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US 8,939,028 B2Granted
Integrated sensors and sensing methods
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorUdo Ausserlechner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments relate to integrated sensors and sensing methods. Embodiments relate to integrated sensor layouts. Embodiments are configured to maximize a ratio of sensor spacing over a die area. While being generally applicable to many different types of sensors, particular advantages can be presented for magnetoresistive (xMR) sensors.
Claims27
A sensor comprising:
- a substrate having a length axis, a width axis and a diagonal axis in a plane defining a surface, the diagonal axis being longer than the length axis and the width axis;
- signal conditioning circuitry arranged on the surface of the substrate;
- and
- at least two sensor elements coupled to the signal conditioning circuitry and arranged on the substrate spaced apart from one another along the diagonal axis, the sensor configured to determine a difference in a component of a characteristic along the length axis sensed at a first of the at least two sensor elements and a component of the characteristic along the length axis at a second of the at least two sensor elements the characteristic having components along both the length axis and the width axis.
1 more element
A sensor comprising:
- a substrate having four corners defining a surface having a length axis, a width axis and a diagonal axis, the diagonal axis being longer than the length axis and the width axis;
- signal conditioning circuitry arranged on the surface of the substrate;
- and
- at least two sensor elements coupled to the signal conditioning circuitry arranged on the substrate spaced apart from one another by at least two-thirds of the length axis and two-thirds of the width axis, the sensor configured to determine a difference in a component of a characteristic along the length axis sensed at a first of the at least two sensor elements and a component of the characteristic along the length axis at a second of the at least two sensor elements, the characteristic having components along both the length axis and the width axis.
1 more element
A method comprising:
- providing a substrate having at least four corners defining a surface having a length and a width;
- arranging on the substrate signal conditioning circuitry;
- and
- arranging on the substrate at least two sensor elements spaced apart from one another along a diagonal dimension defined between two of the four corners of the substrate;
- sensing a component of a characteristic along the length axis at a first of the at least two sensor elements and a component of the characteristic along the length axis at a second of the at least two sensor elements, the characteristic having components along both the length axis and the width axis;
- and
- determining a difference in the components of the characteristic sensed at the first and second of the at least two sensor elements.
4 more elements
A speed sensor system comprising:
- a magnetic target wheel configured to generate a field having components along both a length dimension and a width dimension of a die;
- and
- a sensor comprising at least two sensor elements arranged proximate a diagonal dimension of the die, the die having a diagonal dimension that is greater than the length and width dimensions, the sensor further comprising a package in which the die is arranged, the sensor arranged such that a direction of rotation of the target wheel is substantially aligned with the diagonal dimension of the die, wherein the each of the at least two sensor elements are configured to determine a component of the field along the length dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.