Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140292247 | System and Method for Serial Communication by an Electronic Circuit - A motor driver includes at least two terminals suitable for being coupled to a motor controller and to receive a motor command signal and transmit a motor status signal when the motor driver is controlling a motor. A serial data communication circuit may be configured to send and receive serial data over the at least two terminals when the at least two terminals are idle. | 10-02-2014 |
20140266323 | Systems and Methods for Driving a Load Under Various Power Conditions - An electronic circuit for driving an electronic switch includes a first voltage terminal coupled to receive a first voltage from a power supply and a second voltage terminal coupled to receive a second voltage from the power supply. A driver circuit is configured to drive the voltage at a control terminal of the electronic switch to an intermediate voltage level in order to turn on the electronic switch during a high or normal voltage condition. A clamp circuit is configured to clamp the voltage at the control terminal of the electronic switch to the second voltage terminal in order to turn on the electronic switch during a low voltage condition, so that the electronic switch can enhance power provided to a load during the low voltage condition. A low voltage detection circuit detects the low voltage condition and provides a signal to activate the clamp circuit. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266181 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING AN EXTERNALLY ACCESSIBLE COIL - Methods and apparatus for magnetic field sensor having a sensing element, an analog circuit path coupled to the sensing element for generating an output voltage in response to a magnetic field applied to the sensing element, and a coil in proximity to the sensing element, the coil having a first terminal that is accessible external to the magnetic field sensor. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264678 | PACKAGING FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - In one aspect, a method includes processing a metal substrate, performing a first etch on a first surface of the metal substrate to form, for an integrated circuit package, secondary leads and a curved component having two primary leads and performing a second etch, on a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface, at locations on the secondary leads and locations on the curved component to provide a locking mechanism. Each primary lead located at a respective end of the curved component. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264667 | Vertical Hall Effect Element With Structures to Improve Sensitivity - A vertical Hall Effect element includes one or more of: a low voltage P-well region disposed at a position between pickups of the vertical Hall Effect element, Light-N regions disposed under the pickups, a pre-epi implant region, or two epi regions to result in an improved sensitivity of the vertical Hall Effect element. A method results in the vertical Hall Effect element having the improved sensitivity. | 09-18-2014 |
20140176126 | Magnetic Field Sensor Arrangements and Associated Methods - Magnetic field sensor arrangements and methods provide a magnetic field sensor positioned proximate to a magnet with an axis of sensitivity aligned relative to the magnet in orientations that provide a good sensitivity and a mechanical difference from other arrangements. | 06-26-2014 |
20140062365 | Electronic Circuit and Method for Detecting a Zero Current in a Winding of an Electric Motor - A motor control circuit and associated techniques detect a zero crossing of a current in a motor winding by detecting a revers current in a half bridge circuit used to drive the motor winding. | 03-06-2014 |
20140062358 | Electronic Circuit and Method for Automatically Adjusting a Phase of a Drive Signal Applied to an Electric Motor in Accordance with a Zero Current Detected in a Winding of the Electric Motor - A motor control circuit and associated techniques can adjust a phase of a motor drive to keep a rotational reference position of an electric motor at the same relative phase as a zero current in a motor winding at different motor speeds and as the motor accelerates and decelerates. In some embodiments, a particular circuit and technique can be used to detect the zero current in the motor winding. | 03-06-2014 |
20140055064 | Systems and Methods for Controlling Motor Speeds - Electronic circuits for controlling the speed of a motor include a receiving node coupled to receive a speed command signal representative of a desired final speed of the motor. A speed control circuit applies a selected amount of power to a motor to allow a speed of the motor to approach a predetermined final speed, where the selected amount of power provided is based on the desired final speed of the motor. A signal represents the speed of the motor and a feedback circuit uses the signal to regulate the speed of the motor by phase-locking the speed of the motor to the speed command signal once the speed of the motor falls within a predetermined threshold of the final speed. Methods for controlling the speed of a motor are also disclosed. | 02-27-2014 |
20140055051 | LED Driver Having Priority Queue to Track Dominant LED Channel - An electronic circuit for driving a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) channels coupled to a common voltage node includes a priority queue for tracking a dominant LED channel. A queue manager may be provided to keep the priority queue updated during LED drive operations based on operating conditions associated with the LED channels. | 02-27-2014 |
20140055045 | DC-DC Converter Using Hysteretic Control and Associated Methods - A control circuit used to control a DC-DC converter includes a duty cycle control unit to control a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter and a hysteretic control unit to maintain a voltage at an output of the DC-DC converter within a narrow range during certain operational time periods. The hysteretic control unit may maintain the converter output voltage within the range by alternately enabling and disabling the duty cycle control unit based on feedback from the DC-DC converter output. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit is used within LED driver circuitry for driving a plurality of LED channels. | 02-27-2014 |
20140028290 | Circuits and Techniques for Adjusting a Sensitivity of a Closed-Loop Current Sensor - A closed loop current sensor has a primary conductor and a plurality of secondary conductors. Selected ones of the plurality of secondary conductors are selected and driven in a feedback loop. | 01-30-2014 |
