Magnetic field sensor with a hall element
US7872322B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 25, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N52/101
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A symmetrical vertical Hall element comprises a well of a first conductivity type that is embedded in a substrate of a second conductivity type and which is contacted by four contacts serving as current and voltage contacts. From the electrical point of view, such a Hall element with four contacts can be regarded as a resistance bridge formed by four resistors R1 to R4 of the Hall element. From the electrical point of view, the Hall element is then regarded as ideal when the four resistors R1 to R4 have the same value. The invention suggests a series of measures in order to electrically balance the resistance bridge. A first measure exists in providing at least one additional resistor. A second measure exists in locally increasing or reducing the electrical conductivity of the well. A third measure exists in providing two Hall elements that are electrically connected in parallel in such a way that their Hall voltages are equidirectional and their offset voltages are largely compensated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.