Apparatus, sensor circuit, and method for operating an apparatus or a sensor circuit
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining a predetermined physical quantity from a source of the predetermined physical quantity, the apparatus comprising:
- a first sensor element and a second sensor element arranged at a first position and at a second position, respectively, with regard to the source, and being adapted to sense from the source the predetermined physical quantity, and to generate a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal, respectively, in response to the predetermined physical quantity;
a signal processing circuit adapted to process the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a first algorithm to obtain an output signal; and
an evaluation circuit adapted to evaluate the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a second algorithm to determine whether a predetermined normal operation criterion is fulfilled, and to obtain an indication signal indicating an abnormal operating condition in case the predetermined normal operation criterion is not satisfied.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described, including: a signal processing circuit adapted to process an input signal to obtain an output signal; a sensor element for sensing a predetermined physical quantity, wherein the sensor element is adapted to generate a sensor signal in response to the predetermined physical quantity; wherein the signal processing unit is adapted to process the input signal to obtain the output signal depending on the sensor signal; and wherein the apparatus further comprises an evaluation circuit adapted to evaluate the sensor signal and to generate an indication signal indicating an abnormal operating condition in case the sensor signal does not fulfill a predetermined normal operation criterion.
25 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining a predetermined physical quantity from a source of the predetermined physical quantity, the apparatus comprising:
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a first sensor element and a second sensor element arranged at a first position and at a second position, respectively, with regard to the source, and being adapted to sense from the source the predetermined physical quantity, and to generate a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal, respectively, in response to the predetermined physical quantity; a signal processing circuit adapted to process the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a first algorithm to obtain an output signal; and an evaluation circuit adapted to evaluate the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a second algorithm to determine whether a predetermined normal operation criterion is fulfilled, and to obtain an indication signal indicating an abnormal operating condition in case the predetermined normal operation criterion is not satisfied. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A current sensor circuit comprising:
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an apparatus for determining a predetermined physical quantity from a source of the predetermined physical quantity, the apparatus comprising; a first sensor element and a second sensor element arranged at a first position and at a second position, respectively, with regard to the source, and being adapted to sense from the source the predetermined physical quantity, and to generate a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal in response to the predetermined physical quantity; a signal processing circuit adapted to process the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a first algorithm to obtain an output signal; and an evaluation circuit adapted to evaluate the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a second algorithm to determine whether a predetermined normal operation criterion is fulfilled, and to obtain an indication signal indicating an abnormal operating condition in case the predetermined normal operation criterion is not satisfied; wherein the predetermined normal operation criterion is derived from a predetermined temporal or spatial relation between a value of the first sensor signal from the first sensor element and a value of the second sensor signal from the second sensor element during a normal operation condition. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method for sensing a predetermined physical quantity from a source of the predetermined physical quantity, the method comprising:
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sensing the predetermined physical quantity from the source by a first sensor element and a second sensor element arranged at a first position and at a second position, respectively, with regard to the source, for producing a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal; processing the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a first algorithm to obtain an output signal using a controller; processing the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal according to a second algorithm to determine whether a predetermined normal operation criterion is fulfilled; and obtaining an indication signal indicating an abnormal operating condition in case the predetermined normal operation criterion is not satisfied.
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Specification