20130342273 | Electronic Circuit for Adjusting an Offset of a Differential Amplifier - An electronic circuit has a differential amplifier with a differential transistor pair having two transistors. The electronic circuit also has two digital-to-analog converters, a respective one of the two digital-to-analog converters coupled to each respective one of the two transistors. Control bits adjust the DACs to provide an offset voltage adjustment of the differential amplifier. | 12-26-2013 |
20130335868 | Method and Apparatus to Improve ESD Robustness of Power Clamps - A power clamp circuit having improved robustness to electrostatic discharge (ESD) events includes a voltage regulation circuit and a current controlled switch. The voltage regulation circuit and the current controlled switch may be used to modify a snapback voltage of the power clamp in a manner that enhances the power clamp's ability to handle ESD events. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335074 | Magnetic Field Sensors and Related Techniques That Can Provide Self-Test Information - Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the object, DC offset values of the proximity signal, or threshold values related to an amplitude of a signal representative of the proximity signal to identify the conditions. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335069 | Magnetic Field Sensors and Related Techniques That Can Provide Self-Test Information in a Formatted Output Signal - A magnetic field sensor can provide an output signal indicative of a passing condition or a failing condition of the magnetic field sensor. The output signal has one of a variety of output signal formats. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335068 | Magnetic Field Sensors And Related Techniques That Can Provide A Self-Test Using Signals And Related Thresholds - Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the object, DC offset values of the proximity signal, or threshold values related to an amplitude of a signal representative of the proximity signal to identify the conditions. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335067 | Magnetic Field Sensors And Related Techniques That Can Provide An Output Signal Capable Of Being Diagnosed - Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the object, DC offset values of the proximity signal, or threshold values related to an amplitude of a signal representative of the proximity signal to identify the conditions. | 12-19-2013 |
20130320970 | GEAR TOOTH SENSOR WITH PEAK AND THRESHOLD DETECTORS - Presented herein is a magnetic field sensor architecture that uses outputs of a peak detector and threshold detector operating in parallel to detect magnetic anomalies that may be associated with the target being sensed, e.g., a rotational ferromagnetic object such as a toothed gear, and use such detection to prevent sensor malfunction. The sensor includes an edge detection circuit and an error detection circuit. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit includes circuits to detect edges (or transitions) of the threshold and peak detector output signals and the error detection circuit includes circuits, responsive to the edge detection circuit, to indicate an error when a “missed transition” occurs or a peak-to-peak value of an input signal as detected by the peak detector for a current cycle differs from an expected peak-to-peak value by a predetermined amount. | 12-05-2013 |
20130320941 | Magnetic Field Sensor with Improved Sensitivity to Magnetic Fields - A magnetic field sensor has internal power supply generating circuits to generate a higher operating voltage for a magnetic field sensing element, resulting in a magnetic field sensor with improved sensitivity to magnetic fields. | 12-05-2013 |
20130314836 | Transistor Overcurrent Detection - Circuits and methods for overcurrent fault detection using a debounce timer to qualify the presence of an overcurrent fault based on an overcurrent signal being asserted for at least a predetermined time interval. The debounce timer may be used in conjunction with state-qualified fault sensing and/or blank-time-qualified fault sensing. | 11-28-2013 |
20130300406 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING INTEGRATED COIL - Methods and apparatus for a magnetic field sensor including a die, a coil proximate the die to generate a magnetic field, and a magnetic field sensing element having to detect changes in the magnetic field generated by the coil in response to a ferromagnetic target. | 11-14-2013 |
20130293220 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC SENSORS HAVING HIGHLY UNIFORM MAGNETIC FIELDS - Methods and apparatus for a magnetic sensor including an elliptical magnet to generate substantially circular concentric zones of similar flux density in a plane over and parallel to a surface of the magnet. The sensor can include a sensing element disposed a selected distance from the magnet and a substrate containing circuitry to process a signal from the sensing element to provide a sensor output. | 11-07-2013 |
20130267043 | Magnetic Field Sensors and Methods for Fabricating the Magnetic Field Sensors - Magnetic field sensors and associated methods of manufacturing the magnetic field sensors include molded structures to encapsulate a magnetic field sensing element and an associated die attach pad of a lead frame and to also encapsulate or form a magnet or a flux concentrator. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265041 | HIGH ACCURACY DIFFERENTIAL CURRENT SENSOR FOR APPLICATIONS LIKE GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTERS - A sensor with multiple magnetic field sensing elements for use in current sensing and other applications is presented. In one configuration, the sensor can obtain differential and absolute current measurements of current in current-carrying conductors. When employed in a ground fault interrupter (GFI) application, a first magnetic field sensing element can be used to measure the absolute current flowing in the phase conductor (phase current), a second magnetic field sensing element can be used to measure the absolute current flowing in the neutral conductor (neutral current) and a difference between the phase and neutral currents can be measured by a third magnetic field sensing element or determined from measurements of the first and second magnetic field sensing elements. In another configuration, the sensor can obtain a measure of the difference between currents and/or the sum of currents in current-carrying conductors. