Back to results
US 10,094,889 B2Granted
Systems and arrangements of three-contact hall-effect devices and related methods
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorUdo Ausserlechner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments relate to vertical Hall effect devices comprising Hall effect structures with three contacts in each Hall effect region. In one embodiment, the contacts are interconnected with terminals such that the Hall effect device has symmetry and nominally identical internal resistances in the absence of externally applied magnetic fields. Embodiments are capable of operating in multiple operating phases, such that spinning can be used to measure field redundantly and improve magnetic field measurement accuracy.
Claims7
A method of sensing a magnetic field, the method comprising:
- operating a sensor system in a first operating phase, the sensor system comprising:
- a first Hall effect structure comprising first, second, and third contacts arranged adjacent to a first surface of a first Hall effect region;
- and
- a second Hall effect structure comprising fourth, fifth, and sixth contacts arranged adjacent to a second surface of a second Hall effect region;
- wherein operating the sensor system in the first operating phase comprises:
- causing current to flow between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein:
- the first terminal is connected to the first and sixth contacts;
- and
- the second terminal is connected to the third and fourth contacts;
- sensing a first output signal at a third terminal connected to the second contact, and wherein the third terminal is not connected to any of the fourth, fifth, and sixth contacts of the second Hall effect region;
- sensing a second output signal at a fourth terminal connected to the fifth contact;
- generating a first operating phase output signal related to the first output signal and the second output signal;
- operating the sensor system in a second operating phase comprising:
- causing current to flow between the third and fourth terminals;
- and
- generating a second operating phase output signal related to a third output signal sensed at the first terminal and a fourth output signal sensed at the second terminal;
- and
- combining the first operating phase output signal and the second operating phase output signal to generate a sensor output signal.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.