MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS WITH REDUCED OFFSET AND IMPROVED ACCURACY

摘要

A magnetic field sensor with a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is provided herein. The magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element comprising a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged over a common implant and diffusion region in a substrate, wherein the plurality of vertical Hall elements is configured to generate a plurality of magnetic field signals, each magnetic field signal responsive to a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor further includes a sequence switches circuit coupled to the plurality of vertical Hall elements, wherein the sequences switches circuit is operable to select from among the plurality of vertical Hall elements, wherein each selected one of the one or more of the plurality of vertical Hall elements comprises a respective plurality of active vertical Hall element contacts and at least one respective skipped contact, the at least one skipped contact disposed between at least one respective pair of active vertical Hall element contacts, wherein a position of the at least one skipped contact is selected to reduce an offset voltage of a respective one of the plurality of vertical Hall elements. An associated method is also disclosed herein.

主权项

1. A magnetic field sensor, comprising:
a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element comprising:
a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged over a common implant and diffusion region in a substrate, wherein the plurality of vertical Hall elements is configured to generate a plurality of magnetic field signals, each magnetic field signal responsive to a magnetic field; the magnetic field sensor further comprising: a sequence switches circuit coupled to the plurality of vertical Hall elements, wherein the sequences switches circuit is operable to select from among the plurality of vertical Hall elements, wherein each selected one of the plurality of vertical Hall elements comprises a respective plurality of active vertical Hall element contacts and at least one respective skipped contact, the at least one skipped contact disposed between at least one respective pair of active vertical Hall element contacts, wherein a position of the at least one skipped contact is selected to reduce an offset voltage of a respective one of the plurality of vertical Hall elements.