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265037 | ANGLE SENSOR WITH MISALIGNMENT DETECTION AND CORRECTION - An angle sensor to provide sensor-to-magnet misalignment detection and correction capability in rotation angle measurement applications is presented. The angle sensor has magnetic field sensing elements to sense magnetic field associated with a rotating magnet. The angle sensor includes circuitry to generate signals based on the sensing by the sensing elements. The signals provide information that can be combined according to an error function to provide misalignment detection. The angle sensor can be used with or can be incorporated in an angle measurement device that employs a processing unit to produce a rotation angle value. In one embodiment, the processing unit is configured to implement the error function and correct the angle value for detected misalignment. In another embodiment, the error function is performed by a programming device and detected misalignment is corrected through mechanical adjustment of sensor-to-magnet position. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265036 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR HAVING MULTIPLE SENSING ELEMENTS FOR MISALIGNMENT DETECTION AND CORRECTION IN CURRENT SENSING AND OTHER APPLICATIONS - A sensor with multiple magnetic field sensing elements for use in current sensing and other applications is presented. The sensor includes an arrangement of two or more magnetic field sensing elements to sense magnetic field associated with a target. The sensor further includes circuitry to generate a sensor output signal based on sensing of at least one of the magnetic field sensing elements of the arrangement. Also included is a programmable misalignment adjustment block to control the circuitry to generate the output signal with compensation for misalignment between the sensor and the target. The programmable misalignment adjustment block can be programmed to select measurement of one of the two or more magnetic field sensing elements, or alternatively, a mathematical combination of measurements of the two or more magnetic field sensing elements, for generating the sensor output signal when a test of the sensor indicates a misalignment. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264667 | Magnetic Field Sensors and Methods for Fabricating the Magnetic Field Sensors - Magnetic field sensors and associated methods of manufacturing the magnetic field sensors include molded structures to encapsulate a magnetic field sensing element and an associated die attach pad of a lead frame and to also encapsulate or form a magnet or a flux concentrator. | 10-10-2013 |
20130249544 | Magnetic Field Sensor Integrated Circuit with Integral Ferromagnetic Material - A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die supporting a magnetic field sensing element, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and a portion of the lead frame, a ferromagnetic mold material secured to the non-conductive mold material and a securing mechanism to securely engage the mold materials. The ferromagnetic mold material may comprise a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator or a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet. The ferromagnetic mold material may be tapered and includes a non-contiguous central region, as may be an aperture or may contain the non-conductive mold material or an overmold material. Further embodiments include die up, lead on chip, and flip-chip arrangements, wafer level techniques to form the concentrator or bias magnet, integrated components, such as capacitors, on the lead frame, and a bias magnet with one or more channels to facilitate overmolding. | 09-26-2013 |
20130249027 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE HAVING A SPLIT LEAD FRAME - A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame having a plurality of leads, at least two of which have a connection portion and a die attach portion. A semiconductor die is attached to the die attach portion of the at least two leads. The sensor further includes at least one wire bond coupled between the die and a first surface of the lead frame. The die is attached to a second, opposing surface of the lead frame in a lead on chip configuration. In some embodiments, at least one passive component is attached to the die attach portion of at least two leads. | 09-26-2013 |
20130242447 | Method and Apparatus To Detect A Broken Wire Condition in an Integrated Circuit - An integrated circuit includes circuitry to sense the occurrence of a break in a ground connection and/or supply connection and to indicate same to an exterior environment. In at least one implementation, the break may be indicated by providing a signal on an output terminal of the device that is not associated with a normal output of the device. | 09-19-2013 |
20130238278 | Magnetic Field Sensor for Sensing Rotation of an Object - A magnetic field sensor uses an angle sensor to measure and angle of rotation of a target object to which a magnet is attached. The angle sensor in combination with electronics can generate an angle sensor output signal related to a direction of a magnetic field of the magnet. The angle sensor output signal can be compared to thresholds to generate a magnetic field sensor output signal the same as a known true power on state (TPOS) sensor output signal. A corresponding method is also described. | 09-12-2013 |
20130214774 | Circuits And Methods Using Adjustable Feedback For Self-Calibrating Or Self-Testing A Magnetic Field Sensor With An Adjustable Time Constant - A magnetic field sensor includes a reference-field-sensing circuit channel that allows a self-test or a self-calibration of the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor. The self-test or the self calibration can have at least two different bandwidths that provide a respective at least two different rates of self-test or self-calibration. | 08-22-2013 |
20130181304 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING NON-CONDUCTIVE DIE PADDLE - Methods and apparatus to provide an integrated circuit package having a conductive leadframe, a non-conductive die paddle mechanically coupled to the leadframe, and a die disposed on the die paddle and electrically connected to the leadframe. With this arrangement, eddy currents are reduced near the magnetic field transducer to reduce interference with magnetic fields. | 07-18-2013 |
20130179115 | Systems and Methods That Use Magnetic Field Sensors to Identify Positions of a Gear Shift Lever - A system and an associated method provide an ability to sense, with a magnetic field sensor, a position of a plurality of gears (and neutral) selected by a gear shift lever of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the system and method use a ferromagnetic target having features, positions of which can be sensed by the magnetic field sensor. In other embodiments, the system and method use a magnet having features and characteristics that can be sensed by the magnetic field sensor. | 07-11-2013 |
