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:
Nov. 12, 2013
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2010
Lawrence H. Zuckerman, Livermore, CA (US);
Michael X. Maida, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Dennis M. Monticelli, Fremont, CA (US);
James B. Wieser, Livermore, CA (US);
Jamal Ramdani, Scarborough, ME (US);
Lawrence H. Zuckerman, Livermore, CA (US);
Michael X. Maida, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Dennis M. Monticelli, Fremont, CA (US);
James B. Wieser, Livermore, CA (US);
Jamal Ramdani, Scarborough, ME (US);
National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A method includes generating an electrical signal representing a magnetic field using a magnetic field sensor having alternating layers of magneto-strictive material and piezo-electric material. The method also includes performing up-conversion or down-conversion so that the electrical signal representing the magnetic field has a higher or lower frequency than a frequency of the magnetic field. The up-conversion or down-conversion is performed before the magnetic field is converted into the electrical signal. The up-conversion or down-conversion could be performed by repeatedly sensitizing and desensitizing the magnetic field sensor. This could be done using a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, an electromagnet without a permanent magnet, or a movable permanent magnet. The up-conversion or down-conversion could also be performed by chopping the magnetic field. The chopping could involve intermittently shielding the magnetic field sensor from the magnetic field or moving the magnetic field sensor with respect to the magnetic field.