Magnetically controllable electronic switch
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsWolfgang Radziwill, Gunter Doring, Hans Steinbusch
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Abstract
A magnetically controllable electronic switch in the form of an integrated semiconductor circuit comprises a first switching path between a first input terminal and an output terminal and a second switching path between a second input terminal and the output terminal. The two switching paths are controllable by a magnetic field in such a way that either the one or the other switching path is closed and the two switching paths are open in the transition range between these two modes. Such a switch is particularly suitable for use as an electronic commutator for small electric motors.
Claims16
A magnetically controllable integrated circuit electronic switch comprising, a Hall element exhibiting an offset corresponding to a magnetic field having a value B.sub.o and adapted to be controlled by a magnetic field having a component B normal to the Hall element, first and second electric supply input terminals and an output terminal, first and second electric switching paths coupled between the first and second supply input terminals and the output terminal, respectively, with each of said switching paths exhibiting a threshold (.DELTA.B/2).gtoreq.0, and means including said Hall element for controlling said first and second switching paths so that exposure of the Hall element to said magnetic field with said normal component B causes the first switching path to be closed if B>B.sub.0 +(.DELTA.B/2) and the second switching path to be closed if B<B.sub.0 -(.DELTA.B/2), and wherein the first and second switching paths are both open if .vertline.B-B.sub.0 .vertline.<(.DELTA.B/2).times..GAMMA., wherein 0<.epsilon.<1 and .GAMMA. is a factor taking into account the transition between open and closed conditions of said switching paths.
A magnetically controllable electronic switch comprising, a Hall element exhibiting an offset corresponding to a magnetic field B.sub.0 and adapted to be controlled by a magnetic field having a component B normal to the Hall element, first and second input terminals adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy, an output terminal for connection to a load, first and second circuit paths coupled between said first and second input terminals and the output terminal, respectively, with each of said circuit paths including a switching transistor and each path exhibiting a threshold (.DELTA.B/2).gtoreq.0, and means including said Hall element for controlling said first and second circuit paths so that exposure of the Hall element to said magnetic field with said normal component B causes the first circuit path to be closed if B>B.sub.0 +(.DELTA.B/2) and the second circuit path to be closed if B<B.sub.0 -(.DELTA.B/2), and wherein the first and second circuit paths are both open if .vertline.B-B.sub.0 .vertline.<(.DELTA.B/2).times..epsilon., wherein 0<.epsilon.<1 and the output terminal is connected to either the first or second input terminals or is disconnected from both input terminals as a function of the magnetic field B.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.