20130177040 | Magnetic Field Sensor and Associated Method That Can Establish a Measured Threshold Value and That Can Store the Measured Threshold Value in a Memory Device - A magnetic field sensor includes a true power on state (TPOS) detector for which a measured threshold value is stored prior to power down and recalled upon power up. A corresponding method is associated with the magnetic field sensor. | 07-11-2013 |
20130176012 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPLY VOLTAGE TRANSIENT PROTECTION - Methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit that includes a supply voltage transient detection module to activate a hold signal that causes the output to remain in its present state. In one embodiment, the output remains in that state until the supply voltage returns to a normal operating range and the hold signal transitions to an inactive state. | 07-11-2013 |
20130162152 | CIRCUITRY TO DRIVE PARALLEL LOADS SEQUENTIALLY - In one aspect, a circuit includes a plurality of comparators. Each comparator is configured to receive a first input from a corresponding load of a plurality of loads and to receive a second input as a regulation voltage. The circuit also includes an amplifier configured to receive signals provided by the plurality of comparators, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit configured to receive a control signal from the amplifier and to provide a signal to a primary switch to control voltage provided to the loads and an output switch sequencer coupled to each of the comparators and configured to provide control signals to control switches coupled to the primary switch enabling one control switch to be active at a time. Each control switch provides a voltage increase to a respective load of the plurality of loads if enabled. | 06-27-2013 |
20130116945 | CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR FAULT TESTING - An integrated circuit sensor includes circuitry and methods for generating a high speed delay fault test clock signal. A trimmable oscillator generates a master clock signal for use by an output protocol processor to provide the sensor output signal. A fault test clock signal generator is responsive to the master clock signal and to a test trigger signal for generating the test clock signal having a launch pulse and a capture pulse, each having edges substantially coincident with like edges of pulses of the master clock signal and a spacing between launch and capture pulses established by the trimmable master clock signal. | 05-09-2013 |
20130099706 | Motor Control Circuit And Method That Synchronize A Speed Of An Electric Motor To An External Clock Signal - Motor control circuits and associated methods to control an electric motor provide an ability to synchronize a rotational speed of the electric motor with an external clock signal, resulting in reduced jitter in the rotational speed of the electric motor. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099704 | Motor Control Circuit And Method That Reduce Speed Jitter Of An Electric Motor - Motor control circuits and associated methods to control an electric motor provide a plurality of drive signal channels at the same phase, resulting in reduced jitter in the rotational speed of the electric motor. | 04-25-2013 |
20130080087 | Circuits and Methods for Processing Signals Generated by a Plurality of Magnetic Field Sensing Elements - Circuits and methods provide an ability to track a direction of a magnetic field, and, more particular, to track a direction of a rapidly rotating magnetic field. The circuits and methods use a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements, for example, as may be embodied in a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element. However, the circuits and methods can track the direction of the sensed magnetic field by processing at any time fewer than all of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements, for example, one or two of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements. | 03-28-2013 |
20130057257 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING ELEMENT COMBINING A CIRCULAR VERTICAL HALL MAGNETIC FIELD SENSING ELEMENT WITH A PLANAR HALL ELEMENT - A magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and at least one planar Hall element. The CVH sensing element has contacts arranged over a common implant region in a substrate. In some embodiments, the at least one planar Hall element is formed as a circular planar Hall (CPH) sensing element also having contacts disposed over the common implant region. A CPH sensing element and a method of fabricating the CPH sensing element are separately described. | 03-07-2013 |
20130046488 | Circuits and Methods for Automatically Adjusting a Magnetic Field Sensor in Accordance with a Speed of Rotation Sensed by the Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor and a method used therein provide a measured signal representative of an angular speed of rotation of a target object. The magnetic field sensor, in accordance with the measured speed of rotation, can automatically change various characteristics of the magnetic field sensor. | 02-21-2013 |
20130032909 | HALL EFFECT ELEMENT HAVING A WIDE CROSS SHAPE WITH DIMENSIONS SELECTED TO RESULT IN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS - A Hall effect element includes a Hall plate having geometric features selected to result in a highest ratio of a sensitivity divided by a plate resistance. The resulting shape is a so-called “wide-cross” shape. | 02-07-2013 |
20130020660 | Reinforced Isolation for Current Sensor with Magnetic Field Transducer - A current sensor packaged in an integrated circuit package to include a magnetic field sensing circuit, a current conductor and an insulator that meets the safety isolation requirements for reinforced insulation under the UL 60950-1 Standard is presented. The insulator is provided as an insulation structure having at least two layers of thin sheet material. The insulation structure is dimensioned so that plastic material forming a molded plastic body of the package provides a reinforced insulation. According to one embodiment, the insulation structure has two layers of insulating tape. Each insulating tape layer includes a polyimide film and adhesive. The insulation structure and the molded plastic body can be constructed to achieve at least a 500 VRMS working voltage rating. | 01-24-2013 |
