A magnetic sensor that includes a Hall element; a switch circuit configured to switch a direction of a drive current supplied to the Hall element between a first direction and a second direction; a magnetic field detection circuit configured to execute a detection operation for detecting a target magnetic field acting on the Hall element, based on a first difference between a Hall voltage generated in the Hall element when the drive current is supplied to the Hall element in the first direction and a Hall voltage generated in the Hall element when the drive current is supplied to the Hall element in the second direction; and a test magnetic field generation circuit configured to generate a test magnetic field different from the target magnetic field in a test operation.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program product for enabling multi-point shunt calibration of a sensor device. Multi-point shunt calibration provides at least a first, second, and third simulated calibration output, each simulated calibration output corresponding to an actual reading value and an expected reading value. The simulated calibration outputs are associated with a predefined output sequence, where each simulated calibration output is separated from an adjacent simulated calibration output by an output step size. Some embodiments are configured for automatically outputting each simulated calibration output for a particular period of time before outputting an adjacent simulated calibration output in the predefined output sequence. The various simulated calibration outputs, actual reading values, and/or expected values may be used in determining calibrated reading values for the sensor device.

An abnormality detection device includes an acquirer configured to acquire a plurality of detection results of a plurality of sensors that have detected a state of a detection target at predetermined time intervals and an estimator configured to estimate a specific sensor among the plurality of sensors on the basis of a plurality of mode information acquisition process data elements for enabling various types of feature extraction according to properties of the abnormality obtained from a plurality of detection results acquired by the acquirer.

Methods and systems for testing a sensor of a propeller blade angle position feedback system are described. A sensor signal is received from a sensor at a known position relative to a feedback device, the feedback comprising a ring and at least one pair of position markers spaced from one another around a circumference thereof, the sensor configured for successively detecting passage of the position markers as the feedback device rotates at a known rotational speed and an axial distance between the sensor and the feedback device varies. From the sensor signal a measured position of the sensor relative to the feedback device and a measured rotational speed of the feedback device are determined. The measured position and the measured rotational speed are compared to the known position and the known rotational speed to determine a sensor accuracy.

Methods of determining if it is safe to restore service to a gas meter remotely are provided. The method includes determining if any pre-existing conditions are present in the gas meter responsive to issuance of a restore command to restore service from a remote location. The pre-existing conditions indicates that safety test results are unreliable. If it is determined that no pre-existing conditions are present, a valve on the gas meter is opened to fill the gas meter with gas until the gas meter reaches a predefined fill state. It is determined if pressure in the gas meter is stable at the predefined fill state and the valve on the gas meter is closed if the pressure is stabilized. A pressure decay test is performed after the valve on the gas meter is closed. The valve to restore gas flow is opened if the pressure decay test passes.

A method for assessing the state of a sensor. The sensor comprises a deflectable micromechanical sensor structure for detecting a physical input variable and converting the physical input variable into an electrical sensor signal. A medium surrounding the sensor acts on the micromechanical sensor structure. The micromechanical sensor structure is deflectable using an excitation signal. The method includes: generating an excitation signal using a driver unit; outputting the excitation signal to the micromechanical sensor structure; deflecting the micromechanical sensor structure using the excitation signal; detecting a response behavior of the micromechanical sensor structure in response to the excitation signal; comparing the response behavior to a reference behavior to determine a measure of deviation for the response behavior in relation to the reference behavior; and assessing, based on the measure of deviation, the state of the sensor with respect to the presence of a deposit.

A method for testing a sensor within an electronic circuit. The sensor includes a first sensor element and a first reference element in a first branch, and a second sensor element and a second reference element in a second branch of the Wheatstone bridge circuit, which is in parallel with the first branch. The Wheatstone bridge circuit includes first and second inputs for first and second reference signals, respectively, which are each connected to the branches. The first branch includes a first signal output, and the second branch includes a second signal output between the second sensor element and the second reference element. The method includes: opening the first or second switch; applying a predefined first and/or second reference signal(s); and evaluating a first or second useful signal as to whether damage to the sensor or an electrical connection between the sensor and the electronic circuit exists.

Various embodiments of the teachings herein include methods and/or systems for controlling a sensor system. For example, a method comprises: sensing a measured energy consumption profile of the sensor system using an energy measuring apparatus; comparing the measured energy consumption profile with one or more expected energy consumption profiles; selecting one expected energy consumption profile as closest to the measured energy consumption profile; defining at least one control command based on the closest energy consumption profile; and controlling the sensor system by executing the at least one control command.

A method for calibrating a linearization function for correcting an output of a position sensor providing a continuous output position signal is described. The method adds a new linearization point to the linearization function by detecting the maximum error at the output of the position sensor and applying the new linearization function to the output of the position sensor and repeat the adding new linearization points until all available linearization points have been defined.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer program product for enabling multi-point shunt calibration of a sensor device. Multi-point shunt calibration provides at least a first, second, and third simulated calibration output, each simulated calibration output corresponding to an actual reading value and an expected reading value. The simulated calibration outputs are associated with a predefined output sequence, where each simulated calibration output is separated from an adjacent simulated calibration output by an output step size. Some embodiments are configured for automatically outputting each simulated calibration output for a particular period of time before outputting an adjacent simulated calibration output in the predefined output sequence. The various simulated calibration outputs, actual reading values, and/or expected values may be used in determining calibrated reading values for the sensor device.