Abstract: A waste cart includes a base housing; a center upright having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the base housing; a top housing secured to the distal end of the center upright, wherein the top housing has two or more disposal openings for two or more separate disposal portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; an electronics module which operates each metal detector independently; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with the electronics module which is activated when the electronics module detects the passage of a metal item through an opening into a waste portion.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic-field sensor. The magnetic field sensor includes a first and second magnetoresistance circuitries configured to receive a magnetic field signal from a target and convert the magnetic field signal received to a first signal and second signal; analog circuitry configured to receive the first and second signals; digital circuitry configured to receive a first and second analog output signals from analog circuitry and to convert the first and second analog output signals to a first and second digital signals representing a first and second channel output signals; and diagnostic circuitry configured to receive, from the digital circuitry, an input signal related to a separation of the first and second channel output signals, and configured to provide a test signal at a pin of the IC indicating whether a distance between the IC and the target complies with at least one rule.

Abstract: A method for stress-induced magnetic field signal acquisition and stress measurement is disclosed. The method can include the following steps: a1, conducting AC magnetization on a to-be-tested structure by using an AC magnetic field with preset frequencies and strengths, and acquiring the excitation magnetic field signals in at least one cycle; a2, subtracting the excitation magnetic field signals in at least one cycle of a stress-free sample having the same material as the to-be-tested structure from the excitation magnetic field signals acquired in step a1 to obtain a stress-induced magnetic field signals of the to-be-tested structure; a3, quantitatively assessing the stresses in the to-be-tested structure by comparing the mean values of the stress-induced magnetic field signals acquired in step a2 with the pre-calibrated relationship of stresses and the mean values of the stress-induced magnetic field signals for the material of the to-be-tested structure.

Abstract: A calibration method includes receiving magnetic field values, which are generated by a plurality of real magnetic transmitters and are measured at multiple positions on a grid in a region containing a magnetic field perturbing element. Approximate locations of the real magnetic transmitters are received. Using the approximate locations, a respective plurality of imaginary magnetic sources is characterized inside the field perturbing element. Using the measured magnetic field values, the approximate locations, and the characterized imaginary sources, there are iteratively calculated (i) actual locations of the real and imaginary magnetic sources in the region, and (ii) modeled magnetic field values that would result from the real and imaginary magnetic sources at the actual locations. Using the calculated locations, and the modeled magnetic field values at the multiple positions on the grid, a magnetic field calibration function is derived for the region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate: a vertical Hall element formed in the semiconductor substrate, and having a magnetosensitive portion; a first excitation wiring disposed above the magnetosensitive portion, and configured to apply a first calibration magnetic field (M1) to the magnetosensitive portion; and second excitation wirings disposed above the magnetosensitive portion on one side and on another side of the first excitation wiring, respectively, along the first excitation wiring as viewed in plan view from immediately above a front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and configured to apply second calibration magnetic fields (M2) to the magnetosensitive portion.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor package is disclosed. The package includes a substrate that has a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The substrate can comprise a lead frame. The package also includes a first magnetic field sensor die that is electrically and mechanically mounted on the front side of the substrate. The package also includes a second magnetic field sensor die that is electrically and mechanically mounted on the front side of the substrate. The package further includes a magnet that is disposed on the back side of the substrate. The magnet can provide a bias field for the first magnetic field sensor die and the second magnetic field sensor die. The package can also include a molding material that is disposed about the lead frame, the first magnetic field sensor die, the second magnetic field sensor die, and the magnet.

Abstract: A calibration device includes a main control unit, an interface conversion unit and an electronic load generation unit. The electronic load generation unit provides an electronic load, so that a USB control chip generates a constant load current. The USB control chip uses at least one preset conversion parameter to generate an analog-to-digital conversion value according to the constant load current. The main control unit generates a to-be-calibrated output current according to the analog-to-digital conversion value. The main control unit generates at least one calibrated conversion parameter according to the constant load current and the to-be-calibrated output current. The USB control chip uses the at least one calibrated conversion parameter to generate a calibrated analog-to-digital conversion value, so that an over current protection mechanism is accurately enabled.

