JP2005274491A - Sensor circuit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sensor circuit that can configure with a general pulse generator and an error amplifier and is hardly affected by switching noise. <P>SOLUTION: A second switching network 20 is provided among a Hall element HAL, a first error amplifier AMP1, and a reference voltage source Vref, and then a third switching network 30 is provided among the Hall element HAL, a second error amplifier AMP1, and the reference voltage source Vref, respectively. The second switching network 20 supplies a detection signal generated between a pair of terminals X1-X2 to the error amplifier AMP1, during a third period produced within a first period, and supplies a fixed voltage signal emitted from the reference voltage source Vref during a period other than the third period therein. The third switching network 30 supplies a detection signal generated between a pair of terminals Y1-Y2 to the error amplifier AMP2, during a fourth period produced within a second period, and supplies the fixed voltage signal during a period other than the fourth period therein. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sensor circuit using a Hall element, and relates to a technique for eliminating the influence of noise generated inside the circuit.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for canceling an offset generated in a Hall element or its peripheral circuit by switching a flow direction of a bias current supplied to the Hall element and a detection direction of a Hall voltage. This patent document 1 also discloses a technique for eliminating the influence of noise together with a technique for canceling an offset.
In other words, the circuit disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a switch for switching the flow direction of the bias current and the detection direction of the Hall voltage, but undesired surge noise is generated when the switch is switched. In order to eliminate the influence of this switching noise, first, the sampling operation of the sample-and-hold circuit is performed at a place that is temporally deviated from the switching operation of the switch (specifically, substantially in the middle of the switching cycle).

However, in some cases, transient fluctuations may be induced in the output signal of the error amplifier for detecting the Hall voltage over a relatively long period of time due to switching noise. In addition, the transitional fluctuation may last longer than the time interval from when the switch is switched to when the sampling operation is started, and the influence of switching noise may remain during the sampling operation of the sample and hold circuit. Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a second countermeasure that lowers the signal amplification factor of the error amplifier during the switch switching operation.
JP 09-196699 A

The disclosed circuit of Patent Document 1 realizes magnetic measurement with less influence of noise by implementing the first countermeasure and the second countermeasure together. However, when implementing the second countermeasure, when the signal for switching the switch changes from high to low and from low to high, a pulse generator that generates a pulse that goes high at least immediately before and immediately after the state change. Is required. Further, an error amplifier capable of changing the amplification factor according to the pulse is also required. That is, there is a problem that a specially configured circuit is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a sensor circuit that can be constituted by a general pulse generator or an error amplifier and is hardly affected by switching noise.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention sequentially detects the first detection signal and the second detection signal generated between the first terminal pair and the second terminal pair of the Hall element, and the first detection signal And a second detection signal to obtain an output signal substantially having only a Hall voltage component, a bias current is supplied to the second terminal pair of the Hall element in the first period, A first switch network for supplying a bias current to the first terminal pair in a period of time 2, first and second error amplifiers having substantially equal characteristics, and a voltage source for generating a fixed voltage signal The first detection signal generated between the first terminal pair of the Hall elements is input to the first error amplifier during the third period within the first period, and the other period than the third period Sometimes the fixed voltage signal of the reference voltage source is input to the first error amplifier A first sample-and-hold that refers to an output signal of the first error amplifier at a predetermined point in time in the third period and outputs a first hold signal corresponding to the output signal; The second detection signal generated between the second terminal pair is input to the second error amplifier between the circuit and the fourth period in the second period, and the reference is generated in the period other than the fourth period. A fourth switch network for inputting a voltage signal having a fixed voltage source to the second error amplifier, and an output signal of the second error amplifier with reference to an output signal of the second error amplifier at a predetermined time in the fourth period. A second sample-and-hold circuit that outputs a second hold signal according to the first and second sample-and-hold circuits, receives the first and second hold signals from the first and second sample-and-hold circuits, and outputs substantially only the Hall voltage component Signal that generates the signal Characterized by comprising a conversion treatment circuit.

