Sensor with a programmable switching threshold

A sensor with a programmable switching threshold, comprising:

• a sensing element having first and second measurement output terminals connected to a comparator;
• a signal generator for generating a reference signal changing in steps, which is fed to the comparator for comparison with measurement output signals from said first and second output terminals of the sensing element;
• an encoding unit with which a code is assignable to the values of the reference signal;
• a memory unit connected to the encoding unit for transferring the code, with the output of the comparator coupled to the encoding unit, said encoding unit responsive to said comparator output for applying an enable signal to said memory unit for permitting the transfer of the code.

A method of programming a switching threshold of a sensor, comprising the steps of:

• generating first and second output signals from a sensing element responsive to a predetermined measured quantity;
• generating a reference or current signal changing in steps from a signal generating means;
• applying said reference or current signal to one of said first and second output signals;
• comparing said applied reference or current signal with said first and second output signals to produce an output having a first state and a second state;
• assigning a code to the respective value of the reference or current signal;
• and storing that code at which the output of said comparison transitions from said first state to said second state.

A method of programming a switching threshold of a sensor comprising the steps of:

• comparing a first output signal from a sensing element with a second output signal from said sensing element combined with a reference signal changing in steps, said first and second output signals produced in response to a predetermined measured quantity;
• assigning a code to the respective value of the reference or current signal;
• storing that code at which the reference or current signal in combination with said second output signal corresponds to the first output signal;
• and
• wherein the programming of the switching threshold is started by entering a programming code assigned to the respective threshold.