Sensor Arrangement and Method for Operating a Sensor Arrangement

• US 20110273173A1
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ams AG (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: ams AG (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: RIEDMUELLER, Kurt, OSWALD, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 9,217,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/244
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/008 with calibration coefficients stored in memory
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06

Abstract

A sensor arrangement comprises at least one magnetic-field sensor (SM1). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) over the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement. An adjustment circuit (DSPL) is set up to generate a correction signal (COR) as a function of the minimum and maximum signals (MIN, MAX). A first combination means (ADD1) couples the first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the input side to the adjustment circuit (DSPL) and connects the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the output side to a signal output (OUT).

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement, comprising:

at least one magnetic-field sensor;

a signal-processing unit that is set up to determine a minimum signal and a maximum signal of the magnetic-field sensor over the full scale range of the sensor arrangement;

an adjustment circuit that is set up to generate a correction signal as a function of the minimum and maximum signals; and

a first combination means that couples, on the input side, the first magnetic-field sensor to the adjustment circuit and connects, on the output side, the first magnetic-field sensor to a signal output of the signal-processing unit.

2. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the signal-processing unit is connected by means of the signal output to a computation unit, and wherein the computation unit is coupled by means of an interface to the adjustment circuit.

3. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the signal-processing unit has a signal input, the signal output and an offset output, and wherein a second combination means couples, on the input side, the offset output and the adjustment circuit and is connected, on the output side, to the first combination means.

4. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment circuit comprises a comparison means that compares the minimum signal with a lower full scale range limit, and the maximum signal with an upper full scale range limit.

5. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein:

a switching device is coupled between the first magnetic-field sensor and the first combination means and is set up to derive a first and second phase signal of the first magnetic-field sensor, and

the adjustment circuit is set up to generate the correction signal as a function of the first and second phase signals.

6. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the correction signal is inverted synchronously with the first and second phase signals.

7. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, comprising:

a sensor array formed of at least the first magnetic-field sensor and a second magnetic-field sensor, and

a selection means, by means of which the first or second magnetic-field sensor can be selected as a function of the minimum and maximum signal.

8. A method for operating a sensor arrangement, comprising:

determining a minimum signal and a maximum signal of the magnetic-field sensor over a full scale range of the sensor arrangement;

generating a correction signal as a function of the minimum signal and the maximum signal; and

correcting measurement signals of the magnetic-field sensor with the correction signal.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein:

the minimum signal is compared with a lower full scale range limit, and the maximum signal is compared with an upper full scale range limit, and

the correction signal is generated as a function of the comparison of the minimum signal with the lower full scale range limit and the maximum signal with the upper full scale range limit.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the correction signal is generated as a function of a first and a second phase signal of the first magnetic-field sensor.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the correction signal is inverted synchronously with the first and second phase signals of the magnetic-field sensor.