Multi-Contact Hall Plate Offset Error Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Hall devices suffer from offset errors due to mechanical stress and thermoelectrical voltages, which are not effectively mitigated by current technologies.

Innovation Solution

A multi-contact Hall plate design with equally distributed contacts along its edge region, connected to terminals for supplying energy and tapping output signals, and an optional conductive layer for improved conductivity, allowing for various current flow directions that cancel out offset errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional Hall devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but offset errors occur due to mechanical stress and thermoelectrical voltages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoffset error mitigationVSAvoidcontact distribution structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The Hall plate is divided into multiple contact regions (at least four contacts) distributed along the inner edge region, allowing segmented measurement and cancellation of offset errors through differential voltage measurements between opposite contacts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Mechanical stress and thermoelectrical voltages that cause offset errors are converted into beneficial effects by measuring voltages at multiple contacts and using differential measurements to cancel out these harmful offset components while preserving the magnetic signal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Measurement precision

If multiple contacts are distributed along the edge region, then offset errors are reduced, but the device geometry becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutput signal accuracyVSAvoidcontact arrangement geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Contacts are positioned at specific locations along the inner edge region where equipotential lines intersect the edge, ensuring that voltage measurements reflect true magnetic field effects rather than positional variations, with contacts arranged to measure opposite sides of the Hall plate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Reliability

If contacts are highly doped for ohmic connection, then electrical connection is improved, but the Hall region doping is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact connection qualityVSAvoiddoping concentration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The Hall plate structure implements local quality by creating highly doped contact regions (at least 10 times more doped than the Hall region) at specific locations along the inner edge, while maintaining lower doping in the bulk Hall region to preserve Hall effect sensitivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The design significantly reduces offset errors by ensuring linear current flow and voltage distribution, maintaining magnetic sensitivity while minimizing mechanical and thermal interference.

Implementation Method 1

a multi-contact Hall plate (601, 701) is suggested comprising: four contacts or a multiple of four contacts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11474166B2Multi-contact hall plate having contacts equally distributed along an inner edge region of the hall plate

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG

AI summary

A multi-contact Hall plate having four contacts or a multiple of four contacts, wherein each of the contacts is arranged substantially equally distributed along an edge region of the Hall plate, and each of the contacts is connected to one of the four terminals.