| Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 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 |