When the first switch network performs a switching operation, a fixed voltage signal is supplied to each input terminal of each error amplifier of the reference voltage source. The same fixed voltage signal is supplied to both input terminals, and even if noise generated in the first switch network enters, most of it is buried in the voltage signal. Long-term transients do not appear.
The signal for driving each switch network can be easily generated based on the signal for driving the first switch network, and does not require a specially configured pulse generator. Further, since the amplification factor is not changed, a variable amplification factor type error amplifier is not required.

A bias current is selectively supplied to the Hall element and a second terminal pair of the Hall element in the first period, and a bias current is selectively supplied to the second terminal pair in the second period. Switch network.
Further, a reference voltage source, first and second error amplifiers are provided, a second switch network is provided between the Hall element, the first error amplifier, and the reference voltage source, and the Hall element, the second error amplifier, and the reference. A third switch network is provided between the voltage sources. Here, the second and third switch networks are assumed to operate as follows.

The second switch network supplies a detection signal generated between the first terminal pair of the Hall elements to the input terminal of the first error amplifier during a third period that occurs within the first period. In other cases, a fixed voltage signal generated by the reference voltage source is supplied to the input terminal of the first error amplifier.
Similarly, the third switch network transmits the detection signal generated between the second terminal pair of the Hall elements during the fourth period generated within the second period to the input terminal of the second error amplifier. Otherwise, a fixed voltage signal generated by the reference voltage source is supplied to the input terminal of the second error amplifier.

Provided on the output side of the first error amplifier is a first sample-and-hold circuit that outputs a hold signal corresponding to the output signal of the first error amplifier generated at a predetermined time in the third period. On the output side of the second error amplifier, there is provided a second sample and hold circuit that outputs a hold signal corresponding to the output signal of the fourth error amplifier generated at a predetermined time in the fourth period. Provide.
A signal synthesis processing circuit for performing signal processing is provided on the output side of the first and second sample and hold circuits, and the signal synthesis processing circuit substantially determines from the hold signals output by the two sample and hold circuits. An output signal having only the Hall voltage component is obtained.

The configuration of the sensor circuit according to the present invention is shown in FIG.
In FIG. 1, the Hall element HAL is provided with a first terminal pair consisting of terminals X1 and X2 and a second terminal pair consisting of terminals Y1 and Y2. Of these, the terminal X1 is connected to the b contact of the switch 11, the terminal X2 is connected to the b contact of the switch 12, the terminal Y1 is connected to the a contact of the switch 11, and the terminal Y2 is connected to the a contact of the switch 12. . The movable contact of the switch 11 is connected to the external power source Vcc, and the movable contact of the switch 12 is connected to the ground. The switches 11 and 12 constitute a first switch network 10.

  The terminal X1 of the Hall element HAL is further connected to the contact a of the switch 21, and the terminal X2 is connected to the contact a of the switch 22. The contact b of the switch 21 is connected to the reference voltage source Vref, and the movable contact is connected to one input terminal of the first error amplifier AMP1. The contact b of the switch 22 is connected to the reference voltage source Vref, and the movable contact is connected to the other input terminal of the first error amplifier AMP1 of the 2-input 2-output type. The switches 21 and 22 constitute a second switch network 20.

  Similarly, the terminal Y2 of the Hall element HAL is connected to the contact a of the switch 31, and the terminal Y1 is connected to the contact a of the switch 32. The contact b of the switch 31 is connected to the reference voltage source Vref, and the movable contact is connected to one input terminal of the second error amplifier AMP2 of the 2-input / 2-output type. The contact b of the switch 32 is connected to the reference voltage source Vref, and the movable contact is connected to the other input terminal of the second error amplifier AMP2. The switches 31 and 32 constitute a third switch network 30.

