Patent Description:
Magnetic field sensors are often used to detect a ferromagnetic target. They often act as sensors to detect motion or position of the target. Such sensors are ubiquitous in many areas of technology including robotics, automotive, manufacturing, etc. For example, a magnetic field sensor may be used to detect when a vehicle's wheel locks up, triggering the vehicle's control processor to engage the anti-lock braking system. In this example, the magnetic field sensor may detect rotation of the wheel. Magnetic field sensor may also detect distance to an object. For example, a magnetic field sensor may be used to detect the position of a hydraulic piston. Document <CIT> describes a measuring apparatus for detecting a metal object including two emission coils, a magnetoresistive measuring device, and a control device. <CIT> describes methods and apparatus for detecting a magnetic field, including a magnetic source configured to provide a magnetic field to induce an eddy current in a non-ferromagnetic target, and a magnetic field sensing element configured to detect the magnetic field as a result of the eddy current. <CIT> describes a micromagnetometry system for detecting the presence of very small quantities of magnetic particles comprising a first magnetic hybrid AMR/PHR multi-ring sensor using a Wheatstone bridge electrical configuration, a first current source, a first voltage measurement device, a set of at least one magnetic particles deposited on the first magnetic sensor and a processing unit for detecting from a set of different measured differential voltages a magnetic flux shift representative of the presence of a least one deposited magnetic particle. <CIT> relates to a magnetic impedance measurement device comprising an apply coil for generating an alternate magnetic field of variable frequency, a power source for the apply coil, at least one magnetic sensor means comprising a pair of magnetic sensors for detecting orthogonal vector components of a magnetic field generated from a test object, the vector components being parallel to the face of the apply coil, a measurement means for the magnetic sensor for measuring a detected signal from said magnetic sensor mean, the measurement means being located at a distance from the face of said apply coil and facing said test object, a lock-in amplifier circuit for detecting from an output of said measurement means a signal having the same frequency as the frequency of said apply coil and an analysis means for analyzing intensity and phase changes of an output of said magnetic sensor means with the use of an output signal of said lock-in amplifier circuit. <CIT> concerns methods and apparatus for a magnetic field sensor including a die, a coil proximate the die to generate a magnetic field, and a magnetic field sensing element having to detect changes in the magnetic field generated by the coil in response to a ferromagnetic target.

In aspects of the invention there is provided a magnetic field sensor as defined in claim <NUM>, a magnetic field sensor as defined in claim <NUM>, a magnetic field sensor as defined in claim <NUM>, and a system as defined in claim <NUM>. Other embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

The foregoing features may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings. The drawings aid in explaining and understanding the disclosed technology. Since it is often impractical or impossible to illustrate and describe every possible embodiment, the provided figures depict one or more examples of embodiments. Accordingly, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Like numbers in the figures denote like elements. <FIG> and <FIG> illustrate circuit block diagrams that form part of the claimed subject matter. Other figures illustrate examples that do not form part of the claimed subject matter, but which are considered useful for understanding the invention.

As used herein, the term "magnetic field sensing element" is used to describe a variety of electronic elements that can sense a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensing element can be, but is not limited to, a Hall Effect element, a magnetoresistance (MR) element, or a magnetotransistor. As is known, there are different types of Hall Effect elements, for example, a planar Hall element, a vertical Hall element, and a Circular Vertical Hall (CVH) element. As is also known, there are different types of magnetoresistance elements, for example, a semiconductor magnetoresistance element such as Indium Antimonide (InSb), a giant magnetoresistance (MR) element, an anisotropic magnetoresistance element (AMR), a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element, and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The magnetic field sensing element may be a single element or, alternatively, may include two or more magnetic field sensing elements arranged in various configurations, e.g., a half bridge or full (Wheatstone) bridge. Depending on the device type and other application requirements, the magnetic field sensing element may be a device made of a type IV semiconductor material such as Silicon (Si) or Germanium (Ge), or a type III-V semiconductor material like Gallium-Arsenide (GaAs) or an Indium compound, e.g., Indium-Antimonide (InSb).

As is known, some of the above-described magnetic field sensing elements tend to have an axis of maximum sensitivity parallel to a substrate that supports the magnetic field sensing element, and others of the above-described magnetic field sensing elements tend to have an axis of maximum sensitivity perpendicular to a substrate that supports the magnetic field sensing element. In particular, planar Hall elements tend to have axes of sensitivity perpendicular to a substrate, while metal based or metallic magnetoresistance elements (e.g., MR, TMR, AMR) and vertical Hall elements tend to have axes of sensitivity parallel to a substrate.

As used herein, the term "magnetic field sensor" is used to describe a circuit that uses a magnetic field sensing element, generally in combination with other circuits. Magnetic field sensors are used in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, an angle sensor that senses an angle of a direction of a magnetic field, a current sensor that senses a magnetic field generated by a current carried by a current-carrying conductor, a magnetic switch that senses the proximity of a ferromagnetic object, a rotation detector that senses passing ferromagnetic articles, for example, magnetic domains of a ring magnet or a ferromagnetic target (e.g., gear teeth) where the magnetic field sensor is used in combination with a back-biased or other magnet, and a magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field density of a magnetic field.

As used herein, the terms "target" and "magnetic target" are used to describe an object to be sensed or detected by a magnetic field sensor or magnetic field sensing element. The target may comprise a conductive material that allows for eddy currents to flow within the target, for example a metallic target that conducts electricity.

<FIG> is a block diagram of a system <NUM> for detecting a conductive target <NUM>. Target <NUM> may be magnetic or non-magnetic in various embodiments. System <NUM> includes one or more magnetoresistance (MR) elements <NUM> and an MR driver circuit <NUM>. MR driver circuit may include a power supply or other circuit that provides power to MR elements <NUM>. In embodiments, MR elements <NUM> may be replaced with other types of magnetic field sensing elements such as Hall effect elements, etc. MR elements <NUM> may comprise a single MR element or multiple MR elements. The MR elements may be arranged in a bridge configuration, in certain embodiments.

System <NUM> may also include one or more coils <NUM> and a coil driver circuit <NUM>. Coils <NUM> may be electrical coils, windings, wires, traces, etc. configured to generate a magnetic field when current flows through the coils <NUM>. In embodiments, coils <NUM> comprise two or more coils, each a conductive trace supported by substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, or the like. In other embodiments, coils <NUM> may not be supported by a substrate. For example, coils <NUM> may be supported by a chip package, a frame, a PCB, or any other type of structure that can support traces of a coil. In other embodiments, coils <NUM> may be free standing wire, i.e. not supported by a separate supporting structure.

Coil driver <NUM> is a power circuit that supplies current to coils <NUM> to generate the magnetic field. In an embodiment, coil driver <NUM> may produce an alternating current so that coils <NUM> produce alternating magnetic fields (i.e. magnetic fields with magnetic moments that change over time). Coil driver <NUM> may be a circuit implemented, in whole or in part, on the semiconductor die.

System <NUM> may also include processor <NUM> coupled to receive signal 104a from MR elements <NUM>, which may represent the magnetic field as detected by MR elements <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may receive signal 104a and use it to determine a position, speed, direction, or other property of target <NUM>.

MR elements <NUM> and coils <NUM> may be positioned on substrate <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may comprise semiconductor substrates, such as silicon substrates, a chip package, PCB or other type of board-level substrates, or any type of platform that can support MR elements <NUM> and coils <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may include a single substrate or multiple substrates, as well as a single type of substrate or multiple types of substrates.

In operation, MR driver <NUM> provides power to MR elements <NUM> and coil driver <NUM> provides current to coils <NUM>. In response, coils <NUM> produce a magnetic field that can be detected by MR elements <NUM>, which produce signal 104a representing the detected magnetic field.

As target <NUM> moves in relation to the magnetic field, its position and movement through the field changes the field. In response, signal 104a produced by MR elements <NUM> changes. Processor <NUM> receives signal 104a and processes the changes in (and/or the state of) the signal to determine position, movement, or other characteristics of target <NUM>. In an embodiment, system <NUM> can detect movement or position of target <NUM> along axis <NUM>. In other words, system <NUM> may detect the position of target <NUM> in proximity to MR elements <NUM> as target <NUM> moves toward or away from MR elements <NUM> and coils <NUM>. System <NUM> may also be able to detect other types of position or movement of target <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, system <NUM> may be the same as or similar to system <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may be the same as or similar to substrate <NUM>, and may support coil <NUM>, coil <NUM>, and MR element <NUM>. Although one MR element is shown, MR element <NUM> may comprise two or more MR elements depending on the embodiment of system <NUM>. Target <NUM> may be the same as or similar to target <NUM>.

Although not shown, an MR driver circuit <NUM> may provide current to MR element <NUM> and coil driver circuit <NUM> may provide current to coils <NUM> and <NUM>.

Coil <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged so that the current flows through coils <NUM> and <NUM> in opposite directions, as shown by arrow <NUM> (indicating a clockwise current in coil <NUM>) and arrow <NUM> (indicating a counterclockwise current in coil <NUM>). As a result, coil <NUM> may produce a magnetic field having a magnetic moment in the negative Z direction (i.e. down, in <FIG>), as indicated by arrow <NUM>. Similarly, coil <NUM> may produce a magnetic field having a magnetic moment in the opposite direction, the positive Z direction, as indicated by arrow <NUM>. An aggregate magnetic field <NUM> produced by both coils may have a shape similar to that shown by magnetic field lines <NUM>. It will be appreciated that coils <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed by a single coil structure respectively wound so that the current through the coils flows in opposite directions. Alternatively, coils <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed by separate coil structures.

In an embodiment, MR element <NUM> may be placed between coils <NUM> and <NUM>. In this arrangement, absent any other magnetic fields aside from those produced by coils <NUM> and <NUM>, the net magnetic field at MR element <NUM> may be zero. For example, the negative Z component of the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM> may be canceled out by the positive Z component of the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM>, and the negative X component of the magnetic field shown above substrate <NUM> may be canceled out by the positive X component of the magnetic field shown below substrate <NUM>. In other embodiments, additional coils may be added to substrate <NUM> and arranged so that the net magnetic field at MR element <NUM> is substantially nil.

To achieve a substantially zero magnetic field at the location of MR element <NUM>, coil <NUM> and coil <NUM> may be placed so that current through the coils flows in circular patterns substantially in the same plane. For example, the current through coil <NUM> and <NUM> is flowing in circular patterns through the coils. As shown, those circular patterns are substantially coplanar with each other, and with the top surface <NUM> of substrate <NUM>.

As noted above, coil driver <NUM> may produce an alternating field. In this arrangement, the magnetic field shown by magnetic field lines <NUM> may change direction and magnitude over time. However, during these changes, the magnetic field at the location of MR element <NUM> may remain substantially nil.

