Magnetic field sensor having unequally spaced magnetic field sensing elements
First Claim
1. A magnetic field sensor for sensing a movement of a target object, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
- a substrate having a major planar surface;
three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed upon the major planar surface of the substrate, the three or more magnetic field sensing elements having respective major response axes, each major response axis parallel to the major planar surface of the substrate, wherein the three or more magnetic field sensing elements comprise first and third magnetic field sensing elements and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein a first spacing between the first and second magnetic field sensing elements is less than a second spacing between the second and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein there is no other magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the three or more magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate three or more magnetic field signals, respectively, wherein the first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate first, second, and third magnetic field signals, respectively, from among the three or more magnetic field signals; and
an electronic circuit disposed upon the substrate and coupled to the three or more magnetic field sensing elements, the electronic circuit comprising;
at least one analog or digital comparator configured to compare each one of the three or more magnetic field signals to at least one threshold value to generate three or more binary signals, respectively, wherein states of the three or more binary signals are each indicative of a position of the target object relative to the three or more magnetic field sensing elements for any movement speed of the target object including zero movement speed.
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Abstract
A magnetic field sensor for sensing a movement of a target object an include a substrate having a major planar surface and three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed upon the major planar surface of the substrate. The three or more magnetic field sensing elements can have respective major response axes, each major response axis parallel to the major planar surface of the substrate. The three or more magnetic field sensing elements comprise first and third magnetic field sensing elements and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements. A first spacing between the first and second magnetic field sensing elements is less than a second spacing between the second and third magnetic field sensing elements. No other magnetic field sensing elements are disposed between the first and third magnetoresistance elements.
500 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A magnetic field sensor for sensing a movement of a target object, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
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a substrate having a major planar surface; three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed upon the major planar surface of the substrate, the three or more magnetic field sensing elements having respective major response axes, each major response axis parallel to the major planar surface of the substrate, wherein the three or more magnetic field sensing elements comprise first and third magnetic field sensing elements and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein a first spacing between the first and second magnetic field sensing elements is less than a second spacing between the second and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein there is no other magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the three or more magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate three or more magnetic field signals, respectively, wherein the first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate first, second, and third magnetic field signals, respectively, from among the three or more magnetic field signals; and an electronic circuit disposed upon the substrate and coupled to the three or more magnetic field sensing elements, the electronic circuit comprising; at least one analog or digital comparator configured to compare each one of the three or more magnetic field signals to at least one threshold value to generate three or more binary signals, respectively, wherein states of the three or more binary signals are each indicative of a position of the target object relative to the three or more magnetic field sensing elements for any movement speed of the target object including zero movement speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of sensing a movement of a target object, comprising:
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generating three or more magnetic field signals with three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed upon a major planar surface of a substrate, the three or more magnetic field sensing elements having respective major response axes, each major response axis parallel to the major planar surface of the substrate, wherein the three or more magnetic field sensing elements comprise first and third magnetic field sensing elements and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein a first spacing between the first and second magnetic field sensing elements is less than a second spacing between the second and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein there is no other magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing element, wherein the first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate first, second, and third magnetic field signals, respectively, from among the three or more magnetic field signals; and comparing each one of the three or more magnetic field signals to at least one threshold value to generate three or more binary signals, respectively, wherein states of the three or more binary signals are each indicative of a position of the target object relative to the three or more magnetic field sensing elements for any movement speed of the target object including zero movement speed. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A magnetic field sensor for sensing a movement of a target object, the magnetic field sensor comprising:
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means for generating generate three or more magnetic field signals with three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed upon a major planar surface of a substrate, the three or more magnetic field sensing elements having respective major response axes, each major response axis parallel to the major planar surface of the substrate, wherein the three or more magnetic field sensing elements comprise first and third magnetic field sensing elements and a second magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein a first spacing between the first and second magnetic field sensing elements is less than a second spacing between the second and third magnetic field sensing elements, wherein there is no other magnetic field sensing element disposed between the first and third magnetic field sensing element wherein the first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate first, second, and third magnetic field signals, respectively, from among the three or more magnetic field signals; and means for comparing each one of the three or more magnetic field signals to at least one threshold value to generate three or more binary signals, respectively, wherein states of the three or more binary signals are each indicative of a position of the target object relative to the three or more magnetic field sensing elements for any movement speed of the target object including zero movement speed. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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Specification