Abstract: A sensor structure for measuring a torque applied to a first shaft and a second shaft interconnected by a torsion bar, includes: a multi-pole ring magnet mechanically connected to the first shaft; two pairs of magnetic yokes mechanically connected to the second shaft, each yoke being connected to one or more pads by means of fingers; the fingers of the first pair of yokes projecting mainly in a radial direction, the fingers of the second pair of yokes projecting mainly in an axial direction; a first and a second pair of flux collectors with extensions forming a first and a second gap; a first sensor in the first gap, a second sensor in the second gap; a circuit for combining signals from the first and second sensor to reduce or eliminates the influence of an external disturbance field, and for determining the torque value.

Abstract: A current sensor is disclosed. The current sensor is substantially immune to stray fields due to the orientation of at least two magnetic field sensors and their respective axes of maximum sensitivity, as well as a total current sensor output that is a weighted difference of the individual magnetic field sensor outputs. The specific orientation of the magnetic field sensors allows for the current sensor to be smaller than known sensors of similar sensitivity.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device comprises a substrate. A first magnetic sensor, a second magnetic sensor, and one or more inductors are disposed over the substrate and are controlled by a magnetic sensor controller having a control circuit. The control circuit is adapted for controlling the first magnetic sensor to measure magnetic fields under presence of a first set of magnetic fields, and for controlling the second magnetic sensor to measure magnetic fields under presence of a second set of magnetic fields generated by the inductors. The control circuit calculates a relative sensitivity matching value that converts magnetic field values measured by the second magnetic sensor to a comparable magnetic field value measured by the first magnetic sensor or vice versa.

Abstract: A current sensor device for measuring a current of at least 30 Amps, comprising: a leadframe with a electrical conductor having a centerline; a substrate mounted to the electrical conductor and comprising a first and a second magnetic sensor configured for providing a first and second value; and a processing circuit for determining the current based on a difference or weighted difference between the first and second value. The first and second magnetic sensor are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the centerline.

Abstract: A target configured to be used with a position sensor for sensing a position of the target is described. The target includes at least one elongated conductive loop structure for allowing eddy currents to flow therein and configured to affect a magnetic field received from the position sensor in a preferred direction along the at least one elongated conductive loop structure.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device comprises a substrate, first and second magnetic sensors, and one or more inductors are disposed over the substrate and are controlled by a magnetic sensor controller having a control circuit. The control circuit controls the first magnetic sensor to measure a first magnetic field and the second magnetic sensor to measure a second magnetic field under presence of a fifth magnetic field generated by the inductors. The control circuit controls the first magnetic sensor to measure a third magnetic field and the second magnetic sensor to measure a fourth magnetic field under presence of a sixth magnetic field generated by the inductors, the fifth magnetic field and the sixth magnetic field being different. The control circuit calculates a relative sensitivity matching value converting magnetic field values measured by the second magnetic sensor to a comparable magnetic field value measured by the first magnetic sensor.

Abstract: A method for detecting a fault in a sensor arrangement is described. The method comprising modulating at least one physical parameter of the sensor arrangement by a configuration value, wherein the at least one physical parameter of the sensor arrangement is modulated during operation of the sensor arrangement, comparing an output of the sensor arrangement with a reference output related to the modulated at least one physical parameter and detecting a fault based on the comparison. Furthermore, also a corresponding processing circuit is described.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor is described comprising at least three magnetic flux concentrator sections integrated on a planar substrate, each section being adjacent to at least one of the other sections and being separated by gaps. The sensor comprises at least a first sensing element positioned for sensing flux density in or near the gap between a first section and a second section and at least a second sensing element positioned for sensing flux density in or near the gap between the first section and at least a further section. The magnetic field sensor further comprises further sensing elements arranged to measure changes of the magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.

Abstract: A field-sensor device comprises a first field sensor with a first sensor response to a field. The first sensor response is measured in a first orientation to produce a first sensor signal, a second field sensor with a second sensor response to the field the second sensor response measured in a second orientation different from the first orientation to produce a second sensor signal, and a controller for controlling the first and second field sensors to produce respective first and second sensor signals. The controller comprises a control circuit that converts any combination of first and second sensor signals to equivalent first and second comparable sensor signals in a common orientation, calculates an error signal derived from differences between the first and second comparable sensor signals, and adjusts any combination of the first and second sensor responses to reduce the error signal.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor arrangement for determining a signal magnetic flux in a manner which is substantially strayfield immune, comprises: a signal magnetic field source; a first and second magnetic flux concentrator forming an air gap between exterior faces of the magnetic flux concentrators; the flux concentrators being configured for guiding a signal magnetic flux to and across the air gap in a gap direction; a magnetic field sensor arranged inside the air gap, and configured for measuring a first and second signal in the gap direction and perpendicular to the gap direction; and for reducing or eliminating an magnetic disturbance field based on the first and second signal. An angle sensor arrangement. A torque sensor. A method of measuring a signal flux, an angle, a torque in a substantially strayfield immune manner.

