APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECONDITIONING Z-AXIS SENSOR FLUX GUIDES

摘要

A sensor package includes a magnetic field sensor, where the magnetic field sensor includes an in-plane sense element and a flux guide configured to direct a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to a plane of the magnetic field sensor into the plane. A current carrying structure is positioned proximate to the flux guide and circuitry is coupled to the current carrying structure. Conductive segments of the current carrying structure are oriented substantially perpendicular to a length of the flux guide, and a subset of adjacent conductive segments are configured such that electric current flows in the same direction through each of the conductive segments of the subset. The circuitry is configured to provide an electric current to an input of the current carrying structure, wherein the electric current generates a magnetic field, and the magnetic field is applied to the flux guide to recondition a magnetic polarization of the flux guide.

主权项

1. A sensor package comprising:
a magnetic field sensor, said magnetic field sensor including an in-plane sense element and a flux guide configured to direct a magnetic field oriented perpendicular to a plane of said magnetic field sensor into said plane; a current carrying structure positioned proximate to said flux guide, said current carrying structure including multiple substantially parallel conductive segments; and circuitry coupled to said current carrying structure, said circuitry being configured to concurrently provide an electric current to each of said parallel conductive segments in order to apply a magnetic field to said flux guide.