Ams Ag

Austriamicrosystems Ag

Gerhard Oberhoffner

Dominik Ruck

Stephan Michelitsch

Georg Röhrer

Colin Steele

Richard Forsyth

Thomas Carl Fröhlich

Kurt Riedmueller

Davide Maschera

Kurt Riedmüller

Dalibor Kolar

Simone Sabatelli

Thomas Fröhlich

A position encoder arrangement is configured to detect the position of a movable source based on a source field, which is a magnetic field or an electric field, emitted by the source. The position encoder arrangement includes a number of sensor elements that are evenly distributed and each is configured to provide a sensor value based on the source field at the sensor element's location. The arrangement further includes an evaluation unit that is configured to determine a fine position value for the position of the movable source, and to determine from the sensor values a trustworthiness of the fine position value and/or an error flag indicating whether a failure status of the position encoder arrangement is present.

Position encoder arrangement and method for determining a failure status of such arrangement

In a signal processing arrangement a first and a second input signal associated with the rotating object are received at signal inputs. Amplitude processing blocks are connected to the signal inputs and each have an adjustable gain. A trigonometric processing block has inputs coupled to outputs of the second amplitude processing blocks via respective signal paths. The trigonometric processing block is configured to determine a magnitude value and a phase value based on signals at its inputs. The signal processing arrangement further has compensation blocks configured to store values at the inputs of the trigonometric processing block as respective peak values, when the phase value assumes a respective phase value. A gain value is determined by applying a respective regulation function to respective amplitude errors being based on the peal values, and the gains of the amplitude processing blocks are adjusted based on the respective gain values.

Signal processing arrangement and signal processing method

A sensor arrangement has a current mirror structure that is configured to provide respective base currents at each of a plurality of output current paths based on an input current. For each of the output current paths, a respective adjustment current source is provided that is digitally controllable and is connected to the respective output current path for adjusting the base current of said output current path. For each of the output current paths, a current biased sensor element is coupled in said output current path. The sensor arrangement further has a selection element for selectively connecting one of the output current paths to an evaluation block based on a selection signal. The evaluation block is configured to generate a sensing value corresponding to a resulting current in the connected output current path, to compare the sensing value with an average value, and to update the average value based on the sensing value. A digital control is adapted for generating the selection signal and for digitally adjusting the respective adjustment current source of the connected output current path based on the comparison result.

Sensor arrangement and method for operating a sensor arrangement

A signal processing arrangement for a Hall sensor comprises a signal path, a feedback path and a converter path. The signal path comprises a Hall element and a front-end amplifier which are connected in series and arranged to generate an output signal depending on a magnetic field. The feedback path comprises a compensation circuit and is coupled to the signal path. The converter path comprises an analog-to-digital converter and an offset compensation circuit and is coupled to the signal path. A switch network is coupled between the signal path, the feedback path and the converter path. In a compensation phase, the switch network electrically connects the feedback path to the signal path such that the compensation circuit generates a compensation signal which is coupled into the signal path. In a sampling phase, the switch network connects the signal path to the converter path such that the output signal is reduced by the compensation signal is provided at the converter path.

Signal processing arrangement for a hall sensor and signal processing method for a hall sensor

A position sensor device comprises at least two Hall elements () and a signal evaluation circuit () that is coupled on its input side to the at least two Hall elements () and is designed to provide a digital position signal (ANS). Moreover, the position sensor device () comprises a processing unit () comprising a loop filter () that is coupled on its input side to the signal evaluation unit (). The processing unit () is designed to adaptively control a filter parameter of the loop filter () during operation.

Position sensor device and method for providing a filtered position signal

According to a method for operating a Hall sensor assembly, at least two values (I, I) of an input signal (I) of a Hall sensor () of the Hall sensor assembly () having different magnitudes are set and the associated values (V, V) of an output signal (V) of the Hall sensor () are determined. Furthermore, a residual offset value (k, VOFF) of the output signal (V) is determined according to the values (V, V) of the output signal (V) that were determined at the at least two values (I, I) of the input signal (I).

Method for operating a hall sensor arrangement and hall sensor arrangement

A sensor arrangement has a plurality of Hall sensor devices, each configured to provide a sensor voltage in response to a magnetic field intensity. A selection unit is configured to forward either of the sensor voltages in response to a selection signal. A transconductance amplifier is configured to generate a sensing current depending on a forwarded sensor voltage. A filter stage has a resistor and a filter capacitor connected in parallel in a switchable manner in response to a first switching signal. The filter stage is configured to generate a filtered voltage across the filter capacitor depending on a sensing current. A capacitive analog-to-digital converter has an input capacitor being connected to the filter capacitor in a switchable manner in response to a second switching signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to generate a digital sensor value based on a filtered voltage. The sensor arrangement further has a control circuit which is configured to generate the selection signal and the first and the second switching signals such that for each of the forwarded sensor voltages in a first time segment, the filtered voltage across the filter capacitor is generated, and in a second time segment, the input capacitor is connected to the filter capacitor.

An arrangement for detecting a movement of a body, in which the body (') is mounted in such a way that it can move in at least one direction and in which a magnet () is incorporated. Its poles are aligned substantially parallel to a primary plane. A detector system is furthermore provided that comprises at least four magnetic field sensors (to) for the detection of a change in the magnetic field when the body (&#x2032;) moves. In addition, a further magnetic field sensor () is provided for generating a correction signal that depends on the magnetic field. An evaluation unit () is used to provide movement information relating to the body (&#x2032;) derived from signals from the four magnetic field sensors (to) and the minimum of one further magnetic field sensor ().

Arrangement for detecting the movement of a body and a method for the operation of such an arrangement

A controller includes a control circuit. The control circuit includes a forward path that includes an input and an output, a feedback path coupled to the output and to the input, and a sensor that is between the input and the output. The sensor generates a sensor signal based on an input signal applied to the input. The forward path generates an output signal based on the sensor signal. The output signal is sent along the feedback path to the input of the forward path. The controller also includes a detector that obtains an intermediate signal from the forward path between the input and the output. The detector generates a control signal using the intermediate signal. The forward path includes a control device that limits the output signal to a predetermined value. The detector controls the control device using the control signal.

Control system including a control circuit and sensor, and method for operation of the control system

A control apparatus configured to generate correction values for compensation of disturbance signals of a sensor includes a control loop having an input to receive input values. The control loop includes circuitry configured to receive the input values and configured to produce output values based on the input values, and an evaluation device downstream from the circuitry relative to the input, which is configured to receive the output values and to convert the output values into result values. The apparatus also includes a correction device configured to receive the result values and the input values, to generate correction values based on the result values and the input values, and to provide the result values to the circuitry. The correction device includes a detection device having memory, which stores the input values in the memory based on the result values.

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Graz, Austria

Gerhard Oberhoffner