Circuits And Methods Using Adjustable Feedback For Self-Calibrating Or Self-Testing A Magnetic Field Sensor With An Adjustable Time Constant

• US 20130214774A1
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allegro Microsystems Incorporated (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Allegro Microsystems Incorporated (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Cesaretti, Juan Manuel, Romero, Hernan D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,201,122 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/251
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0023 Electronic aspects, e.g. circuits for stimulation, evaluation, control; Treating the measured signals; calibration G01R33/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0035 Calibration of single magnetic sensors, e.g. integrated calibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0041 using feed-back or modulation techniques

Abstract

A magnetic field sensor includes a reference-field-sensing circuit channel that allows a self-test or a self-calibration of the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor. The self-test or the self calibration can have at least two different bandwidths that provide a respective at least two different rates of self-test or self-calibration.

Claims

1. A magnetic field sensor, comprising:

a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field;

a primary circuit path coupled to receive and to process the magnetic field signal, the primary circuit path comprising a circuit parameter;

a clock frequency generator configured to generate a redistribution clock signal with a first redistribution clock frequency during a first time period and with a second different redistribution clock frequency during a second time period;

a feedback circuit path coupled at both ends to the primary circuit path and forming a feedback loop, wherein the feedback circuit path comprises;

a switched capacitor circuit coupled to receive the redistribution clock signal, the switched capacitor circuit forming an integrator, the switched capacitor circuit comprising a selectable unity gain frequency having a first unity gain frequency related to the first redistribution clock frequency during the first time period and having a second unity gain frequency related to the second redistribution clock frequency during the second time period, wherein the feedback circuit is configured to generate an output signal coupled to control the circuit parameter.

2. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1, wherein the clock frequency generator is further configured to generate a sample clock signal with a sample clock frequency during the first and second time periods, wherein the switched capacitor circuit is coupled to receive the sample clock signal, and wherein the switched capacitor circuit further comprises a notch characteristic, the notch characteristic having a notch frequency related to the redistribution clock frequency.

3. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the second redistribution clock frequency is lower than the first redistribution clock frequency.

4. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the clock frequency generator is configured to generate the redistribution clock signal with more than two redistribution clock frequencies at a respective more than two different times.

5. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the first time period begins at a time proximate to a startup of the magnetic field sensor, and wherein the second time period begins at a time proximate to an end of the first time period.

6. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensor is disposed proximate to a target object, wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to sense a movement of the target object, wherein the first time period begins at a time proximate to a first movement of the target object, and wherein the second time period begins at a time proximate to an end of the first time period.

7. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the circuit parameter controlled by the feedback circuit comprises a sensitivity of the primary circuit path to the magnetic field.

8. The magnetic field sensor of claim 7, further comprising a drive circuit configured to generate a voltage signal or a current signal, wherein the magnetic field sensing element is coupled receive the voltage signal or the current signal, wherein the feedback circuit is configured to control the voltage signal or the current signal to control the sensitivity of the primary circuit path to the magnetic field.

9. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the circuit parameter controlled by the feedback circuit comprises an offset voltage of the primary circuit path.

10. The magnetic field sensor of claim 9, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises an offset circuit configured to generate a control voltage, wherein the primary circuit path further comprises an amplifier coupled to receive the control voltage, wherein the feedback circuit is configured to control the control voltage to control the offset voltage of the primary circuit path.

11. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the first unity gain frequency and the second unity gain frequency are selected to provide loop stability.

12. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensing element comprises at least two Hall effect elements.

13. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensing element comprises at least two magnetoresistance elements.

14. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2, wherein the magnetic field sensing element comprises at least two magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the primary circuit path further comprises:

a first switching circuit coupled to the at least two magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the first switching circuit is configured to couple the at least two magnetic field sensing elements into a measured-field-sensing configuration and into a reference-field-sensing configuration, wherein the first switching circuit is operable to switch back and forth alternately between the measured-field-sensing configuration and the reference-field-sensing configuration at a first switching rate to provide the magnetic field signal, wherein the first switching circuit is configured to generate the magnetic field signal comprising;

a measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion responsive to a measured magnetic field when coupled in the measured-field-sensing configuration; and

a reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion responsive to a reference magnetic field when coupled in the reference-field-sensing configuration.

15. The magnetic field sensor of claim 14, wherein the reference magnetic field comprises first and second reference magnetic fields pointing in opposite directions at locations of selected ones of the at least two magnetic field sensing elements, the magnetic field sensor further comprising:

a magnetic field generator operable to generate the first and second reference magnetic fields.

16. The magnetic field sensor of claim 15, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises:

at least two reference field conductor portions, each proximate to a respective one of the at least two magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions are configured to carry a reference current to generate the reference magnetic field, wherein the reference magnetic field comprises at least two reference magnetic field portions having respective magnetic field directions directed in opposite directions.

17. The magnetic field sensor of claim 16, wherein the primary circuit path further comprises:

a second switching circuit coupled to provide the reference current, wherein the second switching circuit is operable to alternately switch the reference current between a first reference current direction and a second opposite reference current direction synchronously with the first switching rate.

18. The magnetic field sensor of claim 16,

wherein the magnetic field signal, during measurement time periods, is representative of the measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion and, during reference time periods interleaved with the measurement time periods at a rate synchronous with the first switching rate, is representative of the reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion, wherein

the primary circuit path is time multiplexed to select and to process the signal representative of the measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion during the measurement time periods, and wherein

the feedback circuit path is time multiplexed to select and to process the signal representative of the reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion during the reference time periods.

19. The magnetic field sensor of claim 18, wherein the primary circuit path is configured to generate a first sensor output signal representative of the measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion, and wherein the feedback circuit path is configured to generate a second different sensor output signal representative of the reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion.

