Fail-safe operation of an angle sensor with mixed bridges having separate power supplies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178403-A1
Application number	US-201414580862-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 23, 2014
Priority date	Dec 23, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic angle sensor may include a first bridge circuit. The first bridge circuit may include a first half-bridge to generate a first signal indicative of a first angular component of a direction of a magnetic field. The first bridge circuit may include a second half-bridge to generate a second signal indicative of a second angular component of the direction of the magnetic field. The second angular component may be linearly independent from the first angular component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic angle sensor, comprising:
a first bridge circuit that includes:
a first half-bridge to generate a first signal indicative of a first angular component of a direction of a magnetic field; and
a second half-bridge to generate a second signal indicative of a second angular component of the direction of the magnetic field,
the second angular component being linearly independent from the first angular component.

2 . The magnetic angle sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first angular component corresponds to a cosine-related component, and wherein the second angular component is substantially orthogonal to the first angular component.

3 . The magnetic angle sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second bridge circuit, wherein the first bridge circuit and the second bridge circuit are formed on one chip.

4 . A magnetic angle sensor, comprising:
a first bridge circuit that includes:
a first half-bridge and a second half-bridge, the first half-bridge providing a signal indicative of a first angular component of a direction of a magnetic field; and
a second bridge circuit that includes:
a third half-bridge and a fourth half-bridge, wherein the third half-bridge provides a signal indicative of a second angular component anti-parallel to the first angular component.

5 . The magnetic angle sensor of claim 4 , wherein the first bridge circuit and the second bridge circuit are formed on one chip.

6 . The magnetic angle sensor of claim 4 , wherein the first half-bridge comprises:
a first resistor and a second resistor,
the first resistor and the second resistor having opposite first magnetic reference directions; and
wherein the second half-bridge comprises:
a third resistor and a fourth resistor,
the third resistor and the fourth resistor having opposite second magnetic reference directions that are substantially perpendicular to the first magnetic reference directions.

7 . The magnetic angle sensor of claim 6 , wherein the third half-bridge comprises:
a fifth resistor and a sixth resistor,
the fifth resistor and the sixth resistor having opposite third magnetic reference directions; and
wherein the fourth half-bridge comprises:
a seventh resistor and an eighth resistor,
the seventh resistor and the eighth resistor having opposite fourth magnetic reference directions that are substantially perpendicular to the third magnetic reference directions.

8 . The magnetic angle sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a sine-related signal; and
wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a cosine-related signal.

9 . A sensing component, comprising:
a first half-bridge that includes:
a first magnetoresistor having a first magnetic reference direction; and
a second magnetoresistor having a second magnetic reference direction,
the second magnetic reference direction being different from the first magnetic reference direction; and

a second half-bridge that includes:
a third magnetoresistor having a third magnetic reference direction,
the third magnetic reference direction being different from the first magnetic reference direction and the second magnetic reference direction; and

a fourth magnetoresistor having a fourth magnetic reference direction,
the fourth magnetic reference direction being different from the first magnetic reference direction, the second magnetic reference direction, and the third magnetic reference direction.

10 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the first magnetic reference direction is substantially perpendicular to the third magnetic reference direction and the fourth magnetic reference direction.

11 . The sensing component of claim 10 , wherein the second magnetic reference direction is substantially perpendicular to the third magnetic reference direction and the fourth magnetic reference direction.

12 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a sine signal or a phase-inverted sine signal; and
wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a cosine signal or a phase-inverted cosine signal.

13 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the sensing component is included in a magnetic angle sensor;
wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a first output signal; wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a second output signal; and wherein the magnetic angle sensor is configured to determine a direction of an external magnetic field applied to the magnetic angle sensor based on the first output signal and the second output signal.

14 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a sine signal; and
wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a cosine signal.

15 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a sine signal; and
wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a phase-inverted cosine signal.

16 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a phase-inverted sine signal; and
wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a cosine signal.

17 . The sensing component of claim 9 , wherein the first half-bridge is configured to generate a phase-inverted sine signal; and
wherein the second half-bridge is configured to generate a phase-inverted cosine signal.

18 . An apparatus, comprising:
a first bridge circuit configured to receive power from a first power supply,
the first bridge circuit comprising:
a first half-bridge that includes a first resistor and a second resistor having a first magnetic reference direction and a second magnetic reference direction, respectively; and
a second half-bridge that includes a third resistor and a fourth resistor having a third magnetic reference direction and a fourth magnetic reference direction, respectively, that are substantially perpendicular to the first magnetic reference direction and the second magnetic reference direction; and

a second bridge circuit configured to receive power from a second power supply that is different from the first power supply,
the second bridge circuit comprising:
a third half-bridge that includes a fifth resistor and a sixth resistor having a fifth magnetic reference direction and a sixth magnetic reference direction, respectively; and
a fourth half-bridge that includes a seventh resistor and an eighth resistor having a seventh magnetic reference direction and an eighth magnetic reference direction, respectively, that are substantially perpendicular to the fifth magnetic reference direction and the sixth magnetic reference direction.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein a first pair of anti-parallel magnetic reference directions is formed by at least two of:
the second magnetic reference direction, the fourth magnetic reference direction, the sixth magnetic reference direction, or the eighth magnetic reference direction; and wherein a second pair of anti-parallel magnetic reference directions, being substantially perpendicular to the first pair of anti-parallel magnetic reference directions, is formed by at least two others of: the second magnetic reference direction, the fourth magnetic reference direction, the sixth magnetic reference direction, or the eighth magnetic reference direction.

20 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first half

Assignees

• Infineon Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Bilger Christoph
• Kapser Konrad

Classifications

• G01R33/09

  Magnetoresistive devices · CPC title

• G01D5/16

  by varying resistance · CPC title

• G01D5/244 Primary

  influencing characteristics of pulses or pulse trains; generating pulses or pulse trains · CPC title

• G01R33/093

  using multilayer structures, e.g. giant magnetoresistance sensors (thin magnetic films H01F10/00) · CPC title

• G01D5/145

  influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields (see G01R33/06) · CPC title