MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR

• US 20090281739A1
• Filed: 05/25/2007
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Boeve, Hans, Ikkink, Teunis
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,639 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/00 Compasses; Devices for ascertaining true or magnetic north for navigation or surveying purposes using gyroscopic effect G01C19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 17/38 Testing, calibrating, or compensating of compasses

Abstract

Magnetic field sensors (1) comprising field detectors (10) for detecting magnetic fields are provided with environment detectors (11) for detecting environments and with processors (12) for, in response to detected environments, performing processes such as loading calibration parameter sets and (re)calibrations for the field detectors (10), to allow the magnetic field sensors (1) to be used in different subsequent environments. The environment detectors (11) may comprise code detectors for detecting codes indicative for environments and may comprise user interfaces (13) for, in response to detected environments and via user interactions, selecting processes to be performed by the processors (12). Devices (2) comprise magnetic field sensors (1). Apparatuses (3) such as cradles removably fix the devices (2) and may comprise code generators (30) for generating the codes indicative for the environments.

Claims

1. A magnetic field sensor comprising:

a field detector for detecting a magnetic field and for, in response to a field detection result, outputting an indication signal,

an environment detector for detecting an environment and for, in response to a first environment detection result, outputting a first result signal and for, in response to a second environment detection result different from the first environment detection result, outputting a second result signal different from the first result signal, and

a processor for, in response to the first result signal, performing a first process for the field detector and for, in response to the second result signal, performing a second process for the field detector, which second process is different from the first process.

2. The magnetic field sensor according to the claim 1, at least one of the processes comprising the loading of a calibration parameter set.

3. The magnetic field sensor according to the claim 1, at least one of the processes comprising a calibration or a recalibration of the field detector.

4. The magnetic field sensor according to the claim 1, the environment detector being arranged to, in response to a third environment detection result, outputting a third result signal different from the first and second result signals, and the processor being arranged to, in response to the third result signal, performing a third process for the field detector, which third process is different from the first and second processes.

5. The magnetic field sensor according to the claim 1, the environment detector comprising a code detector for detecting a code indicative for the environment.

6. The magnetic field sensor according to the claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface for, in response to at least one result signal, selecting at least one process to be performed by the processor.

7. A device comprising the magnetic field sensor according to the claim 1.

8. An apparatus for removably fixing the device according to the claim 7.

9. The apparatus according to the claim 8, the apparatus being a cradle and the device being insertable into the cradle.

10. The apparatus according to the claim 8, further comprising a code generator for generating a code indicative for the environment.

11. A method for magnetic field sensing, comprising the steps of:

detecting a magnetic field and, in response to a field detection result, outputting an indication signal,

detecting an environment and, in response to a first environment detection result, outputting a first result signal and, in response to a second environment detection result different from the first environment detection result, outputting a second result signal different from the first result signal, and

in response to the first result signal, performing a first process for the field detection and, in response to the second result signal, performing a second process for the field detection, which second process is different from the first process.

12. A computer program product for performing the steps of the method according to the claim 11.

13. A medium for storing and comprising the computer program product according to the claim 12.