Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
20090039820 | MOTOR CONTROLLER HAVING A MULTIFUNCTION PORT - In one aspect, a control circuit to control a speed of a motor includes a control logic circuit connected to a multifunction port. The control logic circuit is configured to receive a control signal provided at the multifunction port and to provide response signals based on the control signal to place the motor in at least two of a sleep mode, a brake mode and a pulse-width modulation (PWM) mode. The motor control circuit also includes an H-bridge circuit configured to control the motor based on the response signals. | 02-12-2009 |
20090085558 | 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. | 04-02-2009 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
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 |
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 |
20150185279 | Methods and Apparatus for Sensor Diagnostics Including Programmable Self-Test Signals - Methods and apparatus to provide an integrated circuit having a magnetic sensing element and fault detection module coupled to the sensing element, the fault detection module including circuitry to detect a fault condition and to self-test operation of the circuitry for detecting the fault condition. In illustrative embodiments, a fault pin indicates the fault condition. | 07-02-2015 |
20150185293 | Methods and Apparatus for Sensor Diagnostics - Methods and apparatus for providing an integrated circuit having a drive current source, a magnetic sensing element coupled to the drive current source, the magnetic sensing element having first and second differential outputs, and first and second current elements to provide respective currents in relation to the drive current source, wherein the first current element is coupled to the first differential output and the second current element is coupled to the second differential output. In illustrative embodiments, an IC output can output a voltage corresponding to the currents of the first and second current elements. | 07-02-2015 |