20130015843 | CURRENT SENSOR WITH CALIBRATION FOR A CURRENT DIVIDER CONFIGURATIONAANM Doogue; Michael C.AACI ManchesterAAST NHAACO USAAGP Doogue; Michael C. Manchester NH USAANM Milano; Shaun D.AACI ConcordAAST NHAACO USAAGP Milano; Shaun D. Concord NH US - An integrated circuit (IC) current sensor that self-calibrates to adjust its signal gain when employed in a current divider configuration is presented. The current sensor includes an integrated current conductor, a magnetic field transducer, a controllable gain stage and a calibration controller. The integrated current conductor is adapted to receive a portion of a calibration current. The calibration current corresponds to a full scale current. The magnetic field transducer, responsive to the calibration current portion, provides a magnetic field signal having a magnitude proportional to a magnetic field generated by the calibration current portion. The controllable gain stage is configured to amplify the magnetic field signal with an adjustable gain to provide an amplified magnetic field signal. The calibration controller is responsive to a calibration command signal to adjust the adjustable gain of the controllable gain stage to a calibrated gain in order to provide the amplified magnetic field signal at a predetermined voltage level that corresponds to a desired current sensor output signal voltage level if the full scale current were received by the integrated current conductor. | 01-17-2013 |
20130009638 | Apparatus And Method For Reducing A Transient Signal In A Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor. | 01-10-2013 |
20130009578 | ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT AND METHOD GENERATING ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE SIGNALS HAVING PHASE ADVANCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH A USER SELECTED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ROTATIONAL SPEED OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND THE PHASE ADVANCES - An electronic circuit and an associated method used to drive an electric motor provide a user selectable relationship between rotational speed of the electric motor and phase advances of signals used to drive the electric motor. By selecting the relationship, efficiency of the electric motor drive can be improved. | 01-10-2013 |
20130009557 | Electronic Circuits and Techniques for Improving a Short Duty Cycle Behavior of a DC-DC Converter Driving a Load - An electronic circuit, referred to as an on-time extension circuit herein, provides an ability to adjust a power delivered to a load by pulsing a predetermined current to the load. The on time of the a DC-DC converter used to provide the power iS extended to be longer than the on time of the current pulse when the on time of the current pulses becomes very short. | 01-10-2013 |
20130009556 | Electronic Circuits and Techniques for Maintaining a Consistent Power Delivered to a Load - Circuits and methods used therein provide an adjustable average current through a load in accordance with a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal. A condition detection circuit is configured to identify a condition of the electronic circuit and to generate a condition signal indicative of the condition. A current extension circuit is coupled receive the condition signal and coupled to receive the PWM signal. The current extension circuit is configured to generate, at the output node of the current extension circuit, an extended PWM signal having a first state and a second state. The first state of the extended PWM signal longer in time than a first state of the PWM signal by an amount related to a value or a state of the condition signal. Current pulses through the load are extended to be longer in accordance with the extended PWM signal. | 01-10-2013 |
20120313636 | HYSTERESIS OFFSET CANCELLATION FOR MAGNETIC SENSORS - Presented is a sensor that includes a magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device to sense a magnetic field and to produce an AC signal voltage proportional to the sensed magnetic field. The sensor also includes circuitry, coupled to the MR sensing device, to remove DC offset from the AC signal voltage. The DC offset may be related to the hysteresis characteristics of the MR sensing device. To remove DC offset, the circuitry may obtain an averaged DC offset and subtract the averaged DC offset from the AC signal voltage to produce a sensor output signal. | 12-13-2012 |
20120313635 | ARRANGEMENTS FOR SELF-TESTING A CIRCULAR VERTICAL HALL (CVH) SENSING ELEMENT AND/OR FOR SELF-TESTING A MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR THAT USES A CIRCULAR VERTICAL HALL (CVH) SENSING ELEMENT - A switching arrangement around a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element can provide a normal mode configuration responsive to magnetic fields at some times, and at least one of a first and a second self-test mode configuration not responsive to a magnetic field but simulating a magnetic field at other times. A corresponding method is also described. | 12-13-2012 |
20120299588 | Circuits and Methods for Processing a Signal Generated by a Plurality of Measuring Devices - Circuits and methods use a feedback arrangement to select one or more measuring devices from a plurality of measuring devices in order to rapidly identify a direction of a sensed parameter. In some embodiments, the plurality of measuring devices corresponds to a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and the sensed parameter is a magnetic field. | 11-29-2012 |
20120280681 | Magnetic Field Sensor Having A Control Node To Receive A Control Signal To Adjust A Threshold - An integrated magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field sensing element output signal in response to a magnetic field. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a threshold control node configured to receive a control signal from outside of the integrated magnetic field sensor, wherein the integrated magnetic field sensor is configured to provide an adjustable threshold signal in response to the control signal. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a comparator having a first input node coupled to receive a first signal representative of the magnetic field sensing element output signal, a second input node coupled to receive a second signal representative of the adjustable threshold signal, and an output node at which is generated an output signal responsive to the first and second signals. | 11-08-2012 |
