Optimum Design Rules for CMOS Hall Sensors

Sensors (Basel). 2017 Apr 4;17(4):765. doi: 10.3390/s17040765.

Abstract

This manuscript analyzes the effects of design parameters, such as aspect ratio, doping concentration and bias, on the performance of a general CMOS Hall sensor, with insight on current-related sensitivity, power consumption, and bandwidth. The article focuses on rectangular-shaped Hall probes since this is the most general geometry leading to shape-independent results. The devices are analyzed by means of 3D-TCAD simulations embedding galvanomagnetic transport model, which takes into account the Lorentz force acting on carriers due to a magnetic field. Simulation results define a set of trade-offs and design rules that can be used by electronic designers to conceive their own Hall probes.

Keywords: 3D physical simulations; Hall effect sensor design; Hall sensors; current-related sensitivity; design rules; power consumption.