Abstract: A sensor device comprises an electrically conductive chip carrier, wherein the chip carrier comprises an auxiliary structure, wherein the auxiliary structure comprises a first precalibration current terminal and a second precalibration current terminal, a magnetic field sensor chip arranged on a mounting surface of the chip carrier, wherein the magnetic field sensor chip comprises a sensor element, wherein the shape of the auxiliary structure is embodied such that an electrical precalibration current flowing from the first precalibration current terminal to the second precalibration current terminal through the auxiliary structure induces a predefined precalibration magnetic field at the location of the sensor element, wherein during measurement operation of the precalibrated sensor device, no precalibration current flows between the first precalibration current terminal and the second precalibration current terminal.

Abstract: A waste cart includes a base housing; a center upright having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is secured to the base housing; a top housing secured to the distal end of the center upright, wherein the top housing has two or more disposal openings for two or more separate disposal portions including, a first waste portion which has a first metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; and a second waste portion which includes a second metal detector and an indicator for providing a notification when a metal item passes through the opening; an electronics module which operates each metal detector independently; and an alarm indicator operationally associated with the electronics module which is activated when the electronics module detects the passage of a metal item through an opening into a waste portion.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface perpendicular to the first direction; a vertical Hall element formed in the semiconductor substrate, and including a magnetosensitive portion having a depth in the first direction, a width in the second direction, and a length in the third direction; and an excitation wiring extending in the third direction and disposed above the semiconductor substrate and at a position that overlaps the center position of the width of the magnetosensitive portion, and the value u derived from Expression (1) is 0.

Abstract: A Hall sensor circuit includes a first Hall sensor, a second Hall sensor, a first preamplifier circuit, a second preamplifier circuit, a subtractor circuit, and a duty cycling circuit. The first preamplifier circuit includes an input and an output. The input is coupled to the first Hall sensor. The second preamplifier circuit includes a first input, a second input, and an output. The first input is coupled to the second Hall sensor. The subtractor circuit includes a first input coupled to the output of the first preamplifier circuit, a second input coupled to the output of the second preamplifier circuit, and an output coupled to the second input of the second preamplifier circuit. The duty cycling circuit is coupled to the second preamplifier circuit and the second Hall sensor.

Abstract: A chopping technique, and associated structure, is implemented to cancel the magnetic 1/f noise contribution in a Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) field sensor. The TMR field sensor includes a first bridge circuit including multiple TMR elements to sense a magnetic field and a second circuit to apply a bipolar current pulse adjacent to each TMR element. The current lines are serially or sequentially connected to a current source to receive the bipolar current pulse. The field sensor has an output including a high output and a low output in response to the bipolar pulse. This asymmetric response allows a chopping technique for 1/f noise reduction in the field sensor.

Abstract: A system includes a first amplifier and a first Hall sensor group coupled to the first amplifier. The system includes a second amplifier and a second Hall sensor group coupled to the second amplifier, where the second Hall sensor group includes a spinning Hall group. The system includes a first demodulator, where the first demodulator input is coupled to the first amplifier output. The system includes a second demodulator, where the second demodulator input is coupled to the second amplifier output. The system also includes a subtractor, the first subtractor input coupled to the first demodulator output, and the second subtractor input coupled to the second demodulator output. The system includes a filter coupled to the subtractor output and to a second input of the first amplifier, and a calibration module coupled to the subtractor output.

Abstract: A current sensor has: a magneto-resistive effect element which is arranged near a current line, to which a signal magnetic field is applied, the signal magnetic field being is induced by a current that flows in the current line, and which generates a magneto-resistive change in accordance with a change of the signal magnetic field; cancelling magnetic field generating means that is provided near the magneto-resistive effect element and that generates a cancelling magnetic field that cancels the signal magnetic field; a first soft magnetic body that is provided between the magneto-resistive effect element and the current line; and a pair of second soft magnetic bodies that are provided on both sides of the magneto-resistive effect element with regard to a magnetization detecting direction of the magneto-resistive effect element.