Abstract: A position sensor arrangement, comprising: a magnetic source and a position sensor device movably arranged relative to each other; the latter comprising at least three magnetic sensors for measuring said magnetic field; a processing unit for determining a position based on a ratio of a first pairwise difference and a second pairwise difference, the first pairwise difference being a difference of a first pair of two signals, the second pairwise difference signal being a difference of a second pair of two signals. A method of determining a position, by performing said measurements, and by calculating said differences and said ratio. A method of calibrating said position sensor, including the step of storing at least one parameter or a look-up table in a non-volatile memory. A method of auto-calibration.

Abstract: An apparatus is arranged for sensing a position of a target, in particular for offset invariant sensing of the position of the target is described, as well as the respective target and the method. The apparatus comprises at least two sensor elements. At least one sensor element of the at least two sensor elements generates a magnetic field. At least one other sensor element of the at least two sensor elements receives the magnetic field and outputs at least one signal associated with the received magnetic field. The target affects a coupling of a magnetic flux of the magnetic field between the at least one sensor element generating the magnetic field and the at least one other sensor element receiving the magnetic field and wherein the target is non-rotational invariant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor device comprising four or more sensor elements. A controller comprising a control circuit controls the sensor elements to measure an environment attribute, produces more than two values corresponding to the measurement and compares the values to determine a fault. The more than two values are obtained by different combinations of sensor elements that have at least one sensor element in common and one sensor element that is not in common. The values can be measured in different coordinate systems and the control circuit can convert the field vectors into a common coordinate system.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device comprises a substrate having a surface and a magnetic sensor. A plurality of magnetic cores is disposed on, over, below or in direct contact with a substrate surface, at least one of the magnetic cores having an electrical conductor helically wound around the core forming a coil having a coil length. Each magnetic core is separated from any other magnetic core by a gap length. A current passing through the one or more coils generates a magnetic field. The plurality of cores and gaps form at least one closed magnetic circuit along which the generated magnetic field flux passes, and the total length of the at least one closed magnetic circuit is at least twice the total length of the plurality of gaps of the at least one closed magnetic circuit through which the at least a portion of the magnetic field flux passes.

Abstract: A multi-element sensor includes a substrate having a surface. A first sensing element for sensing an environmental attribute is disposed on or over the substrate surface. A second sensing element is disposed over the same substrate surface as the first sensing element, above the first sensing element in a direction orthogonal to the substrate surface. The second sensing element is arranged for sensing the same environmental attribute. In one configuration, the first and second sensing elements sense the same environmental attribute at a location between the first and second sensing elements.

Abstract: A current sensor device for measuring an electrical current, comprising: a substrate mounted relative to an electrical conductor having a symmetry plane, and comprising a first and a second magnetic sensor; the first magnetic sensor located at a first location outside the symmetry plane configured for providing a first value indicative of a first magnetic field component induced by the current; the second magnetic sensor located at a second location in the symmetry plane, and configured for providing a second value indicative of an external disturbance field; a processing circuit connected to the first and second magnetic sensor and adapted for determining the current based on a difference between the first and second value.

Abstract: A current sensor device for measuring a current of at least 30 Amps, comprising: a leadframe with a electrical conductor having a centerline; a substrate mounted to the electrical conductor and comprising a first and a second magnetic sensor configured for providing a first and second value; and a processing circuit for determining the current based on a difference or weighted difference between the first and second value. The first and second magnetic sensor are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the centerline.

Abstract: An integrated circuit for error detection comprises an input for receiving two signals, in which a first signal is representative of a physical quantity in a first range and a second signal is representative of the physical quantity in a second range. The first range and second range are different ranges that overlap. The circuit comprises a processor configured to detect an inconsistency between the two signals by taking said first and second range into account, in which this inconsistency is indicative of an error.

Abstract: A position sensor system comprising: a magnetic field generator movable relative to two sensor devices or vice versa. The system has at least one processor adapted with a special algorithm for determining a position of the magnetic field generator in a manner which is highly robust against a disturbance field. A method for determining the position of the magnetic field generator based on a set of equations, in particular a set of linear equations which allows to completely eliminate the external disturbance field.

Abstract: A method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to an external magnetic field, comprises: providing currents to conductors to generate an internal magnetic field that will superimpose with the external magnetic field, measuring field components of the combined magnetic field, calculating a position based on the applied currents and/or on the measured residual magnetic field. A position sensor is provided for performing the method.