Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for determining a position of a magnet, the position identified by one or more position variables can include: one or more magnetic field sensing element operable to generate one or more magnetic field measurements of the magnet and an associated one or more measured magnetic field variable values; a first module for identifying calculated magnetic field variable values associated with a plurality of positions of the magnet; a second module operable to perform an optimization process to determine a value of a distance function, the distance function using the one or more measured magnetic field variable values and the calculated magnetic field variable values; and a third module operable to determine the position of the magnet by associating the value of the distance function with corresponding values of the one or more position variables. A complimentary method can be used in the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal; a measured threshold module configured to generate a measured threshold signal in accordance with positive peaks and negative peaks of the magnetic field signal; a memory device coupled to receive and configured to store, at each one of a plurality of storage times, a respective value of the measured threshold signal; a threshold module coupled to receive from the memory device, at a calculation time, a stored value of the measured threshold signal and configured to generate a calculated threshold value; and a comparison circuit coupled to receive the calculated threshold value and to receive the magnetic field signal. The comparison circuit is configured to compare the calculated threshold value with the magnetic field signal to generate an output signal. A corresponding method is associated with the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for magnetic field sensors with self-test include a detection circuit to detect speed and direction of a target. One or more circuits to test accuracy of the detected speed and direction may be included. One or more circuits to test accuracy of an oscillator may also be included. One or more circuits to test the accuracy of an analog-to-digital converter may also be included. Additionally, one or more IDDQ and/or built-in-self test (BIST) circuits may be included.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for magnetic field sensors with self-test include a detection circuit to detect speed and direction of a target. One or more circuits to test accuracy of the detected speed and direction may be included. One or more circuits to test accuracy of an oscillator may also be included. One or more circuits to test the accuracy of an analog-to-digital converter may also be included. Additionally one or more IDDQ and/or built-in-self test (BEST) circuits may be included.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining a position of a gear shift lever of a vehicle. A ferromagnetic target object having selected characteristics influences a magnetic field generated by a back bias magnet. A magnetic field sensor includes magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the target object. Each magnetic field sensing element generates an electronic signal in response to sensed magnetic fields. The gear shift lever moves among a plurality of gears of the vehicle. The magnetic field sensor selects a set of the magnetic field sensing elements to determine a magnetic field difference based on a difference of amplitudes between the electronic signals that is related to a current position of the gear shift lever. Characteristics of the target object enable the magnetic field sensor to detect the position of the gear shift lever. The characteristics include edges proximate to a perimeter of the target object.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor operates as a motion detector for sensing a movement of a ferromagnetic target object having features. The magnetic field sensor has a plurality of magnetoresistance elements to generate, in a first channel, a feature signal indicative of a proximity of a feature of a ferromagnetic target object and, in a second channel, an edge signal indicative of a proximity of an edge of a feature of a ferromagnetic target object.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a magnetic target include a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements arranged about a central point. Each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is configured to measure a magnetic field produced by a magnetic target and provide a respective output signal that represents a respective measurement of a strength of the magnetic field. A processor circuit is coupled to receive the output signal from each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and determine a barycenter of the measurements of the magnetic field based on a position of the magnetic field sensing elements.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes magnetic field sensing elements to generate at least two phase-separated magnetic field signals and a processor including a vector angle generator to generate vector angle values as a function of the magnetic field signals and a vector angle comparator to generate a comparator output signal indicative of a difference between a plurality of vector angle values. An output signal generator responsive to the comparator output signal is configured to generate a sensor output signal indicative of a one or more conditions of motion of the object including: an absence of normal rotation, a direction change, and a vibration. In some embodiments, the vector angle comparator may generate a comparator output signal indicative of a comparison of a vector angle value and one or more threshold values. In this case, the output signal generator may be configured to generate a sensor output signal indicative of a speed of motion and/or a position of the object.