Abstract: A data acquisition system (DAS) for processing an input signal from a resistive sensor (e.g., Hall effect sensor) includes a sensor signal path that digitizes the input signal. An input impedance of the sensor signal path attenuates the input signal. A gain error corrector applies a gain error correction factor in a digital domain of the DAS to the digitized input signal to compensate for a loading effect to the resistive sensor. The sensor signal path includes an inverting amplifier that provides low distortion for the input signal and an ADC (e.g., delta-sigma, SAR, pipelined, auxiliary) that digitizes the input signal. A sensor characterization path digitizes the sensor resistance which the gain error corrector uses, along with the inverting amplifier input impedance, to calculate the gain error correction factor.

Abstract: A sensor comprising: a first magnetoresistive (MR) bridge having a first stray field sensitivity; a second MR bridge having a second stray field sensitivity; and a driver circuitry configured to: (i) supply a first voltage to the first MR bridge, and (ii) supply a second voltage to the second MR bridge that is different from the first voltage, wherein supplying the first voltage and the second voltage to the first MR bridge and the second MR bridge, respectively, causes the first stray field sensitivity to match the second stray field sensitivity.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor system includes two magnetic sensors that detect components in two directions of an external magnetic field, an additional magnetic field generation section, and a signal processing circuit. The additional magnetic field generation section is capable of generating two additional magnetic fields for use in measuring the sensitivities of the two magnetic sensors. The signal processing circuit includes a sensitivity measurement processing section and a detection signal correction processing section. The sensitivity measurement processing section measures the sensitivities based on data concerning changes in the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors when the additional magnetic field generation section is controlled to generate two additional magnetic fields. The detection signal correction processing section performs processing for reducing change components attributable to the two additional magnetic fields on the detection signals of the two magnetic sensors.

Abstract: A packaged sensor chip includes a lead frame to which there is attached a sensor element designed to generate a sensor signal that depends on a magnetic field to which the sensor element is exposed; and a package therefor, wherein the lead frame has function terminals and wherein the lead frame has at least two calibration terminals that are arranged on two other opposing sides of the package, wherein the lead frame has conductive structures that connect the at least two calibration terminals, wherein the conductive structures are structured so as to generate a calibration magnetic field for the sensor element when a current flows through them, and wherein the conductive structures are part of a connection structure that connects a plurality of lead frames before the plurality of lead frames are disconnected from one another in a first direction in which the other two sides are opposite one another.

Abstract: An integrated device of a patch and sensor assembly detects extravasation or infiltration. A transmitter is positioned to direct power into a body portion. A sensor is positioned to receive the power transmitted through the body portion. A substrate is attachable to an outer surface of the body portion and supports the transmitter and the sensor. A signal processor is coupled to the transmitter and the sensor for detecting a change in a fluid level in the body portion from extravasation or infiltration based on the power received by the sensor. A power supply is coupled to the transmitter and the sensor. An indicator is responsive to the signal processor to indicate a detected change in a fluid level in the body portion from extravasation or infiltration.

Abstract: Provided is a method of measuring a magnitude of magnetization of a perpendicular magnetic thin film, including: forming a stripe pattern in which a first magnetic domain that extends in a y direction and is magnetized in a z direction and a second magnetic domain that extends in the y direction and is magnetized in a direction opposite to the z direction are arranged alternately in an x direction, in a perpendicular magnetic thin film that extends in an xy plane; changing widths in the x direction, of the first and second magnetic domains by applying a magnetic field having a predetermined magnitude, in the z direction, to the perpendicular magnetic thin film; and calculating an absolute value of the magnetization of the perpendicular magnetic thin film on the basis of a ratio between the widths in the x direction, of the first magnetic domain and the second magnetic domain.

