Integrated sensor

• US 7,746,056 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allegro Microsystems Incorporated (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Allegro Microsystems Incorporated (Sanken Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Forrest, Glenn, Stauth, Jason, Dickinson, Richard, Vig, Ravi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Vinh P
• Application Number:
  US12/357,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 324/117.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/205 using magneto-resistance devices, e.g. field plates
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/207 Constructional details independent of the type of device used
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/09 Magnetoresistive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48137 the bodies being arranged next to each other, e.g. on a common substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/4903 Connectors having different sizes, e.g. different diameters
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details

Abstract

An electronic circuit includes a substrate having a surface and a device supported by the surface of the substrate. The electronic circuit also includes a magnetic field transducer disposed over the surface of the substrate and an insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic field transducer. The electronic circuit also includes a conductor disposed over the magnetic field transducer. The conductor is configured to carry an electrical current to generate a first magnetic field. The electronic circuit is responsive to the first magnetic field.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit, comprising:

a substrate having a surface;

a device supported by said surface of said substrate;

a magnetic field transducer disposed over said surface of said substrate;

an insulating layer disposed between said substrate and said magnetic field transducer; and

a conductor disposed over said magnetic field transducer, wherein said conductor is configured to carry an electrical current to generate a first magnetic field, and wherein said electronic circuit is responsive to the first magnetic field.

2. The electronic circuit of claim 1 wherein said conductor is a secondary conductor and said circuit further comprises:

a primary conductor disposed proximate said magnetic field transducer, wherein said primary conductor is configured to carry an electrical current to generate a second magnetic field, and wherein said electronic circuit is further responsive to the second magnetic field; and

a dielectric layer disposed between said primary conductor and said substrate.

3. The electronic circuit of claim 2, wherein said device comprises an amplifier having an input terminal coupled to said magnetic field transducer and an output terminal coupled to said secondary conductor and at which an output signal is provided, wherein said output signal is indicative of a current through said primary conductor.

4. The electronic circuit of claim 2, wherein said primary conductor is U-shaped.

5. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said device comprises an amplifier coupled to said magnetic field transducer for providing an output signal, wherein said output signal is indicative of a current through said conductor.

6. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said device comprises an amplifier having an input terminal coupled to said magnetic field transducer and an output terminal at which an output signal is provided, said output signal being indicative of an external magnetic field.

7. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field transducer comprises two magnetoresistance elements coupled in series.

8. The electronic circuit of claim 7, wherein each of said magnetoresistance elements has an opposite polarization with respect to the other of said magnetoresistance elements.

9. The electronic circuit of claim 7, wherein each of said magnetoresistance elements has the same polarization.

10. The electronic circuit of claim 9, wherein said conductor is U-shaped.

11. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field transducer comprises two pairs of magnetoresistance elements, wherein each pair comprises two magnetoresistance elements coupled in series, and said two pairs are coupled together to form a Wheatstone bridge.

12. The electronic circuit of claim 11, wherein the two magnetoresistance elements of each pair are oppositely polarized.

13. The electronic circuit of claim 11, wherein one of the two magnetoresistance elements of each pair is magnetically unresponsive.

14. The electronic circuit of claim 11, wherein each of the two magnetoresistance elements of both pairs has the same polarization.

15. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said conductor is U-shaped.

16. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said conductor comprises more than one loop.

17. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further including a magnetic flux concentrator disposed proximate said conductor.

18. The electronic circuit of claim 1, wherein said magnetic field transducer comprises a magnetoresistance element.

19. The electronic circuit of claim 1, further comprising a second insulating layer disposed between said magnetic field transducer and said conductor.