Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a functional circuit comprising one or more circuit components configured to perform a function based on one or more first input signals; at least one failure-prediction circuit for use in predicting failure of the functional circuit, the failure-prediction circuit comprising a replica of the functional circuit in terms of constituent circuit components; wherein the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be more susceptible to failure than said functional circuit, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a prediction of failure of the functional circuit based on a determination of failure of the failure-prediction circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a functional circuit comprising one or more circuit components configured to perform a function based on one or more first input signals; at least one failure-prediction circuit for use in predicting failure of the functional circuit, the failure-prediction circuit comprising a replica of the functional circuit in terms of constituent circuit components; wherein the failure-prediction circuit is configured to be more susceptible to failure than said functional circuit, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide a prediction of failure of the functional circuit based on a determination of failure of the failure-prediction circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a hand-portable electronic device including a detection-and-ranging element configured to provide spatial information of one or more physical objects in a space around the hand-held portable electronic device for collision avoidance, the detection-and-ranging element configured to transmit one or more electromagnetic, wireless detection signals and configured to detect one or more reflections of said one or more electromagnetic, wireless detection signals from the one or more objects.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a hand-portable electronic device including a detection-and-ranging element configured to provide spatial information of one or more physical objects in a space around the hand-held portable electronic device for collision avoidance, the detection-and-ranging element configured to transmit one or more electromagnetic, wireless detection signals and configured to detect one or more reflections of said one or more electromagnetic, wireless detection signals from the one or more objects.

Abstract: To refine an electrical or electronic component having at least one discrete or integrated device formed from a wafer, in plate or disk form, of semiconductive or insulating material, the front face of which device has at least one protruding electrode and is encapsulated by at least one front-face encapsulant, the side faces of which device are at least partly encapsulated by at least one side-face encapsulant, and the rear face of which device is encapsulated by at least one rear-face encapsulant, and to refine a method of producing the same, in such a way that, with the aim of widening the possible uses and applications, electrical contact is made not solely with the front face of the device that is to be housed in the plastics package of very small dimensions, it is proposed that both the side-face encapsulant and the rear-face encapsulant be formed at least partly of layers, but with the layers connected, of electrically conductive material.

Abstract: To refine an electrical or electronic component (100) having at least one discrete or integrated device (20) formed from a wafer (10), in plate or disk form, of semiconductive or insulating material, the front face (20v) of which device (20) has at least one overhanging and/or protruding and in particular ball-shaped or spherical electrode (40) and is encapsulated by at least one front-face encapsulant (60v; 70v; 80v), the side faces (20s) of which device (20) are at least partly encapsulated by at least one side-face encapsulant (70s; 80s), and the rear face (20r) of which device (20) is encapsulated by at least one rear-face encapsulant (70r; 80r), and to refine a method of producing the same, in such a way that, with the aim of widening the possible uses and applications, electrical contact is made not solely with the front face (20v) of the device (20) that is to be housed in the plastics package (60v, 70v, 80v, 70s, 80s, 70r, 80r) of very small dimensions, it is proposed that both the side-face encapsula

Abstract: To refine an electrical or electronic component (100) having at least one discrete or integrated device (20) formed from a wafer (10), in plate or disk form, of semiconductive or insulating material, the front face (20v) of which device (20) has at least one overhanging and/or protruding and in particular ball-shaped or spherical electrode (40) and is encapsulated by at least one front-face encapsulant (60v; 70v; 80v), the side faces (20s) of which device (20) are at least partly encapsulated by at least one side-face encapsulant (70s; 80s), and the rear face (20r) of which device (20) is encapsulated by at least one rear-face encapsulant (70r; 80r), and to refine a method of producing the same, in such a way that, with the aim of widening the possible uses and applications, electrical contact is made not solely with the front face (20v) of the device (20) that is to be housed in the plastics package (60v, 70v, 80v, 70s, 80s, 70r, 80r) of very small dimensions, it is proposed that both the side-face encapsula

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor has at least one strip-shaped conductor that is formed from a magnetoresistive material and that is designed to determine its electrical resistance, which can be influenced by an external magnetic field, and/or to be acted on by an electric current. In order to construct a magnetoresistive sensor of this type in such a way that a further reduction in the hysteresis and an improved linearity are obtained, at least one screening strip is provided according to the invention that is disposed at least substantially parallel to and at a predetermined spacing from the conductor and is electrically separated from it.