Abstract: A marker detection device which detects a magnetic marker laid in a road by using a sensor unit in which a plurality of combinations of a magnetic sensor and a magnetic-field generation coil are arranged includes a storage part which stores characteristic information of each magnetic-field generation coil, an estimation part which estimates a magnetic differential value acting on the magnetic sensor due to a current differential value acting on the magnetic-field generation coil by referring to the characteristic information of each magnetic-field generation coil, and a calibration part which calibrates each magnetic sensor so as to enhance uniformity in sensitivity, which is a ratio between an output differential value of the magnetic sensor in accordance with a change of a current by the current differential value acting on the magnetic-field generation coil and the estimated magnetic differential value.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) measurement system is disclosed with a waveguide transmission line (WGTL) connected at both ends to a mounting plate having an opening through which the WGTL is suspended. While the WGTL bottom surface contacts a portion of magnetic film on a whole wafer, a plurality of microwave frequencies is sequentially transmitted through the WGTL. Simultaneously, a magnetic field is applied to the contacted region thereby causing a FMR condition in the magnetic film. After RF output is transmitted through or reflected from the WGTL to a RF detector and converted to a voltage signal, effective anisotropy field, linewidth, damping coefficient, and/or inhomogeneous broadening are determined based on magnetic field intensity, microwave frequency and voltage output. A plurality of measurements is performed by controllably moving the WGTL or wafer and repeating the simultaneous application of microwave frequencies and magnetic field at additional preprogrammed locations on the magnetic film.

Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to steering position rotary sensors including a housing defining an internal cavity, a center shaft extending through the housing, and a gear coupled to the center shaft, wherein the gear is positioned off-center relative to a central rotational axis extending through the center shaft. The steering position rotary sensor may further include a magnet coupled to the gear, a first Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent the gear and concentric with the magnet, and a second Hall effect sensor positioned adjacent the center shaft and concentric with the central rotational axis, wherein the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor are separated by a magnetic shield.

Abstract: A system comprises a calibration current generator, which provides a calibration current to a first and a second Hall channel, and a bias current generator, which determines a difference between a calibration signal from the Hall channels and a threshold and adjusts a biasing current for the Hall channels based on the difference. In some embodiments, the bias current generator comprises a subtractor coupled to an ADC and a controller coupled between the ADC and a DAC. The subtractor obtains a first and a second signal from the first and second Hall channels, respectively, and subtracts the first from the second to obtain the calibration signal. The controller determines the difference between a sampled signal from the ADC and the threshold and an adjustment to the biasing current based on the difference. The DAC adjusts the biasing current based on a control signal from the controller indicating the adjustment.

Abstract: A semiconductor process integrates three bridge circuits, each include magnetoresistive sensors coupled as a Wheatstone bridge on a single chip to sense a magnetic field in three orthogonal directions. The process includes various deposition and etch steps forming the magnetoresistive sensors and a plurality of flux guides on one of the three bridge circuits for transferring a “Z” axis magnetic field onto sensors orientated in the XY plane.

Abstract: A calibration apparatus for calibrating a magnetic sensor configured to generate an output signal indicative of magnetic field strength when a bias signal is applied to it is disclosed. The apparatus includes a test magnetic field generator (MFG) to generate magnetic fields of known magnitude, and further includes a processor to control the MFG to generate a known magnetic field, control the sensor to generate a test output signal when the MFG generates the known magnetic field and a known bias signal is applied to the sensor, and determine how to change the bias signal based on a deviation of the measured test output signal from an expected output signal. Using a test MFG that produces known magnetic fields when known bias signals are applied to sensors allows evaluating and compensating for changes in sensitivity of the sensors by accordingly changing bias signals applied to the sensors.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for sensing external magnetic fields on multiple axes comprises a coil structure and a gain equalization circuit. The coil structure generates reference fields on magnetic field sensing elements in each axis. The gain equalization circuit measures and compares reference fields to generate gain-equalized output signals responsive to the external magnetic fields.

Abstract: A device for printing a closure device for containers includes a first body and a second body each of which has a respective relative positioning element configured at least in a step of use of the closure device, to be arranged and/or oriented with respect to each other in a predetermined position. The printing device includes a supporting device for at least one of the bodies, a device for detecting the position or orientation of the relative positioning element of the body supported by the support device, and a device for digital printing of at least one portion of the body supported by the supporting device in order to perform a printing operation in a predetermined position and/or with a predetermined orientation with respect to the position and/or orientation of the respective relative positioning element.