In operation, as target <NUM> moves toward and away from MR element <NUM> (i.e. in the positive and negative Z direction), magnetic field <NUM> will cause eddy currents to flow within target <NUM>. These eddy currents will create their own magnetic fields, which will produce a non-zero magnetic field in the plane of the MR element <NUM>, which non-zero magnetic field can be sensed to detect the motion or position of target <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a cross-sectional view <NUM> of system <NUM>, as viewed at line <NUM> in the Y direction, illustrates the eddy currents within target <NUM>. The 'x' symbol represents a current flowing into the page and the '•' symbol represents a current flowing out of the page. As noted above, the current through coils <NUM> and <NUM> may be an alternating current, which may result in an alternating strength of magnetic field <NUM>. In embodiments, the phase of the alternating current through coil <NUM> matches the phase of the alternating current through coil <NUM> so that magnetic field <NUM> is an alternating or periodic field.

Alternating magnetic field <NUM> may produce reflected eddy currents <NUM> and <NUM> within magnetic target <NUM>. Eddy currents <NUM> and <NUM> may be opposite in direction to the current flowing through coils <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. As shown, eddy current <NUM> flows out of the page and eddy current <NUM> flows into the page, while coil current <NUM> flows into the page and current <NUM> flows out of the page. Also, as shown, the direction of eddy current <NUM> is opposite the direction of the current through coil <NUM>.

Eddy currents <NUM> and <NUM> form a reflected magnetic field <NUM> that has a direction opposite to magnetic field <NUM>. As noted above, MR element <NUM> detects a net magnetic field of zero due to magnetic field <NUM>. However, MR element <NUM> will detect a non-zero magnetic field in the presence of reflected magnetic field <NUM>. As illustrated by magnetic field line <NUM>, the value of reflected magnetic field <NUM> is non-zero at MR element <NUM>.

As target <NUM> moves closer to coils <NUM> and <NUM>, magnetic field <NUM> may produce stronger eddy currents in target <NUM>. As a result, the strength of magnetic field <NUM> may change. In <FIG>, magnetic field <NUM>' (in the right-hand panel of <FIG>) may represent a stronger magnetic field than magnetic field <NUM> due, for example, to the closer proximity of target <NUM> to coils <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, eddy currents <NUM>' and <NUM>' may be stronger currents than eddy currents <NUM> and <NUM>, and magnetic field <NUM>' may be stronger than magnetic field <NUM>. This phenomenon may result in MR element <NUM> detecting a stronger magnetic field (i.e. magnetic field <NUM>') when target <NUM> is closer to coils <NUM> and <NUM>, and a weaker magnetic field (i.e. magnetic field <NUM>) when target <NUM> is further away from coils <NUM> and <NUM>.

Also, eddy currents <NUM>' and <NUM>' generally occur on or near the surface of target <NUM>. Therefore, as target <NUM> moves closer to co MR element <NUM>, MR element <NUM> may experience a stronger magnetic field from the eddy currents because the source of the magnetic field is closer to MR element <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a circuit <NUM> including coils <NUM> and <NUM>, and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. Coils <NUM> and <NUM> may be the same as or similar to coils <NUM> and <NUM>, and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may each be the same as or similar to MR element <NUM>.

In an embodiment, coils <NUM> and <NUM>, and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be supported by a substrate. For example, coils <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise conductive traces supported by a substrate and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be formed on a surface of or in the substrate.

In an embodiment, coils <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise a single conductive trace that carries current. The portion of the trace forming coil <NUM> may loop or spiral in a direction opposite to the portion of the trace forming coil <NUM>, so that the current through each coil is equal and flows in opposite directions. In other embodiments, multiple traces may be used.

Coils <NUM> and <NUM> are symmetrically positioned on opposite sides of MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>, with MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> in the middle. This may result in MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> being in the center of the magnetic field produced by coils <NUM> and <NUM>, so that, absent any other stimulus, the magnetic field detected by MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> as a result of magnetic fields produced by coils <NUM> and <NUM> (referred to herein as the directly coupled magnetic field) is substantially nil.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a magnetic field detection circuit <NUM>', which may be the same as or similar to system <NUM> in <FIG>. Coils <NUM> and <NUM> may be supported by a substrate as described above. Circuit <NUM>' may include four MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, which may be coupled in a bridge configuration <NUM>. In embodiments, bridge <NUM> may produce a differential output consisting of signals 318a and 318b.

Arranging the MR elements in a bridge may, in certain embodiments, increase the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor. In an embodiment, a target is movable with respect to the circuit <NUM>' such that as the target approaches the circuit it mainly moves towards MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, but not towards MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>. With this configuration, the resistance of MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may change and the resistance of MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may remain relatively constant as the target approaches and recedes from the MR elements. If, for example, MR elements are aligned so that the MR resistance of <NUM>, <NUM> decreases and the resistance of MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> increases as the target approaches, then signal 318a will decrease and signal 318b will increase in voltage as the target approaches. The opposite reaction of the MR elements (and the differential signals 318a and 318b) may increase sensitivity of the magnetic field detection circuit while also allowing the processor that receives the differential signal to ignore any common mode noise.

In embodiments, arranging MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> in a bridge may allow for detection of the difference in the position of the target over the set of resistors and/or detection of a phase difference between the bridge outputs. This may be utilized, for example, to detect tilt or deformation of a target.

Circuit <NUM>' may also include a bond pads <NUM> having multiple leads <NUM> that can be accessed and form connections external to a chip package (not shown). Lead wires or conductive traces <NUM> may connect MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to external leads or pads <NUM> so they can be coupled to other circuits like, for example, MR driver <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a circuit <NUM> includes four coils <NUM>-<NUM> and three rows <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of MR elements. Circuit <NUM> may be used to detect location or motion of a target.

The coils may produce magnetic fields in alternating patterns. For example, coil <NUM> may produce a field going into the page, coil <NUM> may produce a field coming out of the page, coil <NUM> may produce a field going into the page, and coil <NUM> may produce a field coming out of the page. As a result, the magnetic field detected by the MR elements in rows <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> as a result of magnetic fields produced by coils <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be substantially nil.

Circuit <NUM> may also be extended by adding additional coils and additional MR elements. In embodiments, the additional coils may be configured to create magnetic fields with alternating directions, as described above, and the MR elements between the coils may be placed so that they detect a magnetic field that is substantially nil.

The MR elements in rows <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may form a grid. As a target moves above the grid and approaches the MR elements, the MR elements will be exposed to and detect the reflected magnetic field produced by the eddy currents flowing in the target as a result of the magnetic fields produced by the coils <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, if a target moves over MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>, those MR elements may detect the reflected magnetic field and produce an output signal indicating as much. A processor receiving the output signals from the MR elements can then identify the location of the target as above or near MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. If the target then moves close to MR element <NUM>, MR element <NUM> will detect the reflected magnetic field from the target and produce an output signal indicating the target was detected. The processor receiving the output signals can then identify the location of the target as above or near MR element <NUM>.

A single large target may be placed in front of the grid <NUM>,<NUM> and <NUM>. Then the difference of reflected fields experienced by each MR element is a mapping of the parallelism of the target and the plane of the grid. It can be also used to map the deformations of the target as function of an external constraint.

Referring to <FIG>, a system <NUM> for detecting a target <NUM> may use a single coil and MR element to detect target <NUM>. MR element <NUM> may be placed proximate to coil <NUM>. In an embodiment, MR element <NUM> may be placed between coil <NUM> and target <NUM>. In other embodiments, the traces of coil <NUM> may be placed between MR element <NUM> and target <NUM> (not shown).

In the single coil configuration, MR element <NUM> may be subject to a magnetic field even in the absence of magnetic target <NUM>. If magnetic target <NUM> is absent, there will be no eddy current and no reflected magnetic field. However, because MR element <NUM> is placed proximate to a single coil <NUM>, and not placed between two opposing coils, it may be subject to a directly coupled magnetic field <NUM> produced by the coil <NUM>.

The presence of target <NUM> may result in a reflected magnetic field and this additional field can be detected by MR element <NUM> to indicate the presence of target <NUM>. For example, current through coil <NUM> may produce eddy currents (shown by currents <NUM> and <NUM>) in target <NUM>, which may produce reflected magnetic field <NUM>. Reflected magnetic field <NUM> may increase the strength of the magnetic field experienced by MR element <NUM>. Thus, when target <NUM> is present, MR element <NUM> may detect a stronger magnetic field than when target <NUM> is absent.

The proximity of target <NUM> may also increase or decrease the strength of the reflected magnetic field detected by MR element <NUM>. As target <NUM> moves closer to coil <NUM> (or vice versa), the eddy currents (shown by currents <NUM>' and <NUM>') will increase in strength, which will produce a reflected magnetic field <NUM>' with greater strength. Thus, MR element <NUM> will detect stronger magnetic field as target <NUM> moves closer to coil <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, MR element <NUM> is positioned adjacent to loops of coil <NUM>. This may result in greater sensitivity of MR element <NUM> to detect reflected field <NUM>. However, because the field produced by coil <NUM> is not zero at the position of MR element <NUM>, MR element <NUM> may also detect not only the reflected field, but also the magnetic field directly produced by the coil <NUM>, i.e. a "directly coupled" magnetic field. Various techniques may be used to reduce MR element <NUM>'s sensitivity to the directly coupled magnetic field.

Referring to <FIG>, circuit <NUM> includes a coil <NUM> and four MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> placed above or below traces of coil <NUM>. The MR elements may be connected in a bridge configuration <NUM>. The bridge configuration may provide a differential output consisting of signals 504a and 504b.

In embodiments, circuit <NUM> may be used as a single-coil circuit for detecting a target. For example, as a target approaches MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>, output signal 504a may change, and as the target approaches MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>, output signal 504b may change. MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> may be aligned so that, as the target approaches elements <NUM>-<NUM>, output signal 504a increase in value and output signal 504b decreases in value, or vice versa. For example, in such embodiments, the field created by the coil near the elements <NUM> and <NUM> is opposite is sign compared to the field created by the coil near the elements <NUM> and <NUM>. Hence the reflected fields are in opposite direction enhancing the sensitivity of the bridge differential output to the reflected field while suppressing the variation due to external common fields.

Referring to <FIG>, circuit <NUM>' includes a coil <NUM> arranged so that, if current flows through coil <NUM> in the direction shown by arrow <NUM>, the current will flow through coil portion <NUM> in a clockwise direction and through a counter-loop coil portion <NUM> in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, coil portions <NUM> and <NUM> may produce local magnetic fields having opposite direction, as described above. MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> may be arranged as shown to form a bridge that provides a differential signal as the target approaches. The counter-loop may reduce the directly-coupled magnetic field produced by the coil and detected by the MR elements. For example, a magnetic field produced by coil <NUM> may be directly detected by (e.g. directly coupled to) MR elements <NUM>-<NUM>. Coil portions <NUM> and <NUM> may each create a local magnetic field in the opposite direction of the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM>. Thus, the local magnetic fields may (at least partially) cancel out the directly coupled field produced by coil <NUM> at least in the local area around MR elements <NUM>-<NUM>. This may reduce or eliminate the directly-coupled field as detected by MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> so that the magnetic field detected by MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> is the reflected field from the target.