  One output terminal of the error amplifier AMP1 is connected to the input terminal of the buffer B1 through the switch 41, and the other output terminal of the error amplifier AMP1 is connected to the input terminal of the buffer B2 through the switch 42. A capacitor C1 is connected between the common connection point of the switch 41 and the buffer B1 and the ground, and a capacitor C2 is connected between the common connection point of the switch 42 and the buffer B2 and the ground. The switches 41 and 42, the capacitors C1 and C2, and the buffers B1 and B2 constitute a first sample and hold circuit 40.

  One output terminal of the error amplifier AMP2 is connected to the input terminal of the buffer B3 via the switch 51, and the other output terminal of the error amplifier AMP2 is connected to the input terminal of the buffer B4 via the switch 52. A capacitor C3 is connected between the common connection point of the switch 51 and the buffer B3 and the ground, and a capacitor C4 is connected between the common connection point of the switch 52 and the buffer B4 and the ground. The switches 51 and 52, the capacitors C3 and C4, and the buffers B3 and B4 constitute a second sample and hold circuit 50.

  The output terminal of the buffer B1 of the first sample and hold circuit 40 is connected to one input terminal of a two-input one-output type error amplifier AMP3 via a resistor R1, and the output terminal of the buffer B2 is an error via a resistor R2. Connected to the other input terminal of the amplifier AMP3. The output terminal of the buffer B3 of the second sample and hold circuit 50 is connected to the other input terminal of the error amplifier AMP3 via the resistor R3, and the output terminal of the buffer B4 is connected to one of the error amplifiers AMP3 via the resistor R4. Connect to the input terminal. The output terminal of the error amplifier AMP3 is connected to a terminal OUT which is an output terminal of the sensor circuit, and further connected to one of the input terminals via a signal feedback resistor R5. A resistor R6 and a voltage source Vr are connected in series between the other input terminal of the error amplifier AMP3 and the ground. The error amplifier AMP3, resistors R1 to R6, and voltage source Vr constitute a signal synthesis processing circuit 60 for signal processing.

  The sensor circuit having such a configuration operates as follows upon receiving a drive signal that becomes high (H) level or low (L) level at the timing shown in FIG. The drive signal S 1 is a drive signal supplied to the first switch network 10, S 2 is a drive signal supplied to the second switch network 20, and S 3 is a drive supplied to the third switch network 30. The signal S 4 is a drive signal supplied to the first sample and hold circuit 40, and S 5 is a drive signal supplied to the second sample and hold circuit 50. By the way, each switch of each switch network is connected to the contact a when the drive signal is high, and to the contact b when the drive signal is low. The switches of each sample and hold circuit are turned on when the drive signal is high and turned off when the drive signal is low.

  When the drive signal S1 becomes high level at time t1, the switches 11 and 12 connect the movable contact to the contact a. Then, a bias current flows between the terminals Y1 and Y2, and a voltage signal (= detection signal) corresponding to the bias current and the magnetic flux passing through the Hall element HAL is generated between the terminals X1 and X2. Immediately after this time t1, since the drive signals S2 and S3 are at a low level, the movable contacts of the switches 21, 22, 31, and 32 are connected to the b contact side. Therefore, a fixed voltage signal from the reference voltage source Vref is supplied to all input terminals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2.

  Here, even if the noise is generated in accordance with the switching operation of the switches 11 and 12, and this noise is transmitted to the position of the input terminals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2 through, for example, the stray capacitance parasitic on the switch or the like, The level hardly exceeds the voltage signal of the reference voltage source Vref. For this reason, noise is buried in the voltage signal at the position of the input terminals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2, and a long-term transient phenomenon does not occur in the output signals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2.

At time t2 when a predetermined delay time t _{D1 has} elapsed from time t1, the drive signal S2 changes to high level. Then, each of the switches 21 and 22 of the second switch network 20 switches the connection destination of the movable contact from the b contact to the a contact, and occurs between the terminals X1 and X2 of the Hall element HAL at each input terminal of the error amplifier AMP1. Supply the detected signal. As a result, while the drive signal S2 is at the high level, the error amplifier AMP1 continues to output an output signal having a magnitude corresponding to the detection signal. Note that the delay time t _D1 is set to a period in which the noise generated in the detection signal with the switching operation of the switches 11 and 12 disappears or becomes a very small level even if it does not disappear.