Abstract: A calibration device comprising: a plurality of magnetic sensors positioned at the calibration device, the plurality of magnetic sensors defining a space; a controller configured to be positioned in the space defined by the plurality of magnetic sensors, wherein the controller includes a magnetic transmitter; and one or more processors configured to: cause the magnetic transmitter to generate magnetic fields; receive signals from the plurality of magnetic sensors that are based on characteristics of the magnetic fields received at the plurality of magnetic sensors; calculate, based on the signals received from the plurality of magnetic sensors, positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors relative to a position and orientation of the magnetic transmitter; and determine whether the calculated positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors are within one or more threshold limits of known positions and orientations of the plurality of magnetic sensors.

Abstract: A fluxgate current sensor comprising an excitation coil (13), an excitation module (20) for generating an excitation voltage (Ve), a measurement coil (14) conveying an induced measurement current (Iim), and a measurement synchronous demodulator (12) for the purpose of multiplying the induced measurement current by a demodulation signal of frequency 2f0 in order to obtain an image voltage that is the image of the current for measuring. The excitation voltage (Ve) is obtained from a first voltage of frequency f0 and from a second voltage of frequency 3f0, the fluxgate current sensor further includes a servo-control coil (15) conveying an induced servo-control current, and a servo-control synchronous demodulator (30) for the purpose of multiplying the induced servo-control current by a demodulation signal of frequency 3f0.

Abstract: A rotary encoder may include a magnet, a magnetic sensor, and a control part configured to calculate a rotation position of the rotor body based on an output signal outputted from the magnetic sensor. The control part includes a temperature detecting section configured to detect temperature of the magnetic sensor, an offset voltage calculation section configured to calculate an offset voltage of the magnetic sensor based on the output signal from the magnetic sensor, and a storage section which stores a slope and an intercept of a primary approximate expression calculated by a relationship between temperatures previously detected by the temperature detecting section and the offset voltages previously calculated by the offset voltage calculation section. The control part executes offset voltage estimate processing based on the slope and the intercept stored in the storage section and correction processing which corrects the output signal from the magnetic sensor.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) chip including an array of asymmetrically distributed magnetic field sensing elements. Additionally, an integrated circuit (IC) chip includes a substrate, a sensing coil supported by the substrate and enclosing a portion of substrate, and a Hall effect sensor supported by the portion of the substrate enclosed by the sensing coil.

Abstract: Various embodiments include devices and methods for mitigating the bias of a magnetometer resulting from operating various hardware components on a device such as a drone or a computing device. Various embodiments may improve the accuracy of magnetometer output by estimating the bias or magnetic interference caused by the hardware components based on a utilization or operating state of each hardware component, and adjusting the magnetometer output to compensate for the estimated bias.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating rigid and non-rigid arrays of 3-axis magnetometers. Such arrays might be used to analyze structures containing ferromagnetic material. The calibration determines scale factor and bias parameters of each magnetometer in the array, and the relative orientation and position of each magnetometer in the array. Once the parameters are determined, the actual magnetic field value at the magnetometer location can be simply related to magnetometer measurements. The method and system can be used to calibrate an array of 3-axis magnetometers in aggregate as opposed to individual magnetometers. This is critical in large arrays to increasing reproducibility of the calibration procedure and decreasing time required to complete calibration procedure.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies related to testing computer code for bugs, wherein the computer code is to run in kernel mode of an operating system. The computer code is executed in kernel mode of a first operating system, and content of memory that is mapped to kernel mode address space of the first operating system is transferred to user mode memory that is mapped to user mode address space of a second operating system. The computer code is executed in user mode and tested while being executed in user mode.

Abstract: An integrated device provides a measure of a quantity dependent on current through an electrical conductor, having: a sensing and processing sub-system; an electrical conductor conducting current; an insulating material encapsulates the sensing and processing sub-system and maintains the electrical conductor in a fixed and spaced relationship to the sensing and processing sub-system. The insulating material insulates the electrical conductor from the sensing and processing sub-system. Sensing and processing sub-system sensing circuitry includes magnetic field sensing elements adjacent the electrical conductor. The sensing circuitry provides a measure of the quantity as a weighted sum and/or difference of magnetic field sensing elements outputs caused by current through the electrical conductor adjacent the magnetic field sensing elements. A voltage sensing input senses a measure of voltage associated with the current conductor.