In embodiments, the counter-loop is used to measure reflected field and the direct field of the coil to provide sensitivity detection. Also, in this configuration, MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> can be placed so they do not see the field created by the main coil.

In embodiments, the target may be positioned adjacent to MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>, but not <NUM> and <NUM> (or vice versa). If MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> are arranged in a bridge formation, a differential output of the bridge may change as the target moves toward or away from MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>, for example.

In embodiments, the target may be positioned so that MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> experience the reflected magnetic field in one direction (e.g. experience one side of the reflected magnetic field) and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> experience the reflected magnetic field in the opposite direction (e.g. experience the other side of the reflected magnetic field). In this embodiment, as the target moves closer to the MR elements, signal 504a may increase and signal 504b may decrease (or vice versa) to produce a differential signal.

Referring to <FIG>, circuit <NUM>" includes two MR bridges. MR bridge <NUM> includes MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> and produces a differential output signal consisting of signals 514a and 514b, whereas MR bridge <NUM> includes MR elements <NUM> and produces a differential output signal consisting of signals 516a and 516b. As a target approaches the MR elements <NUM>-<NUM>, the output signals of MR bridges <NUM> and <NUM> may change to indicate the presence and proximity of the target. Circuit <NUM>'' is also shown with bond pads <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the target may be positioned adjacent to bridge <NUM> (MR elements <NUM>-<NUM>) so that the differential output of bridge <NUM> is affected as the target moves closer to or further from bridge <NUM>. In this embodiment, the output of bridge <NUM> may remain relatively stable as the target moves. Thus, the output of bridge <NUM> may be used as a reference. In particular, this arrangement may work in situations where the target to be detected is relatively close to bridge <NUM>, so that movement of the target has a greater effect on bridge <NUM> and a smaller or zero effect on bridge <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, the same configuration can be used to measure a difference of distance, the first distance being between a large target and the lock of MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and the second distance being between the corresponding target and MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Additionally or alternatively, the same configuration of <FIG> can be used to determine accurately the centering of a target along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the coil and crossing the plane of the coil along the line <NUM> situated at equal distance between the bridges <NUM> and <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, circuit <NUM> includes a coil <NUM> and multiple MR elements <NUM> arranged at intervals around coil <NUM>. MR elements <NUM> may form a grid, similar to the grid described above and shown in <FIG>. In embodiments, MR elements <NUM> may be connected in bridge configurations. In other embodiments, MR elements <NUM> may act (or be part of) individual circuits that are not shared with other MR elements. In either case, MR elements <NUM> may produce a signal when a target (and its reflected magnetic field) are detected. A processor may receive these signals and calculate the location, position, speed, parallelism, angle or other properties of the target.

In an embodiment, circuit <NUM> may be used to detect the position of the target in three dimensions with respect to the coil. Because the MR elements are positioned in a plane along coil <NUM>, they may act as a grid. As the target approaches one (or more) of the MR elements, they will produce an output signal that can be used to determine the location of the target along the two dimensions of the grid. Also, as described above, coil <NUM> and the MR elements may be used to detect distance from the MR elements in a direction orthogonal to the two dimensions of the coil and grid (i.e. a direction into and out of the page).

Referring now to <FIG>, a circuit <NUM> for detecting a target may include a coil <NUM> and one or more MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. Coil <NUM> may have two coiled portions <NUM> and <NUM>, separated by a gap <NUM>. In embodiments, the current through portions <NUM> and <NUM> flows in the same direction. For example, if the current through portion <NUM> flows in a clockwise direction around the coil, the current through portion <NUM> may also flow in a clockwise direction.

MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be placed within the gap so that they are not directly above (or below) traces of coil <NUM>. Placing MR elements within gap <NUM> may reduce capacitive or inductive coupling between coil <NUM> and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. Also, gap <NUM> may have a width W that is smaller than the distance between the MR elements and the target. As a result of gap <NUM> being relatively small, the eddy currents induced in the target and the resulting reflected magnetic field may appear (i.e. may be detected by the MR elements) as if a single coil without any gap between portions were producing the magnetic field.

In embodiments, positioning MR elements within gap <NUM> may reduce sensitivity of the MR elements to the directly coupled magnetic field produced by gap <NUM>, thus allowing the MR elements to maintain sensitivity to the reflected field.

In other embodiments, coil <NUM> may include a jog in one or more of the traces. MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be aligned with the jog.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a circuit having MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> sandwiched between traces of coil <NUM>. In an embodiment, coil <NUM> may be the same as or similar to coil <NUM>. Coil traces 602a and 602b may be positioned on the surface of a substrate (not shown). MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be placed atop traces 602a and 602b so that traces 602a and 602b are positioned between MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> and the substrate. An additional layer of traces 614a and 614b may be positioned atop MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. Traces 602a, 602b, 614a, and 614b may be part of the same coil so that current flowing through the traces flows in a circular or spiral pattern to induce a magnetic field. Placing MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> between traces of the coil may reduce directly coupled magnetic field produced by the coil.

Referring to <FIG>, a pressure sensor <NUM> includes a magnetic field sensor <NUM>, having a substrate <NUM> that supports a coil <NUM> and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. In embodiments, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be the same as or similar to circuit <NUM> in <FIG>, circuit <NUM> in <FIG>, or any of the magnetic field detection circuits described above that can detect proximity of a target.

In embodiments, coil <NUM> and MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> may be supported by the same substrate <NUM>. In other embodiments, MR element <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, and coil <NUM> may be supported on different substrates (not shown). For example, coil <NUM> may be supported by one substrate while MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may be supported by a different substrate. In another example, MR element <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, and coil <NUM> may each be supported by a separate substrate. Any other combinations of substrates supporting circuit elements are also possible.

Pressure sensor <NUM> includes a chamber <NUM> having a conductive portion <NUM> and a deformable portion <NUM>. In an embodiment, chamber <NUM> is formed by an elongate tube. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the conductive portion and the deformable portion <NUM> may comprise a membrane disposed at one end of the tube that can act a diaphragm, and can be deformed to move toward or away from magnetic field detection circuit <NUM>.

Deformable portion <NUM> may be formed of stainless steel, copper beryllium, titanium alloys, super alloys, and/or sapphire. When the pressure inside chamber <NUM> is greater than the pressure outside chamber <NUM>, deformable portion <NUM> may extend toward magnetic field detection circuit <NUM>. If the pressure outside chamber <NUM> is greater, deformable portion <NUM> may retract away from magnetic field detection circuit <NUM>, and if the pressure inside and outside chamber <NUM> is in equilibrium, deformable portion may adopt a neutral position between the extended and retracted positions.

In case of a circular deformable portion, the deformation of the membrane is given by the formula: <MAT>.

Where h is the thickness of the deformable portion, v is the Poisson module, E is the young module, a is the radius of the deformable portion, r is the point where the deformation is measured.

In embodiments, the maximal deformation may be low enough that the deformable portion is always in the elastic domain of the material even at temperature above <NUM>. For that reason, super alloys like maraging alloys or titanium alloys may be suitable materials.

Magnetic field detection circuit <NUM> may include at least one magnetic field sensing element <NUM> and/or <NUM> disposed proximate to coil <NUM>, as described above. Coil <NUM> may produce a magnetic field that induces eddy current and a reflected magnetic field in the conductive portion <NUM>, similar to the eddy currents and reflected fields described above. Magnetic field detection circuit <NUM> may also include a circuit to generate an output signal indicative of the pressure differential between the interior and exterior of chamber <NUM>.

In embodiments, magnetic field detection circuit <NUM> comprises two spaced apart MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> and detects a distance between the conductive portion <NUM> and one of the MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> as deformable portion extends toward and/or retracts away from the MR elements. In embodiments, magnetic field detection circuit <NUM> may be configured to detect a difference between a) the distance between the conductive portion <NUM> and magnetic field sensor <NUM>, and b) the distance between conductive portion <NUM> and magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The difference between these distances may be used to produce an output signal of magnetic field detection circuit <NUM>.

The output signal produced by magnetic field detection circuit <NUM> may represent the distance, which can then be received by a processor to calculate an associated pressure within chamber <NUM>. MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise multiple MR elements and may be arranged in a bridge configuration, as described above, to produce a differential output.

In an embodiment, MR element <NUM> is aligned with an edge of conductive, deformable portion <NUM> and MR element <NUM> is aligned with the center or a central region of conducive, deformable portion <NUM>. In this arrangement, MR element <NUM> will react as deformable portion <NUM> moves toward and away from MR element <NUM>, and MR element <NUM> will not be affected or will be affected to a significantly lesser degree than element <NUM>, and thus may have a relatively constant resistance value. Positioning the MR elements in this way may be used to remove errors due to stray field. It may also help compensate for air gap tolerance between MR elements. For example, the difference in distance detected by the two sensors may be used to compensate for small changes in air gap over time, temperature, etc..

Referring to <FIG>, another embodiment of a pressure sensor <NUM> includes a first elongated tube <NUM> having a deformable sidewall <NUM> and an opening <NUM> that allows a fluid to enter a chamber within elongated tube <NUM>. As the fluid creates pressure within tube <NUM>, the sidewall <NUM> may expand like a balloon or extend. An end <NUM> of tube <NUM> may be conductive.

Pressure sensor <NUM> also includes a second elongated tube <NUM> having an opening <NUM>. Elongated tube <NUM> may have a rigid wall <NUM>, and an opening <NUM>. Opening <NUM> may have a diameter or size large enough for tube <NUM> to be inserted into opening <NUM>.

Pressure sensor <NUM> may include a magnetic field sensor <NUM>, which may be the same as or similar to magnetic field sensor <NUM>, and/or any of the magnetic field sensors described above.

In embodiments, when the tubes <NUM>, <NUM> are assembled, conductive end <NUM> of tube <NUM> may be positioned proximate to MR element <NUM>. As the pressure within tube <NUM> increases and decreases, the rigid wall of tube <NUM>'s may keep deformable sidewall <NUM> from expanding laterally. However, end <NUM> may expand and extend toward MR element <NUM> and retract away from MR element <NUM> as pressure within tube chamber <NUM> changes. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the change in distance and produce an output signal representing the distance between end <NUM> and MR element <NUM>. In embodiments, magnetic field detection circuit <NUM> may be configured to detect a difference between a) the distance between conductive end <NUM> and magnetic field sensor <NUM>, and b) the distance between conductive <NUM> and magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The difference between these distances may be used to produce an output signal of magnetic field detection circuit <NUM>. A processor circuit may receive the signal and calculate a pressure within tube <NUM> based on the distance.