20120274314 | Circuits and Methods for Self-Calibrating or Self-Testing a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a reference-field-sensing circuit channel that allows a calibration or a self-test of the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a reference magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274228 | ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR DRIVING A DIODE LOAD - A circuit for driving an LED load with a controllable converter includes a control circuit configured to turn off the converter in response to a PWM signal having a first level and to turn on the converter in response to the PWM signal having a second level. A load disconnect switch coupled in series with the LED load is also controlled by the PWM signal so that the load disconnect switch is opened when the PWM signal turns off the converter to thereby open the load current path. | 11-01-2012 |
20120262155 | Magnetic Field Sensor That Provides an Output Signal Representative of an Angle of Rotation and a Speed of Rotation of a Target Object - A magnetic field sensor and a method used therein provide an output signal in angle units representative of an angle of rotation of a target of and also an output signal in speed units representative of a speed of rotation of the target object. A power control circuit can cycle a magnetic field sensor on and off in accordance with a sensed rotation speed of the object. | 10-18-2012 |
20120249133 | DIFFERENTIAL MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR STRUCTURE FOR ORIENTATION INDEPENDENT MEASUREMENT - A differential magnetic field sensor that enables operation that is independent of sensor-to-target orientation is presented. The differential magnetic field sensor is provided with at least two differential channels. Each differential channel includes a pair of magnetic field sensing elements and has a respective sensing axis defined by those magnetic field sensing elements. The sensing axes are not aligned with respect to each other. One sensing axis is positioned relative to a reference axis of a target profile to define an orientation angle between the sensing axis and the reference axis. The differential magnetic field sensor includes circuitry to produce differential signals associated with the differential channels and use those differential signals to produce a single differential signal having an amplitude that is independent of the orientation angle. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249126 | CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR MOTION DETECTION - A circuit for detecting object movement includes one or more predetermined threshold detectors, one or more tracking threshold detectors, and an output selector to generate an output signal related to at least one of an output of a predetermined threshold detector or an output of a tracking threshold detector based on a predetermined condition. A method of detecting object movement includes generating: a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object, a tracking signal to track peaks of the magnetic field signal, a predetermined threshold output signal responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a predetermined threshold, and a tracking threshold output signal responsive to the magnetic field signal and to the tracking signal, and providing an output signal related to a selected one of the predetermined threshold output signal or the tracking threshold output signal based upon a predetermined condition. | 10-04-2012 |
20120218018 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SIGNALS GENERATED BY A PLURALITY OF SENSORS - An electronic circuit includes a plurality of sensing elements configured to generate a plurality of sensing element signals. The electronic circuit also includes a control signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals. The electronic circuit also includes a combining circuit. The combining circuit includes a plurality of switching circuits. Each switching circuit is configured to generate a respective switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensing element signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. The combining circuit also includes a summing circuit coupled to receive the switching circuit output and configured to generate a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals. | 08-30-2012 |
20120217955 | Circular Vertical Hall Magnetic Field Sensing Element and Method With a Plurality of Continuous Output Signals - A circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and an associated method provide a plurality of output signals from a respective plurality of vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element at the same time. | 08-30-2012 |
20120181939 | Electronic Circuits For Driving Series Connected Light Emitting Diode Strings - Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes. | 07-19-2012 |
20120158335 | Systems and Methods for Synchronizing Sensor Data - A magnetic field sensor including a bidirectional node is configured to perform at least one of generating sensor data, storing sensor data, or communicating sensor data in a serial data signal in response to a trigger signal received at the bidirectional node. An alternative sensor having a node that may or may not be a bidirectional node is configured to reset at least one of a sensor data signal, a clock, a register, or a counter in response to a trigger signal received at the node and is further configured to communicate the sensor data signal in response to the trigger signal. | 06-21-2012 |
20120146570 | CLOSED-LOOP MOTOR DRIVER COMPENSATION - A control loop circuit for use in a closed-loop control system that controls a system such as a linear motor is presented. The control loop circuit includes a lead-lag compensator that features a lead compensation network configured to reduce output noise without substantially changing the effect of the lead compensation in the control system's frequency response. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146541 | CIRCUITRY TO CONTROL A SWITCHING REGULATOR - In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. | 06-14-2012 |
20120131231 | DETERMINING ADDRESSES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ARRANGED IN A DAISY CHAIN - In one aspect, a system includes electrical components arranged in a daisy chain that include a first electrical component disposed at a first end of the daisy chain and a second electrical component disposed at an opposite end of the daisy chain than the first end. Each of the first and second electrical components includes an input port, an output port and a common port. The input port of the first electrical component is coupled to one of a supply voltage port or ground and the common ports of the first and second electrical components are coupled to the other one of the supply voltage or the ground. An address of the second electrical component is determined before addresses of the other of the electrical components are determined, and the addresses determine a position of an electrical component with respect to the other of the electrical components. | 05-24-2012 |
