Abstract: A sensor, comprising: a magnetic field sensing module that is configured to generate a plurality of signals, each signal indicating a magnetic flux density of a different component of a magnetic field that is produced by a magnetic field source; a processing circuitry that is configured to: receive the plurality of signals from the magnetic field sensing module; evaluate a neural network based on the plurality of signals to obtain a plurality of probabilities, each of the plurality of probabilities indicating a likelihood of the magnetic field source being positioned in a different one of a plurality of positional domains; generate an output signal based on the plurality of probabilities, the output signal encoding an identifier of a current positional domain of the magnetic field source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining the temperature of a pixel array. In embodiments, a first pixel in a pixel array is reverse-biased and a second pixel in the pixel array is forward-biased. A voltage for the second pixel can be measured to determine a temperature of the pixel array from the measured voltage for the second pixel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for extracting temperature information for an array from a signal through first and second contacts based on temperature dependent properties of the a PN junction. An example method includes connecting first and second PN junctions to a bias source to reverse bias the first and second PN junctions, connecting a first contact to the first PN junction, connecting a second contact to N type material forming a junction with P type material of the first PN junction, and extracting temperature information for the first PN junction from a signal through the first and second contacts based on temperature dependent properties of the first PN junction.

Abstract: A system and a method can use a magnetic field sensor to measure rotation angles of a ferromagnetic object in the form of a screw having screw threads. The magnetic field sensor can use a plurality of correction coefficients to improve an accuracy of the measured rotation angles of the ferromagnetic object. The magnetic field sensor can be disposed to a side of the screw.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for open loop startup of a three-phase motor that reduces acoustic noise. During rotor alignment of the motor, there is a maximum level for a phase current to the motor. After the rotor alignment, open loop motor startup is performed during which the phase current has a first slope. At a selected time, such as when a frequency of the phase current reaches a first threshold, the phase current transitions to a second slope.

Abstract: A system and a method can use a magnetic field sensor to measure rotation angles of a ferromagnetic object in the form of a screw having screw threads. The magnetic field sensor can use a plurality of correction coefficients to improve an accuracy of the measured rotation angles of the ferromagnetic object. The magnetic field sensor can be disposed to a side of the screw.

Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage regulator includes a divider coupled to the regulated output voltage to generate a divided voltage having a value that is a fraction of the regulated output voltage, an ADC responsive to the divided voltage to generate a feedback control signal, a digital compensator responsive to the feedback control signal and to a feedforward control signal scaled by a feedforward gain value to generate a compensator signal, and a pulse width modulator responsive to the compensator signal to generate a voltage control signal to control a switch of the voltage regulator. The digital compensator includes a register configured to store a value indicative of the input voltage and a feedforward gain unit configured to generate the feedforward gain value in response to the value indicative of the input voltage. In embodiments, the feedforward gain value is generated in response to the square of the value indicative of the input voltage.

Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic-field sensor includes main coil circuitry configured to generate a first magnetic-field signal at a first frequency; a first channel; a second channel; a subtractor circuit configured to subtract a second channel output signal from a first channel output signal to form a subtraction signal; an adder circuit configured to combine the first channel output signal and the second channel output signal to form a summation signal; processing circuitry configured to receive the summation signal and to provide a magnetic-field sensor output signal indicating a position of the target; feedback circuitry configured to receive the subtraction signal and to provide a first feedback signal to the processing circuitry, and a second feedback signal; and a secondary coil circuitry configured to receive the second feedback signal and to generate, based on the second feedback signal, a second magnetic-field signal to reduce the first magnetic-field signal received.

Abstract: In one aspect, a bridge includes a first magnetoresistance element having a first reference angle, a second magnetoresistance element in series with the first magnetoresistance element and having a second reference angle, a third magnetoresistance element in parallel with the first magnetoresistance element and having the first reference angle and a fourth magnetoresistance element in series with the third magnetoresistance element and having the second reference angle. An output of the bridge has a linear response over a range of horizontal magnetic field intensity values not centered about a zero value and a reference angle indicates an angle the magnetoresistance element is most sensitive to changes in a magnetic field.

Abstract: A data storage circuit for storing data from volatile memory in response to a power loss, the data storage circuit including an input for receiving a power loss signal in response to a power loss from at least one power source, an input configured to receive data from a volatile memory, a single block of non-volatile matrix of memory cells and a driver circuit coupled to said single row of non-volatile matrix of memory cells. The driver circuit is configured to write data to and read data from said single block of non-volatile matrix of memory cells. The single block of non-volatile matrix of memory cells can be provided as a single row electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a pixel system for providing power supply noise rejection. A photodetector has a first terminal coupled to a voltage supply and a second terminal and a differential transimpedance amplifier has a first input coupled to the second terminal of the photodetector. The differential transimpedance amplifier is configured to convert a singled ended output on the second terminal of the photodetector to a differential signal. A bias circuit is coupled to the differential transimpedance amplifier to bias the differential transimpedance amplifier and the photodetector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a pixel system for correction of non-uniform photo-detector and pixel gains. The system includes a photodetector having a first terminal coupled to a voltage supply and a second terminal, a differential transimpedance amplifier having a first input coupled to the second terminal of the photodetector, and a bias circuit coupled to the differential transimpedance amplifier to set common mode feedback for the differential transimpedance amplifier and to set bias of the photodetector for correcting non-uniform photodetector gain. A digital-to-analog converter is coupled to the bias circuit to output multiple discrete voltage levels.