Abstract: Systems and methods include determining energy usage of a residence from a current that flows through a first main conductor and a second main conductor that transport the current into the residence. Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to sensors (130a-b) that monitor magnetic fields (150a-b) generated by the first and second main conductors (120a-b). After a resistive load (210a-b) is added for an electrical path in the residence, the first and second magnetic fields (150a-b) may be converted to generate first and second calibrating currents. A first prototype current is corrected to eliminate the influence of the second magnetic field (150b) onto the first magnetic field (150a) and a second prototype current is corrected to eliminate the influence of the first magnetic field (150a) onto the second magnetic field (150b). The energy usage of the residence is determined from the corrected currents.

Abstract: One aspect of the present technology relates to an optical electric field sensor device. The device includes a non-conductive housing configured to be located proximate to an electric field. A voltage sensor assembly is positioned within the housing and includes a crystal material positioned to receive an input light beam from a first light source through a first optical fiber. The crystal material is configured to exhibit a Pockels effect when an electric field is applied when the housing is located proximate to the electric field to provide an output light beam to a detector through a second optical fiber. An optical cable is coupled to the housing and configured to house at least a portion of the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber. The first light source and the detector are located remotely from the housing. A method of detecting an electric field is also disclosed.

Abstract: A circuit and a method for detecting a medium under a gypsum board are provided. The method comprises: first, providing a sensor, the sensor consisting of one group of printed circuit board (PCB) copper foils, namely, forming left and right polar plates by two pieces of completely identical PCB copper foils; next, providing a detection drive signal ClK to be applied to the left and right polar plates so that an electromagnetic field is formed between the left and right polar plates and the earth; further, providing a waveform shaping and phase difference circuit so that each polar plate can generate a phase difference relative to its own drive signal; and then, providing an phase inverter circuit to achieve waveform inversion so as to facilitate filtering and amplification of tiny signals, and sampling direct-current voltage signals of the two polar plates by a micro controller unit (MCU).

Abstract: A method of obtaining information about the position and/or orientation of a magnetic component relatively to a magnetometric detector, the magnetic component and the magnetometric detector being moveable independently from each other relatively to a static secondary magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of: measuring in the presence of the combination of both the magnetic field of the magnetic component and the static secondary magnetic field essentially simultaneously the strength and/or orientation of a magnetic field at at least a first position and a second position spatially associated with the magnetometric detector, the second position being distanced from the first position; and combining the results of the measurements to computationally eliminate the effect of the secondary magnetic field and derive the information about the position and/or orientation of the magnetic component.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, devices and methods for detecting and measuring TMS-induced electrical fields. In accordance with certain aspects of an embodiment of the invention, a TMS sensor probe is provided having a field detector, a first electrical connection connecting the field detector to either a power source or a processor, and a second electrical connection connecting the field detector to a processor. The field detector is configured to measure a characteristic of a TMS-induced electrical field at the location of the field detector, and the processor is configured to receive the measured characteristic of the induced electrical fields and display a human-readable depiction of a calculated induced electrical field. A system using such a sensor probe to calibrate a TMS-induced electrical field is also provided, including the foregoing sensor probe, and a magnetic field generator.

Abstract: A sensor element for a motor vehicle, includes a sensor circuit for detecting a physical variable, a first housing, in which the sensor circuit is arranged, a second housing, in which the first housing is arranged, a thermoplastic, which at least partially encloses the first housing and fixes the first housing in the second housing in a positioning position, at least two positioning recesses for receiving positioning pins being formed in the first housing in order to fix the first housing in the positioning position while the first housing is being enveloped by the thermoplastic.

Abstract: A system includes a magnetic field sense element for detecting an external magnetic field and a magnetic field source proximate the magnetic field sense element for providing a reference magnetic field. The magnetic field sense element produces a composite signal having reference and measurement signal portions, the reference signal portion being indicative of the reference magnetic field and the measurement signal portion being indicative of the external magnetic field. A power supply provides a supply current through the magnetic field source for continuously generating the reference magnetic field while the system is in an operational mode. A processing circuit processes the composite signal to produce a measurement output signal indicative of the external magnetic field. A qualification circuit, coupled with the processing circuit at multiple test points, detects the reference signal portion at the multiple test points and determines operability of the system from the detected reference signal portion.