20. The magnetic field sensor of claim 16, wherein the first switching circuit is configured to couple the at least two magnetic field sensing elements to have respective opposite directions of responses to a magnetic field when coupled in the reference-field-sensing configuration, and wherein the first switching circuit is configured to couple the at least two magnetic field sensing elements to have respective same directions of responses to a magnetic field when coupled in the measured-field-sensing configuration.

21. The magnetic field sensor of claim 16, wherein the at least two magnetic field sensing elements are supported by a substrate, and wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions comprise a conductor supported by the substrate and proximate to the magnetic field sensing element.

22. The magnetic field sensor of claim 21, wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions span more than one metal layer supported by the substrate.

23. The magnetic field sensor of claim 16, wherein the at least two magnetic field sensing elements are supported by a substrate, and wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions comprise a conductor separate from but proximate to the substrate.

24. The magnetic field sensor of claim 16, wherein the measured magnetic field is generated by a measured current carried by a measured-current conductor.

25. A method of adjusting a rate of a calibration or a rate of a self-test of a magnetic field sensor, comprising:

generating, with a magnetic field sensing element, a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field;

receiving and processing the magnetic field signal with a primary circuit path comprising a circuit parameter;

generating a redistribution clock signal with a first redistribution clock frequency during a first time period and a with a second different redistribution clock frequency during a second time period;

generating an output signal coupled to control the circuit parameter with a feedback circuit path coupled at both ends to the primary circuit path and forming a feedback loop, wherein the feedback circuit path comprises;

a switched capacitor circuit coupled to receive the redistribution clock signal, the switched capacitor circuit forming an integrator, the switched capacitor circuit comprising a selectable unity gain frequency having a first unity gain frequency related to the first redistribution clock frequency during the first time period and having a second unity gain frequency related to the second redistribution clock frequency during the second time period.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

generating a sample clock signal with a sample clock frequency during the first and second time periods, wherein the switched capacitor circuit is coupled to receive the sample clock signal, and wherein the switched capacitor circuit further comprises a notch characteristic, the notch characteristic having a notch frequency related to the redistribution clock frequency.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the second redistribution clock frequency is lower than the first redistribution clock frequency.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the generating the redistribution clock signal comprises:

generating the redistribution clock signal with more than two redistribution clock frequencies at a respective more than two different times.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the first time period begins at a time proximate to a startup of the magnetic field sensor, and wherein the second time period begins at a time proximate to an end of the first time period.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the magnetic field sensor is disposed proximate to a target object, wherein the first time period begins at a time proximate to a first movement of the target object, and wherein the second time period begins at a time proximate to an end of the first time period.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the circuit parameter controlled by the output signal comprises a sensitivity of the primary circuit path to the magnetic field.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the circuit parameter controlled by the feedback circuit comprises an offset voltage of the primary circuit path.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the first unity gain frequency and the second unity gain frequency are selected to provide loop stability.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the magnetic field sensing element comprises at least two Hall effect elements.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the magnetic field sensing element comprises at least two magnetoresistance elements.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the magnetic field sensing element comprises at least two magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the receiving and the processing the magnetic field signal with the primary circuit path further comprises:

coupling, with a first switching circuit, the at least two magnetic field sensing elements into a measured-field-sensing configuration and into a reference-field-sensing configuration, wherein the coupling, with the first switching circuit, is operable to switch back and forth alternately between the measured-field-sensing configuration and the reference-field-sensing configuration at a first switching rate to provide the magnetic field signal comprising;

a measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion responsive to a measured magnetic field when coupled in the measured-field-sensing configuration; and

a reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion responsive to a reference magnetic field when coupled in the reference-field-sensing configuration.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the reference magnetic field comprises first and second reference magnetic fields pointing in opposite directions at locations of selected ones of the at least two magnetic field sensing elements.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

generating the reference magnetic field with a magnetic field generator comprising;

at least two reference field conductor portions, each proximate to a respective one of the at least two magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions are configured to carry a reference current to generate the reference magnetic field, wherein the reference magnetic field comprises at least two reference magnetic field portions having respective magnetic field directions directed in opposite directions.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

alternately switching, with a second switching circuit, the reference current between a first reference current direction and a second opposite reference current direction synchronously with the first switching rate.

40. The method claim 38,

wherein the magnetic field signal, during measurement time periods, is representative of the measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion and, during reference time periods interleaved with the measurement time periods at a rate synchronous with the first switching rate, is representative of the reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion, wherein

the primary circuit path is time multiplexed to select and to process the signal representative of the measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion during the measurement time periods, and wherein

the feedback circuit path is time multiplexed to select and to process the signal representative of the reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion during the reference time periods.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the primary circuit path is configured to generate a first sensor output signal representative of the measured-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion, and wherein the feedback circuit path is configured to generate a second different sensor output signal representative of the reference-magnetic-field-responsive signal portion.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the coupling, with the first switching circuit, comprises:

coupling the at least two magnetic field sensing elements to have respective opposite directions of responses to a magnetic field when coupled in the reference-field-sensing configuration; and

coupling the at least two magnetic field sensing elements to have respective same directions of responses to a magnetic field when coupled in the measured-field-sensing configuration.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least two magnetic field sensing elements are supported by a substrate, and wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions comprise a conductor supported by the substrate and proximate to the magnetic field sensing element.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions span more than one metal layer supported by the substrate.

45. The method of claim 38, wherein the at least two magnetic field sensing elements are supported by a substrate, and wherein the at least two reference field conductor portions comprise a conductor separate from but proximate to the substrate.

46. The method of claim 38, wherein the measured magnetic field is generated by a measured current carried by a measured-current conductor.