Low offset spinning current hall plate and method to operate it

摘要

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing the effect of contact resistances for Hall effect device contacts. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a Hall effect device comprising a plurality of force and sense contact pairs. The force and sense contact pairs comprise a force contact and a separate and distinct sense contact. The force contact is configured to act as a supply terminal that receive an input signal while the sense contact is configured act as an output terminal to provide an output signal indicative of a measured magnetic field value. By utilizing separate contacts for inputting a signal (e.g., an applied current) and reading out a signal (e.g., an induced voltage) the non-linearities generated by contact resistances may be removed, thereby minimizing the zero point offset voltage of the measured magnetic field.

主权项

1. A Hall effect device configured to detect a magnetic field perpendicular to a substrate, comprising:
a first even number of sense contacts having centers symmetrically disposed around a center point at distinct angular positions separated by angles equal to 360° divided by the first even number, and comprising a first sense contact pair disposed along a first line and a second sense contact pair disposed along a second line intersecting and substantially perpendicular to the first line, wherein the first sense contact pair and the second sense contact pair are configured to respectively provide an electrical potential from the Hall effect device; a second even number of force contacts equal to the first even number of sense contacts, and having centers symmetrically disposed around the center point at the distinct angular positions, wherein the second even number of force contacts comprise a first force contact pair and a second force contact pair, wherein the first force contact pair and the second force contact pair are configured to respectively provide an electrical current to the Hall effect device; and wherein the second line extends between the first sense contact pair and between the first force contact pair.