EP1540748A1

Magnetic field sensor comprising a hall element

Abstract

A symmetrical vertical Hall element comprises a well of a first conductivity type that is embedded in a substrate of a second conductivity type and which is contacted by four contacts serving as current and voltage contacts. From the electrical point of view, such a Hall element with four contacts can be regarded as a resistance bridge formed by four resistors R1 to R4 of the Hall element. From the electrical point of view, the Hall element is then regarded as ideal when the four resistors R1 to R4 have the same value. The invention suggests a series of measures in order to electrically balance the resistance bridge. A first measure exists in providing at least one additional resistor. A second measure exists in locally increasing or reducing the electrical conductivity of the well. A third measure exists in providing two Hall elements that are electrically connected in parallel in such a way that their Hall voltages are equidirectional and their offset voltages are largely compensated.

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 10 September 2022, 4 years ago.

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Citations
DocumentRelationOfficeCited during
EP2071347A2Cited byEuropean Patent Office (EPO)Applicant
US9543504B2Cited byUnited States of AmericaApplicant
EP2503612A2Cited byEuropean Patent Office (EPO)Applicant