Electronic circuit and method for resetting a magnetoresistance element
First Claim
1. An electronic circuit, comprising:
- a primary magnetoresistance element for providing a first output signal proportional to a magnetic field, wherein the primary magnetoresistance element has a primary maximum response axis, wherein the primary magnetoresistance element has a hysteresis characteristic;
a reset conductor disposed proximate to the magnetoresistance element;
a secondary magnetic field sensing element for providing a second output signal proportional to a magnetic field, wherein the secondary magnetic field sensing element has a secondary maximum response axis; and
a comparison circuit coupled to receive the second output signal, configured to compare the second output signal to a threshold signal, and configured to generate a reset current carried by the reset conductor in response to the comparison, wherein, in response to the reset current, the reset conductor is configured to generate a reset magnetic field at the primary magnetoresistance element to temporarily force the magnetoresistance element to a saturation region of the hysteresis characteristic.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic circuit includes a primary magnetoresistance element for providing a first output signal proportional to a magnetic field. The primary magnetoresistance element has a primary maximum response axis. The primary magnetoresistance element also has a hysteresis characteristic. The electronic circuit also includes a reset conductor disposed proximate to the magnetoresistance element. The electronic circuit also includes a secondary magnetic field sensing element for providing a second output signal proportional to a magnetic field. The secondary magnetic field sensing element has a secondary maximum response axis, which, in some embodiments, is substantially perpendicular to the primary maximum response axis. In operation, the primary magnetoresistance is reset in accordance with an excessive magnetic field sensed by the secondary magnetic field sensing element.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An electronic circuit, comprising:
-
a primary magnetoresistance element for providing a first output signal proportional to a magnetic field, wherein the primary magnetoresistance element has a primary maximum response axis, wherein the primary magnetoresistance element has a hysteresis characteristic; a reset conductor disposed proximate to the magnetoresistance element; a secondary magnetic field sensing element for providing a second output signal proportional to a magnetic field, wherein the secondary magnetic field sensing element has a secondary maximum response axis; and a comparison circuit coupled to receive the second output signal, configured to compare the second output signal to a threshold signal, and configured to generate a reset current carried by the reset conductor in response to the comparison, wherein, in response to the reset current, the reset conductor is configured to generate a reset magnetic field at the primary magnetoresistance element to temporarily force the magnetoresistance element to a saturation region of the hysteresis characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of resetting a primary magnetoresistance element having a primary maximum response axis and a hysteresis characteristic, comprising:
-
sensing a magnetic field with a secondary magnetic field sensing element having a secondary maximum response axis; comparing the magnetic field sensed by the secondary magnetic field sensing element to a threshold; and resetting the primary magnetoresistance element with a reset magnetic field in response to the comparing by temporarily forcing the primary magnetoresistance element to a saturation region of the hysteresis characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification