Patents by Inventor Florian Kulla

Florian Kulla has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11385075
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an orientation insensitive speed sensor. Magnetic field sensing elements can be located on a circle, for example, to generate first and second channel signals which can be combined to generate an output signal. The location of the magnetic field sensing elements reduces the effects of stray fields. Embodiments can include true power own state processing to determine target position during start up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Yannick Vuillermet, Florian Kulla
  • Publication number: 20220107369
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes one or more magnetic field sensing elements configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field associated with the object and a detector configured to generate a comparison signal having edges occurring in response to a comparison of the magnetic field signal and a threshold signal and occurring at a rate corresponding to a speed of motion of the object. A speed monitor responsive to the comparison signal is configured to generate a speed signal having a value indicative of the speed of motion of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Florian Kulla, Andrea Foletto
  • Patent number: 11294000
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes one or more magnetic field sensing elements configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field associated with the object and a detector configured to generate a comparison signal having edges occurring in response to a comparison of the magnetic field signal and a threshold signal and occurring at a rate corresponding to a speed of motion of the object. A speed monitor responsive to the comparison signal is configured to generate a speed signal having a value indicative of the speed of motion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Florian Kulla, Andrea Foletto
  • Patent number: 11125837
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the magnetic field signal into a digital magnetic field signal, and a controller responsive to the digital magnetic field signal and configured to adjust an offset of the digital magnetic field signal during a first operational phase and to increase a gain of the digital magnetic field signal during a second operational phase following the first operational phase. The first and second operational phases occur during a running mode of sensor operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Florian Kulla
  • Publication number: 20210262831
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an orientation insensitive speed sensor. Magnetic field sensing elements can be located on a circle, for example, to generate first and second channel signals which can be combined to generate an output signal. The location of the magnetic field sensing elements reduces the effects of stray fields. Embodiments can include true power own state processing to determine target position during start up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Yannick Vuillermet, Florian Kulla
  • Publication number: 20210215775
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the magnetic field signal into a digital magnetic field signal, and a controller responsive to the digital magnetic field signal and configured to adjust an offset of the digital magnetic field signal during a first operational phase and to increase a gain of the digital magnetic field signal during a second operational phase following the first operational phase. The first and second operational phases occur during a running mode of sensor operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Florian Kulla
  • Patent number: 10845214
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including at least one magnetoresistance element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target having features and spaced from the at least one magnetoresistance element by an airgap. The sensor includes a detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold level to generate a sensor output signal containing transitions, each transition associated with a feature of the target and occurring in response to the magnetic field signal crossing the threshold level. The sensor includes a threshold generator configured to generate the threshold level having a rising threshold level limit and a falling threshold level limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Allego MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Florian Kulla, Cédric Gillet
  • Publication number: 20200340833
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including at least one magnetoresistance element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target having features and spaced from the at least one magnetoresistance element by an airgap. The sensor includes a detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold level to generate a sensor output signal containing transitions, each transition associated with a feature of the target and occurring in response to the magnetic field signal crossing the threshold level. The sensor includes a threshold generator configured to generate the threshold level having a rising threshold level limit and a falling threshold level limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Florian Kulla, Cédric Gillet
  • Patent number: 10690731
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target and a detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold level to generate a sensor output signal containing transitions associated with features of the target in response to the magnetic field signal crossing the threshold level further includes a threshold generator to generate an adaptive threshold. The threshold generator is configured to generate the threshold level to achieve a predetermined fixed hard offset and that adapts with a variation in the airgap in order to minimize an error between times or angles of the transitions of the sensor output signal over the variation in the airgap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Florian Kulla
  • Publication number: 20200103474
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target and a detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold level to generate a sensor output signal containing transitions associated with features of the target in response to the magnetic field signal crossing the threshold level further includes a threshold generator to generate an adaptive threshold. The threshold generator is configured to generate the threshold level to achieve a predetermined fixed hard offset and that adapts with a variation in the airgap in order to minimize an error between times or angles of the transitions of the sensor output signal over the variation in the airgap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Florian Kulla