After a time t2, the driving signal S4 becomes a high level at a certain point in time during which the driving signal S2 is high at time t3. Then, the switches 41 and 42 in the first sample and hold circuit 40 are turned on, and the capacitor C1 and the capacitor C2 are charged by the output signal corresponding to the detection signal of the error amplifier AMP1. Buffers B1 and B2 continue to output hold signals according to the charging voltages of capacitors C1 and C2.
The drive signal S4 changes to a low level after a predetermined time (at least the time until the charging voltages of the capacitors C1 and C2 are saturated) has elapsed. Then, each drive signal that has been at the high level is sequentially switched to the low level until time t4.

  When the drive signal S1 becomes low level at time t4, the switches 11 and 12 connect the movable contact to the b contact. This time, a bias current flows between the terminals X1 and X2, and a voltage signal (= detection signal) corresponding to the bias current and the magnetic flux passing through the Hall element HAL is generated between the terminals Y1 and Y2. Immediately after this time t4, since the drive signals S2 and S3 are at a low level, the movable contacts of the switches 21, 22, 31, and 32 are connected to the b contact side. Therefore, fixed voltage signals are supplied to all the input terminals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2.

  Naturally, noise is generated with the switching operation of the switches 11 and 12, but the level of the noise transmitted to the position of the input terminals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2 hardly exceeds the voltage signal of the reference voltage source Vref. For this reason, as in the case immediately after the time t1, a long-term transient phenomenon does not occur in the output signals of the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2.

Comes from the time t4 to the time elapsed t5 predetermined delay time t _D2, turn the drive signal S2 without towards the drive signal S3 is converted to a high level. Then, each switch 31, 32 of the third switch network 30 switches the connection destination of the movable contact from the b contact to the a contact, and occurs between the terminals Y2-Y1 of the Hall element HAL at each input terminal of the error amplifier AMP2. Supply the detected signal. As a result, while the drive signal S3 is at the high level, the error amplifier AMP2 continues to output an output signal having a magnitude corresponding to the detection signal. Note specific period of the delay time t _D2 is set in the same manner as the delay time t _D1.

After time t5, at a certain point in time during which the drive signal S3 is high, at time t6, the drive signal S5 becomes high level. Then, the switches 51 and 52 in the second sample and hold circuit 50 are turned on, and the capacitor C3 and the capacitor C4 are charged by the output signal corresponding to the detection signal of the error amplifier AMP2. Buffers B3 and B4 continue to output hold signals corresponding to the charging voltages of capacitors C3 and C4.
The drive signal S5 changes to a low level after a predetermined time has passed, like the drive signal S4. Then, each drive signal that has been at the high level is sequentially switched to the low level until time t7. Time t7 is substantially the same as time t1, and thereafter, the circuit of FIG. 1 repeats the operation from time t1 to time t7 described above.

For example, it is assumed here that the detection signal of the Hall element HAL is composed of the Hall voltage component V _H and the offset voltage component V _OF . Then, based on the circuit operation from time t1 to t4, the hold signal SH1 output from the buffer B1 and the hold signal SH2 output from the buffer B2 after the time t4 are expressed as follows.
SH1 = + G (V _H + V _OF )
SH2 = −G (V _H + V _OF )

Similarly, based on the circuit operation from time t4 to t7, hold signal SH3 output from buffer B3 and hold signal SH4 output from buffer B4 after time t7 are expressed as follows.
SH3 = + G (−V _H + V _OF )
_{SH4 = -G (-V H + V} OF)
Here, the negative sign to the Hall voltage component of the hold signal SH4 and SH3 (V _H) Unlike Hall voltage component of the hold signal SH1 and SH2 (V _H) is attached is in the flow direction and the detection voltage of the bias current This is due to the relationship between the detection directions.

