Magnetic field sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic compass comprising:
- a coil comprising a core and a pair of contacts, the core for alternating between a first magnetically saturated state and a second magnetically saturated state in response to a time-varying current signal applied to the contacts and an external magnetic field, the second magnetically saturated state having an opposite polarity to the first magnetically saturated state; and
, an integrated circuit comprising two contacts and disposed on a substrate, the contacts of the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the contacts of the coil, the two contacts of the integrated circuit both for providing the time-varying current signal and for receiving a time-varying voltage signal, the time-varying voltage signal having a duty cycle dependant upon an orientation of the coil relative to the external magnetic field.
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Abstract
An electronic compass featuring low power consumption and small die space requirements is disclosed. The compass features an electronic circuit that provides a controlled flow of electrical current to a coil. Additionally, the circuit monitors the coil to determine when the coil becomes magnetically saturated. The duration of the magnetic saturation is monitored to determine the presence and direction of an external magnetic field.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic compass comprising:
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a coil comprising a core and a pair of contacts, the core for alternating between a first magnetically saturated state and a second magnetically saturated state in response to a time-varying current signal applied to the contacts and an external magnetic field, the second magnetically saturated state having an opposite polarity to the first magnetically saturated state; and
,an integrated circuit comprising two contacts and disposed on a substrate, the contacts of the integrated circuit electrically coupled to the contacts of the coil, the two contacts of the integrated circuit both for providing the time-varying current signal and for receiving a time-varying voltage signal, the time-varying voltage signal having a duty cycle dependant upon an orientation of the coil relative to the external magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of determining a direction of the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field comprising:
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using an integrated circuit to provide a current signal to a coil via a pair of contacts, the coil comprising a core;
monitoring a voltage potential between the pair of contacts;
determining a duty cycle associated with a first electromagnetic saturation of the core, and a second electromagnetic saturation of the core, the second electromagnetic saturation of the core having an opposite polarity to the first electromagnetic saturation; and
,determining a direction based upon characteristics of the current signal, and the duty cycle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic component comprising:
an integrated circuit comprising two contacts and disposed on a substrate, the two contacts of the integrated circuit for being electrically coupled a pair of contacts of a coil, the two contacts of the integrated circuit both for providing a time-varying current signal and for receiving a time-varying voltage signal, the integrate circuit for use in determining an orientation relative to an external magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification