Hall-effect sensor having reduced edge effects and improved sensitivity
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Company
InventorNorman G. Dillman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Hall-effect sensor having a distributed array of current sources connected to an active region formed in a substrate of an integrated circuit. A corresponding array of current sinks is connected to the active region of the substrate opposite the current sources. When current flows in a path parallel to a first dimension of the active region from the current sources to the current sinks, a measurable Hall voltage develops across the active region if a magnetic field is passed through the sensor. This Hall voltage is measured by two terminals connected across a second dimension of the active region of the substrate. The measured Hall voltage sensitivity is very high according to this configuration.
Claims15
A Hall-effect sensor, comprising:
- a layer of semiconductor material of a first conductivity type;
- a region formed in said layer of a second conductivity type, wherein said region has first and second width edges and first and second length edges;
- a plurality of current sources electrically coupled to said region adjacent said first width edge;
- a plurality of current sinks electrically coupled to said region adjacent said second width edge,
- wherein during operation, said current sources and said current sinks cause electrical currents to flow through said region in a lengthwise manner substantially perpendicular to said width;
- a first Hall voltage contact electrically coupled to said region adjacent said first length edge;
- and
- a second Hall voltage contact electrically coupled to said region adjacent said second length edge,
- wherein during operation, when a magnetic field is passed through said region and said electrical currents are flowing through said region, a Hall voltage is generated in said region, said Hall voltage being detectable using said first and second Hall voltage contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.