Digital magnetic current sensor and logic
First Claim
1. A sensor for sensing strength of a magnetic field under test, comprising:
- a sensor element, anddetection circuitry for detecting a level of resistance of the sensor element, the level of resistance varying with the magnetic field under test,wherein the variation of the level of resistance of the sensor element has hysteresis, so that upon electromagnetic excitation the resistance can switch between two or more stable levels, as the magnetic field under test varies, and the sensor outputs a digital signal according to the level of resistance.
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Abstract
A sensor for sensing magnetic field strength has a sensor element, and detection circuitry for detecting a level of resistance of the sensor element, the level of resistance varying with magnetic field under test and having hysteresis, so that upon electromagnetic excitation the resistance can switch between two or more stable levels as the magnetic field under test varies. The sensor outputs a digital signal according to the level of resistance. The sensor output may further be interpreted in terms of a change-of-state upon electromagnetic excitation. As the sensor no longer needs a different characteristic from magnetic memory cells, it can be much easier to construct and to integrate with magnetic memory cells than an analog sensor. An excitation signal varies a threshold for the magnetic field under test at which the resistance switches, to enable multiple measurements with different thresholds. Multiple sensor elements can have different thresholds, by having differing geometry or size. It has applications in current sensing, and programmable magnetic logic, when multiple input currents are sensed. Changing the threshold can change the logic operation between AND and OR.
79 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A sensor for sensing strength of a magnetic field under test, comprising:
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a sensor element, and detection circuitry for detecting a level of resistance of the sensor element, the level of resistance varying with the magnetic field under test, wherein the variation of the level of resistance of the sensor element has hysteresis, so that upon electromagnetic excitation the resistance can switch between two or more stable levels, as the magnetic field under test varies, and the sensor outputs a digital signal according to the level of resistance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification