Method for evaluating signals of magnetoresistive sensors with high band width

• US 6,433,545 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lust Antriebstechnik GmbH (KLH Beteiligungs GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Lust Antriebstechnik GmbH (KLH Beteiligungs GmbH)
• Inventors: Dettmann, Fritz, Kunze, Jürgen, Schepp, Gunter, Loreit, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zaveri, Subhash
• Application Number:
  US09/744,570
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 324/252, 324/207.21, 324/225, 324/249, 324/250, 324/251, 324/255
• US Class Current: 324/252
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/09 Magnetoresistive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/096 anisotropic magnetoresistance sensors

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for evaluating signals while eliminating an interference signal on magnetoresistive sensor elements which is preferably proportional to the zero offset. The sensor elements can form a sensor element array such as a sensor bridge. According to the invention, the direction of magnetization of the sensor elements is modulated or shifted by applying a magnetic pulse field of a modulated or variable direction, and the output signals of the sensor elements or of the sensor element array are fed to a differential amplifier. Due to the modulation or shift of the operating voltage of the sensor bridge, the modulation or shift resulting at the same time as the magnetization of the sensor elements, a signal often arises which includes a direct component that is proportional to the magnetic field to be measured, and has an alternating component that is proportional to the offset voltage of the sensor element array. The latter is minimized by a feedback or is adjusted to zero. The bandwidth, with which the direct voltage that is proportional to the magnetic field to be measured can follow changes of the input signal, is greater in magnitude than the magnetization frequency of the sensor elements.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating signals with elimination of an interference signal proportional to the zero offset on a magnetoresistive sensor element, in which the directions of magnetization are reversed in said magnetoresistive sensor element having a Barber pole structure by application of a magnetic pulse field with an alternating direction, and an output voltage of said sensor element is fed to a differential amplifier, wherein the polarity of an operating voltage of said sensor element is changed at the cycle of said magnetic pulse field;

that said output voltage of said sensor element is amplified by said differential amplifier and fed back to a low-pass via a reversing switch controlled at the cycle of said magnetic pulse field, and from the output of said low-pass fed back inphase to the input of said differential amplifier via an amplifier and a second reversing switch controlled at the cycle of said magnetic pulse field; and

that the alternating component conditioned by the offset component of said output signal of said sensor element is controlled to zero in this way on the output of said differential amplifier.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a current proportional to said output signal of said differential amplifier is fed into a compensation conductor or a compensating coil located within the proximity of a sensor bridge;

and that said magnetic field of said input signal to be measured is controlled to zero in this way at the site of said sensor elements.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said compensating current flowing through said compensation conductor or said compensating coil is directly used as said output signal of the circuit.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein a voltage drop caused by a resistor connected in series with said compensation coil of said compensating circuit, is used as said output signal of the circuit.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the cycle frequency at which the magnetism of said magnetoresistive layer strips is reversed, and by which said reversing switches are controlled, is periodically varied in time.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a magnetoresistive sensor bridge is used for the measurement, with the output voltage of said sensor bridge being proportional to the magnetic field applied.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a magnetoresistive sensor bridge is used for the measurement, with the output voltage of said sensor bridge being proportional to a magnetic field gradient applied.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field to be measured, or the magnetic field gradient to be measured are generated by a current.

9. A device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein magnetoresistive sensor bridges are employed that contain in an integrated manner devices for generating a magnetism-reversing field.

10. A device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein magnetoresistive sensor bridges are employed which contain in an integrated manner devices for generating a compensating field.

11. A device for carrying out the method according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the electronics is integrated on a chip in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

12. The device for carrying out the method according to claim 11, wherein said magnetoresistive sensor is integrated on the same chip.