Magnetic Field Sensor With Shared Path Amplifier And Analog-To-Digital-Converter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A magnetic field sensor comprising:
- at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and to generate a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field; and
a signal path comprising an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during a measured time period and for processing the reference magnetic field signal to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether a fault is present during a non-overlapping reference time period.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for processing a signal comprise at least one circuit configured to generate a measured signal during a measured time period and a reference signal during a reference time period. Also included is at least one dual- or multi-path analog-to-digital converter comprising at least a first processing circuit configured to process the measured signal, at least a second processing circuit configured to process the reference signal, and a third processing circuit configured to process both the measured signal and the reference signal.
3 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A magnetic field sensor comprising:
-
at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and to generate a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field; and a signal path comprising an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during a measured time period and for processing the reference magnetic field signal to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether a fault is present during a non-overlapping reference time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A magnetic field sensor comprising:
-
at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and to generate a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field; a signal path comprising a shared portion for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during an measured time period and for processing the reference magnetic field signal to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether a fault is present during a non-overlapping reference time period and a dedicated portion for processing the measured magnetic field signal during the measured time period; and a controller configured to enable the dedicated signal path portion to process the reference magnetic field signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A magnetic field sensor comprising:
-
at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and to generate a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field; a signal path for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during an measured time period and for processing the reference magnetic field signal to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether a fault is present during a non-overlapping reference time period; and a diagnostic trim circuit configured to adjust a gain of the reference magnetic field signal, an offset of the reference magnetic field signal, or both. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A magnetic field sensor comprising:
-
at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and to generate a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field; a signal path comprising an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter for processing the measured magnetic field signal during a first time period to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field, and for processing the reference magnetic field signal during a second time period, the analog-to-digital converter comprising; a plurality of storage elements comprising at least a first storage element configured to process the measured magnetic field signal and a second storage element configured to process the reference magnetic field signal; wherein the analog-to-digital converter is responsive to the measured magnetic field signal to generate a digital measured magnetic field signal and responsive to the reference magnetic field signal to generate a digital reference magnetic field signal; a controller configured to switch the first storage element with the second storage element to enable the first storage element to process the reference magnetic field signal; and a comparator circuit to compare the reference magnetic field signal to a threshold value during the second time period to determine whether a fault is present. - View Dependent Claims (21)
-
-
22. A magnetic field sensor comprising:
-
means for generating a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field and generating a reference magnetic field signal responsive to a reference magnetic field; and means for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during a measured time period and for processing the reference magnetic field signal to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether a fault is present during a non-overlapping reference time period.
-
Specification