Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080297138 | CURRENT SENSOR - An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and a substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field sensing elements, with the first surface being proximate to the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor position. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit in a flip-chap arrangement. The current sensor can also include an electromagnetic shield disposed between the current conductor portion and the magnetic field sensing elements. | 12-04-2008 |
20080315865 | LOW POWER MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR - A magnetic field sensor for low power applications includes a magnetic field sensing element that, during sample intervals, provides a signal proportional to a sensed magnetic field and also includes a comparator circuit that, during the sample intervals, compares the magnetic field signal to threshold levels to generate a sensor output signal indicative of a strength of the magnetic field. According to a dual sample rate feature, initially the magnetic field signal is sampled at a first predetermined sample rate and, following detection of a transition of the sensor output signal, is sampled at a second, faster predetermined sample rate for a predetermined interval. According to a user-programmable sample rate feature, a user may select to operate the sensor at a fixed, predetermined sample rate or at a user-specified sample rate. The magnetic field sensor may also or alternatively detect the speed and/or direction of rotation of a rotating magnetic article. | 12-25-2008 |
20090039807 | MOTOR CONTROLLER - In one aspect, a control circuit to control a speed of a motor includes a PWM oscillator configured to generate a PWM output signal having a duty cycle. The speed of the motor is controlled by the PWM output signal to be proportional to the duty cycle. The control circuit also includes a duty cycle control circuit responsive to a duty cycle selection signal and coupled to the PWM oscillator. The duty cycle control circuit is configured to compare a voltage reference and a supply voltage. The duty cycle control circuit controls the duty cycle of the PWM output signal to be inversely proportional to the supply voltage. | 02-12-2009 |
20090058412 | Integrated Current Sensor - An integrated current sensor includes a current conductor, a magnetic field transducer, and an electromagnetic shield. The magnetic field transducer includes a sensor die. The electromagnetic shield is disposed proximate to the sensor die. The electromagnetic shield has at least one feature selected to reduce an eddy current in the electromagnetic shield | 03-05-2009 |
20090102464 | 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. | 04-23-2009 |
20090102469 | Methods and Apparatus for Vibration Detection - Apparatus for detecting vibration of an object adapted to rotate includes one or more vibration processors selected from: a direction-change processor adapted to detect changes in a direction of rotation of the object, a direction-agreement processor adapted to identify a direction of rotation of the object in at least two channels and identify an agreement or disagreement in direction of rotation identified by the at least two channels, a phase-overlap processor adapted to identify overlapping signal regions in signals associated with the rotation of the object, and a running mode processor adapted to identify an unresponsive output signal from at least one of the at least two channels. A method for detecting the vibration of the object includes generating at least one of a direction-change output signal with the direction-change processor, a direction-agreement output signal with the direction-agreement processor, a phase-overlap output signal with the phase-overlap processor, and a running-mode-vibration output signal with the running-mode processor, each indicative of the vibration the object. | 04-23-2009 |
20090153137 | Methods and Apparatus for Vibration Detection - Apparatus for detecting vibration of an object adapted to rotate includes one or more vibration processors selected from: a direction-change processor adapted to detect changes in a direction of rotation of the object, a direction-agreement processor adapted to identify a direction of rotation of the object in at least two channels and identify an agreement or disagreement in direction of rotation identified by the at least two channels, a phase-overlap processor adapted to identify overlapping signal regions in signals associated with the rotation of the object, and a running mode processor adapted to identify an unresponsive output signal from at least one of the at least two channels. A method for detecting the vibration of the object includes generating at least one of a direction-change output signal with the direction-change processor, a direction-agreement output signal with the direction-agreement processor, a phase-overlap output signal with the phase-overlap processor, and a running-mode-vibration output signal with the running-mode processor, each indicative of the vibration the object. | 06-18-2009 |
20090212765 | 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. | 08-27-2009 |
20090295368 | ARRANGEMENTS FOR A CURRENT SENSING CIRCUIT AND INTEGRATED CURRENT SENSOR - An electronic circuit for sensing a current includes a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces and a current conductor for carrying the current. The current conductor includes a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board. The electronic circuit also includes an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board at a position so as to straddle the current conductor. | 12-03-2009 |
20100001715 | FOLDING CURRENT SENSOR - The invention provides a current sensor that may be folded over a conductor without the need to sever the conductor or thread the conductor through the current sensor. In one embodiment, the current sensor includes an outer body having a first folding portion and a second folding portion coupled to the first folding portion. The current sensor also includes a soft ferromagnetic body disposed within the outer body comprising a first core element and a second core element. The first and second core elements form a lumen when the first and second folding portions are folded. The lumen is configured to receive a conductor. The current sensor also includes a magnetic field detector to sense a current in the conductor. The magnetic field detector is disposed at least partially between the first and second core elements when the first and second folding portions are folded. | 01-07-2010 |
20100026289 | Electronic Circuit Configured to Reset a Magnetoresistance Element - An electronic circuit includes a magnetoresistance element for providing an output signal proportional to a magnetic field. The magnetoresistance element also has a hysteresis characteristic. The electronic circuit also includes at least one of a reset conductor or a bias conductor disposed proximate to the magnetoresistance element. For embodiments having a reset conductor, the electronic circuit is configured to generate a reset current carried by the reset conductor in response to the comparison. In response to the reset current, the reset conductor is configured to generate a reset magnetic field at the magnetoresistance element to temporarily force the magnetoresistance element to a saturation region of the hysteresis characteristic. | 02-04-2010 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20130134965 | Circuits and Methods for Generating a Self-Test of a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation. | 05-30-2013 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20130277782 | 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. | 10-24-2013 |
20130277783 | 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. | 10-24-2013 |
20130335066 | 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. | 12-19-2013 |
20140084400 | 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. | 03-27-2014 |
20140139213 | Systems and Methods for Detection of Magnetic Fields - Apparatuses for detecting the strength of magnetic fields may include a first magnetic field detection circuit that produces a first signal indicating a strength of a magnetic field, and a second magnetic field detection circuit that can be turned on and off, and produces a second signal indicating the strength of the magnetic field. A control circuit may be configured to determine whether the first signal indicates a change greater than a predetermined amount in the strength of the magnetic field. If the change is greater than the predetermined amount, the control circuit may turn on the second magnetic field detection circuit. The control circuit may turn off the second magnetic field detection circuit to conserve power if the strength of the magnetic field is relatively stable. Methods for detecting the strength of the magnetic field are also disclosed. | 05-22-2014 |
20140184200 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR A CURRENT SENSOR HAVING FAULT DETECTION AND SELF TEST FUNCTIONALITY - Methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit having a magnetic sensing element, a fault detection module including circuitry to detect a fault condition and to self-test operation of the circuitry to detect the fault. The integrated circuit includes a fault pin to indicate the fault condition. | 07-03-2014 |
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 |
20140312883 | Circuits and Methods for Generating a Self-Test of a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation. | 10-23-2014 |