The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 22, 2009
Filed:
May. 11, 2005
Hans Marc Bert Boeve, Eindhoven, NL;
Hans Marc Bert Boeve, Eindhoven, NL;
NXP B.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
A sensor for sensing magnetic field strength has a sensor element, and detection circuitry for detecting a level of resistance of the sensor element, the level of resistance varying with magnetic field under test and having hysteresis, so that upon electromagnetic excitation the resistance can switch between two or more stable levels as the magnetic field under test varies. The sensor outputs a digital signal according to the level of resistance. The sensor output may further be interpreted in terms of a change-of-state upon electromagnetic excitation. As the sensor no longer needs a different characteristic from magnetic memory cells, it can be much easier to construct and to integrate with magnetic memory cells than an analog sensor. An excitation signal varies a threshold for the magnetic field under test at which the resistance switches, to enable multiple measurements with different thresholds. Multiple sensor elements can have different thresholds, by having differing geometry or size. It has applications in current sensing, and programmable magnetic logic, when multiple input currents are sensed. Changing the threshold can change the logic operation between AND and OR.