Magnetic Sensor Terminal Reduction via Segmented Conduction Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Hall elements require at least four terminals, making it difficult to downsize magnetic sensors due to their structural constraints, limiting the miniaturization of chip size.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic sensor design with a trifurcate-shaped magnetic sensing unit, featuring three terminals - a drive terminal and two output terminals, where driving currents flow through integrated conduction paths, allowing for magnetic field detection using a reduced number of terminals by generating output differences based on current or voltage differences between these terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional Hall elements with at least four terminals are used, then magnetic field detection capability is maintained, but chip size cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic sensing unit is segmented into multiple conduction paths (first conduction path and second conduction path) that share common terminals. This segmentation allows the sensor to function with only three terminals by having current flow through different paths that both originate from and return to the shared terminals, thereby reducing the total terminal count while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of multiple terminals into fewer terminals by creating a configuration where the first and second conduction paths share common terminals. The third terminal serves as a common return path for both conduction paths, effectively combining terminal functions to reduce the overall terminal count from four to three while preserving magnetic field detection functionality.
2Area of stationary object
If the number of terminals is reduced to three, then chip size can be minimized, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar terminal arrangement to a three-dimensional conduction path structure within the semiconductor substrate. By utilizing vertical current flow paths and layered conductor arrangements, the design accommodates complex current routing within the substrate volume rather than requiring additional surface terminals, thus reducing sensor area while managing structural complexity through spatial optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the reduction of the number of terminals to three, facilitating the miniaturization of magnetic sensors and improving their compactness while maintaining effective magnetic field detection capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
As a representative example of magnetic sensors applied to many magnetic sensor products such as current sensing apparatuses or position sensing apparatuses, there have conventionally been Hall elements utilizing the Hall effect.
Data Source
AI summary
To downsize a magnetic sensor by reducing the number of terminals of the magnetic sensor. A magnetic sensor to detect a magnetic field is provided, including: a drive terminal; a first output terminal; a second output terminal; and a magnetic sensing unit in which a first conduction path through which a driving current flows between the drive terminal and the first output terminal and a second conduction path through which a driving current flows between the drive terminal and the second output terminal are formed integrally. The magnetic sensing unit may have a first extending unit extending to the first output terminal and a second extending unit extending to the second output terminal.