Abstract: A current sensor comprises a flat housing made of plastic having an underside and an upper side and electrical connections, a current conductor through which the current to be measured flows, and a semiconductor chip having two magnetic field sensors, wherein the component of the magnetic field detected by the two magnetic field sensors points in opposite directions at the locations of the two magnetic field sensors. The semiconductor chip is connected as flipchip to the electrical connections. The current conductor extends from one side wall to the opposite side wall of the housing, is embedded flat in the underside of the housing and is therefore exposed on the underside of the housing. The opposing surfaces of the semiconductor chip and the current conductor are separated by an electrical insulation layer.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to multi-terminal sensor devices and operating methods thereof that can reduce or eliminate offset error. In embodiments, sensor devices can comprise three or fewer terminals, and multiple such sensor devices can be combined. The sensor devices can comprise Hall sensor devices, such as vertical Hall devices, or other sensor devices in embodiments. Operating modes can be implemented for the multi-terminal sensor devices which offer improvements over conventional spinning current techniques, including reduced residual offset.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for reducing errors in sensor devices and systems. In embodiments, the sensor devices comprise magnetic field sensor devices, such as ordinary or vertical Hall sensor devices, and the error to be reduced is a residual offset error, though in other embodiments other sensor devices can be used and/or other types of errors can be targeted for reduction or elimination. In one embodiment, at least two such sensor devices not electrically coupled with one another are sequentially operated in a spinning current-type mode such that an individual output signal from each of the at least two sensor devices is obtained. A total output signal can then be calculated, such as by averaging or otherwise combining the individual output signals from each sensor device.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor device capable of removing the influence of each offset voltage of a sensor element, a differential amplifier, and an amplifier of the sensor device, to thereby detect a physical quantity with high precision.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact.

Abstract: A circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and an associated method provide a plurality of output signals from a respective plurality of vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element at the same time.

Abstract: Method and sensor for obtaining comparative measurements of hysteresis loss in a ferromagnetic sample. A permanent magnet, polarized normal to the sample surface, is positioned on one side of the surface and is movable along a line of travel between motion limits. A field sensor is mounted in fixed spatial relation on the opposite side of the sample surface at the center of the line of travel. The magnet is moved in forward and reverse directions between the motion limits. The longitudinal magnetic field intensity and the coincidental magnet to field sensor longitudinal distance are sensed at a plurality of distances along the forward and reverse line of travel. For each distance, the difference, D(x), between forward and reverse magnetic fields is calculated and plotted against distance for determining the comparative hysteresis of the sample.

Abstract: A direct current transducer includes an open-loop Hall-effect sensor, a first ADC coupled to the open-loop Hall-effect sensor, a thermistor, a second ADC coupled to the thermistor, a manually controlled mode-selection device, a digital processor coupled to the first ADC and the second ADC, and digital memory coupled to the digital processor. The manually controlled mode-selection device is operative to develop an operating mode selection digital signal for a plurality of operating modes including a temperature-compensated direct current (DC) transducer mode and a calibration mode.

Abstract: One or more embodiments are directed to a motor configured to rotate at least one magnet at a first frequency, a sensor configured to generate a reference signal of the at least one magnet's rotation, and a lock-in detection system configured to receive the reference signal, supply an excitation current at a second frequency to a device under test, measure a voltage from the device under test and demodulate the second frequency, and demodulate the first frequency from the measured voltage using the reference signal to obtain a Hall voltage associated with the device under test.

Abstract: A vertical Hall sensor includes first and second vertical Hall effect regions formed in a semiconductor substrate and of the same doping type, with first and second pluralities of contacts arranged at one side of the first or second vertical Hall effect regions, respectively. The second vertical Hall effect region is connected in series with the first vertical Hall effect region regarding a power supply to the first and second vertical Hall effect regions. The vertical Hall sensor further includes first and second layers adjacent to the first and second vertical Hall effect regions at a side other than a side of the first or second pluralities of contacts. The first and second layers have different doping properties than the first and second vertical Hall effect regions and insulate the first and second vertical Hall effect regions from a bulk of the semiconductor substrate by at least one reverse-biased p-n junction per vertical Hall effect region during an operation of the vertical Hall sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hall sensor cover comprising: mag-mate terminal portions each having a mag-mate terminal having a coil insertion slit formed thereon and a power terminal pin extended toward one side direction of the mag-mate terminal; and a power connector portion having a base having mag-mate terminal insertion slots formed to insert the mag-mate terminal portions thereinto and power terminal insertion portions each adapted to insert the power terminal pin thereinto, wherein the power connector portion is coupled to the end portions of teeth of an insulator.

