Low offset spinning current hall plate and method to operate it
US8829900B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 1, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N52/101
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing the effect of contact resistances for Hall effect device contacts. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a Hall effect device comprising a plurality of force and sense contact pairs. The force and sense contact pairs comprise a force contact and a separate and distinct sense contact. The force contact is configured to act as a supply terminal that receive an input signal while the sense contact is configured act as an output terminal to provide an output signal indicative of a measured magnetic field value. By utilizing separate contacts for inputting a signal (e.g., an applied current) and reading out a signal (e.g., an induced voltage) the non-linearities generated by contact resistances may be removed, thereby minimizing the zero point offset voltage of the measured magnetic field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.