# US 11,079,447 B2 · Magnetic sensor with an asymmetric wheatstone bridge > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,079,447 B2 - Document ID: US11079447B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/007,164 - Filed: 2020-08-31 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-07 - Assignees: Infineon Technologies AG - Applicants: Infineon Technologies AG - Inventors: Simon Hainz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079447B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/093: {using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors (thin magnetic films H01F10/00)} - H01F 7/0294: {Detection, inspection, magnetic treatment} - G01R 33/09: Magnetoresistive devices - G01R 33/091: {Constructional adaptation of the sensor to specific applications} - H01F 7/0273: {Magnetic circuits with PM for magnetic field generation} - G01R 33/0023: {Electronic aspects, e.g. circuits for stimulation, evaluation, control; Treating the measured signals; calibration (G01R33/0017 takes precedence)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - H01F: MAGNETS; INDUCTANCES; TRANSFORMERS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR MAGNETIC PROPERTIES ## Abstract Magnetic sensors, sensor modules, and methods thereof are provided. A magnetic sensor includes a sensor arrangement including a plurality of magnetic field sensor elements electrically arranged in an asymmetrical bridge circuit, where a first total resistance of a first pair of sensor elements provided on a first side of the asymmetrical bridge circuit is different from a second total resistance of a second pair of sensor elements provided on a second side of the asymmetrical bridge circuit, and the asymmetrical bridge circuit is configured to generate a differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the plurality of magnetic field sensor elements in response to a magnetic field impinging thereon. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic sensor, comprising: a first sensor arrangement including a first plurality of magnetic field sensor elements electrically arranged in a first asymmetrical bridge circuit, wherein a first total resistance of a first pair of magnetic field sensor elements is different from a second total resistance of a second pair of magnetic field sensor elements, wherein the first asymmetric bridge circuit includes a first leg and a second leg connected in parallel between a first supply terminal and a second supply terminal, wherein both the first leg and the second leg extend from the first supply terminal to the second supply terminal, wherein the first leg includes a first magnetic field sensor element of the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements and a first magnetic field sensor element of the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements, wherein the second leg includes a second magnetic field sensor element of the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements and a second magnetic field sensor element of the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements, and wherein the first asymmetrical bridge circuit is configured to generate a first differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the first plurality of magnetic field sensor elements in response to a magnetic field impinging thereon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The magnetic sensor of claim 1, wherein: resistance values of the first and the second magnetic field sensor elements of the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements are equal, and resistance values of the first and the second magnetic field sensor elements of the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are equal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The magnetic sensor of claim 1, wherein: resistance values of the first magnetic field sensor element of the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements and the first magnetic field sensor element of the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are equal, and resistance values of the second magnetic field sensor element of the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements and the second magnetic field sensor element of the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are equal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The magnetic sensor of claim 1, further comprising a monocell sensor arrangement comprising a monocell magnetic field sensor element arranged at a center position, wherein the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a lateral distance in a first lateral direction, and wherein the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by the lateral distance in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The magnetic sensor of claim 1, further comprising: a second sensor arrangement including a second plurality of magnetic field sensor elements electrically arranged in a second asymmetrical bridge circuit, wherein a third total resistance of a third pair of magnetic field sensor elements is different from a fourth total resistance of a fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements, wherein the second asymmetric bridge circuit includes a third leg and a fourth leg connected in parallel between the first supply terminal and the second supply terminal, wherein both the third leg and the fourth leg extend from the first supply terminal to the second supply terminal, wherein the third leg includes a first magnetic field sensor element of the third pair of magnetic field sensor elements and a first magnetic field sensor element of the fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements, wherein the fourth leg includes a second magnetic field sensor element of the third pair of magnetic field sensor elements and a second magnetic field sensor element of the fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements, and wherein the second asymmetrical bridge circuit is configured to generate a second differential signal based on sensor signals generated by the second plurality of magnetic field sensor elements in response to a magnetic field impinging thereon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The magnetic sensor of claim 5, wherein the first pair and the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from a center position further than the third pair and the fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The magnetic sensor of claim 6, wherein: the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a first lateral distance in a first lateral direction, the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by the first lateral distance in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction, the third pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a second lateral distance in the first lateral direction, and the fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a third lateral distance in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The magnetic sensor of claim 7, wherein the second lateral distance and the third lateral distance are the same. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The magnetic sensor of claim 7, wherein the second lateral distance and the third lateral distance are different. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The magnetic sensor of claim 5, wherein the first pair and the fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from a center position further than the second pair and the third pair of magnetic field sensor elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The magnetic sensor of claim 10, wherein: the first pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a first lateral distance in a first lateral direction, the second pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a second lateral distance in a second lateral direction that is opposite to the first lateral direction, the third pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a third lateral distance in the first lateral direction, and the fourth pair of magnetic field sensor elements are laterally spaced from the center position by a fourth lateral distance in the second lateral direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The magnetic sensor of claim 11, wherein: the first lateral distance and the fourth lateral distance are equal, the second lateral distance and the third lateral distance are equal, and the first lateral distance and the second lateral distance are different.