Abstract: There is described a system to measure the electrical consumption of a household. This system consists of a network of measuring devices that are attached to wires between electrical appliances and circuit breakers and of a communication and processing unit that receives measurement data from the measuring devices. Low precision sensors based on the Hall effect may be used for obtaining precise measurements of energy consumption by providing a casing for the measuring devices that ensures a fixed, known, and precise alignment with respect to the wire to which it is attached. Low precision sensors based on the Hall effect may also be used by performing a correction calibration of measured data.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes: a circuit board having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a recess extending from the first surface to the second surface; a Hall sensor component having a Hall sensor situated in a housing, the Hall sensor component having an active sensor area situated parallel to the first surface and in the area of the recess on the side of the second surface on the circuit board; and a first magnetic flux concentrator made of a magnetically permeable material and situated on the side of the first surface opposite to the Hall sensor component, the magnetic flux concentrator having a lateral surface which faces away from the circuit board and includes a first surface area and a lateral surface which faces toward the circuit board and includes a second surface area which is smaller than the first surface area.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to forced spinning Hall sensors. In embodiments, forced Hall sensors can provide reduced residual offset, lower current consumption and improved or complete rejection of nonlinear backbias effects when compared with conventional approaches.

Abstract: A hall effect sensor device implemented on a semiconductor body, having a first Hall effect sensor and a second Hall effect sensor, each of the two Hall effect sensors has at least four individual Hall effect elements and the four Hall effect elements are connected in series, and each Hall effect element has three contact terminals arranged in a row, and the series connection is implemented through a coupling or interconnection of the two outer contact terminals. Semiconductor well regions of the individual Hall effect elements are separated from one another, and the first Hall effect sensor and the second Hall effect sensor are connected in parallel, whereby a middle contact terminal of a Hall effect element of the first Hall effect sensor is connected in each case with a middle contact terminal of a Hall effect element of the second Hall effect sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of determining a status of a cover of a display terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a terminal comprising a display screen, and a Hall sensor comprising a magnetic field sensing surface and a plurality of Hall elements disposed substantially parallel with the magnetic field sensing surface, the magnetic field sensing surface being substantially perpendicular to the display screen.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement is operative to sense a relative kinematic state of a magnet (110) and a Hall-effect sensor (202) with respect to each other. The Hall-effect sensor has a Hall plate (204) and is accommodated in a surface-mount device. The magnet is configured for generating a magnetic field having an orientation primarily parallel to the Hall plate. The sensor arrangement comprises magnetic-field collecting means (206) for changing the orientation of the magnetic field to be primarily perpendicular to the Hall plate.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to multi-contact sensor devices and operating methods thereof that can reduce or eliminate offset error. In embodiments, sensor devices can comprise three or more contacts, and multiple sensor devices can be combined. The sensor devices can comprise Hall sensor devices, such as vertical Hall devices, or other sensor types. Operating modes can be implemented for the multi-contact sensor devices which offer significant modifications of and improvements over conventional spinning current principles. In a first operating mode, the sensor is supplied with the same input current in all operating phases, with the output voltages of all operating cycles sensed and processed. In another operating mode, the sensor device is supplied with the same input voltage in all operating phases, the sense terminals are forced to constant potentials, and the currents flowing into or out of the sense terminals are sensed and processed.

Abstract: A Hall effect device includes a Hall element and a voltage regulator. The Hall element has first and second bias terminals, or nodes. The Hall effect device maintains, or regulates, a voltage at a point within the Hall element between the first and second bias terminals at about a constant voltage level, while generating a Hall effect voltage. In particular embodiments, the Hall effect voltage is, thus, prevented from substantially varying with the temperature of the Hall element.

Abstract: A Hall Effect sensor with a graphene detection layer implemented in a variety of geometries, including the possibility of a so-called “full 3-d” Hall sensor, with the option for integration in a BiCMOS process and a method for producing said Hall Effect sensor is disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a number of n Hall effect regions with n>1, wherein the n Hall effect regions are isolated from each other. The electronic device also includes at least eight contacts in or on surfaces of the n Hall effect regions, wherein the contacts include: a first and a second contact of each Hall effect region. A first contact of the (k+1)-th Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the k-th Hall effect region for k=1 to n?1, and the first contact of the first Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the n-th Hall effect region. The at least eight contacts include at least two supply contacts and at least two sense contacts. Each Hall effect region includes at most one of the at least two supply contacts and at most one of the at least two sense contacts.

