A measurement circuit for a sensor, the measurement circuit includes at least one detection branch including at least a first series of at least one dipole and a second series of at least one dipole, the series being connected in parallel and connected at their inputs to a common input terminal, each series of dipole being connected to a distinct output terminal, and an electronic circuit including a bias circuit configured to apply a bias current to the detection branch from the input terminal, and a read circuit configured to impose on each output terminal the same potential referred to as the reference potential (V.sub.REF); the electronic circuit including a determination circuit for determining variations in impedances of each series of dipole of the detection branch on the basis of the current applied to each output terminal by the read circuit so as to keep the potentials equal.

A sensor circuit incorporates an analog to digital converter for providing a digital signal derived from sensing elements connected in a bridge configuration. The sensor circuit comprises first and second paths comprising respective first and second sensing elements connected between first and second supply lines; an analog to digital converter having a differential input connected to receive a differential voltage signal (VinpVinn) between the first and second sensing elements and an output for providing a digital output signal (Dout) representing a difference between the first and second sensing elements, the analog to digital converter comprising: current sources connected between the first and second supply lines, each current source being switchably connected to either the first or second sensing elements; and control logic configured to selectively switch current from each of the current sources to either the first path or the second path in dependence on the differential voltage signal.

A magnetic field sensor comprises a sensor bridge having multiple sensor legs. Each sensor leg includes magnetoresistive sense elements located in a plane of the magnetic field sensor. Each sense element comprises a pinned layer and a sense layer. The pinned layer has a reference magnetization oriented parallel to the plane and the sense layer has a sense magnetization oriented out-of-plane. A permanent magnet layer may be spaced apart from the sense elements which magnetically biases the sense magnetization of the sense layer into an out-of-plane direction that is non-perpendicular to the plane of the sensor. The sense magnetization is orientable from the out-of-plane direction toward the plane of the sensor in response to an external magnetic field. The permanent magnet layer enables detection of the external magnetic field in a sensing direction that is also perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic field sensor.

A magnetic field sensor comprises a sensor bridge having multiple sensor legs. Each sensor leg includes magnetoresistive sense elements located in a plane of the magnetic field sensor. Each sense element comprises a pinned layer and a sense layer. The pinned layer has a reference magnetization oriented parallel to the plane and the sense layer has a sense magnetization oriented out-of-plane. A permanent magnet layer may be spaced apart from the sense elements which magnetically biases the sense magnetization of the sense layer into an out-of-plane direction that is non-perpendicular to the plane of the sensor. The sense magnetization is orientable from the out-of-plane direction toward the plane of the sensor in response to an external magnetic field. The permanent magnet layer enables detection of the external magnetic field in a sensing direction that is also perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic field sensor.

A current measurement device, comprising three or more different positions, wherein each position has at least two magnetoresistances. The two magnetoresistances are two magnetoresistances which respectively have a first sensitive direction and an opposite second sensitive direction. Within a set range, the resistance value of the magnetoresistance has a linear relationship with a magnetic field at the position where the magnetoresistance is located. The sensitive directions of all magnetoresistances at different positions are the same or opposite. A magnetic field to be measured has a component in the sensitive direction of the magnetoresistance. At least at one position the component in the sensitive direction of said magnetic field is different from components in the sensitive direction of said magnetic fields at other positions. All the magnetoresistances are electrically connected to form a resistance network in which an output signal includes the signals of said magnetic fields, and does not include or includes an interference magnetic field signal that is less than a first preset intensity. The current measurement device eliminates the interference of an interference magnetic field with current measurement.

A high current source (200) for a test system for testing an electric power device (30) comprises a first plurality of first switchable half-bridges (212) and a second plurality of second switchable half-bridges (222), which are connected in parallel and by means of which a test current is redundantly distributed. A control device (280) is designed to control the first and second half-bridges (212, 222) on the basis of an input signal in such a way that an output signal for the test current, which corresponds to the input signal, is applied across a bridge branch (230) between the first switchable half-bridges (212) and the second switchable half-bridges (222).

A high current source (200) for a test system for testing an electric power device (30) comprises a first plurality of first switchable half-bridges (212) and a second plurality of second switchable half-bridges (222), which are connected in parallel and by means of which a test current is redundantly distributed. A control device (280) is designed to control the first and second half-bridges (212, 222) on the basis of an input signal in such a way that an output signal for the test current, which corresponds to the input signal, is applied across a bridge branch (230) between the first switchable half-bridges (212) and the second switchable half-bridges (222).

A method of providing a digital value indicative of a physical quantity to be measured by a sensor circuit or a bridge circuit that has two excitation nodes and at least one output node, comprises the steps of: a) applying a time-varying biasing signal to the excitation nodes, causing at least one output-node to provide a time-varying output signal; b) determining a first time value or a first count value or a first index related to a first event at which the first output signal passes a first threshold signal; c) providing a digital value indicative of the physical quantity to be measured based on said at least one time value or count value or index value.

A method of providing a digital value indicative of a physical quantity to be measured by a sensor circuit or a bridge circuit that has two excitation nodes and at least one output node, comprises the steps of: a) applying a time-varying biasing signal to the excitation nodes, causing at least one output-node to provide a time-varying output signal; b) determining a first time value or a first count value or a first index related to a first event at which the first output signal passes a first threshold signal; c) providing a digital value indicative of the physical quantity to be measured based on said at least one time value or count value or index value.

A magnetic field sensor comprises a sensor bridge having multiple sensor legs. Each sensor leg includes magnetoresistive sense elements, each comprising a pinned layer having a reference magnetization parallel to a plane of the sensor and a sense layer having a sense magnetization. A permanent magnet layer spaced apart from the sense elements magnetically biases the sense magnetization into an out-of-plane direction that is non-perpendicular to the plane of the sensor. The sense magnetization of a portion of the sense elements is oriented in a first direction and the sense magnetization of a different portion of the sense elements is oriented in a second direction differing from the first direction to generate two unique bias field vectors of the sense layers which enables detection of the external magnetic field in a sensing direction that is perpendicular to the plane of the magnetic field sensor without inter-axis coupling of sensor response.