Three-Contact Hall Effect Devices for Reduced Offset and Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hall effect sensors face challenges in achieving high magnetic sensitivity while minimizing residual offset and power dissipation due to different internal resistances in various operating phases during spinning schemes.
Innovation Solution
The design involves Hall effect structures with contacts arranged non-linearly and interconnected in a way that maintains equal resistances across phases, allowing for symmetrical current flow and reduced power consumption by injecting current through specific terminals and holding others at constant voltage to measure magnetic fields effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Hall effect devices are operated in spinning schemes with equal current injection in all phases, then magnetic sensitivity is improved, but power dissipation increases and voltage headroom requirements increase due to different internal resistances in various phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by switching between different current injection configurations (spinning schemes) while maintaining equal current magnitude across phases. This allows the system to achieve high magnetic sensitivity through parameter variation without increasing power dissipation, as the equal current approach balances power consumption across all phases despite different internal resistances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic spinning operations where current is injected through different terminal pairs in alternating phases. This periodic switching between configurations enables the system to maintain equal current injection across all phases, thereby achieving high magnetic sensitivity while distributing power dissipation evenly and avoiding continuous high power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If Hall effect devices are operated in spinning schemes with equal current injection in all phases, then magnetic sensitivity is improved, but voltage headroom requirements increase due to different internal resistances in various phases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by implementing different current injection configurations across spinning phases. By carefully selecting which terminals receive current injection in each phase, the system achieves equal current magnitudes while adapting to different internal resistances, thereby maintaining magnetic sensitivity without requiring excessive voltage headroom.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic switching between different operating configurations through spinning. The system dynamically adjusts which terminals are used for current injection and voltage measurement in each phase, enabling equal current injection across phases with varying internal resistances. This dynamic approach optimizes voltage headroom utilization while maintaining high magnetic sensitivity.
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
This configuration enhances the accuracy of magnetic field strength measurements while minimizing current draw, reducing residual offset and power dissipation, and providing high magnetic sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
Hall effect sensors use the Hall effect, whereby a voltage is generated across a conductor or semiconductor due to Lorentz forces on moving charge carriers
Implementation Method 2
a voltage is generated across a conductor or semiconductor due to Lorentz forces on moving charge carriers
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to vertical Hall effect devices comprising Hall effect structures with three contacts in each Hall effect region. In one embodiment, the contacts are interconnected with terminals such that the Hall effect device has symmetry and nominally identical internal resistances in the absence of externally applied magnetic fields. Embodiments are capable of operating in multiple operating phases, such that spinning can be used to measure field redundantly and improve magnetic field measurement accuracy.