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for providing information about a target based on pulse widths. The information can be provided in a formatted output signal which uses a pulse width protocol to code information by varying amplitudes and widths of successive pulses in an output signal pulse train portion. The method includes detecting a first feature of the target and in response to detecting the first feature, generating an output signal pulse train portion comprising two or more pulses with at least two of the pulses having different amplitudes and each of the two or more pulses having a width corresponding to a logic value. The widths of the two or more pulses in the output signal pulse train portion can be measured in response to the detected first feature reaching a first amplitude threshold, whereby the widths can correspond to different logic values.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor operates as a motion detector for sensing a movement of a ferromagnetic target object having features. The magnetic field sensor has a plurality of magnetoresistance elements to generate, in a first channel, a feature signal indicative of a proximity of a feature of a ferromagnetic target object and, in a second channel, an edge signal indicative of a proximity of an edge of a feature of a ferromagnetic target object.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor and associated method provide an output signal with first and second different pulses with first and second different pulse widths indicative of first and second different directions of rotation of a moving target. The magnetic field sensor also includes third pulses with an identifiable encoding to indicate when a signature region in the moving target proximate to the magnetic field sensor passes by the magnetic field sensor. The third pulses each comprise respective state transitions and each comprise respective pulse widths with respective fixed predetermined time durations.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a comparator coupled to receive a calculated threshold value based upon a temperature signal, a stored value of a temperature coefficient signal, and a stored value of a measure threshold signal, and also coupled to receive a signal representative of a magnetic field signal. The comparator is configured to compare the calculated threshold value with the signal representative of the magnetic field signal to generate an output signal. A corresponding method is associated with the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor that provides target speed and direction detection that is independent of sensor-to-target orientation includes at least three differential channels, each responsive to a pair of magnetic field sensing elements to generate a respective magnetic field channel signal. A combining element is configured to generate a combined signal based on the first, second, and third magnetic field channel, signals and control circuitry responsive to the combined signal and to at least one of the first, second, and third magnetic field channel signals generates a sensor output signal that indicative of target speed and direction.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a magnetic field sensor has a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element with a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed over a common implant region in a substrate. The magnetic field sensor generates output signals responsive to a magnetic field generated by a multi-pole magnet having a plurality of north poles and also a plurality of south poles. An angle sensor generates an angle signal representative of an angle of a direction component of the magnetic field. A pole pair counter generates a count signal representative of a count of a number of the pole pairs of the multi-pole magnet that move past the CVH sensing element. An angle interpolation module generates a reconstructed angle signal representative of an angular position of the multi-pole magnet relative to the CVH sensing element based upon the count signal and the angle signal. Corresponding methods are also described.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor that provides target speed and direction detection that is independent of sensor-to-target orientation includes at least three differential channels, each responsive to a pair of magnetic field sensing elements to generate a respective magnetic field channel signal. A combining element is configured to generate a combined signal based on the first, second, and third magnetic field channel, signals and control circuitry responsive to the combined signal and to at least one of the first, second, and third magnetic field channel signals generates a sensor output signal that indicative of target speed and direction.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a magnetic field sensor has a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element with a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed over a common implant region in a substrate. The magnetic field sensor generates output signals responsive to a magnetic field generated by a multi-pole magnet having a plurality of north poles and also a plurality of south poles. An angle sensor generates an angle signal representative of an angle of a direction component of the magnetic field. A pole pair counter generates a count signal representative of a count of a number of the pole pairs of the multi-pole magnet that move past the CVH sensing element. An angle interpolation module generates a reconstructed angle signal representative of an angular position of the multi-pole magnet relative to the CVH sensing element based upon the count signal and the angle signal. Corresponding methods are also described.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor has a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element with a plurality of vertical Hall elements disposed over a common implant region in a substrate. The plurality of vertical Hall elements is disposed in an x-y plane. The magnetic field sensor is responsive to a magnetic field generated by a multi-pole magnet having a plurality of north poles and also a plurality of south poles arranged in a plane parallel to the x-y plane, and, in some embodiments, arranged in the x-y plane. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: 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.