Abstract: One example discloses a ratiometric device, including: a current source having a first current, a second current different from the first current, and a current-select program; a sensor device responsive to a gas and having a sensor-cold temperature T(cold,sens) in response to the first current and a sensor-hot temperature T(hot,sens) in response to the second current; a reference device having a reference-cold temperature T(cold,ref) in response to the first current and a reference-hot temperature T(hot,ref) in response to the second current; and wherein the ratiometric device includes a temperature difference ratio output based on T(cold,sens), T(hot,sens), T(cold,ref) and T(hot,ref).

Abstract: A magnetic sensor arrangement for determining information indicative of characteristics of a mechanical component has a first magnetic sensor to sense a signal associated with a periodic changing magnetic field generated by relative movement of the mechanical component and the magnetic sensor arrangement, a second magnetic sensor to sense that signal, wherein the first sensor is arranged a fixed distance from the second sensor, and a determination unit coupled to the first and second sensors to receive output signals of the first and second sensors. The output signal of the first sensor is phase-shifted to the output signal of the second sensor, to compare the output signals for determining the absolute phase of the signal associated with the periodic changing magnetic field, and to determine information indicative of characteristics of the mechanical component based on the determined absolute phase of the signal associated with the periodic changing magnetic field.

Abstract: A governing circuit for a magneto-transistor is disclosed. The magneto-transistor comprising a first and second collector. At least one emitter and at least one base. The governing circuit is configured to measure a first calibration current at the first collector of the magneto-transistor and a second calibration current at the second collector of the magneto-transistor, while a calibration base-emitter voltage is applied to the magneto-transistor. The magneto-transistor is also configured to measure a first measurement current at the first collector of the magneto-transistor and a second measurement current at the second collector of the magneto-transistor, while a measurement base-emitter voltage is applied to the magneto-transistor, wherein the measurement base-emitter voltage is different form the calibration base-emitter voltage and determine an output signal indicative of an applied magnetic field using the measured first and second measurement current and first and second calibration currents.

Abstract: There is described a device for removing an offset from a signal, the device comprising (a) a frequency estimation unit (260) for estimating a frequency of the signal, (b) an offset estimation unit (222) for estimating the offset in the signal by applying an adaptive low pass filter to the signal, wherein a cut-off frequency of the adaptive low pass filter is determined based on the frequency of the signal estimated by the frequency estimation unit (260), and (c) a subtraction unit (230) adapted to subtract the offset estimated by the offset estimation unit (222) from the signal. There is also described a filter unit comprising the device. Furthermore, there is described a corresponding method of removing an offset from a signal as well as a computer program and a computer program product for performing the method by means of a computer.

Abstract: A differential dynamic charge pump circuit comprising; a first charging stage in series with a second charging stage; the first charging stage comprising a first circuit input for receiving an alternating clock signal; a second circuit input for receiving an inverted version of the alternating clock signal; a first output inverter arrangement configured to receive output voltages from upper and lower charge pump arrangements and having a first output and a second output for providing a dynamic differential output; the second charging stage comprising a first input and a second input configured to receive the output signal from the first stage; a second output inverter arrangement configured to receive output voltages from upper and lower charge pump arrangements and having a first output and a second output for providing a dynamic differential output of the circuit.

Abstract: An efficient analog to digital converter is disclosed. The efficient analog to digital converter includes a coarse analog to digital converter coupled to an input analog signal. The coarse analog to digital converter is configured to provide an approximate digital representation of the input analog signal. The efficient analog to digital converter also includes a fine analog to digital converter coupled to the input analog signal. The output of the coarse analog to digital converter is coupled to the fine analog to digital converter. The fine analog to digital converter is configured to set input range of the fine analog to digital converter as a function of the output of the coarse analog to digital converter.

Abstract: One example discloses a ratiometric device, including: a current source having a first current, a second current different from the first current, and a current-select program; a sensor device responsive to a gas and having a sensor-cold temperature T(cold,sens) in response to the first current and a sensor-hot temperature T(hot,sens) in response to the second current; a reference device having a reference-cold temperature T(cold,ref) in response to the first current and a reference-hot temperature T(hot,ref) in response to the second current; and wherein the ratiometric device includes a temperature difference ratio output based on T(cold,sens), T(hot,sens), T(cold,ref) and T(hot,ref).

Abstract: A differential dynamic charge pump circuit comprising; a first charging stage in series with a second charging stage; the first charging stage comprising a first circuit input for receiving an alternating clock signal; a second circuit input for receiving an inverted version of the alternating clock signal; a first output inverter arrangement configured to receive output voltages from upper and lower charge pump arrangements and having a first output and a second output for providing a dynamic differential output; the second charging stage comprising a first input and a second input configured to receive the output signal from the first stage; a second output inverter arrangement configured to receive output voltages from upper and lower charge pump arrangements and having a first output and a second output for providing a dynamic differential output of the circuit.

Abstract: A read out circuit for a sensor uses a feedback loop to bias the sensor to a desired operating point, such as the maximal possible sensitivity, but without the problem of an instable sensor position as known for the conventional read-out with constant charge. The reference bias to which the circuit is controlled is also varied using feedback control, but with a slower response than the main bias control feedback loop.

Abstract: An efficient analog to digital converter is disclosed. The efficient analog to digital converter includes a coarse analog to digital converter coupled to an input analog signal. The coarse analog to digital converter is configured to provide an approximate digital representation of the input analog signal. The efficient analog to digital converter also includes a fine analog to digital converter coupled to the input analog signal. The output of the coarse analog to digital converter is coupled to the fine analog to digital converter. The fine analog to digital converter is configured to set input range of the fine analog to digital converter as a function of the output of the coarse analog to digital converter.

Abstract: A mixer comprising a ladder having at least two resistances arranged in series and an input configured to receive an input signal and apply it across the ladder, said ladder including an output arrangement comprising at least three branches, a first branch branching from a first end of the ladder, a second branch branching from between the at least two resistances and a third branch branching from a second end of the ladder, opposite the first end, each branch including a switch for controlling a connection between its branch and an output.

Abstract: An input stage for an A/D converter includes a transconductance element adapted to receive, at a first input of the transconductance element, an analog input signal that is to be converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter, a feedback path for providing an analog feedback signal to a second input of the transconductance element, the analog feedback signal being based on a digital output signal of the A/D converter, and an integrator for integrating an output current of the transconductance element, wherein the integrating element is adapted to generate an integrator output signal representative of the integrated output current. The input stage may be included in an A/D converter. A plurality of such A/D converters may be included in a system.

Abstract: A sensor circuit is configured for operation under conditions susceptible to misalignment or movement. In connection with various example embodiments, an alignment-tolerant sensor arrangement includes a reference component and first and second magnetic sensors. The reference component influences a magnetic field as a function of a position of the reference component, such as via the positioning of a magnetic type of component. The first magnetic sensor is aligned with a first magnetic field sensitivity direction, and exhibits an electrical response to the presence of the magnetic field. The second magnetic sensor is aligned with a first magnetic field sensitivity direction and is configured to exhibit an electrical response to the presence of the magnetic field. The first and second magnetic field sensitivity directions being offset from one another to facilitate detection of magnetic fields at different relative alignments between the reference component and the first and second magnetic sensors.

Abstract: There is described an input stage for an A/D converter, comprising a transconductance element adapted to receive, at a first input of the transconductance element, an analog input signal that is to be converted to a digital signal by the A/D converter, a feedback path for providing an analog feedback signal to a second input of the transconductance element, the analog feedback signal being based on a digital output signal of the A/D converter, and an integrator for integrating an output current of the transconductance element, wherein the integrating element is adapted to generate an integrator output signal representative of the integrated output current. There is also described an A/D converter comprising such an input stage and a system comprising a plurality of such A/D converters.

Abstract: A mixer comprising a ladder having at least two resistances arranged in series and an input configured to receive an input signal and apply it across the ladder, said ladder including an output arrangement comprising at least three branches, a first branch branching from a first end of the ladder, a second branch branching from between the at least two resistances and a third branch branching from a second end of the ladder, opposite the first end, each branch including a switch for controlling a connection between its branch and an output.

Abstract: There is described a device for removing an offset from a signal, the device comprising (a) a frequency estimation unit (260) for estimating a frequency of the signal, (b) an offset estimation unit (222) for estimating the offset in the signal by applying an adaptive low pass filter to the signal, wherein a cut-off frequency of the adaptive low pass filter is determined based on the frequency of the signal estimated by the frequency estimation unit (260), and (c) a subtraction unit (230) adapted to subtract the offset estimated by the offset estimation unit (222) from the signal. There is also described a filter unit comprising the device. Furthermore, there is described a corresponding method of removing an offset from a signal as well as a computer program and a computer program product for performing the method by means of a computer.

Abstract: A semiconductor magnetic field sensor comprising a semiconductor well on top of a substrate layer is disclosed. The semiconductor well includes a first current collecting region and a second current collecting region and a current emitting region placed between the first current collecting region and the second current collecting region. The semiconductor well also includes a first MOS structure, having a first gate terminal, located between the first current collecting region and the current emitting region and a second MOS structure, having a second gate terminal, located between the current emitting region and the second current collecting region. In operation, the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal are biased for increasing a deflection length of a first current and of a second current. The deflection length is perpendicular to a plane defined by a surface of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor and parallel to a magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor assembly for measuring an angular direction of a sensed magnetic field relative to the assembly is disclosed. The sensor assembly includes a sensor of a first type configured to sense an orientation of the sensed magnetic field, a sensor of a second type configured to measure an orientation and a direction of the sensed magnetic field and processing circuitry connected to each of the magnetic field sensors. The processing circuitry being configured to process output signals from the sensor of the first type to determine an uncorrected sensed magnetic field angle and to apply an offset angle to the uncorrected magnetic field angle dependent on a logical combination of signs of output signals from the sensors of the first and second types.

Abstract: A semiconductor magnetic field sensor comprising a semiconductor well on top of a substrate layer is disclosed. The semiconductor well includes a first current collecting region and a second current collecting region and a current emitting region placed between the first current collecting region and the second current collecting region. The semiconductor well also includes a first MOS structure, having a first gate terminal, located between the first current collecting region and the current emitting region and a second MOS structure, having a second gate terminal, located between the current emitting region and the second current collecting region. In operation, the first gate terminal and the second gate terminal are biased for increasing a deflection length of a first current and of a second current. The deflection length is perpendicular to a plane defined by a surface of the semiconductor magnetic field sensor and parallel to a magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive angular sensing method is disclosed. In a first mode, a first dc external magnetic field in a predetermined direction is applied to an angular sensor arrangement in which the external magnetic field dominates over a magnetic field generated by an input device an angular position of which is to be sensed. In a second mode, a second external magnetic field is applied to the angular sensor. Outputs of the angular sensor arrangement in the two modes are processed to determine an angular orientation of the input device with offset voltage compensation.