Patents Assigned to Allegro Microsystems Inc.
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Patent number: 10088533Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing circuit and a power driving circuit disposed upon or within a common substrate. A method of powering on and off a load uses the above integrated magnetic field sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, Inc.Inventors: Manuel Rivas, Gerardo A. Monreal, Christine M. Graham, Eric G. Shoemaker
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Publication number: 20140292247Abstract: A motor driver includes at least two terminals suitable for being coupled to a motor controller and to receive a motor command signal and transmit a motor status signal when the motor driver is controlling a motor. A serial data communication circuit may be configured to send and receive serial data over the at least two terminals when the at least two terminals are idle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Chee-Kiong Ng, Christopher Alger, Timothy Reynolds
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Publication number: 20140266323Abstract: An electronic circuit for driving an electronic switch includes a first voltage terminal coupled to receive a first voltage from a power supply and a second voltage terminal coupled to receive a second voltage from the power supply. A driver circuit is configured to drive the voltage at a control terminal of the electronic switch to an intermediate voltage level in order to turn on the electronic switch during a high or normal voltage condition. A clamp circuit is configured to clamp the voltage at the control terminal of the electronic switch to the second voltage terminal in order to turn on the electronic switch during a low voltage condition, so that the electronic switch can enhance power provided to a load during the low voltage condition. A low voltage detection circuit detects the low voltage condition and provides a signal to activate the clamp circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: James McIntosh, Christy Looby
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Publication number: 20140264667Abstract: A vertical Hall Effect element includes one or more of: a low voltage P-well region disposed at a position between pickups of the vertical Hall Effect element, Light-N regions disposed under the pickups, a pre-epi implant region, or two epi regions to result in an improved sensitivity of the vertical Hall Effect element. A method results in the vertical Hall Effect element having the improved sensitivity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Yigong Wang, Richard B. Cooper
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Publication number: 20140264678Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: SHIXI LOUIS LIU, Harianto Wong, Paul David, John B. Sauber, Shaun D. Milano, Raguvir Kanda, Bruce Hemenway
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Publication number: 20140266181Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Shaun D. Milano, Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor
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Publication number: 20140176126Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Nicolas Yoakim, Andrea Foletto
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Publication number: 20140055051Abstract: An electronic circuit for driving a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) channels coupled to a common voltage node includes a priority queue for tracking a dominant LED channel. A queue manager may be provided to keep the priority queue updated during LED drive operations based on operating conditions associated with the LED channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Pranav Raval, Gregory Szczeszynski, David Toebes
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Publication number: 20140055064Abstract: Electronic circuits for controlling the speed of a motor include a receiving node coupled to receive a speed command signal representative of a desired final speed of the motor. A speed control circuit applies a selected amount of power to a motor to allow a speed of the motor to approach a predetermined final speed, where the selected amount of power provided is based on the desired final speed of the motor. A signal represents the speed of the motor and a feedback circuit uses the signal to regulate the speed of the motor by phase-locking the speed of the motor to the speed command signal once the speed of the motor falls within a predetermined threshold of the final speed. Methods for controlling the speed of a motor are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventor: Chee-Kiong Ng
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Publication number: 20140055045Abstract: A control circuit used to control a DC-DC converter includes a duty cycle control unit to control a duty cycle of the DC-DC converter and a hysteretic control unit to maintain a voltage at an output of the DC-DC converter within a narrow range during certain operational time periods. The hysteretic control unit may maintain the converter output voltage within the range by alternately enabling and disabling the duty cycle control unit based on feedback from the DC-DC converter output. In at least one embodiment, the control circuit is used within LED driver circuitry for driving a plurality of LED channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Pranav Raval, Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem Alnahas
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Publication number: 20130335868Abstract: A power clamp circuit having improved robustness to electrostatic discharge (ESD) events includes a voltage regulation circuit and a current controlled switch. The voltage regulation circuit and the current controlled switch may be used to modify a snapback voltage of the power clamp in a manner that enhances the power clamp's ability to handle ESD events.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Washington Lamar, Maxim Klebanov
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Publication number: 20130335068Abstract: Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the object, DC offset values of the proximity signal, or threshold values related to an amplitude of a signal representative of the proximity signal to identify the conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2012Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Daniel S. Dwyer, Christine Graham, P. Karl Scheller
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Publication number: 20130320970Abstract: Presented herein is a magnetic field sensor architecture that uses outputs of a peak detector and threshold detector operating in parallel to detect magnetic anomalies that may be associated with the target being sensed, e.g., a rotational ferromagnetic object such as a toothed gear, and use such detection to prevent sensor malfunction. The sensor includes an edge detection circuit and an error detection circuit. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit includes circuits to detect edges (or transitions) of the threshold and peak detector output signals and the error detection circuit includes circuits, responsive to the edge detection circuit, to indicate an error when a “missed transition” occurs or a peak-to-peak value of an input signal as detected by the peak detector for a current cycle differs from an expected peak-to-peak value by a predetermined amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Michael Morris, Mathew Drouin, Devon Fernandez, Andreas P. Friedrich, P. Karl Scheller
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Publication number: 20130265036Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto, P. Karl Scheller, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
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Publication number: 20130265037Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto, P. Karl Scheller, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
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Publication number: 20130267043Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Virgil Ararao, Nirmal Sharma, Raymond W. Engel, Jay Gagnon, John B. Sauber, William P. Taylor, Elsa Kam-Lum
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Publication number: 20130265041Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2012Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto, P. Karl Scheller, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
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Publication number: 20130264667Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Virgil Ararao, Nirmal Sharma, Raymond W. Engel, Jay Gagnon, John B. Sauber, William P. Taylor, Elsa Kam-Lum
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Publication number: 20130242447Abstract: An integrated circuit includes circuitry to sense the occurrence of a break in a ground connection and/or supply connection and to indicate same to an exterior environment. In at least one implementation, the break may be indicated by providing a signal on an output terminal of the device that is not associated with a normal output of the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Franco Noel Martin Pirchio, Cory Voisine, Hernan D. Romero, Gerardo Monreal
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Publication number: 20130162152Abstract: In one aspect, a circuit includes a plurality of comparators. Each comparator is configured to receive a first input from a corresponding load of a plurality of loads and to receive a second input as a regulation voltage. The circuit also includes an amplifier configured to receive signals provided by the plurality of comparators, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit configured to receive a control signal from the amplifier and to provide a signal to a primary switch to control voltage provided to the loads and an output switch sequencer coupled to each of the comparators and configured to provide control signals to control switches coupled to the primary switch enabling one control switch to be active at a time. Each control switch provides a voltage increase to a respective load of the plurality of loads if enabled.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2011Publication date: June 27, 2013Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.Inventors: Nai-Chi Lee, Gregory Szczeszynski, Vijay Mangtani