Abstract: A Hall effect sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate, a first well formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first ohmic contact formed in the first well, a second ohmic contact formed in the first well, a first terminal electrically coupled to the first ohmic contact, a second terminal electrically coupled to the second ohmic contact, and a first metal layer formed over the semiconductor substrate. The first metal layer comprises a first interconnect and a first trace, where the first trace is formed over the first well, and where the first interconnect electrically couples a first part of the first well to a second part of the first well. The first and second ohmic contacts are each positioned between the first part and the second part of the first well, where the first interconnect is electrically isolated from the first trace.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to an algorithm and process for automated and/or continuous calibration of magnetic sensor, for example such as a sensor installed in a mobile positioning system handset. According to certain aspects, the calibration process can use the normal motion of the handset such that all measurement data from the three orthogonal axes of sensor when exposed to Earth's magnetic field is collected. According to still further aspects, the process includes fitting measurement data to an ellipsoid that characterizes the actual magnetic field measurements from a magnetic sensor, so that anomalies such as hard iron effect, soft iron effect and scale factors can be extracted and/or corrected by comparison to a sphere represented by magnetic field data from a model at the sensor's location.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for a system configured to characterize a magnetic response of a sample. The system can comprise an electrical source configured to generate a time-varying current supply, an excitation coil system coupled to the electrical source to generate a time-vary magnetic field for application to a sample, and a sensing coil system that senses a magnetic response of the sample in response to the time-varying magnetic field. The sensing coil system can comprise a pick-up coil and a balancing coil that can be translated or rotated. The balancing coil configured to cancel a feed-through induction signal. In another embodiment, the sensing coil system can comprise an adjustable fine-tuning coil that is configured to modify an effect of the cancellation of the feed-through induction signal.

Abstract: A method for operating an inductive conductivity meter having a transmitting coil, a receiving coil and a terminating impedance device, the transmitting coil having a transmitting coil terminal, the receiving coil having a receiving coil terminal and the terminating impedance device having a terminating impedance, wherein the receiving coil is terminated with the terminating impedance device and wherein the transmitting coil and the receiving coil are inductively coupled with one another by an electrically conductive medium. To provide an improved accuracy of a determination of a conductivity of a medium a setpoint input impedance is specified, an input impedance is determined at the transmitting coil terminal, the terminating impedance is set such that the input impedance is matched to the setpoint input impedance, and a conductivity of the medium is determined using the adjusted input impedance and the set termination impedance.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an angle of rotation includes a rotatable member situated in a first plane and rotatable to be switched between a reference state and rotated states, the rotatable member being unrotated in the reference state, magnet pieces arranged on the rotatable member along a circumferential direction of the rotatable member at intervals of an angle, the magnet pieces moving along a first locus as the rotatable member is rotated, a Hall sensor lying in a second plane spaced a distance apart from the first plane and positioned along a second locus, said second locus being a projection of the first locus into the second plane, and the Hall sensor providing an output varying as the rotatable member is rotated, and a processor configured to detect an angle of rotation of the rotatable member in response to the output from the Hall sensor.

Abstract: A method of verifying the health and functionality of at least one vehicle sensor is disclosed herein. The method includes positioning the vehicle within a controlled environment test facility, displaying a predetermined test pattern to the at least one vehicle sensor as the vehicle travels within the controlled environment test facility, receiving sensor data corresponding to a performance condition of the at least one sensor from the at least one vehicle sensor, transmitting the sensor data to a remote processor, and determining a functional condition of the at least one vehicle sensor based on the sensor data.

Abstract: A system for selecting a calibration includes a data structure (138) including non-transitory computer readable storage media having a plurality of calibration entries stored therein and indexed to position and/or orientation criteria for a field generator. The field generator is configured for placement in an environment for sensor tracking. A calibration selection module (140) is configured to determine a position and/or orientation of the field generator and, based on the position and/or orientation, determine, using the data structure, corresponding calibration information stored in the data structure. The calibration information is optimized based upon the position and/or orientation of the field generator.