Hall element for detecting a magnetic field perpendicular to a substrate
First Claim
1. A Hall element comprising:
- a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having an upper surface and a side surface;
an insulator portion having a side surface adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer;
a first current supply portion of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion;
a pair of second current supply portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion; and
a pair of sensor portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion, wherein the first current supply portion is disposed between the sensor portions, the first current supply portion and the sensor portions are disposed between the second current supply portions, and the Hall element comprises means for inducing a Hall voltage between the sensor portions with magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer during current flowing between the first and second current supply portions along a current path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a Hall element, a semiconductor layer is surrounded by a first trench filled with an insulator. A first current supply portion of an n+-type semiconductor is disposed adjacent the semiconductor layer and the first trench. Second current supply portions are also disposed adjacent the semiconductor layer and the first trench and symmetrical with respect to the first current supply portion. Sensor portions of an n+-type semiconductor are disposed adjacent the semiconductor layer and the first trench at about the center between the first and second current supply portions, respectively. A magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer can be detected by the foregoing arrangement.
27 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A Hall element comprising:
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a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having an upper surface and a side surface; an insulator portion having a side surface adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer; a first current supply portion of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion; a pair of second current supply portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion; and a pair of sensor portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion, wherein the first current supply portion is disposed between the sensor portions, the first current supply portion and the sensor portions are disposed between the second current supply portions, and the Hall element comprises means for inducing a Hall voltage between the sensor portions with magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer during current flowing between the first and second current supply portions along a current path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A Hall element comprising:
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a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having an upper surface; and an insulator portion dividing the semiconductor layer into first and second current paths and providing a Hall current path between the first and second current paths, wherein the first and second current paths are substantially parallel with respect to one another so that a Hall current flows between the first and second current paths through the Hall current path when magnetic flux exists in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer during current flowing along the first and second current paths.
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19. A Hall element comprising:
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a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having an upper surface and a side surface; an insulator portion having a side surface adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer; a first current supply portion of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion; a pair of second current supply portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion so that a current between the first and second current supply portions has a current component perpendicular to a plane composed of an interface between the insulator portion and the semiconductor layer; and a pair of sensor portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion so that a Hall voltage is induced between the sensor portions with magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer during current flowing between the first and second current supply portions.
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20. A Hall element of a planar type semiconductor device comprising:
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a substrate including an insulator surface; a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type disposed on the insulator surface of the substrate and having an upper surface and a side surface; first and second current supply portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer so that current can flow between the first and second current supply portions; and sensor portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer so that a Hall voltage due to magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer can be induced between the sensor portions. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A current detector comprising:
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a magnetic yoke having a gap; a wire carrying an object current and winding around the magnetic yoke; and a Hall element including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having an upper surface and a side surface, an insulator portion having a side surface adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer, a first current supply portion of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion, a pair of second current supply portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion, and a pair of sensor portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the insulator portion, wherein the first current supply portion is disposed between the sensor portions, the first current supply portion and the sensor portions are disposed between the second current supply portions, and the Hall element comprises means for inducing a Hall voltage between the sensor portions with magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer during current flowing between the first and second current supply portions along a current path.
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23. A current detector comprising:
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a magnetic yoke having a gap; a wire carrying an object current and winding around the magnetic yoke; and a Hall element including a substrate including an insulator surface, a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type disposed on the insulator surface of the substrate and having an upper surface and a side surface, first and second current supply portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer so that current can flow between the first and second current supply portions, and sensor portions of the first conductivity type disposed adjacent the side surface of the semiconductor layer so that a Hall voltage due to magnetic flux perpendicular to the upper surface of the semiconductor layer can be induced between the sensor portions.
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Specification