IP Library Granted Patent US 7,800,365
Granted Patent B2
US 7,800,365 · App. 12/623,029 · Granted Sep 21, 2010

Magnetic detection device and electrical product

Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,800,365
App. No.
12/623,029
Granted
Sep 21, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated circuit is provided with two output terminals and a mode switch circuit which includes a pair of switch terminals. The mode switch circuit is allowed to switch the output mode between the 1-output mode for outputting the (+) magnetic field detection signal and the (−) magnetic field detection signal from the output terminal, and the 2-output mode for outputting the (+) magnetic field signal from the output terminal as one of the output terminals, and the (−) magnetic field detection signal from the output terminal as the other output terminal in accordance with the shortcircuit state or the non-shortcircuit state between the switch terminals. The switch terminals are exposed on the surface of the device, and the shortcircuit state and the non-shortcircuit state may be externally adjusted.

Claims (10)

1. A magnetic detection device comprising:

a sensor unit which changes an electrical characteristic in accordance with change in each magnetic field intensity of external magnetic fields in (+) direction and (−) direction opposite the (+) direction; and

an integrated circuit which is connected to the sensor unit for generating and outputting a (+) magnetic field detection signal and a (−) magnetic field detection signal based on the change in the electrical characteristic, wherein:

the integrated circuit is provided with two output terminals and a mode switch circuit which includes a pair of switch terminals;

the mode switch circuit is capable of switching between a 1-output mode for outputting the (+) and (−) magnetic field detection signals from one of the output terminals and a 2-output mode for outputting the (+) magnetic field detection signal from the one of the output terminal and the (−) magnetic field detection signal from the other output terminal, respectively depending on a shortcircuit state or a non-shortcircuit state between the switch terminals; and

the shortcircuit state and the non-shortcircuit state are allowed to be externally adjusted.

2. The magnetic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch terminal is exposed on a surface of the device, and is adjusted into the shortcircuit state or the non-shortcircuit state based on an electrically coupled state or an electrically decoupled state between the switch terminals.

3. The magnetic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein an operation member having a surface opposite the switch terminals formed of a conductive material is exposed on the surface of the device, and operated to adjust the switch terminals into the shortcircuit state via the operation member or the non-shortcircuit state having the operation member apart from the switch terminals.

4. The magnetic detection device according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit includes a first circuit for detecting a (+) magnetic field, which is provided with a first magnetoresistive effect element using a magnetoresistive effect having an electric resistance changed based on the change in the magnetic field intensity of the external magnetic field in the (+) direction, and a second circuit for detecting a (−) magnetic field, which is provided with a second magnetoresistive effect element using the magnetoresistive effect having the electric resistance changed based on the change in the magnetic field intensity of the external magnetic field in the (−) direction.

5. An electrical product which contains the magnetic detection device according to claim 1 , being formed to have one of a structure in which the magnetic detection device is adjusted to the 1-output mode, and an output terminal for outputting the (+) magnetic field detection signal and the (−) magnetic field detection signal is connected to a circuit substrate in the product, a structure in which the magnetic detection device is adjusted to the 2-output mode, and an output terminal for outputting the (+) magnetic field detection signal and the output terminal for outputting the (−) magnetic field detection signal are connected to the circuit substrate of the product, and a structure in which the magnetic detection device is adjusted to the 2-output mode, and only one of the output terminals for outputting the (+) magnetic field detection signal and the (−) magnetic field detection signal is connected to the circuit substrate in the product.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048209/0197 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2009
From: SATO, KIYOSHI; ANDO, HIDETO; GOCHOU, HIDEKI
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 023551/0880 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2007-153695 · Jun 11, 2007 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP200806055800 · Jun 9, 2008
Related Publication 20100066359A1 · Mar 18, 2010