Abstract: To refine an electrical or electronic component (100) having at least one discrete or integrated device (20) formed from a wafer (10), in plate or disk form, of semiconductive or insulating material, the front face (20v) of which device (20) has at least one overhanging and/or protruding and in particular ball-shaped or spherical electrode (40) and is encapsulated by at least one front-face encapsulant (60v; 70v; 80v), the side faces (20s) of which device (20) are at least partly encapsulated by at least one side-face encapsulant (70s; 80s), and the rear face (20r) of which device (20) is encapsulated by at least one rear-face encapsulant (70r; 80r), and to refine a method of producing the same, in such a way that, with the aim of widening the possible uses and applications, electrical contact is made not solely with the front face (20v) of the device (20) that is to be housed in the plastics package (60v, 70v, 80v, 70s, 80s, 70r, 80r) of very small dimensions, it is proposed that both the side-face encapsula

Abstract: The invention relates to an angle sensor comprising at least two angle-offset anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor units comprising anisotropic magnetoresistive elements, in which the angle sensor comprises at least a device for increasing the anisotropic field strength of the sensor units. The invention also relates to a method of increasing the anisotropic field strength of a sensor unit of an angle sensor comprising magnetoresistive elements, in which a magnetic supporting field present in a preferred direction of the magnetoresistive elements is generated.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for detecting motion of an encoder which comprises magnetically active areas arranged along a main surface subtended at least substantially by a second spatial co-ordinate aligned in the direction of movement of the encoder and by a first spatial co-ordinate aligned at least substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the encoder, which magnetically active areas are subdivided in a predetermined sequence along the second spatial co-ordinate, the arrangement comprising a magnetoresistive sensor element arranged in front of the main surface of the encoder in the direction of a third spatial co-ordinate aligned at least substantially perpendicularly to the main surface of the encoder, and a magnetic field-generating device for generating a magnetic field which permeates the magnetoresistive sensor element with field lines which are aligned at least substantially in a plane subtended by the first and the third spatial co-ordinate, the arrangement being adapted to gene

Abstract: Magnetoresistive sensors for angle measurements such as, for example, the sensors of the type KMZ 41, manufactured and marketed by Philips Semiconductors, utilize the effect that a sufficiently strong, external magnetic field H rotates the internal magnetization M in a parallel direction. In the case of said sensor KMZ 41, the magnetic field strength required for full alignment of the internal magnetization is 70 to 100 kA/m. A reduction of this high field strength is desirable and may be achieved by increasing the tendency of the internal magnetization to change its direction. An increase of the tendency of the internal magnetization to change its alignment is achieved in accordance with the invention by using a trigger structure and strip-shaped sensor elements of NiFe material which have elliptic contours or tapered ends. The trigger structure has a circular surface of NiFe material which is not electrically contacted. The internal magnetization of a circular surface may be rotated very easily, i.e.

Abstract: Magnetoresistive sensors for angle measurements utilizing the effect that a sufficiently strong, external magnetic field H rotates the internal magnetization M in a parallel direction. The magnetic field strength required for full alignment of the internal magnetization is 70 to 100 kA/m. A reduction of this high field strength is desirable and may be achieved by increasing the tendency of the internal magnetization to change its direction. An increase of the tendency of the internal magnetization to change its alignment is achieved in accordance with the invention by strip-shaped sensor elements of NiFe material having elliptical contours. A reduction of the magnetic field strength required for a saturation, from 20 to 30 kA/m is thereby possible.

Abstract: An arrangement is described for detecting motion of an encoder which comprises magnetically active areas arranged along a main surface subtended at least substantially by a second spatial co-ordinate aligned in the direction of movement of the encoder and by a first spatial co-ordinate aligned at least substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the encoder, which magnetically active areas are subdivided in a predetermined sequence along the second spatial co-ordinate, the arrangement comprising a magnetoresistive sensor element arranged in front of the main surface of the encoder in the direction of a third spatial co-ordinate aligned at least substantially perpendicularly to the main surface of the encoder, and a magnetic field-generating device for generating a magnetic field which permeates the magnetoresistive sensor element with field lines which are aligned at least substantially in a plane subtended by the first and the third spatial co-ordinate, the arrangement being adapted to gene

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetoresistive sensor having at least one strip-shaped conductor that is formed from a magnetoresistive material and that is designed to determine its electrical resistance, which can be influenced by an external magnetic field, and/or to be acted on by an electric current.

Abstract: The invention relates to an angle sensor comprising at least two angle-offset anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor units comprising anisotropic magnetoresistive elements, in which the angle sensor comprises at least a device for increasing the anisotropic field strength of the sensor units. The invention also relates to a method of increasing the anisotropic field strength of a sensor unit of an angle sensor comprising magnetoresistive elements, in which a magnetic supporting field present in a preferred direction of the magnetoresistive elements is generated.

Abstract: Magnetoresistive sensors for angle measurements such as, for example, the sensors of the type KMZ 41, manufactured and marketed by Philips Semiconductors, utilize the effect that a sufficiently strong, external magnetic field H rotates the internal magnetization M in a parallel direction. In the case of said sensor KMZ 41, the magnetic field strength required for full alignment of the internal magnetization is 70 to 100 kA/m.

Abstract: Magnetoresistive sensors for angle measurements such as, for example, the sensors of the type KMZ 41, manufactured and marketed by Philips Semiconductors, utilize the effect that a sufficiently strong, external magnetic field H rotates the internal magnetization M in a parallel direction. In the case of said sensor KMZ 41, the magnetic field strength required for full alignment of the internal magnetization is 70 to 100 kA/m.