Abstract: A method including: calculating a value of an average phase offset between a first signal and a second signal, wherein: (i) the first signal is generated by one or more first magnetic field sensing elements in response to the magnetic field, (ii) the second signal is generated by one or more second magnetic field sensing elements in response to the magnetic field, and (iii) the magnetic field is associated with a rotating target; storing the value of the average phase offset between the first signal and the second signal at an address in a non-volatile memory of the sensor; when the sensor is restarted, copying the value of the average phase offset from the address in the non-volatile memory to a working memory of the sensor; and using the copy of the value of the average phase offset that is stored in the working memory of the sensor to generate an output signal, the output signal being generated further based on the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A current sensor including: a sensing unit including one or more sensing elements, the sensing unit being arranged to generate, at least in part, an internal signal, the internal signal being generated in response to a magnetic field, the magnetic field being produced, at least in part, by an electrical current that is sensed with the sensing unit; a first signal processing path coupled to the sensing unit, the first signal processing path including a first compensation unit for adjusting the internal signal, the first signal processing path being configured to generate a first signal based on the internal signal; a second signal processing path coupled to the sensing unit, the second signal processing path including a second compensation unit for adjusting the internal signal, the second path having a different sensitivity than the first path.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a pixel system for capturing active imaging data. The system includes a photodetector having a first terminal coupled to a voltage supply and a second terminal and a differential transimpedance amplifier having a first input coupled to the second terminal of the photodetector. A voltage discriminator has an input coupled to an output of the differential transimpedance amplifier and an output.

Abstract: A sensor includes: a reference magnetic field generator configured to generate a reference magnetic field that is modulated at a first frequency, a first magnetic field sensing element that is configured to generate a first internal signal that is modulated at a second frequency, and a second magnetic field sensing element that is configured to generate a second internal signal that is modulated at the second frequency. A first amplifier is configured to receive the first internal signal and output a first amplified signal; and a second amplifier is configured to receive the second internal signal and output a second amplified signal. A gain adjustment circuit is configured to produce a gain adjustment signal and adjust a gain of at least one of the first amplifier and the second amplifier based on the gain adjustment signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a circuit includes: a first chopping circuit configured to receive an input signal and generate a modulated signal responsive to the input signal; first and second input capacitors selectively coupled to receive a modulated signal or a common-mode voltage; an amplifier having an input and an output, the input coupled to the first and second input capacitors; an auto-zeroing circuit comprising one or more auto-zeroing feedback capacitors selectively coupled between the amplifier input and output; a gain selection circuit comprising one or more gain selection feedback capacitors coupled to the amplifier input and selectively coupled to the amplifier output or the common-mode voltage; an offset compensation circuit comprising one or more offset capacitors coupled to the amplifier input and selectively coupled to a reference voltage or the common-mode voltage; and a second chopping circuit configured to generate a demodulated signal responsive to the amplifier output.

Abstract: A system, comprising: a processing circuitry configured to: receive a first signal that is indicative of a flux density of a magnetic field, the magnetic field being generated by a rotating target; identify a level of a predetermined type of peak in the first signal, the predetermined type of peak occurring once during each revolution of the target; and output a reference signal when an instant level of the first signal matches the level of the predetermined type of peak.

Abstract: A sensor includes a lead frame having a first surface, a second opposing surface, and a plurality of leads and a semiconductor die having a first surface attached to the first surface of the lead frame and a second, opposing surface. The sensor further includes a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, a conductive coil secured to the non-conductive mold material, a mold material secured to the non-conductive mold material and enclosing the conductive coil, wherein the mold material has a central region and an element disposed in the central region of the mold material.

Abstract: In one aspect, bridge circuitry includes a first magnetoresistance (MR) element connected with a second MR element at a first node; a third MR element connected with the first MR element at a second node; a fourth MR element connected with the third MR element at a third node; a fifth MR element connected with a sixth MR element at a fourth node; a seventh MR element connected with the fifth MR element at a fifth node; and an eighth MR element connected with the seventh MR element at a sixth node; and a plurality of eight switches. Six of the plurality of eight switches are each connected to a corresponding one node.