Three-Contact Vertical Hall Sensor Ring for Thermal Error Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical Hall effect sensors face challenges due to unequal internal resistances in different operating phases, leading to increased power dissipation and zero-point errors caused by temperature gradients and thermal electromotive forces.
Innovation Solution
The configuration of three three-contact vertical Hall effect sensors with electrically isolated Hall effect regions and specific interconnections between their contacts ensures equal internal resistances across operating phases, minimizing power dissipation and reducing thermal errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vertical Hall effect sensors are used with conventional contact configurations, then the sensors can measure magnetic field strength, but unequal internal resistances in different operating phases cause increased power dissipation and zero-point errors
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into three separate Hall effect regions (first, second, and third Hall effect regions) with electrically isolated contacts. Each region has its own set of contacts (first through ninth contacts), allowing independent measurement and compensation of resistances in each operating phase. This segmentation enables the system to address resistance inequalities in each phase separately, reducing overall power dissipation while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vertical Hall effect sensors operate in multiple phases with different internal resistances, then the sensors can provide versatile measurement capabilities, but voltage headroom requirements increase and thermal gradients cause offset errors
Solution Approach 1:
The nine contacts are divided into three groups corresponding to three Hall effect regions, each group being electrically isolated. This allows the system to switch between different operating phases (using different combinations of supply and output contacts) while maintaining equal effective resistance in each phase, thereby reducing voltage headroom requirements and minimizing thermal gradient-induced offset errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The interconnection scheme connects contacts such that the effective resistance between supply and output contacts is equalized across all operating phases. By establishing equipotential relationships through the interconnections (e.g., connecting first contact to third contact, second contact to fourth contact, etc.), the system eliminates resistance inequalities that would otherwise cause voltage headroom variations and thermal offset errors.
3Power
If unequal resistance Hall devices are used in all operating phases, then the circuit can provide sufficient current and voltage supply, but inhomogeneous power dissipation increases thermal electromotive force and offset errors
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sensor into three electrically isolated Hall effect regions with separate contacts, the system can distribute power dissipation more uniformly across all regions in each operating phase. The interconnection scheme ensures that each region contributes equally to the total resistance, leading to homogeneous power dissipation and reduced thermal electromotive force generation.
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 sensitivity to magnetic field strength while reducing the required current draw and minimizing offset errors, achieving consistent performance across various operating phases.
Implementation Method 1
Hall effect structures make use of 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
Implementation Method 3
This can lead to increased offset or zero-point errors due to temperature gradients between the output contacts of the vertical Hall devices and associated thermal electromotive force
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical Hall effect sensor having three Hall effect regions interconnected in a ring can be operated in a spinning scheme. Each Hall effect region has three contacts: the first Hall effect region includes first, second, and third contacts; the second Hall effect region has fourth, fifth, and sixth contacts, and the third Hall effect region has seventh, eighth, and ninth contacts. Interconnections between the Hall effect regions are provided such that a first terminal is connected to a third contact, a second interconnection is arranged between the second and fourth contacts, a third terminal is connected to the sixth contact, a fourth interconnection is arranged between the fifth and seventh contacts, a fifth terminal is connected to the ninth contact, and a sixth interconnection is arranged between the first and eighth contacts.