Linearization of magnetic sensor output based on continuous correction of high order voltage output components

An integrated circuit (IC) configured to perform a method for correcting an output signal provided by a magnetoresistive sensor in the presence of an external magnetic field, the method comprising:

• determining a deviation of the output signal from a linear response based on an amplitude of a high order component signal of an output voltage of the magnetoresistive sensor, wherein the amplitude of the high order component signal of the output voltage is representative of contributions to the output voltage by non-linear components, wherein the amplitude of the high order component signal of the output voltage increases with an increase in an applied magnetic field to the magnetoresistive sensor;
• determining a corrected output signal by compensating the output signal for the high order component signal such that the corrected output signal has a linearity error smaller than the linearity error of the output signal, wherein compensating the output signal includes adding an additional signal derived from the output signal;
• and
• determining a selected signal to output via at least one comparator disposed on the integrated circuit by:
• comparing an output signal segment of the output signal and a segment transition threshold via the at least one comparator, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to output the output signal when the output signal segment is greater than a segment transistor threshold;
• and
• comparing between a corrected output signal segment of the corrected output signal and the segment transistor threshold via the at least one comparator, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to output the corrected output signal when the corrected output signal segment is greater than the segment transistor threshold.

An integrated circuit (IC), configured to perform a correction method provided by a magnetoresistive sensor in the presence of an external magnetic field, the method comprising:

• determining a deviation of an output signal from a linear response based on an amplitude of a high order component signal of an output voltage of the magnetoresistive sensor, wherein the amplitude of the high order component signal of the output voltage is representative of contributions to the output voltage by non-linear components, wherein the amplitude of the high order component signal of the output voltage increases with an increase in an applied magnetic field to the magnetoresistive sensor;
• determining a corrected output signal by compensating the output signal for the high order component signal such that the corrected output signal has a linearity error smaller than the linearity error of the output signal;
• determining an additional signal such that the additional signal is close to or equal to a negative value of the high order component signal;
• wherein said determining a corrected output signal comprises compensating the output signal for the high order component signal by adding the additional signal to the output signal;
• and
• determining a selected signal to output via at least one comparator disposed on the IC by:
• comparing an output signal segment of the output signal and a segment transition threshold via the at least one comparator, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to output the output signal when the output signal segment is greater than a segment transistor threshold;
• and
• comparing between a corrected output signal component and the segment transistor threshold via the at least one comparator, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to output the corrected output signal when the corrected output signal segment is greater than the segment transistor threshold

A characterization method to derive common parameters for a plurality of magnetoresistive sensors, wherein the common parameters are used when performing a correction method provided by a magnetoresistive sensor in the presence of an external magnetic field, the method comprising:

• determining a deviation of the output signal from a linear response based on an amplitude of a high order component signal of an output voltage of the magnetoresistive sensor, wherein the amplitude of the high order component signal of the output voltage is representative of contributions to the output voltage by non-linear components, wherein the amplitude of the high order component signal of the output voltage increases with an increase in an applied magnetic field to the magnetoresistive sensor;
• and
• determining a corrected output signal by compensating the output signal for the high order component signal such that the corrected output signal has a linearity error smaller than the linearity error of the output signal;
• the method further comprising determining an additional signal such that the additional signal is close to or equal to a negative value of the high order component signal;
• wherein said determining a corrected output signal comprises compensating the output signal for the high order component signal by adding the additional signal to the output signal.