Magnetic field sensing device
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1. An integrated device for sensing external magnetic fields comprising:
- magnetic field sensing means having at least first and second magnetic field sensing elements and an output terminating region, said magnetic field sensing means being arranged to be sensitive to magnetic field components in a first direction and to provide an output signal at said output terminating region;
means for setting a direction of magnetization in said first magnetic field sensing element in a second direction and for setting a direction of magnetization in said second magnetic field sensing element in a third direction with said magnetic field sensing means providing an output signal at a first level; and
for reversing said directions of magnetization in said first and second magnetic field sensing elements with said magnetic field sensing means then providing an output signal at a second level with the difference between said first output signal at a first level and said second output signal at a second level being representative of said external magnetic field components in a first direction.
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Abstract
A self-contained magnetic field sensing device which has magnetic field sensing elements arranged in an electrical bridge network. An integral electrical conductor spaced from the sensing elements carries a current for setting and resetting the direction of magnetization of the sensing elements. A known magnetic field useful for test set up and calibration is provided at the sensing elements by a second integral electrical conductor.
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20 Claims
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1. An integrated device for sensing external magnetic fields comprising:
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magnetic field sensing means having at least first and second magnetic field sensing elements and an output terminating region, said magnetic field sensing means being arranged to be sensitive to magnetic field components in a first direction and to provide an output signal at said output terminating region; means for setting a direction of magnetization in said first magnetic field sensing element in a second direction and for setting a direction of magnetization in said second magnetic field sensing element in a third direction with said magnetic field sensing means providing an output signal at a first level; and
for reversing said directions of magnetization in said first and second magnetic field sensing elements with said magnetic field sensing means then providing an output signal at a second level with the difference between said first output signal at a first level and said second output signal at a second level being representative of said external magnetic field components in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for sensing an external magnetic field in a first direction, comprising:
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magnetic field sensing means having first, second, third, and fourth magnetoresistive elements, each of said magnetoresistive elements having first and second terminating regions, said first magnetoresistive element first terminating region being connected to said third magnetoresistive element first terminating region, said first magnetoresistive element second terminating region being connected to said second magnetoresistive element second terminating region, said third magnetoresistive element second terminating region being connected to said fourth magnetoresistive element second terminating region and said second magnetoresistive element first terminating region connected to said fourth magnetoresistive element first terminating region; means for producing a magnetic field in said first direction at said magnetoresistive elements; means for setting a second direction of magnetization in said first and third magnetic sensing elements and for setting a third direction of magnetization in said second and fourth magnetic sensing elements with said magnetic field sensing means providing an output signal at a first level, and for reversing said directions of magnetization in said first and third magnetic sensing elements and in said second and fourth magnetic sensing elements with said magnetic field sensing means then providing an output signal at a second level with the difference between said first output signal at a first level and said second output signal at a second level being representative of external magnetic field components in a first direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification