Abstract: A switching arrangement around a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element can provide a normal mode configuration responsive to magnetic fields at some times, and at least one of a first and a second self-test mode configuration not responsive to a magnetic field but simulating a magnetic field at other times. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: Presented is a sensor that includes a magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device to sense a magnetic field and to produce an AC signal voltage proportional to the sensed magnetic field. The sensor also includes circuitry, coupled to the MR sensing device, to remove DC offset from the AC signal voltage. The DC offset may be related to the hysteresis characteristics of the MR sensing device. To remove DC offset, the circuitry may obtain an averaged DC offset and subtract the averaged DC offset from the AC signal voltage to produce a sensor output signal.

Abstract: Circuits and methods use a feedback arrangement to select one or more measuring devices from a plurality of measuring devices in order to rapidly identify a direction of a sensed parameter. In some embodiments, the plurality of measuring devices corresponds to a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and the sensed parameter is a magnetic field.

Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field sensing element output signal in response to a magnetic field. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a threshold control node configured to receive a control signal from outside of the integrated magnetic field sensor, wherein the integrated magnetic field sensor is configured to provide an adjustable threshold signal in response to the control signal. The integrated magnetic field sensor also includes a comparator having a first input node coupled to receive a first signal representative of the magnetic field sensing element output signal, a second input node coupled to receive a second signal representative of the adjustable threshold signal, and an output node at which is generated an output signal responsive to the first and second signals.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a reference-field-sensing circuit channel that allows a calibration or a self-test of the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a reference magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.

Abstract: A circuit for driving an LED load with a controllable converter includes a control circuit configured to turn off the converter in response to a PWM signal having a first level and to turn on the converter in response to the PWM signal having a second level. A load disconnect switch coupled in series with the LED load is also controlled by the PWM signal so that the load disconnect switch is opened when the PWM signal turns off the converter to thereby open the load current path.

Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object has a calibration time period that ends when peak detectors in the circuit stop updating for a predetermined amount of time. A method associated with the circuit is also described.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting object movement includes one or more predetermined threshold detectors, one or more tracking threshold detectors, and an output selector to generate an output signal related to at least one of an output of a predetermined threshold detector or an output of a tracking threshold detector based on a predetermined condition. A method of detecting object movement includes generating: a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object, a tracking signal to track peaks of the magnetic field signal, a predetermined threshold output signal responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a predetermined threshold, and a tracking threshold output signal responsive to the magnetic field signal and to the tracking signal, and providing an output signal related to a selected one of the predetermined threshold output signal or the tracking threshold output signal based upon a predetermined condition.

Abstract: A differential magnetic field sensor that enables operation that is independent of sensor-to-target orientation is presented. The differential magnetic field sensor is provided with at least two differential channels. Each differential channel includes a pair of magnetic field sensing elements and has a respective sensing axis defined by those magnetic field sensing elements. The sensing axes are not aligned with respect to each other. One sensing axis is positioned relative to a reference axis of a target profile to define an orientation angle between the sensing axis and the reference axis. The differential magnetic field sensor includes circuitry to produce differential signals associated with the differential channels and use those differential signals to produce a single differential signal having an amplitude that is independent of the orientation angle.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes circuit portions for identifying a largest voltage drop through one of a plurality of series connected diode strings and for controlling a boost switching regulator according to the largest voltage drop. The electronic circuit can sense an open circuit series connected diode string, which would otherwise have the largest voltage drop, and can disconnect that open circuit series connected diode string from control of the boost switching regulator. Another electronic circuit includes a current limiting circuit coupled to or within a boost switching regulator and configured to operate with a diode load. Another electronic circuit includes a pulse width modulation circuit configured to dim a series connected string of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: Presented is a sensor that includes a magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device to sense a magnetic field and to produce an AC signal voltage proportional to the sensed magnetic field. The sensor also includes circuitry, coupled to the MR sensing device, to remove DC offset from the AC signal voltage. The DC offset may be related to the hysteresis characteristics of the MR sensing device. To remove DC offset, the circuitry may obtain an averaged DC offset and subtract the averaged DC offset from the AC signal voltage to produce a sensor output signal.

Abstract: A circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element and an associated method provide a plurality of output signals from a respective plurality of vertical Hall elements in the CVH sensing element at the same time.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a plurality of sensing elements configured to generate a plurality of sensing element signals. The electronic circuit also includes a control signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals. The electronic circuit also includes a combining circuit. The combining circuit includes a plurality of switching circuits. Each switching circuit is configured to generate a respective switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensing element signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. The combining circuit also includes a summing circuit coupled to receive the switching circuit output and configured to generate a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals.

Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A sensor having a power management mechanism controlled by an external trigger signal is presented. The sensor includes a magnetic field signal generating circuit and a control circuit coupled to the magnetic field signal generating circuit. The control circuit, responsive to an externally generated trigger signal, initiates a supply current pulse that activates the magnetic field signal generating circuit for a predetermined time interval.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control loop circuit for use in a closed-loop control system that controls a system such as a linear motor is presented. The control loop circuit includes a lead-lag compensator that features a lead compensation network configured to reduce output noise without substantially changing the effect of the lead compensation in the control system's frequency response.

Abstract: In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. In another aspect, a circuit includes an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to a first input of an amplifier to maintain operability of a current regulator circuit. The adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system includes electrical components arranged in a daisy chain that include a first electrical component disposed at a first end of the daisy chain and a second electrical component disposed at an opposite end of the daisy chain than the first end. Each of the first and second electrical components includes an input port, an output port and a common port. The input port of the first electrical component is coupled to one of a supply voltage port or ground and the common ports of the first and second electrical components are coupled to the other one of the supply voltage or the ground. An address of the second electrical component is determined before addresses of the other of the electrical components are determined, and the addresses determine a position of an electrical component with respect to the other of the electrical components.