Referring also to <FIG>, pressure sensor <NUM> includes a first substrate <NUM>, that may be the same or similar to substrate <NUM> of <FIG>, and a second substrate <NUM> attached to the first substrate <NUM>. Second substrate <NUM> may include a surface <NUM> and recess <NUM> formed in the surface. Recess <NUM> may be etched into the substrate. In embodiments, wafer <NUM> may be etched so that it is thin enough to deflect under pressure, as shown by dotted lines <NUM>. MR elements supported by substrate <NUM> may detect (via a reflected magnetic field as describe above) the deflection of wafer <NUM>. The detected deflection may be subsequently correlated to a pressure.

In embodiments, the MR elements on substrate <NUM> may be positioned so that one or more MR elements are adjacent to an edge (e.g. a non-deflecting portion) of recess <NUM> and one or more MR elements are adjacent to the center (e.g. a deflecting portion) of recess <NUM>, similar to the arrangement described above and illustrated in <FIG>.

In embodiments, substrate <NUM> may be formed from a conductive material, for example copper. Therefore, motion of a conductive deformable portion of substrate <NUM> caused by pressure on substrate <NUM> (and/or pressure within recess <NUM>) can be detected by a magnetic field sensors on substrate <NUM>.

Alternatively the substrate <NUM> may be formed by a crystalline material like sapphire coated by a thick enough conductive material like copper for example.

In embodiments, recess <NUM> is evacuated during the manufacturing process to determine a reference pressure. In embodiments, the reference pressure is a vacuum or a pressure that is less than standard pressure (e.g. less than <NUM> kPa). In certain configurations, one or more of the output signals of an MR bridge (e.g. bridge <NUM> in <FIG>) may be used to generate to represent the value of the reference pressure.

Referring to <FIG>, a block diagram of a magnetic field sensor <NUM> in accordance with the claimed subject matter is shown. Magnetic field sensor includes a coil <NUM> to produce a magnetic field, coil driver <NUM> to provide power to the coil, MR element <NUM>, and MR driver circuit <NUM> to provide power to MR element <NUM>. MR element <NUM> comprises multiple MR elements, which may be arranged in a bridge configuration. As described above, coil <NUM> and MR element <NUM> are configured to detect the distance of a conductive target. Coil driver <NUM> and MR driver <NUM> produce an AC output to drive coil <NUM> and MR element <NUM>, as described above and as indicated by AC source <NUM>. AC source <NUM> is a common source used to drive both coil <NUM> and MR element <NUM>. Signal <NUM> is an AC signal.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM> also includes an amplifier to amplify the output signal <NUM> of MR element <NUM>. Output signal <NUM> may be a differential signal and amplifier <NUM> may be a differential amplifier. Output signal <NUM> and amplified signal <NUM> may a DC signal.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may also include a low pass filter <NUM> to filter noise and other artifacts from signal <NUM>, and an offset module <NUM> which may scale the output signal according to temperature (e.g. a temperature measure by temperature sensor <NUM>) and a type of material according to material type module <NUM>. A segmented linearization circuit <NUM> may also be included, which may perform a linear regression on compensated signal <NUM> and produce output signal <NUM>.

In embodiments, the reflected magnetic field from the target will have a frequency f (the same frequency as the coil driver <NUM>). Because the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM> and the reflected field have the same frequency, the output of MR element <NUM> may include a <NUM> (or DC) component, a component at frequency f, and harmonic components at multiples of frequency f. One skilled in the art will recognize that the lowest frequency harmonic component may occur at frequency <NUM>*f. However, any difference in the equilibrium of the MR bridge may generate a frequency component that may be present in the signal. Thus, low pass filter <NUM> may be configured to remove the frequency f and higher (i.e. low pass filter <NUM> may include a cut-off frequency fcutoff, where fcutoff<f. In embodiments, the filter may be designed to remove possible f signals. Accordingly, the frequency f may be chosen as a frequency greater than the frequency range of motion of the target.

In embodiments, the sensitivity of MR element <NUM> changes with temperature. The strength of the reflected field may also change with temperature depending of target material type and frequency. To compensate, module <NUM> may contain parameters to compensate for the effects of the temperature and/or material used. The parameters may include linear and/or second order compensation values.

In embodiments, processing circuit <NUM> may process the signal representing the magnetic field. Because a common source <NUM> is used to drive MR element <NUM> and coil <NUM>, the frequency of coil <NUM> and MR element <NUM> is substantially the same. In this case, post processing of the signal may include filtering, linear regression, gain and amplification, or other signal shaping techniques.

MR element <NUM> may detect the magnetic field directly produced by coil <NUM> and also the reflected magnetic field produced by eddy currents in a conductive target, induced by the magnetic field generated by current through coil <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, magnetic field sensor <NUM>' may include coil <NUM>, coil driver <NUM>, common AC source <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, amplifier <NUM>, and low pass filter <NUM> as described above.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM>' may differ from sensor <NUM> of <FIG> in that it is a closed loop sensor and so may also include a second coil <NUM>, which may operate at a different AC frequency than coil <NUM>. In this example, coil <NUM> may be <NUM> degrees out of phase with coil <NUM> as indicated by the "-f" symbol. Coil <NUM> may also produce a first magnetic field that can be used to detect a target. In embodiments, coil <NUM> may be relatively smaller than coil <NUM>. Coil <NUM> may be placed adjacent to MR element <NUM> to produce a magnetic field that can be detected by MR element <NUM>, but which does not produce eddy currents in the target.

In embodiments, coil <NUM> may be used to offset errors due to the magnetoresistance of the MR element. For example, the magnitude of current driven through coil <NUM> may be changed until the output of MR element <NUM> is zero volts. At this point, the current through coil <NUM> may be measured (for example, by measuring voltage across a shunt resistor in series with coil <NUM>). The measured current may be processed similarly to the output of MR element <NUM> to remove a magnetoresistance error associated with MR <NUM>.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM>' may also include an amplifier <NUM> to receive signal <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM>' may also include low pass filter <NUM>, material type module <NUM>, temperature sensor <NUM>, offset module <NUM>, and segmented linearization module <NUM> as described above.

<FIG> include various examples of magnetic field sensors having signal processing to reduce inductive coupling or other noise from affecting signal accuracy. The example magnetic field sensors in <FIG> may also employ various features related to detecting a reflected field from a target, such as frequency hopping, etc. Such magnetic field sensors may also include circuitry to compute a sensitivity value.

Referring now to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor <NUM> may include coil <NUM>, coil driver <NUM>, AC driver <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, amplifier <NUM>, low pass filter <NUM>, temperature sensor <NUM>, material type module <NUM>, offset module <NUM>, and segmented linearization module <NUM>.

MR element <NUM> may be responsive to a sensing element drive signal and configured to detect a directly-coupled magnetic field generated by coil <NUM>, to produce signal <NUM> in response. Processing circuitry may compute a sensitivity value associated with detection, by MR element <NUM>, of the directly-coupled magnetic field produced by coil <NUM>. The sensitivity value may be substantially independent of a reflected field produced by eddy currents in the target.

As shown, AC driver <NUM> is coupled to coil driver <NUM>, but is not coupled to MR driver <NUM> in sensor <NUM>. In this embodiment, MR driver <NUM> may produce a DC signal (e.g. a signal with a frequency of about zero) to drive MR element <NUM>.

Coil <NUM> may produce a DC (or substantially low frequency AC) magnetic field that can be detected by MR element <NUM>, but which does not produce eddy currents in the target. The signal produced by detection of the DC (or substantially low frequency AC) magnetic field may be used to adjust sensitivity of the magnetic field sensor.

Coil <NUM> may also produce an AC magnetic field at higher frequencies that induces eddy currents in the target, which produce a reflected magnetic field at those higher frequencies that can be detected by MR element <NUM>.

MR element <NUM> may produce signal <NUM>, which may include frequency components at the DC or substantially low AC frequency (e.g. a "directly coupled" signal or signal component) representing the lower frequency magnetic field that does not cause eddy currents in the target, and/or frequency components at the higher AC frequency (e.g. a "reflected" signal or signal component) that represent the detected reflected field. The directly coupled signals may be used to adjust sensitivity of the sensor while the reflected signals may be used to detect the target. Coil driver <NUM> and/or MR driver <NUM> may use the directly coupled signals as a sensitivity signal adjust their respective output drive signals in response to the sensitivity signal.

In embodiments, the directly coupled signal and the reflected signal may be included as frequency components of the same signal. In this case, coil <NUM> may be driven to produce both frequency components at the same time. In other embodiments, generation of the directly coupled signal and the reflected signals may be generated at different times, for example using a time-division multiplexing scheme.

Sensor <NUM> may also include a demodulator circuit <NUM> that can modulate signal <NUM> to remove the AC component from the signal or shift the AC component within the signal to a different frequency. For example, demodulator circuit <NUM> may modulate signal <NUM> at frequency f. As known in the art, because signal <NUM> includes signal components at frequency f representing the detected magnetic field, modulating signal <NUM> at frequency f may shift the signal elements representing the detected magnetic field to <NUM> or DC. Other frequency components within signal <NUM> may be shifted to higher frequencies so they can be removed by low-pass filter <NUM>. In embodiments, the DC or low frequency component of signal <NUM>, which may represent a sensitivity value, can be fed back to coil driver <NUM> to adjust the output of coil <NUM> in response to the signal, and/or to MR driver <NUM> to adjust drive signal <NUM> in response to the sensitivity value. DC output signal <NUM> may represent proximity of the target to MR element <NUM>.

In other embodiments, a time-division multiplexing scheme may be used. For example, coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> at a first frequency during a first time period, at a second frequency during a second time period, etc. In some instances, the first and second (and subsequent) time periods do not overlap. In other instances, the first and second time periods may overlap. In these instances, coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> at two or more frequencies simultaneously. When the first and second time periods do not overlap, demodulator <NUM> may operate at the same frequency as the coil driver <NUM>. When the time periods overlap, multiple modulators can be used, the first running at the first frequency, and the second running at the second frequency in order to separate out the signals at each frequency.

While it can be advantageous to reduce the directly coupled magnetic field that the MR element <NUM> detects in order to achieve an accurate read of the reflected field (and thus the detected target), it may also be advantageous to have some amount of direct coupling (i.e., to directly detect the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM>) to permit a sensitivity value to be computed. The simultaneous measure of both the field reflected and the field created by the coil allows to determine accurately the distance of the object independent of the sensitivity of the MR elements, coil drive current, etc.. The sensitivity of MR elements may vary with temperature and/or with the presence of unwanted DC or AC stray fields in the plane of the MR array. The ratio between the reflected field and the coil field is just dependent on geometrical design and is hence a good parameter to accurately determine a distance.

Referring to <FIG>, a frequency hopping scheme may be used. For example, coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> at different frequencies (e.g. alternate between frequencies over time, or produce a signal containing multiple frequencies). In such embodiments, sensor <NUM> may include multiple demodulator circuits and/or filters to detect a signal at each frequency.

Referring to <FIG> which is in accordance with the claimed subject matter, a magnetic field sensor <NUM>' includes coil <NUM>, coil driver <NUM>, AC driver <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, amplifier <NUM>, low pass filter <NUM>, temperature sensor <NUM>, material type module <NUM> and offset module <NUM>.

As shown, AC driver <NUM> is coupled to coil driver <NUM> to drive coil <NUM> at a frequency f1. MR driver <NUM> is coupled to AC driver <NUM> to drive MR element <NUM> at a frequency f2. Frequencies f1 and f2 may be different frequencies and may be non-harmonic frequencies (in other words, f1 may not be a harmonic frequency of f2 and vice versa). In embodiments, frequency f1 is lower than frequency f2. In other embodiments, frequency f1 and f2 may be relatively close to each other so that the difference between the two frequencies falls well below f1 and f2. Frequency f2 may be a zero value or non-zero-value frequency but alternatively, we may choose f1 larger than f2. Then the demodulation is done at f2-f1.

In an embodiment, frequency f1 may be selected to avoid generating an eddy current greater than a predetermined level in the target and/or selected to provide full reflection in the target. The reflected field may be related to the skin depth in the target according to the following formula: <MAT>.

In the formula above, σ is the conductivity of the target material, µ is the magnetic permittivity of the target material, and f is the working frequency. If the thickness of the target material is larger than about <NUM> times the skin depth δ, the field may be totally reflected. In the case where the thickness of the target is equal to the skin depth, only about the half of the field may be reflected. Hence a frequency f chosen to be low enough so the skin depth becomes larger than the thickness of the target may induce low eddy currents and a reflected field with reduced strength. The formula given above may be valid for high conductive and low magnetic materials. For material with low conductivity or for ferromagnetic material, losses of the eddy currents, which may be translated at a complex skin depth, may result in reduction of reflected field strength.

Circuit <NUM>' may also include a band pass filter <NUM> and a demodulator circuit <NUM>. Band pass filter <NUM> may have a pass band that excludes frequencies f1 and f2 but conserves frequency |f1-f2|. In this way, inductive noise from the coil and/or GMR driver into the magnetic sensors may be filtered out. Circuit <NUM>' may also include a demodulator circuit <NUM> that demodulates at frequency |f1-f2| and a low pass filter to recover a signal centered around DC, which may represent the magnetic field seen by the magnetic sensors at f1. In embodiments, the signal at frequency |f1-f2| may include information about the target and/or the directly coupled magnetic field, but may have reduced noise from inductive coupling or other noise sources.

Referring now to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor <NUM>" includes coil <NUM>, coil driver <NUM>, AC driver <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, amplifier <NUM>, low pass filter <NUM>, temperature sensor <NUM>, material type module <NUM>, offset module <NUM>, and segmented linearization module <NUM>.

Coil <NUM> may produce an AC magnetic field that induces eddy currents and a reflected magnetic field in a target.

Sensor <NUM>" may also include a demodulation circuit <NUM> that can demodulate signal <NUM>. Demodulation circuit <NUM> may multiply signal <NUM> by a signal at frequency f, which may shift information about the target in signal <NUM> to DC, and may shift noise or other information in the signal to higher frequencies. Low pass filter <NUM> may the remove the noise at higher frequencies from the signal. In embodiments, demodulation circuit <NUM> may be a digital circuit that demodulates signal <NUM> in the digital domain or an analog signal the demodulates signal <NUM> in the analog domain.

Sensor <NUM>" may also include a phase detection and compensation circuit <NUM> that detects the phase and/or frequency of the current in coil <NUM> and the magnetic field it produces. Circuit <NUM> may detect and compensate for discrepancies in phase in coil <NUM> and f and produce a corrected signal <NUM> that can be used to modulate signal <NUM>.

In embodiments, the frequency f, the type of material of the target, the shape of the target, wiring and electronics, and/or other factors may cause a phase shift between the drive signal <NUM> to coil <NUM> and the reflected magnetic field detected by MR element <NUM>. The phase between the signals can be measured and used to adjust the phase of signal <NUM> from phase detection and compensation circuit <NUM> to match the phase of signal <NUM>.

A frequency hopping scheme may also be used. For example, coil driver <NUM> and/or MR driver <NUM> may drive signals at multiple frequencies. At each frequency, phase detection and compensation module <NUM> may adjust the phase of signal <NUM> to match the phase of signal <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor <NUM>‴ includes coil <NUM>, coil driver <NUM>, AC driver <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, MR element <NUM>, amplifier <NUM>, temperature sensor <NUM>, material type module <NUM>, offset module <NUM>, and segmented linearization module <NUM>.

Coil <NUM> may produce an AC magnetic field that induces eddy currents and a reflected magnetic field in a target. The reflected magnetic field can be detected by MR element <NUM>, which produces signal <NUM> representing the detected magnetic field.

Sensor <NUM>‴ may also include a fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuit <NUM> that can perform an FFT on signal <NUM>. Performing the FFT may identify one or more frequency components in signal <NUM>. In an embodiment, FFT circuit <NUM> may identify the frequency component with the greatest amplitude in signal <NUM>, which may represent the detected magnetic field at frequency f. FFT circuit <NUM> may produce an output signal <NUM> including the detected signal at frequency f, as well as any other frequency components of signal <NUM>.

Alternatively, the driver can generate simultaneously different frequencies fa,fb,fc, and the FFT module may calculate the amplitudes at fa, fb, fc, which may be used to determine different parameters of the target including position, material, thickness, etc. In addition, if a disturbance (e.g. from a deformation of the target, a stray magnetic field, a noise source, etc.) occurs at a particular frequency, the system can detect the disturbance and ignore data at that frequency. The amplitudes calculated by the FFT module may also be used to determine if there is a disturbance at any particular frequency, which can be ignored by subsequent processing. In embodiments, he FFT temperature gain compensation and linearization may be calculated in the analog and/or digital domain.

Referring now to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor 1100D includes coil <NUM>, coil driver <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, and MR element <NUM>. The output signal <NUM> of MR sensor <NUM> may represent a detected magnetic field. Although not shown, sensor 1100D may also include amplifier <NUM>, low pass filter <NUM>, temperature sensor <NUM>, material type module <NUM>, offset module <NUM>, and segmented linearization module <NUM>. An oscillator <NUM> may be used to operate coil driver <NUM> at a frequency f.

As shown, oscillator <NUM> is coupled to coil driver <NUM>, but is not coupled to MR driver <NUM> in sensor 1100D. In this embodiment, MR driver <NUM> may produce a DC signal (e.g. a signal with a frequency of about zero) to drive MR element <NUM>.

Sensor 1100D also includes a quadrature demodulation circuit <NUM>. Quadrature demodulation circuit <NUM> includes shift circuit <NUM> to produce a <NUM>° shift of the driving frequency f. Oscillator <NUM> may produce a cosine signal at frequency f. Thus, the output of <NUM> may be a sine signal at frequency f. Hence by a multiplication in the demodulators <NUM> and <NUM> (and subsequent low pass filtering), the detected signal of the MR sensor <NUM> may be separated into in-phase and out-of-phase components (e.g. signals 1184a and 1186a). The resulting phase and magnitude can be used to determine information about the reflected field and the target. For example, phase information may be used to determine if there is a defect or abnormality in the target, to determine magnetic properties of the material of the target, whether the target is aligned properly, etc. Oscillator <NUM> may also produce a square wave with period <NUM>/f, and shift circuit <NUM> may shift the square wave in time by <NUM>/(4f).

Referring to <FIG>, in another embodiment, magnetic field sensor 1100E may produce a quadrature modulated signal via two signal paths as an alternative to providing both the in-phase and out-of-phase information. In circuit 1100E, half of the MR elements may be driven by a signal at frequency f and half of the MR elements may be driven with a frequency <NUM>° out of phase. The demodulation chain (e.g. the circuits that comprise a demodulation function of the system) may be the same as or similar to the demodulation circuits in <FIG> including a low pass filter at DC and compensation and linearization.

In embodiments, quadrature modulation may be used to determine the absolute magnitude and phase of the returned signal. This may allow for automatic correction of unwanted dephasing of the signal, which may provide a more accurate determination of target properties and retrieval of information related to magnetic or loss properties of the material.

Referring to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor 1100F includes coil driver <NUM> that drives coil <NUM> at a frequency of f<NUM>. MR driver <NUM> may drive MR element at the same frequency f<NUM>, but <NUM> degrees out of phase with respect to coil drive <NUM>. As a result, the signal <NUM> produced by MR element <NUM> may have a frequency that is two times f<NUM> (i.e. <NUM>*f<NUM>), which may be a result of multiplying a sine and a cosine. Sensor 1100F may include a demodulator circuit <NUM> that may demodulate the signal to convert the reflected field information to a frequency around DC.

Referring to <FIG>, signal <NUM> may represent a signal used by coil driver <NUM> to drive coil <NUM>. When the signal is high, coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> with current flowing in one direction, and when the signal is low, coil driver may drive coil <NUM> with current flowing in the opposite direction. In embodiments, coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> with direct current (i.e. at DC) or at a frequency sufficiently low so that the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM> does not create eddy currents in the target.

As an example, referring to the skin depth formula above, the skin depth of copper at r <NUM> may be about <NUM> and at <NUM> it may be about <NUM>. Hence, given a <NUM> thick copper target, a frequency below <NUM> may create reflected magnetic fields with relatively low strength.

Coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> at a relatively low or DC frequency, as shown by signal portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The frequency may be sufficiently low, and thus the duration of portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be sufficiently long, so that any eddy currents generated in the target by switching of signal <NUM> (for example, switching from a high value during portion <NUM> to a low value during portion <NUM>) have time to settle and dissipate. The directly-coupled signal shown during portions <NUM> and <NUM> may switch from high to low (representing a change in the detected magnetic field) in order to remove any offset due to the directly-coupled magnetic field of coil <NUM>.

Portion <NUM> of signal <NUM> may represent the magnetic field detected by MR element <NUM> while coil driver <NUM> drives coil <NUM> at a frequency sufficiently high to induce eddy currents in the target. While portion <NUM> is active, MR element <NUM> may detect the directly-coupled magnetic field produced directly by coil <NUM>, and also the magnetic field produced by eddy currents in the target. The detected signal may be subsequently processed to separate the directly-coupled field from the field produced by the eddy currents. Although not shown, portion <NUM> may have a larger or smaller magnitude than portion <NUM> because the portions may contain different information. For example, portion <NUM> may include the reflected signal as well as the directly-coupled signal.

As shown in signal <NUM>, low frequency portions <NUM> and <NUM> of different polarities may be adjacent to each other within signal <NUM>. In other embodiments, as shown in signal <NUM>', low frequency portions <NUM>' and <NUM>' of different polarities may not be adjacent to each other within the signal. For example, they may be separated by high frequency signal portion <NUM>.

In other embodiments, the coil may be driven at both the low frequency (of low frequency portions <NUM> and <NUM>) and at the high frequency (of high frequency portion <NUM>) simultaneously. The frequencies may then be separated using signal processing techniques to measure a MR element's response.

