MRE sensor signal detector

Claim 2

A sensor signal processing unit comprising: signal amplification means for adding an offset signal to an output signal of a magnetism detection sensor for sensing magnetism, converting it to an amplifying and electrical signal and outputting said electrical signal; signal judgement means for outputting an offset adjustment start signal when the output signal of said signal amplification means exceeds a desired upper or lower limit value; cycle signal generation means for outputting a cycle signal by said offset adjustment start signal; count means for changing a count value utilizing said cycle signal; output correction means comprising offset signal output means for outputting an offset signal corresponding to said count value; peak-bottom hold means for holding a peak value and a bottom value of the output signal from said magnetism detection sensor; threshold value setting means for setting a threshold value from the peak value and the bottom value held by said peak-bottom hold means; and comparison means for comparing the output signal of said magnetism detection sensor with the threshold value set by said threshold value setting means, and outputting a binary signal in accordance with the comparison result.

Claim 3

A sensor signal processing unit according to claim 1, wherein said signal judgment means includes: first signal comparison means for comparing said signal amplification means with said upper limit value; second signal comparison means for comparing said signal amplification means with said lower limit value; and signal detection means for detecting said predetermined signal utilizing the outputs of said two signal comparison means.

Claim 4

A sensor signal processing unit according to claim 2, wherein said offset signal output means detects a direction of the change due to the output of said cycle signal generation means utilizing the output of said first or second signal comparison means.

Claim 5

A sensor signal processing unit according to claim 1, wherein at least two set values exist between said upper limit value and said lower limit value.

Claim 6

An MRE sensor signal detector comprising: peak hold means for receiving and holding a peak value of an output signal from an MRE sensor; bottom hold means for receiving and holding a bottom value of said output signal from said MRE sensor; threshold value setting means, coupled to said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting a threshold value related to a combination of said peak value held by said peak hold means and said bottom value held by said bottom hold means; comparison means, coupled to said threshold value setting means, for comparing said output signal from said MRE sensor with said threshold value set by said threshold value setting means, and outputting a binary signal in accordance with the comparison result; and initial value setting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting an initial value of said peak hold means and an initial value of said bottom hold means which is different from said initial value of said peak hold means by decreasing said bottom value of said bottom hold means and increasing said peak value of said peak hold means when a power supply is turned on.

Claim 7

An MRE sensor signal detector comprising: peak hold means for receiving and holding a peak value of an output signal from an MRE sensor; bottom hold means for receiving and holding a bottom value of said output signal from said MRE sensor; threshold value setting means, coupled to said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting a threshold value related to a combination of said peak value held by said peak hold means and said bottom value held by said bottom hold means; comparison means, coupled to said threshold value setting means, for comparing said output signal from said MRE sensor with said threshold value set by said threshold value setting means, and outputting a binary signal in accordance with the comparison result; and initial value setting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting an initial value of said peak hold means and an initial value of said bottom hold means which is different from said initial value of said peak hold means by decreasing said bottom value of said bottom hold means and increasing said peak value of said peak hold means when a power supply is turned on.

Claim 8

An MRE sensor signal detector according to claim 5, further comprising: edge detection means, coupled with said comparison means, for detecting a rise or a fall of said output signal from said MRE sensor, and wherein said peak hold means and said bottom hold means are controlled by an output signal of said edge detection means.

Claim 9

An MRE sensor signal detector according to claim 6, further comprising: peak value resetting means, coupled with said edge detection means, for resetting said peak value of said peak hold means each time said edge detection means detects a decrease in said output signal from said MRE sensor and a bottom value resetting means, coupled with said edge detection means for resetting said bottom value of said bottom hold means each time said edge detection means detects an increase in said output signal from said MRE sensor.

Claim 10

An MRE sensor signal detector according to claim 5, wherein said threshold value set by said threshold value setting means is reset on each increase or decrease of said output signal from said MRE sensor.

