which are rigidly connected and at least partially overlapping. The position sensor has a first transducer configured for generating a first signal induced by the conductive target and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a second transducer, at least partially overlapping with the first transducer, and configured for generating a second signal induced by the magnet configuration and indicative for the position of the hybrid target; a processing device configured for receiving the first signal to determine a first position of the hybrid target and for receiving the second signal to determine a second position of the hybrid target and for determining reliability of the position sensor based on the determined first and second position.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor system includes: an integrated circuit having a semiconductor substrate, which has a plurality of magnetic sensors configured for measuring at least two first magnetic field components oriented in a first direction, and for measuring at least two second magnetic field components oriented in a second direction; a permanent magnet movable relative to the integrated circuit and configured for generating a magnetic field; a processing circuit configured for determining at least two physical quantities related to a position of the magnet, using a predefined algorithm based on the measured first and second magnetic field components or values derived therefrom, as inputs, and that uses a plurality of at least eight constants which are determined using machine learning. A force sensor system, a joystick or thumbstick system, and a method employ features of the magnetic sensor system.

Abstract: Angular position sensor system comprising: a cylindrical magnet rotatable about a rotation axis; and an angular position sensor device comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements configured for measuring a first magnetic field component in a first direction and a second magnetic field component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a processing circuit configured for calculating the angular position; the sensor device being oriented such that the first direction is oriented in a circumferential direction, and the second direction is either parallel or orthogonal to the rotation axis; the sensor device being located at a predefined position where a magnitude of a third magnetic field component orthogonal to the first and second magnetic field component is negligible over the 360° angular range.

Abstract: A position sensor system is arranged for determining a position of a sensor device movable along a predefined path relative to a magnetic source. The system includes the magnetic source and the sensor device. The magnetic source has a first plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a first track and a second plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a second track, centrelines of the tracks are spaced apart by a predefined track distance. The sensor device is configured for measuring at least two orthogonal magnetic field components at a first sensor location, and at least two second orthogonal magnetic field components at a second sensor location. The first and second sensor location are spaced apart by a predefined sensor distance smaller than the predefined track distance, in a direction transverse to the tracks.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a field-sensor device comprising a reference field sensor providing a reference sensor signal in response to a field, a calibrated field sensor providing a calibrated sensor signal in response to the field, a reference circuit connected to the reference field sensor and adapted to receive a reference signal, and an adjustable circuit connected to the calibrated field sensor and adapted to receive a calibrated signal. When the adjustable circuit is adjusted with the calibrated signal, said calibrated signal being different from the reference signal, the calibrated field sensor provides a calibrated sensor signal substantially equal to the reference sensor signal. The field sensor device is arranged to be exposed, when in a calibration mode, to a uniform calibration field and, when in operational mode, to an operational field being a field gradient.

Abstract: A hybrid position sensor for determining the position of a hybrid target includes a main transducer for obtaining a first signal indicative for a position of the hybrid target within a first range and with a first resolution using a first or second technology; a support transducer for obtaining a second signal indicative for the position of the hybrid target within a second range and with a second resolution using the second technology if the main transducer is using the first technology and vice versa, wherein the first range is smaller than the second and the first resolution is higher than the second, and wherein the first technology is magnet based and the second technology is an inductive technology; a combiner for combining the obtained first signal and second signal to determine the position of the hybrid target.

Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.

Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.