IP Library Granted Patent US 11,624,791
Granted Patent B2
US 11,624,791 · App. 17/937,556 · Granted Apr 11, 2023

Reducing stray magnetic-field effects using a magnetic-field closed-loop system

Inventor: Hernán D. Romero (Buenos Aires, AR)
Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
G01R33/098G01R33/0041G01R33/091
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,624,791
App. No.
17/937,556
Granted
Apr 11, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a magnetic-field sensor includes main coil circuitry configured to generate a first magnetic field signal at a first frequency. A reflected signal is generated from a target caused by the first signal generated by the main coil circuitry. The magnetic field sensor also includes magnetoresistance circuitry configured to receive an error signal. The error signal is formed from a combination of the reflected signal and a second magnetic field signal. The magnetic-field sensor further includes analog circuitry configured to receive an output signal from the magnetoresistance circuitry, digital circuitry configured to receive an output signal from the analog circuitry, a mixer configured to receive a feedback signal from one of the digital circuitry or the analog circuitry, and secondary coil circuitry configured to receive a driver signal from the mixer causing the secondary coil circuitry to generate the second magnetic field signal at the first frequency.

Claims (33)

1. A magnetic-field sensor comprising:

main coil circuitry configured to generate a first magnetic field signal at a first frequency, wherein a reflected signal is generated from a target caused by the first magnetic field signal generated by the main coil circuitry;

magnetoresistance circuitry configured to receive an error signal, wherein the error signal is formed from a combination of the reflected signal and a second magnetic field signal;

analog circuitry configured to receive an output signal from the magnetoresistance circuitry;

digital circuitry configured to receive an output signal from the analog circuitry;

a first mixer configured to receive a feedback signal from one of the digital circuitry or the analog circuitry, wherein the feedback signal is a baseband signal, wherein the first mixer is configured to convert the feedback signal from the baseband signal to an alternating current (AC) signal having a frequency equal to the first frequency and to provide the AC signal to the secondary coil circuitry as a driver signal; and

secondary coil circuitry configured to receive the driver signal from the first mixer causing the secondary coil circuitry to generate the second magnetic field signal at the first frequency.

2. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic-field sensor is fabricated in an integrated circuit.

3. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the magnetoresistance circuitry comprises a bridge comprising magnetoresistance elements.

4. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 3 , wherein the bridge is one of a voltage bridge, a current bridge, or a conductance bridge.

5. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 3 , wherein the magnetoresistance elements comprise at least one tunneling magnetoresistance element (TMR).

6. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 3 , wherein the magnetoresistance elements comprise at least one giant magnetoresistance element (GMR).

7. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 3 , wherein the main coil circuitry comprises a first coil having inner loops and outer loops,

wherein a number of the inner loops differ from a number of the outer loops by no more than one loop, and

wherein the magnetoresistance elements are disposed between the inner loops and the outer loops.

8. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 7 , wherein the number of the inner loops is equal to the number of the outer loops.

9. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 8 , wherein the second coil circuitry comprises a second coil, and

wherein the magnetoresistance elements are within the second coil.

10. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 9 , wherein a distance between the second coil to the magnetoresistance elements is smaller than a distance between the first coil to the magnetoresistance elements.

11. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 9 , wherein the second coil is wound in a first direction and the first coil is wound in a second direction opposite the first direction.

12. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a digital-to-analog converter configured to:

receive the feedback signal from the digital circuitry;

convert the feedback signal from a digital signal to an analog signal; and

provide the feedback signal as the analog signal to the first mixer.

13. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first mixer is configured to receive the feedback signal from the analog circuitry.

14. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 12 , wherein the analog circuitry comprises a second mixer, wherein the second mixer converts the output signal from the magnetoresistance circuitry into the baseband signal.

15. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 14 , wherein the analog circuitry further comprises an amplifier that amplifies the baseband signal received from the second mixer.

16. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the analog circuitry comprises:

a second mixer, wherein the second mixer converts the output signal from the magnetoresistance circuitry into the baseband signal; and

an analog-to-digital (ADC) converter configured to convert an output of the second mixer to a digital signal and to provide the digital signal to the digital circuitry.

17. The magnetic-field sensor of claim 16 , wherein the analog circuitry further comprises an amplifier configured to:

amplify the baseband signal received from the second mixer; and

provide the baseband signal amplified by the amplifier to the ADC converter.

Assignments (2)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064068/0459 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2022
From: ROMERO, HERNÁN D.; ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS ARGENTINA S.A.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 061299/0054 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17140429 · Jan 4, 2021
Related Publication 20230027608A1 · Jan 26, 2023
Cited By (4)
US 12,517,195 US 12,523,717 US 12,607,676 US 12,613,293