IP Library Granted Patent US 9,128,127
Granted Patent B2
US 9,128,127 · App. 14/490,377 · Granted Sep 8, 2015

Sensor device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,128,127
App. No.
14/490,377
Granted
Sep 8, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a sensor device capable of removing the influence of each offset voltage of a sensor element, a differential amplifier, and an amplifier of the sensor device, to thereby detect a physical quantity with high precision. The sensor device includes: a switch circuit, which is connected to a first terminal pair and a second terminal pair of the sensor element, for controlling switching of the terminal pairs and outputting detection voltages; a differential amplifier, which includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal connected to a first output terminal and a second output terminal of the switch circuit, respectively, for outputting a result obtained by amplifying a difference of the detection voltages; an amplifier including at least two differential input pairs, one of which inputs the differential signal output from the differential amplifier, and at least one of which inputs a reference signal corresponding to a physical quantity to be detected; and a detection voltage setting circuit for outputting the reference signal to the amplifier.

Claims (28)

1. A sensor device for generating a logic output in accordance with intensity of a physical quantity applied to a sensor element,

the sensor device comprising:

a switch circuit, which is connected to a first terminal pair and a second terminal pair of the sensor element, for controlling switching between a terminal pair supplied with power and a terminal pair for outputting a detection voltage corresponding to the intensity of the physical quantity,

the switch circuit comprising a first output terminal for outputting the detection voltage and a second output terminal for outputting the detection voltage;

a differential amplifier comprising: a first input terminal and a second input terminal, which are connected to the first output terminal and the second output terminal of the switch circuit, respectively; and a first output terminal and a second output terminal for outputting a result of differentially amplifying the detection voltage;

an amplifier comprising a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a third input terminal, a fourth input terminal, and an output terminal,

the first input terminal of the amplifier being connected to the output terminal of the amplifier via a first switch,

the first input terminal of the amplifier being connected to the first output terminal of the differential amplifier via a first capacitor,

the second input terminal of the amplifier being connected to the second output terminal of the differential amplifier; and

a detection voltage setting circuit for outputting different voltages to the third input terminal and the fourth input terminal of the amplifier.

2. A sensor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the detection voltage setting circuit comprises a plurality of resistors connected in series between a power supply terminal and a ground terminal, and has at least three voltage dividing points, and

wherein the detection voltage setting circuit further comprises:

a second switch provided between the first voltage dividing point and the third input terminal of the amplifier;

a third switch provided between the second voltage dividing point and the third input terminal of the amplifier;

a fourth switch provided between the third voltage dividing point and the third input terminal of the amplifier;

a fifth switch provided between the first voltage dividing point and the fourth input terminal of the amplifier;

a sixth switch provided between the second voltage diving point and the fourth input terminal of the amplifier; and

a seventh switch provided between the third voltage dividing point and the fourth input terminal of the amplifier.

3. A sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch circuit has a function of switching between:

a first detection state in which power is supplied to the first terminal pair of the sensor element and the detection voltage is output from the second terminal pair; and

a second detection state in which power is supplied to the second terminal pair of the sensor element and the detection voltage is output from the first terminal pair.

4. A sensor device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the amplifier comprises at least two differential input pairs,

wherein at least one of the at least two differential input pairs inputs a differential signal output from the differential amplifier, and

wherein at least one of the at least two differential input pairs inputs a reference signal corresponding to a physical quantity to be detected.

5. A sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the physical quantity comprises magnetism.

6. A sensor device according to claim 1 , wherein the physical quantity comprises pressure.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 12, 2018
From: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: ABLIC INC.
Reel/Frame 045567/0927 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EXECUTION DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037783 FRAME: 0166. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 23, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037903/0928 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC
To: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION .
Reel/Frame 037783/0166 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2014
From: ARIYAMA, MINORU; MURAOKA, DAISUKE; HIKICHI, TOMOKI; FUKAI, KENTARO
To: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Reel/Frame 033776/0305 →