20120086444 | Apparatus and Method for Reducing a Transient Signal in a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086442 | Magnetic Field Sensor and Method Used in a Magnetic Field Sensor that Adjusts a Sensitivity and/or an Offset Over Temperature - A magnetic field sensor and a method associated with the magnetic field sensor provide gain correction coefficients and/or offset correction coefficients stored in the magnetic field sensor in digital form. The gain correction coefficients and/or offset correction coefficients can be used to generate analog control signals to control a sensitivity and/or an offset of an analog signal path through the magnetic field sensor. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086414 | TV Set Top Box with an Improved Ability to Survive a Transient Signal - A set top box used in a satellite TV system includes a diode coupled in a particular way to better protect an adjustable linear regulator used in the set top box from transient voltages as may result from lighting or the like. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086090 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PASSIVE ATTACHMENT OF COMPONENTS FOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - Methods and apparatus provide a sensor including a component coupled to the leadframe such that the component is an integrated part of the IC package. | 04-12-2012 |
20120025817 | Magnetic Field Sensor with Improved Differentiation Between a Sensed Magnetic Field Signal and a Noise Signal - A magnetic field sensor includes a Hall element configured to generate a Hall element output signal in response to a magnetic field, the Hall element output signal comprising a magnetic field signal component and an offset signal component. The magnetic field sensor also includes a Hall element modulation circuit coupled to receive the Hall element output signal and configured to generate a modulation circuit output signal. The Hall element modulation circuit is modulated with a modulation signal having a changing modulation frequency that changes between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency. | 02-02-2012 |
20120014682 | HALL-EFFECT BASED LINEAR MOTOR CONTROLLER - A linear motion control device for use in a linear control system is presented. The linear motion control device includes a coil driver to drive a coil that, when driven, effects a linear movement by a motion device having a magnet. The linear motion control device also includes a magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field associated with the linear movement and an interface to connect an output of the magnetic field sensor and an input of the coil driver to an external controller. The interface includes a feedback loop to relate the magnetic field sensor output signal to the coil driver input. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013333 | Magnetic Field Sensors and Methods for Fabricating the Magnetic Field Sensors - Magnetic field sensors and associated methods of manufacturing the magnetic field sensors include molded structures to encapsulate a magnetic field sensing element and an associated die attach pad of a lead frame and to also encapsulate or form a magnet or a flux concentrator. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013327 | TWO-TERMINAL LINEAR SENSOR - A magnetic field sensor includes a linear magnetic field sensor to produce a voltage proportional to a sensed magnetic field and an interface having only two terminals for external connections. The two terminals of the interface include a power supply terminal and a ground terminal. The interface includes a voltage-controlled current generating device that is connected between the two terminals and is controlled by the voltage to provide a current signal that is proportional to the sensed magnetic field. | 01-19-2012 |
20120008929 | HALL-EFFECT BASED LINEAR MOTOR CONTROLLER - A linear motion control device for use in a linear control system is presented. The linear motion control device includes a coil driver to drive a coil that, when driven, effects a linear movement by a motion device having a magnet. The linear motion control device also includes a magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field associated with the linear movement and an interface to connect an output of the magnetic field sensor and an input of the coil driver to an external controller. The interface includes a feedback loop to relate the magnetic field sensor output signal to the coil driver input. | 01-12-2012 |
20110298450 | Circuits and Methods for Generating a Threshold Signal Used in a Motion Detector - A circuit to detect a movement of an object provides a threshold selection module that uses one or more threshold signals identified prior to a present cycle of magnetic field signal in order to establish a threshold signal used for a present cycle of the magnetic field signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described. | 12-08-2011 |
20110298449 | Motion Sensor, Method, and Computer-Readable Storage Medium Providing a Motion Sensor with a Validated Output Signal From the Motion Sensor - A motion sensor has an output protocol processor configured to provide a validated output signal after a determined time period, wherein the determined time period is extended if a vibration is detected. | 12-08-2011 |
20110298448 | Motion Sensor, Method, and Computer-Readable Storage Medium Providing a Motion Sensor That Can Rapidly Calibrate Gains - A motion sensor has a channel amplitude difference processor configured to adjust gains of two channels to bring a gain of a one channel toward a gain of the other channel when a gain mismatch is detected. | 12-08-2011 |
20110298447 | Motion Sensor, Method, and Computer-Readable Storage Medium Providing a Motion Sensor with a State Processor Having a Reduced Amount of State Chatter - A motion sensor has a state processor to identify states associated with a magnetic field signal provided by a magnetic field sensing element. The state processor includes a state peak logic module configured to generate states that have a reduced amount of state chatter. | 12-08-2011 |
20110248708 | METHODS FOR AN ANALOG ROTATIONAL SENSOR HAVING MAGNETIC SENSOR ELEMENTS - Methods for providing a magnetic sensor, including providing a signal generation module, providing an analog signal processing module for providing an algebraic manipulation of the first waveform and the second waveform to generate a linear position output voltage signal, and providing a signal inversion module coupled to the signal generation module. | 10-13-2011 |
