US 12,306,214 B2
Adjustable sensitivity ranges for magnetic field sensors
Christoph Krall, Klagenfurt (AT); and Gernot Binder, Klagenfurt (AT)
Assigned to Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg (DE)
Filed by Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg (DE)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/066,687.
Prior Publication US 2024/0201230 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
Int. Cl. G01R 15/20 (2006.01); G01R 19/25 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 15/207 (2013.01) [G01R 19/25 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A current sensor, comprising:
a first magnetic field sensor circuit comprising a first plurality of sensor bridges including a first sensor bridge configured to generate a first pair of differential sensor signals and a second sensor bridge configured to generate a second pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the first sensor bridge and the second sensor bridge are laterally separated along a sensor axis by a first sensor pitch, wherein the first sensor bridge comprises a first plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a first full-bridge circuit configuration, and wherein the second sensor bridge comprises a second plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a second full-bridge circuit configuration;
a second magnetic field sensor circuit comprising a second plurality of sensor bridges including a third sensor bridge configured to generate a third pair of differential sensor signals and a fourth sensor bridge configured to generate a fourth pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the third sensor bridge and the fourth sensor bridge are laterally separated along the sensor axis by a second sensor pitch that is different from the first sensor pitch, wherein the third sensor bridge comprises a third plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a third full-bridge circuit configuration, and wherein the fourth sensor bridge comprises a fourth plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a fourth full-bridge circuit configuration;
a selector switch configurable in a plurality of switch states, wherein the selector switch is configured to simultaneously receive the first pair of differential sensor signals, the second pair of differential sensor signals, the third pair of differential sensor signals, and the fourth pair of differential sensor signals, output the first pair of differential sensor signals and the second pair of differential sensor signals if configured in a first switch state of the plurality of switch states, and output the third pair of differential sensor signals and the fourth pair of differential sensor signals if configured in a second switch state of the plurality of switch states; and
a differential circuit coupled to the selector switch,
wherein, if the selector switch is configured in the first switch state, the differential circuit is configured to receive the first pair of differential sensor signals and the second pair of differential sensor signals, and generate a first output signal representative of a first difference between the first pair of differential sensor signals and the second pair of differential sensor signals, and
wherein, if the selector switch is configured in the second switch state, the differential circuit is configured to receive the third pair of differential sensor signals and the fourth pair of differential sensor signals, and generate a second output signal representative of a second difference between the third pair of differential sensor signals and the fourth pair of differential sensor signals.