Offset reduction in Hall devices by continuous spinning current method

A novel method for dynamic offset compensation in a Hall plate is presented. The continuous spinning current method is based on minimal-size four-contact Hall devices and, therefore, the lowest possible offset resulting from material inhomogeneities is achieved. A continuous spinning current vector is generated in the device by spatially superimposing two periodic biasing currents. The resulting voltages allow the constant Hall voltage to be separated from the periodic offset voltage. Remaining offsets are below 10 mu T, which corresponds to fractions of the earth's magnetic field. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.