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US 9,753,098 B2Granted
Magnetic sensor having enhanced linearization by applied field angle rotation
AssigneeAllegro MicroSystems, LLC
InventorAlexander Latham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for a current sensing device including a magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element positioned with respect to a shaped conductor such that an applied field generated by current through the shaped conductor forms an offset angle theta defined by the applied field and a field of a pinning layer of the magnetoresistive element. The offset angle increases a linearity of the device output for current in the shaped conductor flowing in a first direction. A further sensor can increase linearity in the opposite direction.
Claims34
A device, comprising:
- a first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element positioned with respect to a shaped conductor such that an applied field generated by current through the shaped conductor forms an offset angle theta defined by the applied field and a field of a pinning layer of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element, wherein the offset angle theta is greater than about five degrees to increase a linearity of an output of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element for current in the shaped conductor flowing in a first direction;
- and
- an output module to receive the linearized signal and provide a device output signal.
A device, comprising:
- a magnetic field sensor means for sensing current in a shaped conductor at an offset angle theta defined by the applied field and a field of a pinning layer of the first magnetic field sensor means, wherein the offset angle theta is greater than about five degrees to increase a linearity of an output of the first magnetic field sensor means for current in the shaped conductor flowing in a first direction;
- and
- an output module to receive the linearized signal and provide a device output signal.
A method, comprising:
- positioning a first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element with respect to a shaped conductor such that an applied field generated by current through the shaped conductor forms an offset angle theta defined by the applied field and a field of a pinning layer of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element, wherein the offset angle theta is greater than about five degrees to increase a linearity of an output of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element for current in the shaped conductor flowing in a first direction;
- and
- employing an output module to receive the linearized signal and provide a device output signal.
A device, comprising:
- a first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element positioned with respect to a shaped conductor such that an applied field generated by current through the shaped conductor forms an offset angle theta defined by the applied field and a field of a first pinned layer of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element, wherein the offset angle theta is greater than about five degrees to increase a linearity of an output of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element for current in the shaped conductor flowing in a first direction, wherein the output of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element increases in linearity as the applied field changes in a first direction and decreases in linearity as the applied field changes in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction;
- and
- an output module to receive the output of the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element and provide a device output signal,
- wherein the shaped conductor comprises an arcuate portion coupled at each end to respective linear portions, and wherein the first magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element comprises elements in a bridge configuration such that at least some of the elements in the bridge configuration are positioned on the arcuate portion of the shaped conductor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.