Abstract: An angle sensor to provide sensor-to-magnet misalignment detection and correction capability in rotation angle measurement applications is presented. The angle sensor has magnetic field sensing elements to sense magnetic field associated with a rotating magnet. The angle sensor includes circuitry to generate signals based on the sensing by the sensing elements. The signals provide information that can be combined according to an error function to provide misalignment detection. The angle sensor can be used with or can be incorporated in an angle measurement device that employs a processing unit to produce a rotation angle value. In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to implement the error function and correct the angle value for detected misalignment. In another embodiment, the error function is performed by a programming device and detected misalignment is corrected through mechanical adjustment of sensor-to-magnet position.

Abstract: A display terminal, an apparatus for cover opening detection, and a method of arranging a Hall sensor in a display terminal are provided. A display terminal includes a first body, and a Hall sensor disposed in the first body, the Hall sensor including a magnetic field sensing surface configured to sense a magnetic field, in which the magnetic field sensing surface is disposed at a slope with respect to an front surface of the first body.

Abstract: A circuit assembly having a controller in which the Hall sensor or a programmable circuit component integrated therein is programmed by clocking or modulating a Hall sensor power supply voltage. A clocked or modulated controller power supply voltage is applied to the controller in clocked or modulated form; and where the clock or modulated Hall sensor power supply voltage is applied to the Hall sensor by the controller as a function of the clocked or modulated controller power supply voltage.

Abstract: A coupler is disclosed that employs hall-effect sensing technology. Specifically, the coupler is configured to produce an output voltage by converting the magnetic field generated by a current conductor at an input side. The output and input sides may be electrically isolated from one another but may be coupled via the hall-effect sensing technology, such as a hall-effect sensor.

Abstract: A hall effect current sensor including a mounting bracket, a sensor assembly, and a sensor core. The sensor assembly includes a flux sensor. The sensor core includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion define a first air gap and a second air gap between the first portion and the second portion. The first air gap is adapted to receive the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A device for measuring electrical current in a line may include, among other things, a Hall effect sensor wherein a first response is generated by electrical current in the line; a current transformer disposed with the line extending axially therethrough and connected in series to the Hall effect sensor wherein a second response is generated by the electrical current in the line. An equalizer may be connected to the Hall effect sensor and to the current transformer and may be configured to flatten the first and second responses relative to each other. The permeability magnetic path length and cross section of the current transformer is selected such that low frequency roll-off of the current transformer is at a lower frequency than high frequency roll-off of the Hall effect sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated sensor, including terminals (1, 2) for connection to an electric generator, said terminals being connected to a metal measuring line (4, 5) in which a current proportional to the voltage or current of the generator to be measured flows, and magnetoresistors (31, 32, 33, 34). The metal measuring line includes elongate and parallel sections (4, 5) in which the current flows in opposite directions, said sections being connected to a portion (3) for closing the metal measuring line (3, 4, 5), which is arranged on a galvanic isolation layer (8) that is in turn arranged on an integrated circuit portion including the magnetoresistors (31, 32, 33, 34), each of which have a sensitive portion that is vertically adjacent to one of the elongate sections (4, 5). The sensor can be integrated into a diagnostic system.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method provide an output signal indicative of a speed of rotation and a direction of rotation of a ferromagnetic object capable of rotating. A variety of signal formats of the output signal are described.

Abstract: A vertical Hall sensor includes a Hall effect region and a plurality of contacts formed in or on a surface of the Hall effect region. The plurality of contacts are arranged in a sequence along a path extending between a first end and a second end of the Hall effect region. The plurality of contacts includes at least four spinning current contacts and at least two supply-only contacts. The spinning current contacts are configured to alternatingly function as supply contacts and sense contacts according to a spinning current scheme. The at least four spinning current contacts are arranged along a central portion of the path. The at least two supply-only contacts are arranged on both sides of the central portion in a distributed manner and are configured to supply electrical energy to the Hall effect region according to an extension of the spinning current scheme.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and at least one planar Hall element. The CVH sensing element has contacts arranged over a common implant region in a substrate. In some embodiments, the at least one planar Hall element is formed as a circular planar Hall (CPH) sensing element also having contacts disposed over the common implant region. A CPH sensing element and a method of fabricating the CPH sensing element are separately described.

Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed as a part of a magnetic field sensor or a mechanical stress sensor. The electronic device includes a Hall effect region, a first contact (temporarily functioning as a first supply contact), a second contact (second supply contact), and a third contact (temporarily functioning as a first sense contact) that are arranged in or on a surface of the Hall effect region. The first contact and the third contact are arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner to each other with respect to the second contact. An electrical current distribution within the Hall effect region is influenced by a physical quantity (e.g. magnetic field strength or mechanical stress) to be measured. A sense signal tapped at the third contact is a function of the current distribution, the sense signal thus being indicative of the physical quantity. A corresponding sensing method using the electronic device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor structure having a number of inner, outer and intermediate electrodes, arranged in a particular manner, such that groups of four electrodes can be used to form horizontal Hall elements, whereby neighboring Hall elements “share” one of the two readout electrodes. Multiple Hall elements may be biased and readout simultaneously. A modulated or unmodulated readout-technique may be used. Integrated magnetic concentrator may be added to the structure. The number of Hall elements may be odd or even. The structure can be used e.g. to measure the magnetic field of a 2-pole, 4-pole or 6-pole ring or disk magnet.

Abstract: In a method for verifying measurements obtained from a hall effect sensor in a hall effect sensor system, the hall effect sensor is excited with an excitation current having a first value. A first measurement corresponding to a voltage output of the hall effect sensor when the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having the first value is obtained. Additionally, the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having a second value, the second value different than the first value. A second measurement corresponding to a voltage output of the hall effect sensor when the hall effect sensor is excited with the excitation current having the second value is obtained. Operation of the hall effect sensor is then verified based at least on the first measurement and the second measurement.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to Hall effect sensor circuits and devices that provide improved performance, such as reduced residual offset errors and/or improved S/N ratios. In an embodiment, a Hall effect sensor circuit comprises two circuit portions, a first with a higher bandwidth for higher frequencies and having an improved S/N ratio, and a second with a lower bandwidth for lower frequencies and having low residual offset. First and second Hall plates or devices are incorporated in the first and second circuit portions. The first Hall plate can be operated with a larger bias voltage and a larger, high-pass-filtered signal bandwidth, while the second Hall plate can be operated with a smaller bias voltage and a smaller, low-pass-filtered signal bandwidth. Individual output signals from each of the first and second Hall plates can be scaled and combined to provide an overall output signal with the benefits of each circuit portion, including reduced residual offset error and negligible increased noise.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a vertical Hall-effect device. The device includes at least two supply terminals arranged to supply electrical energy to the first Hall-effect region; and at least one Hall signal terminal arranged to provide a first Hall signal from the first Hall-effect region. The first Hall signal is indicative of a magnetic field which is parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate and which acts on the first Hall-effect region. One or more of the at least two supply terminals or one or more of the at least one Hall signal terminal comprises a force contact and a sense contact.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a Hall sensor to sense a controlled current. The Hall sensor is positioned proximate to a signal path and develops a voltage that includes a component corresponding to a controlled current. A controller generates a switch control signal to control conductivity of a switch, and the switch controls drive current for a load. The controller receives information either directly or indirectly from the Hall sensor corresponding to the controlled current and utilizes the information from the Hall sensor to control conductivity of the switch. Controlling conductivity of the switch controls the drive current for the load. The frequency of the switch control signal is sufficiently higher than a Hall sensor noise voltage to allow the controller to sufficiently cancel out the noise voltage for control purposes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic sensor that provides the sensitivity adjustment on a wafer and that has a superior mass productiveness and a small characteristic variation. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetic sensitive portion provided on a substrate that is made of a compound semiconductor and that has a cross-shaped pattern. This magnetic sensitive portion includes input terminals and output terminals. At least one of input terminals of the input terminal is series-connected to a trimming portion having a compound semiconductor via a connection electrode. By performing laser trimming on the trimming portion series-connected via the connection electrode to the magnetic sensitive portion while performing a wafer probing (electric test), the adjustment of the constant voltage sensitivity is provided.

Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field sensing element output signal in response to a magnetic field. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a threshold control node configured to receive a control signal from outside of the integrated magnetic field sensor, wherein the integrated magnetic field sensor is configured to provide an adjustable threshold signal in response to the control signal. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a comparator having a first input node coupled to receive a first signal representative of the magnetic field sensing element output signal, a second input node coupled to receive a second signal representative of the adjustable threshold signal, and an output node at which is generated an output signal responsive to the first and second signals.

Abstract: A sensor unit includes a printed circuit board, a Hall IC, a terminal member, and a capacitor. The printed circuit board has a conductive pattern. The Hall IC is disposed on the printed circuit board. The Hall IC includes an element part that detects magnetic flux. The element part is arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board and is away from the conductive pattern. The terminal member is disposed on an end portion of the printed circuit board and is configured to be electrically coupled with an external device. The capacitor is disposed on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A motor rotation angle sensor includes a plurality of Hall elements and a plurality of switches, each a which is able to interrupt supply of power for operating a corresponding one of these Hall elements.