Claim 11

An MRE sensor signal detector according to claim 5, wherein said threshold value set by said threshold value setting means is updated each time said output signal from said MRE sensor passes said peak value or said bottom value thereof.

Claim 12

An MRE sensor signal detector comprising: peak hold means for holding a peak value of an output signal from an MRE sensor; bottom hold means for holding a bottom value of said output signal from said MRE sensor; threshold value setting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting a threshold value related to a combination of said peak value and said bottom value; comparison means, coupled to said threshold value setting means, for comparing said output signal from said MRE sensor with said threshold value, and for outputting a binary signal in accordance with the comparison result; and hold inhibiting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for inhibiting peak holding by said peak hold means when said bottom hold means is holding said bottom value and a difference between said output signal from said MRE and said bottom value does not exceed a predetermined value, said hold inhibiting means inhibiting bottom holding by said bottom hold means when said peak hold means is holding said peak value and a difference between said output signal from said MRE and the peak value does not exceed a predetermined value.

Claim 13

An MRE sensor signal detector comprising: peak hold means for holding a peak value of an output signal from an MRE sensor; bottom hold means for holding a bottom value of said output signal from said MRE sensor; threshold value setting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting a threshold value related to a combination of said peak value and said bottom value; comparison means, coupled to said threshold value setting means, for comparing said output signal from said MRE sensor with said threshold value, and for outputting a binary signal in accordance with the comparison result; and hold inhibiting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for inhibiting peak holding by said peak hold means when said bottom hold means is holding said bottom value and a difference between said output signal from said MRE and said bottom value does not exceed a predetermined value, said hold inhibiting means inhibiting bottom holding by said bottom hold means when said peak hold means is holding said peak value and a difference between said output signal from said MRE and the peak value does not exceed a predetermined value.

Claim 14

An MRE sensor signal detector comprising: peak hold means for holding a peak value of an output signal from an MRE sensor; bottom hold means for holding a bottom value of said output signal from said MRE sensor; threshold value setting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting a threshold value related to a combination of said peak value and said bottom value; and comparison means, coupled with said threshold value setting means, for comparing said output signal from said MRE sensor with said threshold value, and outputting a binary signal in accordance with a result of said comparison; wherein each of said peak hold means and said bottom hold means comprises: an operational amplifier having an output terminal connected to said threshold value setting means; a holding capacitor connected to an input terminal of said operational amplifier; an analog switch having a first terminal connected to said input terminal of said operational amplifier, and having a second terminal connected to said MRE sensor; and a CMOS comparator having a first input terminal connected to an output of said operational amplifier, having a second terminal connected to said MRE sensor, and having an output connected to a control terminal of said analog switch to control said analog switch for outputting a result of said comparison.

Claim 15

An MRE sensor signal detector comprising: peak hold means for holding a peak value of an output signal from an MRE sensor; bottom hold means for holding a bottom value of said output signal from said MRE sensor; threshold value setting means, coupled with said peak hold means and said bottom hold means, for setting a threshold value related to a combination of said peak value and said bottom value; and comparison means, coupled with said threshold value setting means, for comparing said output signal from said MRE sensor with said threshold value, and outputting a binary signal in accordance with a result of said comparison; wherein each of said peak hold means and said bottom hold means comprises: an operational amplifier having an output terminal connected to said threshold value setting means; a holding capacitor connected to an input terminal of said operational amplifier; an analog switch having a first terminal connected to said input terminal of said operational amplifier, and having a second terminal connected to said MRE sensor; and a CMOS comparator having a first input terminal connected to an output of said operational amplifier, having a second terminal connected to said MRE sensor, and having an output connected to a control terminal of said analog switch to control said analog switch for outputting a result of said comparison.

Claim 16

An MRE sensor signal detector according to claim 10, wherein said CMOS comparator includes an offsetting means for offsetting a potential of said second terminal of said CMOS comparator to compensate for an offset of said CMOS comparator.