Magnetic sensor system

A magnetic sensor system comprising:

• at least one magnetic sensor configured to generate a first detection signal having a correspondence with a component in a predetermined direction of an external magnetic field;
• an additional magnetic field generation section configured to generate at least one additional magnetic field for use in measuring a sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor;
• and
• a signal processing circuit configured to control the additional magnetic field generation section and process the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor, wherein
• the signal processing circuit is configured to perform sensitivity measurement processing and detection signal correction processing,
• the sensitivity measurement processing includes obtaining data concerning a change in the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor when the additional magnetic field generation section is controlled to generate the at least one additional magnetic field and measuring the sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor on the basis of the data,
• the detection signal correction processing includes performing, on the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor, processing for reducing a change component attributable to the at least one additional magnetic field, to generate at least one second detection signal,
• the signal processing circuit is configured to use the at least one second detection signal to generate a detection value having a correspondence with a physical quantity to be detected,
• the sensitivity measurement processing is performed when an activation condition is satisfied,
• the activation condition is that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a last correction function determination processing, and
• the correction function determination processing is a processing to determine a correction function for correcting the at least one second detection signal on the basis of a measurement result of a sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor obtained by the sensitivity measurement processing.

A magnetic sensor system comprising:

• at least one magnetic sensor configured to generate a first detection signal having a correspondence with a component in a predetermined direction of an external magnetic field;
• an additional magnetic field generation section configured to generate at least one additional magnetic field for use in measuring a sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor;
• and
• a signal processing circuit configured to control the additional magnetic field generation section and process the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor, wherein
• the signal processing circuit is configured to perform sensitivity measurement processing and detection signal correction processing,
• the sensitivity measurement processing includes obtaining data concerning a change in the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor when the additional magnetic field generation section is controlled to generate the at least one additional magnetic field and measuring the sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor on the basis of the data,
• the detection signal correction processing includes performing, on the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor, processing for reducing a change component attributable to the at least one additional magnetic field, to thereby generate at least one second detection signal,
• the signal processing circuit is configured to use the at least one second detection signal to generate a detection value having a correspondence with a physical quantity to be detected,
• the sensitivity measurement processing is performed when at least one of a first activation condition, a second activation condition, or a third activation condition is satisfied,
• the first activation condition is that a predetermined period of time has elapsed since a last correction function determination processing,
• the correction function determination processing is a processing to determine a correction function for correcting the at least one second detection signal on the basis of a measurement result of a sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor obtained by the sensitivity measurement processing,
• the second activation condition is that the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor has a value in a nonlinear region, and
• the third activation condition is that the first detection signal of the at least one magnetic sensor has a value outside a predefined use range.