Abstract: A biosensor includes a magnetic structure having grooved surface to biologically bond magnetic labels to a biological substance within the grooves. The grooves are positioned within the magnetic structure so that stray magnetic fields from the magnetic structure magnetize magnetic labels within the groove. The magnetic labels may be magnetic nanoparticles or magnetic microbeads. The techniques may reduce or eliminate the usage of any external magnetic field generator, e.g., electromagnets or current lines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for measuring currents or magnetic fields using at least one Hall sensor, which is operated with spinning current technology. In addition to first sample values for calculating a spinning current measurement value (6), second sample values are formed from the digitally converted sensor signals (1) of the Hall sensor in the method. The second sample values are formed over shorter periods of time (9) and are corrected with an offset, which is calculated from the spinning current measurement value (6) and the first sample values. In addition to the precise spinning current measurement value (6), fast offset-corrected measurement values (10) of the magnetic field or current are obtained using the method and the associated device, without elaborate calibration or additional analogue circuitry expenses.

Abstract: Hybrid magnetic current sensors and sensing apparatus are presented with closed-loop and open-loop circuitry employs first and second integrated magnetic sensors to sense a magnetic field in a magnetic core structure gap to provide high accuracy current measurement via a closed-loop magnetic circuit with the first sensor in a nominal current range as well as open-loop current measurement using the second sensor in an extended second range to accommodate over-current conditions in a host system as well as to provide redundant current sensing functionality.

Abstract: A current detection busbar has a penetrating portion that penetrates a hole portion of a magnetic core and two flat plate-like terminal portions that are respectively continuous with opposite sides of the penetrating portion. The terminal portions have a larger width and a smaller thickness than the penetrating portion. An insulating casing has busbar holes that are penetrated by the respective terminal portions of the current detection busbar. An edge portion of each busbar hole is constituted by flat surfaces that face the terminal portion with a gap left between each flat surface and the terminal portion, a plurality of projecting portions that sandwich the terminal portion while coming into contact with the front and back surfaces of the terminal portion, and curved surfaces that face respective corner portions of the terminal portion with a gap left between each curved surface and the corresponding corner portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor (20) comprising: a Hall-effect probe (20) fastened only by way of its connection pins (22) and comprising a sensing element (23); a magnet (30) having a cavity (32) having a base (31), and in which cavity the sensing element (23) is housed; and a cylindrical hole (33) having an axis (34) and which extends from said base (31) toward the interior of the magnet (30), the Hall-effect probe being capable of moving inside the cavity (32).

Abstract: A magnetic sensor device is connectable to a data processing device and is a circuitry physically separate from the data processing device. In the magnetic sensor device, a detection unit detects magnetic field and outputs analog magnetic data representing the detected magnetic field. A conversion unit converts the analog magnetic data into digital magnetic data. A buffer memory has a capacity capable of storing a statistical population formed of a given number of the digital magnetic data. A control unit responds to a first trigger for operating the detection unit to successively output the analog magnetic data, then successively receives the digital magnetic data from the conversion unit in correspondence to the analog magnetic data, and accumulates the received digital magnetic data in the buffer memory to thereby form the statistical population.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, devices, sensors, and other implementations, including a programmable sensor system that includes a variable voltage source (“VVS”) to receive an external input voltage and provide a variable output voltage from the input voltage, the VVS configured to be controlled to adjust behavior of the VVS, and a programmable sensor coupled to an output of the VVS to receive the variable output voltage. The sensor is configured to be programmed when a programming voltage of at least a predetermined level is provided by the VVS to power the sensor, and to perform regular sensor operations when regular-operation voltage is provided by the VVS to power the sensor. The sensor system further includes a controller to cause controllable adjustment of the VVS to provide the programming voltage for a predetermined period of time to power the sensor so as to cause the sensor to be programmed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automated measurement of the residual magnetic field strength of magnetized ferromagnetic workpieces, especially steel tubes, the residual magnetic field exiting the face of the tube end being measured by means of a measuring probe. Instead of directly measuring the residual field strength on the face, the curve of at least one magnetic field component is measured on the outer surface of the tube at least in the region of the tube ends and beyond the tube ends and the residual field strength on the face is inferred on the basis of the previously determined correlations between the residual field strength measured on the face and on the tube surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic field sensor is configured to detect a ferromagnetic object. The magnetic field sensor includes a magnet that includes two North regions and two South regions configured to generate opposing directions of magnetization to form a magnetic flux. The magnetic field sensor also includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate an is output signal responsive to changes in the magnetic flux caused by movement of the ferromagnetic object.