20110221518 | SWITCHED CAPACITOR NOTCH FILTER WITH FAST RESPONSE TIME - A switched capacitor notch filter for sampling an input signal using multiple sampling capacitors during multiple non-overlapping time periods. The charge from one set of sampling capacitors is averaged and transferred to the filter output during one non-overlapping time and the charge from another set of sampling capacitors is averaged and transferred to the filter output during a second non-overlapping time period. | 09-15-2011 |
20110204460 | Integrated Hall Effect Element Having a Germanium Hall Plate - An integrated circuit and a method of making the integrated circuit provide a Hall effect element having a germanium Hall plate. The germanium Hall plate provides an increased electron mobility compared with silicon, and therefore, a more sensitive Hall effect element. | 08-25-2011 |
20110133732 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED FREQUENCY RESPONSE OF MAGNETIC SENSORS - Methods and apparatus for providing an integrated circuit package device, comprising a conductive leadframe, a magnetic sensor element disposed on the leadframe, wherein the leadframe includes a slot configuration to reduce eddy current flow about the magnetic sensor, the slot configuration including a first slot generally perpendicular to a second slot, wherein the first slot extends under the sensor element. | 06-09-2011 |
20110121825 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AN ANALOG ROTATIONAL SENSOR HAVING MAGNETIC SENSOR ELEMENTS - A sensor includes a magnetic position sensing element to generate angular position information, a first signal generator, a second signal generator, a first inverter to invert the first waveform for providing a first inverted waveform and a second inverter to invert the second waveform for providing a second inverted waveform, wherein the first and second waveforms are inverted about an offset voltage, and an analog signal processing module to generate a linear output signal from the first waveform, the second waveform, the first inverted waveform, and the second inverted waveform. | 05-26-2011 |
20110074405 | Magnetic Field Sensor with Automatic Sensitivity Adjustment - Magnetic field sensors have a magnetic field sensing element and also a feedback circuit to provide a gain-adjustment signal to affect a sensitivity associated with the magnetic field sensing element. In some arrangements, the feedback circuit can include piezoresistors to sense a strain of a substrate over which the magnetic field sensor is disposed. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed strain. In other arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate pulsed magnetic fields proximate to the magnetic field sensing element in order to directly measure the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensing element. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed sensitivity. | 03-31-2011 |
20110018533 | Circuits and Methods for Generating a Diagnostic Mode of Operation in a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive. | 01-27-2011 |
20100330708 | METHODS FOR MULTI-STAGE MOLDING OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE - Methods for providing an integrated circuit using a multi-stage molding process to protect wirebonds. In one embodiment, a method includes attaching a die to a leadframe having a lead finger, attaching a wirebond between the die and the leadfinger, applying a first mold material over at least a portion of the wirebond and the die and the leadfinger to form an assembly, waiting for the first mold material to at least partially cure, and applying a second mold material over the assembly. | 12-30-2010 |
20100283458 | MATCHING OF GMR SENSORS IN A BRIDGE - A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device includes MR elements electrically connected to form a bridge circuit and one or more non-functional (or “dummy”) MR elements for improved matching of the bridge circuit MR elements. | 11-11-2010 |
20100237450 | Arrangements For An Integrated Sensor - An integrated circuit can have a first substrate supporting a magnetic field sensing element and a second substrate supporting another magnetic field sensing element. The first and second substrates can be arranged in a variety of configurations. Another integrated circuit can have a first magnetic field sensing element and second different magnetic field sensing element disposed on surfaces thereof. | 09-23-2010 |
20100181997 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR AN ANALOG ROTATIONAL SENSOR HAVING MAGNETIC SENSOR ELEMENTS - A sensor includes a signal generation module including a magnetic sensor to provide position information for generating first and second waveforms corresponding to the position information. An analog signal processing module provides an algebraic manipulation of a subset of the first waveform, the second waveform, a first inverted waveform, and a second inverted waveform, to generate a linear output signal. | 07-22-2010 |
20100072922 | ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT FOR DRIVING A DIODE LOAD - An electronic circuit includes circuit portions for identifying a largest voltage drop through one of a plurality of series connected diode strings and for controlling a boost switching regulator according to the largest voltage drop. The electronic circuit can sense an open circuit series connected diode string, which would otherwise have the largest voltage drop, and can disconnect that open circuit series connected diode string from control of the boost switching regulator. Another electronic circuit includes a current limiting circuit coupled to or within a boost switching regulator and configured to operate with a diode load. Another electronic circuit includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to dim a series connected string of light emitting diodes. | 03-25-2010 |
20100013467 | ROTATION SENSOR - A rotation sensor includes a detecting portion, a rotational state determining portion and a pulse generating portion. The detecting portion detects a rotation of a rotational member and outputs a detection signal. The rotational state determining portion determines a rotational state of the rotational member on the basis of the detection signal in a predetermined period. The pulse generating portion generates and outputs a first pulse and a second pulse, of which waveforms differ from each other, in response to a rotational direction of the rotational member after the predetermined period. The pulse generating portion further generates and outputs a third pulse regardless of the rotational state of the rotational member in the predetermined period. | 01-21-2010 |