Magneto-resistive sensor with test mode activation
First Claim
1. Magneto-resistive sensor, comprising:
- a first plurality of first magneto-resistive elements;
a second plurality of second magneto-resistive elements;
a first signal processing unit which is connected to the first plurality of first magneto-resistive elements for generating a first output signal;
wherein the first output signal has a first phase;
a second signal processing unit which is connected to the second plurality of second magneto-resistive elements for generating a second output signal;
wherein the second output signal has a second phase;
wherein the sensor has an operation mode and a test mode;
a third signal processing unit for processing the first and second output signals;
wherein the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate one of the operation mode and the test mode on the basis of the first and second output signals; and
wherein, when the first and second plurality of first and second magneto-resistive elements are exposed to an homogeneous magnetic field, the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate the test mode.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to an example embodiment, there is a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor having an operation mode and a test mode. The MR sensors comprise a first plurality of first MR elements and a second plurality of second MR elements. A first signal processing unit is connected to the first plurality of first MR elements for generating a first output signal; the first output signal has a first phase. As second signal processing unit is connected to the second plurality of second MR elements for generating a second output signal; the second output signal has a second phase. There is a third signal processing unit or processing the first and second output signals; the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate one of the operation mode and the test mode on the basis of the first and second output signals. When the first and second plurality of first and second MR elements are exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field, the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate the test mode.
-
Citations
6 Claims
-
1. Magneto-resistive sensor, comprising:
-
a first plurality of first magneto-resistive elements;
a second plurality of second magneto-resistive elements;a first signal processing unit which is connected to the first plurality of first magneto-resistive elements for generating a first output signal; wherein the first output signal has a first phase; a second signal processing unit which is connected to the second plurality of second magneto-resistive elements for generating a second output signal; wherein the second output signal has a second phase; wherein the sensor has an operation mode and a test mode; a third signal processing unit for processing the first and second output signals; wherein the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate one of the operation mode and the test mode on the basis of the first and second output signals; and wherein, when the first and second plurality of first and second magneto-resistive elements are exposed to an homogeneous magnetic field, the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate the test mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. Method of operating a magneto-resistive sensor, the magneto-resistive sensor comprising:
-
a first plurality of first magneto-resistive elements; a second plurality of second magneto-resistive elements;
a first signal processing unit which is connected to the first plurality of first magneto-resistive elements for generating a first output signal;wherein the first output signal has a first phase;
a second signal processing unit which is connected to the second plurality of second magneto-resistive elements for generating a second output signal;wherein the second output signal has a second phase;
wherein the sensor has an operation mode and a test mode;
a third signal processing unit for processing the first and second output signals; andwherein the third signal processing unit is adapted to activate one of the operation mode and the test mode on the basis of the first and second output signals;
the method comprising the step of;activating the test mode when an homogeneous magnetic field is applied to the first and second plurality of first and second magneto-resistive elements.
-
Specification