In certain instances, the ration of the low frequency portions <NUM> and <NUM> to the high frequency portion <NUM> can be used to determine or indicate the magnitude of the reflected signal. Measuring the ratio in this way may reduce sensitivity of the magnitude measurement to external, unwanted variations such as variations due to temperate, stray magnetic fields, etc..

Referring now to <FIG>, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be configured to adjust the output signal of the magnetic field sensor in response to the sensitivity value. Sensor <NUM> may include a coil <NUM> and coil driver <NUM>. MR element <NUM> may detect a magnetic field produced by coil <NUM>, and as reflected by a target, as described above. In embodiments, the output signal <NUM> of MR element <NUM> may comprise a first frequency and a second frequency. For example, the first frequency may be the frequency of the coil driver, and the second frequency may be <NUM>, or DC. In this case, MR element <NUM> may be driven by a DC bias circuit <NUM>. In other examples, the second frequency may be a non-zero frequency.

In another embodiment, coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> at one frequency during a first time period, and by another frequency during a second time period. The time periods may alternate and not overlap.

Sensor <NUM> may also include a separator circuit, which may include one or more low pass filters <NUM> and <NUM>, as well as demodulators <NUM> and <NUM>. Sensor <NUM> may also include mixer circuit <NUM>. Oscillators <NUM> and <NUM> may provide oscillating signals used to drive coil <NUM> and process signal <NUM>. In embodiments, oscillator <NUM> may provide a signal with a higher frequency (fhigh) than that of oscillator <NUM> (flow). In embodiments, flow is a sufficiently low frequency so that any reflected field produced by the target as a result of frequency flow is zero, sufficiently small that it is not detected, or sufficiently small so that its effect on the output is negligible or within system tolerances.

Mixer <NUM> may mix (e.g. add) the signals from oscillator <NUM> and <NUM> to produce signal <NUM>, which it feeds to coil driver <NUM>. Coil driver <NUM> may then drive coil <NUM> according to the mixed signal <NUM>.

Because coil <NUM> is driven by the mixed signal, output signal <NUM> may include oscillations at fhigh and flow as detected by MR sensor <NUM>. Demodulator <NUM> may demodulate signal <NUM> at frequency fhigh in order to separate the portion of signal <NUM> at frequency fhigh from other frequencies in the signal. One skilled in the art may recognized that the demodulation process may result in the other frequencies being shifted to higher frequencies in the signal. Low pass filter <NUM> may then remove these frequencies from the signal and produce a filtered signal <NUM> comprising primarily information at frequency fhigh or at DC.

Similarly, demodulator <NUM> may demodulate signal <NUM> at frequency flow in order to separate the portion of signal <NUM> at frequency flow from other frequencies in the signal. One skilled in the art may recognized that the modulation process may result in the other frequencies being shifted to higher frequencies in the signal. Low pass filter <NUM> may then remove these frequencies from the signal and produce a filtered signal <NUM> comprising primarily information at frequency flow or at DC. Processing circuit <NUM> may process signals <NUM> and <NUM> to produce output signal <NUM> representing the detected target.

Processing circuit <NUM> may process signals <NUM> and <NUM> in various ways including, taking the ratio of the signals to provide an output that is substantially insensitive to undesirable variations caused by stray magnetic field interference, temperature shifts, package stresses, or other external stimuli. Taking the ratio of the signals can also provide an output that is substantially insensitive to variations in the coil driver (e.g. variations in current or voltage provided by the coil driver) due to temperature, changes in supply voltage, external stimuli, etc..

Signal <NUM> may also be used as a sensitivity signal fed into DC bias circuit <NUM>, as shown by arrow <NUM>. DC Bias circuit <NUM> may adjust the voltage level used to drive MR element <NUM> based on the value of signal <NUM>, to compensate for changes in system sensitivity due to temperature, stray magnetic fields, package stress, etc..

Referring to <FIG>, magnetic field sensor <NUM>' may be similar to sensor <NUM>, and may also include an additional in-plane field coil <NUM>. DC bias circuit <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> with a DC current to create a constant magnetic field. The constant magnetic field may be detected directly by MR element <NUM> and may be a biasing magnetic field. In other embodiments, the magnetic field produced by in-plane field coil <NUM> may be used to generate a signal proportional to the MR sensitivity, which can be detected by MR element <NUM> and subsequently fed back and used to adjust the sensitivity of circuit <NUM>'. In embodiments, the magnetic field produced by in-plane field coil <NUM> may be perpendicular to the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM> and used to increase/decrease the sensitivity of the MR element. DC bias circuit <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> in such a way to compensate for changes in sensitivity seen by the closed loop system. In other words, DC bias circuit may change the magnitude of the driving current supplied to coil <NUM> in response to feedback signal <NUM> to compensate for sensitivity errors up to the bandwidth of the feedback loop system. The bandwidth may be determined (or at least heavily influenced) by the cutoff frequency of filter <NUM>.

As shown, DC bias circuit <NUM> may receive signal <NUM> and adjust the amount of current provided to in-plane field coil <NUM>, which may subsequently adjust thus the strength the magnetic field produced by in-plane field coil <NUM>. Although not shown in <FIG>, DC bias circuit <NUM>' may also receive signal <NUM> and use it to adjust the current that drives MR element <NUM>. In embodiments, DC bias circuit <NUM>', DC bias circuit <NUM>, or both may adjust their outputs based on signal <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor <NUM> includes oscillator <NUM>, oscillator <NUM>, and mixer <NUM>. Coil driver <NUM> receives the signal produced by mixer <NUM> and drives coil <NUM> with a signal comprising frequencies fhigh and flow.

Sensor <NUM> may include two (or more) MR elements <NUM> and <NUM>. MR driver <NUM> may be coupled to oscillator <NUM> and may drive MR sensor <NUM> at frequency fhigh, and MR driver <NUM> may be coupled to oscillator <NUM> and my driver MR sensor <NUM> at frequency flow. Low pass filter <NUM> may filter output signal <NUM> from MR sensor <NUM> and low pass filter <NUM> may filter output signal <NUM> from MR sensor <NUM>. Due to the frequencies at which MR sensors <NUM> and <NUM> are driven, output signal <NUM> may include a frequency component at fhigh and output signal <NUM> may include a frequency component at flow. Filtered signal <NUM> may be a sensitivity signal that can be used to adjust the sensitivity of sensor <NUM>. Thus, signal <NUM> may be fed back to MR driver <NUM>, MR driver <NUM>, and/or coil driver <NUM>, which may each adjust their output based on the value of signal <NUM>. In embodiments, signal <NUM> may be a DC or oscillating signal.

Referring to <FIG>, a circuit <NUM> includes a coil <NUM> and MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> arranged in bridge configurations. Coil <NUM> may include so called countercoil portions 1304A, B and 1306A, B. First countercoil portion 1304A may produce a field to the left for MR elements below it. Subsequently, portion 1304B may produce a field to the right, portion 1306A may produce a field to the right, and portion 1306B may produce a field to the left. MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> are positioned near countercoil portion 1304A and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> are positioned near countercoil portion 1304B. MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned near countercoil portion 1306A, and MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned near countercoil portion 1306B. Also, the MR bridges are split so that some of the elements in each bridge are located near countercoil portion <NUM> and some of the elements are located near countercoil portion <NUM>. For example, MR bridge <NUM> comprises MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> (positioned near countercoil portion <NUM>) and MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> (positioned near countercoil portion <NUM>). Providing countercoil portions <NUM> and <NUM> may influence the magnitude and polarity of the directly coupled field on the MR elements.

MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> may have a first coupling factor with relation to coil <NUM>, MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> may have a second coupling factor, MR elements <NUM> and <NUM> may have a third coupling factor, and MR elements <NUM>, <NUM> may have a fourth coupling factor with relation to coil <NUM>. In an embodiment, the coupling factor of MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be equal and opposite to the coupling factor of MR elements <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. This may be due, for example, to coil portions 1304A, B and 1306A, B carrying equal current in opposite coil directions, as well as the positioning of the MR elements in relation to them.

In an embodiment, bridges <NUM> and <NUM> will respond to a reflected field equally. However, they may respond oppositely to the directly coupled field. The addition of the outputs of the two bridges may contain information about the reflected field and the subtraction of the two bridges may contain information about the directly coupled field. The directly coupled field information can then be used as a measure of system sensitivity and be used to normalize the reflected field information. In another embodiment, bridges <NUM> and <NUM> respond to a reflected field equally. However, they may respond differently (not necessarily exactly oppositely) to the directly coupled field. The subtraction of the two bridges still results in a signal only containing information about the directly coupled field, which can be used as a measure of system sensitivity. The addition of the two bridges may include some directly coupled field information along with information about the reflected field. However, this can be compensated for with the linearization block, as it shows up as a constant offset.

For example, during operation, the following formulas may apply: <MAT> <MAT>.

In the formulas above, Cr represents the reflected field, C<NUM> represents the directly coupled field detected by the first MR bridge, C<NUM> represents the directly coupled field detected by the second MR bridge, i is the current through the coil, S<NUM> represents the sensitivity of the first MR bridge, and S<NUM> represents the sensitivity of the second MR bridge. Assuming that S1=S2 and solving for Cr: <MAT>.

The equation above provides a formula for Cr independent of current and sensitivity of the MR elements. In embodiments, the geometry of the coil, MR elements, and target my provide that C<NUM>=-C<NUM>. In other embodiments, the geometry of the system may provide other ratios of C<NUM> and C<NUM>. With a known ratio, Cr can be computed to provide a value for the reflected field.

Referring to <FIG>, a coil <NUM>' may include countercoil portions <NUM>' A, B and <NUM>' A, B and gap between coil elements. In <FIG>, only the middle portion of coil <NUM>' and MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> are shown.

The countercoil portions <NUM>' and <NUM>' may each be placed in a respective gap <NUM> and <NUM> between traces of the main coil. MR elements <NUM>-<NUM> may be placed within the gaps of the main coil. As with the gap in <FIG>, placing the MR elements within gaps <NUM> and <NUM> may reduce sensitivity of the MR elements to the directly coupled magnetic field. Thus, a coil design for coil <NUM>' may adjust sensitivity of the MR elements to the directly coupled field by including gaps <NUM> and <NUM> to reduce the sensitivity and countercoil portions <NUM>' and <NUM>' to increase the sensitivity in order to achieve the desired direct coupling on each element. In an embodiment, the direct coupling field is similar in magnitude to the reflected field.

Referring to <FIG>, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may include coil <NUM>, MR bridge <NUM>, and MR bridge <NUM> as arranged in <FIG>. Coil driver <NUM> may drive coil <NUM> at frequency f. MR driver <NUM> may drive one or both MR bridges <NUM> and <NUM> at <NUM> (i.e. DC) or at another frequency.

