Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100237907 | COMPARATOR WITH OFFSET COMPENSATION, IN PARTICULAR FOR ANALOG DIGITAL CONVERTERS - A comparator formed by first and second stages. The second stage is formed by a pair of output transistors connected between a power-supply line and respective output nodes; a pair of bias transistors, connected between a respective output node and a current source; a pair of memory elements, connected between the control terminals of the output transistors and opposite output nodes; and switches coupled between the control terminals of the respective output transistors and the respective output nodes. In an initial autozeroing step, the first stage stores its offset so as to generate an offset-free current signal. In a subsequent tracking step, the second stage receives the current signal and the memory elements store control voltages of the respective output transistors. In a subsequent evaluating step, the first stage is disconnected from the second stage and the memory elements receive the current signal and switch the first and the second output node depending on the current signal. In subsequent comparisons, the tracking and evaluating steps follow one another without performing the autozeroing step. | 09-23-2010 |
20120153936 | READING CIRCUIT FOR A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR WITH SENSITIVITY CALIBRATION, AND RELATED READING METHOD - A reading circuit for a magnetic-field sensor, generating an electrical detection quantity as a function of a detected magnetic field and of a detection sensitivity, is provided with an amplification stage, which is coupled to the magnetic-field sensor and generates an output signal as a function of the electrical detection quantity and of an amplification gain. In particular, the amplification gain is electronically selectable, and the reading circuit is moreover provided with a calibration stage, integrated with the amplification stage and configured so as to vary a value of the amplification gain in such a way as to compensate a variation of the detection sensitivity with respect to a nominal sensitivity value. | 06-21-2012 |
20120153937 | BIASING CIRCUIT FOR A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR, AND CORRESPONDING BIASING METHOD - Described herein is a biasing circuit for a magnetic-field sensor; the magnetic-field sensor is provided with a first detection structure, which generates a first electrical detection quantity as a function of a first component of an external magnetic field, and a second detection structure, which generates a second electrical detection quantity as a function of a second component of an external magnetic field. The biasing circuit electrically supplies the first detection structure and the second detection structure in respective biasing time intervals, at least partially distinct from one another, which preferably do not temporally overlap one other. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158324 | MAGNETIC SENSOR READING DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD - A reading circuit for a magnetic-field sensor, provided with a detection structure generating an electrical detection signal as a function of an external magnetic field, has a signal-conditioning stage, which is electrically coupled to the detection structure and generates an output signal as a function of the electrical detection signal; the reading circuit is provided with a full-scale-control stage that is able to select automatically a full-scale value for the signal-conditioning stage, as a function of the value of the external magnetic field, such as to prevent saturation of the same conditioning stage. | 06-21-2012 |
20120161759 | MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR WITH REDUCED PARASITIC CAPACITANCE, AND METHOD - A magnetic-field sensor adapted to detect an external magnetic field, comprising: a first chip, including a first magnetoresistive structure for detection of the external magnetic field, the first magnetoresistive detection structure including an electrical-contact pad and magnetoresistive means; and a second chip housing an integrated electronic circuit and a magnetic-field generator, the first and second chips being mutually arranged in such a way that the integrated electronic circuit can be electrically coupled to the electrical-contact pad of the magnetoresistive structure and in such a way that the magnetic-field generator can be magnetically coupled to the magnetoresistive structure. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166122 | READING CIRCUIT WITH AUTOMATIC OFFSET COMPENSATION FOR A MAGNETIC-FIELD SENSOR, AND RELATED READING METHOD WITH AUTOMATIC OFFSET COMPENSATION - A method for reading a magnetic-field sensor provided with at least one first magnetoresistive element envisages generation of an output signal, indicative of a magnetic field, as a function of a detection signal supplied by the magnetic-field sensor. The reading method envisages: determining an offset signal present in the output signal; generating at least one compensation quantity as a function of the offset signal; and feeding back the compensation quantity at input to the reading stage so as to apply a corrective factor at input to the reading stage as a function of the compensation quantity, such as to reduce the value of the offset signal below a given threshold. | 06-28-2012 |