Analysis and modeling of four-folded vertical Hall devices in current domain

Abstract

This paper presents a four-folded current-mode vertical Hall device. The current spinning technique is applied to a vertical Hall sensor driven in current mode to eliminate the o set and to increase the sensitivity. Di erent geometries have been studied and simulated by using a simulator based on finite element method. A four-folded three contacts vertical Hall device model displayed the lowest residual o set and the best sensitivity. Simulations results, obtained in two di erent environments, are compared and discussed. COMSOL results are validated with respect to the electrical behavior of an 8-resistor Verilog-A model implemented in Cadence environment. Simulations show that the achieved sensitivity can be better than 160 mT 1 , a remarkable performance for vertical Hall sensors.