Demodulator <NUM> and demodulator <NUM> may demodulate the output signals from MR bridges <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, at frequency f. This may shift the frequency components of the signals at frequency f to <NUM> or DC, and may shift other frequency components in the signal to higher frequency bands. Low pass filters <NUM> and <NUM> may the remove the higher frequency components from the signals and provide a DC signal V1 (corresponding to the magnetic field detected by MR bridge <NUM> and a DC signal V2 (corresponding to the magnetic field detected by MR bridge <NUM>) to processing block <NUM>. Processing block <NUM> may process signals V1 and V2 to produce a signal representing the detected target. In an embodiment, processing block may perform the operation X = (V1 + V2) / (V1 - V2), where X is the signal representing the detected target. In this embodiment, the position of the MR of the bridges <NUM> and <NUM> are chosen in a way that the first bridge sees a negative signal from the coil (directly coupled field) and the second an opposite signal from the coil. Both bridges may see the same reflected signal. Hence V1+V2 may substantially comprise the reflective signal and V1-V2 the coil signal. The ratio gives then a quantity X which is independent on the sensitivity change of the MR elements due to the temperature or stray fields for example, as well as variations in coil current. In this embodiment, the position of the MRs (and/or coils) may be chosen so that each MR is seeing (e.g. can detect) a coil signal and a reflected signal of the same range of amplitude i.e. typically a reflected field varying from <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the direct detected field.

Referring now to <FIG>, system <NUM> includes a magnetic field sensor <NUM> and target <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be the same as or similar to magnetic field sensor <NUM> and/or any of the magnetic field sensors described above. Accordingly, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may include a coil to produce a magnetic field and produce eddy currents within conductive target <NUM>, and one or more magnetic field sensing elements to detect a reflected field from the eddy currents.

The skin effect of target <NUM> may be used to detect linear, speed, and angle (in the case of a rotating target) measurements by controlling the amount of reflected magnetic signal, and using the amount of reflected signal to encode the target position. A target can be created by combining a high conductivity material (shallow skin depth, measured with high frequency signal) and relatively low-conductivity materials (deep skin depth, measured using a medium or low frequency signal). The target can be created by milling or etching a linear slope or digital tooth pattern into the low conductivity material. In a subsequent step a high conductivity material can be deposited over the surface then milled or polished to create a planar surface. Alternatively, the low conductivity material can be omitted.

Measurement techniques can also utilize various frequencies (of coil <NUM> for example) and the skin effect of the target. A relatively high frequency and shallow skin depth can be used to measure the air gap distance between the sensor and the face of the target. This signal can then be used to calibrate the sensitivity of the system. A medium frequency with a skin depth that exceeds the maximum thickness of the high conductivity material may be used to sense the position of the portion of the target formed by the low conductivity material. A relatively low frequency signal (e.g. low enough that it is not reflected by the target) may be used to measure the overall sensitivity of the MR sensors and provide feedback to compensate for any changes in sensitivity due to stray field, temperature, or package stresses. Referring again to <FIG>, target <NUM> may comprise a first material portion <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portion <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa. In embodiments, the first and second material portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be a unitary structure as may be integrally formed or may be separate elements physically coupled to each other, as shown in <FIG>.

The thickness <NUM> of first material portion <NUM> may vary along the length of target <NUM> so that, at one end <NUM>, first material portion <NUM> is relatively thick and, at another end <NUM>, first material portion <NUM> is relatively thin. The eddy currents induced by magnetic field sensor <NUM> at the thick end <NUM> of first material portion <NUM> may differ from those induced at the thin end <NUM>. Accordingly, the reflected magnetic field produced at thick end <NUM> may also differ from the reflected magnetic field produced at thin end <NUM>. Because the thickness of first material portion <NUM> varies linearly along the length of target <NUM>, the reflected magnetic field may also vary linearly along the length of target <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the difference in the reflected magnetic field to determine where magnetic field sensor <NUM> is positioned along the length of target <NUM>. In embodiments, if a relatively high frequency is used to sense the airgap, the thickness at end <NUM> may be chosen to be greater than one skin depth and less than five skin depths at the chosen frequency. The thickness at end <NUM> may be chosen to be than one skin depth at a relatively lower frequency.

In embodiments, target <NUM> may move in a linear direction (shown by arrow <NUM>) with respect to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. As target <NUM> moves, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect changes in the reflected field to determine the position of target <NUM> with respect to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. Of course, in other embodiments, target <NUM> may be stationary and magnetic field sensor <NUM> may move with respect to target <NUM>.

As another example, multiple frequencies may be used to determine air gap and solve for position of the target <NUM>. For example, if the thickness of first material portion <NUM> at end <NUM> is greater than one skin depth at a frequency f1, then the response at frequency f1 may vary only as a function of air gap between target <NUM> and the MR elements. Using a second frequency, if the thickness of first material portion <NUM> at end <NUM> is less than one skin depth at a frequency f2, the response may vary as a function of both air gap and position of target <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, system <NUM>' may include magnetic field sensor <NUM> and a rotating target <NUM>, which may be in the shape of a cylinder, a gear, etc. Target <NUM> may include a first material portion <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portion <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa. In embodiments, the first and second material portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be a unitary structure as may be integrally formed or may be separate elements physically coupled to each other, as shown in <FIG>.

The thickness <NUM> of first material portion <NUM> may vary around the circumference of target <NUM> as a function of angle around target <NUM> so that, at point <NUM>, first material portion <NUM> is relatively thin and, at point <NUM>, first material portion <NUM> is relatively thick. The eddy currents induced by magnetic field sensor <NUM> in thicker portions of first material <NUM> may differ from those induced at thinner portions. Accordingly, the reflected magnetic field produced at point <NUM> may also differ from the reflected magnetic field produced at point <NUM>. Because the thickness of first material portion <NUM> varies around the circumference of target <NUM> as a function of an angle around target <NUM>, the reflected magnetic field may also vary around the circumference.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be placed outside the radius of target <NUM>, and adjacent to the outside surface of target <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the difference in the reflected magnetic field to determine the rotational angle of target <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may also detect rotational speed and/or direction of target <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, system <NUM>' may include magnetic field sensor <NUM> and a rotating target <NUM>. Target <NUM> may include a first material portion <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portion <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa. In embodiments, the first and second material portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be a unitary structure as may be integrally formed or may be separate elements physically coupled to each other, as shown in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the thickness of first material portion <NUM> may extend into the page. The thickness of first material portion <NUM> may vary around the circumference of target <NUM> as a function of an angle around target <NUM> so that, at point <NUM>, first material portion <NUM> is relatively thick and, at point <NUM>, first material portion <NUM> is relatively thin. The eddy currents induced by magnetic field sensor <NUM> in thicker portions of first material <NUM> may differ from those induced at thinner portions. Accordingly, the reflected magnetic field produced at point <NUM> may also differ from the reflected magnetic field produced at point <NUM>. Because the thickness of first material portion <NUM> varies around the circumference of target <NUM>, the reflected magnetic field may also vary around the circumference.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be placed inside the radius of target <NUM>, and adjacent to the substantially flat face <NUM> of target <NUM>. In other words, if target <NUM> is placed at the end of a rotating shaft, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the face of one end of the shaft. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the difference in the reflected magnetic field to determine the rotational angle of target <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may also detect rotational speed and/or direction of target <NUM>.

Magnetic sensor <NUM> can be mounted in a gradiometer mode as illustrated, for example, in <FIG>. Half of the gradiometer may be situated at in a position where the distance between the conductive part <NUM> and the target remains substantially constant and half of the gradiometer may be situated in a position where the slope <NUM> of the conductive material is present. The difference between the two signals may be used to suppress unwanted fluctuations due to the vibration of the target.

Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM> may include magnetic field sensing element <NUM> and target <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be the same as or similar to magnetic field sensor <NUM> and/or any of the magnetic field sensors described above. Accordingly, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may include a coil to produce a magnetic field and produce eddy currents within target <NUM>, and one or more magnetic field sensing elements to detect a reflected field from the eddy currents.

Target <NUM> may comprise a first material portion <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portion <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa. In embodiments, the first and second material portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be a unitary structure as may be integrally formed or may be separate elements physically coupled to each other, as shown in <FIG>.

First material portion <NUM> may comprise a series of alternating wells <NUM> and valleys <NUM>. Wells <NUM> may have a thickness <NUM> relatively greater than the thickness of valleys <NUM>. Accordingly, the reflected magnetic field produced within wells <NUM> may differ from the reflected magnetic field produced at valleys <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the differing magnetic fields produced by wells <NUM> and valleys <NUM> as target <NUM> moves relative to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The detected magnetic fields may be used to detect speed, position, rotational angle, and/or direction of magnetic target <NUM>, for example.

System <NUM>' may include magnetic field sensor <NUM> and target <NUM>. Target <NUM> may comprise one or more first material portions <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portions <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa.

First material portions <NUM> may comprise a series of discrete wells positioned in a spaced arrangement along the length of target <NUM>. Accordingly, when magnetic field sensor <NUM> is adjacent to a tooth <NUM>, a reflected magnetic field will be produced and detected. When magnetic field sensing element is adjacent to an insulating area (e.g. area <NUM>), a reflected magnetic field may not be produced by the insulating area <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic fields produced by wells <NUM> and detect when no reflected magnetic field is produced as target <NUM> moves relative to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The detected magnetic fields may be used to detect speed and/or direction of magnetic target <NUM>, for example.

Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM> may include magnetic field sensor <NUM> and rotating target <NUM>. Target <NUM> may comprise first material portion <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portion <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa.

First material portions <NUM> may comprise one or more teeth <NUM> positioned in a spaced arrangement around the circumference of target <NUM> at various angles around target <NUM>. Although two teeth are shown, target <NUM> may include one tooth, two teeth, or more teeth in spaced relation around the circumference of target <NUM>. The teeth may be spaced evenly or in an uneven pattern.

Accordingly, when magnetic field sensor <NUM> is adjacent to a tooth <NUM>, a reflected magnetic field will be produced and detected. When magnetic field sensing element is not adjacent to tooth, a reflected magnetic field with a different strength may be produced by first material portion <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic fields produced by teeth <NUM>, and the reflected magnetic field produced by areas of first material <NUM> without teeth, as target <NUM> rotates relative to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The detected magnetic fields may be used to detect speed and/or direction of magnetic target <NUM>, for example.

Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM>' may include magnetic field sensor <NUM> and rotational <NUM>. Target <NUM> may comprise one or more first material portions <NUM> and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portions <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa.

First material portions <NUM> may comprise a series of discrete wells positioned in a spaced arrangement around a radial circumference of target <NUM>. First material portions <NUM> may be spaced evenly, or according to any type of pattern. Accordingly, when magnetic field sensor <NUM> is adjacent to one of the first material portions <NUM>, a reflected magnetic field will be produced and detected. When magnetic field sensor <NUM> is adjacent to an insulating area (e.g. area <NUM>), a reflected magnetic field may not be produced by the insulating area <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic fields produced by first material portions <NUM> and detect when no reflected magnetic field is produced by insulating areas <NUM> as target <NUM> rotates relative to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The detected magnetic fields may be used to detect rotational speed and/or direction of magnetic target <NUM>, for example.

Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be placed inside the outermost radius of target <NUM>, and adjacent to a substantially flat face <NUM> of target <NUM>. In other words, if target <NUM> is placed at the end of a rotating shaft, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to the face of one end of the shaft. Thus, as target <NUM> rotates, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect first material portions <NUM> as they pass by.

Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM>" may include magnetic field sensor <NUM> and rotational target <NUM>. Target <NUM> may comprise one or more first material portions <NUM>' and a second material portion <NUM>. First material portions <NUM> may be a high-conductivity material, such as a metal; and second material portion <NUM> may be a relatively low-conductivity material, such as a plastic, ceramic, or other insulating material; or vice versa.

First material portions <NUM>' may comprise several series of discrete wells positioned in a spaced arrangement around different radial circumference of target <NUM>. First material portions <NUM> may be spaced evenly, or according to any type of pattern. Accordingly, when magnetic field sensor <NUM> is adjacent to one of the first material portions <NUM>, a reflected magnetic field will be produced and detected. When magnetic field sensor <NUM> is adjacent to an insulating area (e.g. area <NUM>), a reflected magnetic field may not be produced by the insulating area <NUM>. Thus, the magnetic field sensing elements of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic fields produced by first material portions <NUM> and detect when no reflected magnetic field is produced by insulating areas <NUM> as target <NUM> rotates relative to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The second radial series of wells may be arranged so that each well <NUM> in the second radial series is placed adjacent to a gap <NUM> between the wells <NUM> in the first radial series. As magnetic field sensor <NUM> detects each radial series, there may be a <NUM>-degree shift of phase or a different pitch between detection of the first radial series of wells and the second radial series of wells, which may be used to increase the accuracy of angle by a Vernier type of approach.

Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM> may include a first magnetic field sensor <NUM>, a second magnetic field sensor <NUM>, and a rotating target <NUM>. Magnetic field sensors <NUM> and <NUM> may be the same as or similar to magnetic field sensor <NUM> and/or any of the magnetic field sensors described above.

Target <NUM> may include a spiral inclined plane <NUM> positioned around a central axis <NUM>. In embodiments, central axis <NUM> may be a rotating shaft. Target <NUM> may also include a conductive reference portion <NUM>. Reference portion <NUM> and inclined plane <NUM> may be formed from conductive material.

In an embodiment, magnetic field sensor <NUM> is positioned adjacent to reference portion <NUM>. A coil of magnetic field sensor <NUM> produces a magnetic field, which in turn produces eddy currents in reference portion <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic field produced by the eddy currents.

Similarly, magnetic field sensor <NUM> may be positioned relative to inclined plane <NUM>. A coil of magnetic field sensor <NUM> may produce a magnetic field, which in turn may produce eddy currents in a portion <NUM> of inclined plane adjacent to magnetic field sensor <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic field produced by the eddy currents in inclined plane <NUM>.

As target <NUM> rotates, the portion <NUM> of inclined plane <NUM> adjacent to magnetic field sensor <NUM> will move toward and/or away from magnetic field sensor <NUM>. The proximity D of portion <NUM> to magnetic field sensor <NUM> can be detected by magnetic field sensor <NUM>. Processing circuitry (not shown) can correlate the proximity D to a rotational angle of target <NUM> and determine position, speed of rotation, direction of rotation, etc..

Referring to <FIG>, system <NUM>' may include a grid of magnetic field sensors <NUM>, and a rotating target <NUM>.

In an embodiment, magnetic field sensor <NUM> of grid <NUM> is positioned adjacent to reference portion <NUM>. A coil of magnetic field sensor <NUM> produces a magnetic field, which in turn produces eddy currents in reference portion <NUM>. Magnetic field sensor <NUM> may detect the reflected magnetic field produced by the eddy currents.

The other magnetic field sensors 1618a-h may be positioned in various locations on the grid <NUM> relative to inclined plane <NUM>. A coil of each of magnetic field sensors 1618a-h may produce a magnetic field, which in turn may produce eddy currents in a portion of the inclined plane adjacent to each magnetic field sensor 1618a-h, which may each detect the local reflected magnetic field produced by the eddy currents in inclined plane <NUM>.

As target <NUM> rotates, the portions of inclined plane <NUM> adjacent to magnetic field sensors 1618a-h will move toward and/or away from magnetic field sensors 1618a-h. The proximity D of any portion <NUM> to any magnetic field sensor 1618a-h can be detected by each magnetic field sensor. Processing circuitry (not shown) can correlate the proximity D to a rotational angle of target <NUM> and determine position, speed of rotation, direction of rotation, etc..

Referring to <FIG>, a plurality of sensors 1618a-h forming a grid may be used to measure the distance of the spiral at different points so it allows to correct vibrations of the spiral on directions perpendicular to the axe of rotation whereas the central sensor of the grid is suppressing the vibrations along the axe of rotation.

Referring to <FIG>, a substrate <NUM> may support one or more of the magnetic field sensor circuits described above, including coils and magnetic field sensing elements. Substrate <NUM> may be positioned (and adhered to) frame <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may be a semiconductor substrate, a glass substrate, a ceramic substrate, or the like. Bond wires <NUM> may electrically couple connection pads on substrate <NUM> to leads of frame <NUM>. Frame <NUM> may be a lead frame, a pad frame, or any structure that can support substrate <NUM>.

In embodiments, substrate <NUM> may support coil <NUM>, which may be the same as or similar to the coils described above. Coil <NUM> may produce a magnetic field that may induce eddy current and a reflected magnetic field in a target and/or a magnetic field that may be directly coupled to (e.g. directly detected by) MR elements. As shown, coil <NUM> may be positioned adjacent to (or opposite) a gap <NUM> in frame <NUM>. If frame <NUM> is a conductive material (such as metal), the magnetic field produced by coil <NUM> could induce eddy currents and a reflected field from frame <NUM>. Placing coil <NUM> near gap <NUM> may reduce or eliminate any unwanted reflected field that might otherwise by generated by frame <NUM>.

In <FIG>, substrate <NUM> may support one or more of the magnetic field sensor circuits described above, including coils and magnetic field sensing elements. Substrate <NUM> may be positioned (and adhered to) lead frame <NUM>. Substrate <NUM> may include one or more vias <NUM>, which may be coupled to solder balls (or solder bumps) <NUM>. Solder balls <NUM> may be coupled to leads of lead frame <NUM> to provide an electrical connection between vias <NUM> and leads of lead frame <NUM>. The electrical connection may couple the sensor circuitry (generally supported by one surface of substrate <NUM>) to external system and components through leads <NUM>.

In embodiments, the grid of sensors 1608a-h in <FIG> may be formed on the surface of substrate <NUM> or <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor circuit <NUM> may be supported by one or more substrates. As shown in <FIG>, a first substrate <NUM> may support one or more coils <NUM>, <NUM>, which may produce a magnetic field. A second substrate <NUM> may support one or more magnetic field sensing elements <NUM>, which may detect the reflected magnetic field as discussed above. The semiconductor dies <NUM>, <NUM> may also include additional circuitry discussed above. Circuits supported by substrate <NUM> may be electrically coupled to circuits supported by substrate <NUM> with lead wires (not shown). The supported circuits may also be coupled to leads of a frame <NUM> by lead wires. A semiconductor package (not shown) may enclose the substrates.

In an embodiment, second die <NUM> may be glued to a top surface of first die <NUM>. Alternatively, die <NUM> may be reversed and electrically connected to die <NUM> with die-to-die electrical connections.

The magnetic fields produced by coils <NUM> and <NUM> may cancel each other out in the area between coils <NUM> and <NUM>, i.e. the area where MR elements <NUM> are positioned. Thus, substrate <NUM> may be positioned so that MR elements <NUM> fall within the area where the magnetic fields cancel, to minimize any stray or directly coupled field detected by MR elements <NUM>.

In embodiments, substrates <NUM> and <NUM> may be different types of substrates. For example, substrate <NUM> may be an inexpensive substrate for supporting metal traces such as coils <NUM> and <NUM>, while substrate <NUM> may be a substrate for supporting MR elements and/or other integrated circuits.

Referring to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor circuit <NUM>' may be supported by multiple semiconductor dies. As shown, a first die <NUM> may support two (or more) sets of coils. A first set of coils may include coils <NUM> and <NUM>. A second set may include coils <NUM> and <NUM>. A second die <NUM> may support a first set of magnetic field sensing elements <NUM>, and a third die <NUM> may support a second set of magnetic field sensing elements <NUM>.

In an embodiment, magnetic field sensor circuit <NUM>' may include two magnetic field sensors. The first sensor may include coils <NUM> and <NUM>, die <NUM>, and magnetic field sensing elements <NUM>. The second magnetic field sensor may include coils <NUM> and <NUM>, die <NUM>, and magnetic field sensing elements <NUM>. In other embodiments, magnetic field sensor circuit <NUM>' may include additional magnetic field sensors comprising additional coils, dies, and magnetic field sensing elements.

Magnetic field sensor circuit <NUM>' may be used in any of the systems described above that employ two (or more) magnetic field sensors. Additionally or alternatively, the two magnetic field sensors in circuit <NUM>' may be driven at different frequencies to avoid cross-talk between the two sensors.

Referring to <FIG>, a magnetic field sensor circuit <NUM> may be supported by multiple substrates. A first substrate may support coil <NUM>. Four smaller substrates <NUM>-<NUM> may each support one or more magnetic field sensing elements. As shown, substrates <NUM>-<NUM> may be positioned adjacent to traces of coil <NUM>. In some embodiments, substrates <NUM>-<NUM> may be positioned so the magnetic field sensing elements they support are placed adjacent to gap <NUM> between traces of coil <NUM>.

A fifth substrate <NUM> may support circuitry to drive coil <NUM> and the magnetic field sensing elements, as well as processing circuitry to process signals received from the magnetic field sensing elements. Circuits on the various die may be coupled together by lead wires <NUM>.

Although not shown, in another embodiment, the larger substrate <NUM> may support the coils and MR elements. The smaller substrate <NUM>-<NUM> may support circuitry to drive the coils and MR elements and/or circuits to process the magnetic field signals.

Claim 1:
A magnetic field sensor (<NUM>) comprising:
a coil (<NUM>) responsive to an AC coil drive signal;
at least two spaced apart magnetic field sensing elements responsive to a sensing element drive signal and positioned proximate to the coil; and
a circuit coupled to the at least two magnetic field sensing elements to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor indicative of a difference between: (i) a first distance between a conductive target and a first of the at least two spaced apart magnetic field sensing elements; and (ii) a second distance between the conductive target and a second of the at least two magnetic field sensing elements,
wherein the AC coil drive signal has a first frequency and the sensing element drive signal has a second frequency, and
wherein the AC coil drive signal and the sensing element drive signal are provided by a common source and wherein the first frequency of the AC coil drive signal and the second frequency of the sensing element drive signal are substantially the same.