  In the circuit of FIG. 1, each hold signal is subjected to signal processing in a signal synthesis processing circuit 60. First, the hold signals SH1 and SH4 input to one input terminal of the error amplifier AMP3 are added at the position of one input terminal, and the hold signals SH2 and SH3 input to the other input terminal are the other. Addition processing is performed at the position of the input terminal. Then, the signal at the position of each input terminal is subtracted in the error amplifier AMP3. This is expressed as follows.

SH1 + SH4- (SH2 + SH3)
_{= + G (V H + V} OF) -G (-V H + V OF) - {- G (V H + V OF) + G (-V H + V OF)}
= 4 ・ G ・ V _H
As can be seen from the result of this equation, the output signal appearing at the position of the terminal OUT is a signal of only the Hall voltage component with the offset component canceled.

  As described above, the sensor circuit according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 can easily generate the drive signals S3 to S5 from the drive signal S1, for example, by delaying the timing of switching to the high level by the delay circuit. is there. Further, since the fixed voltage signal is supplied from the reference voltage source, the error amplifier does not cause a transient phenomenon based on the noise input without changing the amplification factor. Accordingly, there is no need for a pulse generator having a special circuit configuration or a variable gain error amplifier.

  The circuit of FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration in the case where a two-output type (double differential output type) error amplifier is used for the error amplifiers AMP1 and AMP2, but the circuit using a single-output type error amplifier is used. May be configured. In addition, two sample-and-hold circuits on the inverting side and non-inverting side are provided inside the sample-and-hold circuits 40 and 50 together with the two-output type error amplifier. Needless to say good things.

1 is a circuit diagram of an embodiment of a sensor circuit according to the present invention. 2 is a timing chart of each drive signal supplied to the circuit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10: first switch circuit network 20: second switch circuit network 30: third switch circuit network 40: first sample and hold circuit 50: second sample and hold circuit 60: signal synthesis processing circuit AMP1: First error amplifier AMP2: Second error amplifier HAL: Hall element Vref: Reference voltage source X1, X2: Terminal (first terminal pair)
Y1, Y2: Terminals (second terminal pair)
OUT: Terminal (sensor circuit output terminal)

Claims (3)

A first detection signal and a second detection signal generated between the first terminal pair and the second terminal pair of the Hall element are sequentially detected, and the first detection signal and the second detection signal are signaled. In a sensor circuit that processes to obtain an output signal of substantially only the Hall voltage component,
A first switch network for supplying a bias current to the second terminal pair of the Hall element in a first period and supplying a bias current to the first terminal pair in a second period;
First and second error amplifiers having substantially equal characteristics;
A voltage source for generating a fixed voltage signal;
During a third period within the first period, the first detection signal generated between the first terminal pair of the Hall elements is input to the first error amplifier, and the third error amplifier A second switch network for inputting the fixed voltage signal of the reference voltage source to the first error amplifier at a time other than a period;
A first sample-and-hold circuit for referring to an output signal of the first error amplifier at a predetermined time in the third period and outputting a first hold signal corresponding to the output signal;
During the fourth period within the second period, the second detection signal generated between the second terminal pair of the Hall elements is input to the second error amplifier, and the fourth error amplifier A fourth switch network for inputting the fixed voltage signal of the reference voltage source to the second error amplifier at a time other than the period;
A second sample-and-hold circuit that outputs a second hold signal corresponding to the output signal with reference to an output signal of the second error amplifier at a predetermined time in the fourth period;
A signal synthesis processing circuit that receives the first and second hold signals from the first and second sample and hold circuits and generates an output signal of substantially only a Hall voltage component;
A sensor circuit comprising: The third period starts after a predetermined time delay from the start of the first period, and the fourth period starts after a predetermined time delay from the start of the second period. The sensor circuit according to claim 1. The first and second error amplifiers are of a double differential output type, and the first and second sample and hold circuits respectively include a non-inversion side sample and hold circuit and an inversion side sample and hold circuit. The sensor circuit according to claim 1, further comprising: a sensor circuit according to claim 1.

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