Quadrature detector with a hall effect element and a magnetoresistive element

Abstract

A position sensor is provided with the capability of detecting a quadrature signal by the provision of first and second magnetically sensitive devices. The first magnetically sensitive device comprises a Hall effect element or some other device which is capable of sensing strength of a component of a magnetic field which is perpendicular to a preselected plane. A second magnetically sensitive device is provided which is capable of sensing the component of a magnetic field lying in the same plane. In a preferred embodiment, the first magnetically sensitive device is a Hall effect element and the second magnetically sensitive device comprises at least one magnetoresistor. The first and second magnetically sensitive devices are disposed on a common substrate and arranged to have a common geometric center. When the device is associated with a moving target that comprises a plurality of magnetized regions, accurate determination is possible with respect to both the rate of movement and the direction of movement of the target.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.