Abstract: A power integrated circuit (IC) includes a lead frame comprising a signal lead, a power lead, and a paddle attached to one or more of the signal lead and the power lead, an electrical component supported by the paddle, and a mold material configured to enclose a portion of the lead frame and expose a surface of the paddle, wherein the power lead has a first portion extending from an edge of the mold material outside of the mold material in a first direction and a second portion enclosed by the mold material and extending from the edge of the mold material inside the mold material in a second direction to the paddle, wherein the second direction is substantially opposite to the first direction. In embodiments, the paddle is only attached to the second portion of the power lead.

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.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a motor controller/driver integrated circuit package having diagnostic processing of signal(s) from a magnetic field sensor positioned in relation to a motor. The sensor signal may have a first voltage range corresponding to a valid high state and a second voltage range corresponding to a valid low state. A diagnostic module can process the received signal from the magnetic field sensor to determine whether the received signal has a voltage level within the first or second voltage ranges. An output module may generate an output signal having a state based on the whether the received signal has a voltage level within the first or second voltage ranges.

Abstract: A pressure sensor includes a conductive substrate having a cavity which forms a thin portion that can be deformed by a pressure differential. A magnetic field sensor has at least one coil responsive to a changing coil drive signal and positioned proximate to the thin portion of the substrate that induces eddy currents in the thin portion that generate a reflected magnetic field. Magnetic field sensing elements detect the reflected magnetic field and generate a magnetic field signal. The magnetic field sensor is positioned so that deformation of the thin portion of the substrate causes a distance between the thin portion of the substrate and the magnetic field sensor to change.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a multiplexor configured to receive data from a non-volatile memory and configured to receive data from a shadow memory, a shift register configured to generate a first signature from the data received from the non-volatile memory and configured to generate a second signature from the data received from the shadow memory; a signature storage configured to store the first signature; and a shadow memory checking controller configured to enable the multiplexor to send the data from the non-volatile memory to the shift register, and send a command to reload the shadow memory with data from the non-volatile memory in response to receiving an error flag. The IC also includes a comparator circuit configured to compare the first signature and the second signature and configured to send the error flag in response to the first signature and the second signature being different.

Abstract: A current sensor is provided with one or more magnetic field sensing elements configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnitude of a sensed magnetic field, wherein the sensed magnetic field is related to a magnitude and frequency of a current through a conductor. A signal path is responsive to the magnetic field signal and includes a compensator configured to apply a compensation factor to the magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the magnitude of the current and substantially independent of a frequency of the current. The sensed magnetic field is related to the magnitude of the current by a coupling factor and the signal path is responsive to a characterization of the coupling factor over a range of frequencies of the current in order to determine the compensation factor to be applied.

Abstract: Magnetic field sensors and associated techniques use a Hall effect element in a current spinning arrangement in combination with a rippled reduction feedback network configured to reduce undesirable spectral components generated by the current spinning and other circuit elements.

Abstract: According to aspects of the disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed comprising: a controller; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) coupled to the controller, the ADC including an input terminal for receiving a sensor signal from a transducer; and a diagnostic circuit coupled to the input terminal of the ADC and to the controller, the diagnostic circuit being configured to: generate a diagnostic signal that indicates whether a voltage at the input terminal of the ADC meets a first threshold, and provide the diagnostic signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to: receive a data sample from the ADC, detect whether the data sample meets a second threshold, and transition the apparatus into a safe state when: (i) the diagnostic signal indicates that the voltage at the input terminal does not meet the first threshold, and (ii) the data sample meets the second threshold

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a substrate, a first channel comprising a first magnetic field sensing element supported by the substrate and configured to generate a first magnetic field signal indicative of a first magnetic field experienced by the first magnetic field sensing element, a second channel comprising a second magnetic field sensing element supported by the substrate and configured to generate a second magnetic field signal indicative of a second magnetic field experienced by the second magnetic field sensing element, and at least one shield configured to reduce a bandwidth of the first magnetic field by a first amount and to reduce a bandwidth of the second magnetic field by a second amount. The shield is able to act as a magnetic anti-aliasing filter for the magnetic field sensing elements, which can then be chopped or sampled.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an IC package having an impedance detector module configured to have: a first connection to a first external energy source via a first IO pin of the IC package and a second connection to a detection component. In embodiments, the detection component is configured for connection to a first ground for the first external energy source via a second IO pin of the IC package, and to a barrier component, which is configured for connection to a second ground for a second external energy source via a third IO pin of the IC package. The impedance detector module is configured to detect a disconnection or degradation of a connection to ground.

Abstract: A sensor configured to generate a sensor output signal at a sensor output coupled to a pull up voltage through a pull up resistor includes a sensing element configured to generate a sensing element output signal indicative of a sensed parameter and a processor responsive to the sensing element output signal and configured to generate a processor output signal indicative of the sensed parameter. A digital output controller is responsive to the processor output signal and to a digital feedback signal and is configured to generate a controller output signal. An analog output driver is responsive to the controller output signal and configured to generate the sensor output signal at a first predetermined level or at a second predetermined level and a feedback circuit coupled between the sensor output and the digital output controller is configured to generate the digital feedback signal in response to the sensor output signal.

Abstract: A method of detecting a vibration comprises determining a vibration flag has been set during a running mode, entering a vibration mode, providing direction information for a target object during the vibration mode of the magnetic field sensor, holding onto positive peak values and negative peak values of the magnetic field signal during the vibration mode of the magnetic field sensor, and returning to the running mode after receiving at least two clock cycles of the magnetic field signal with no further vibration flags set.

Abstract: A sensor integrated circuit including a regulator for generating a regulated voltage includes a digital load configured to draw a load current from the regulator in response to a clock signal during in situ operation and a comparator configured to determine the absence or presence of a fault during in situ operation. The load current is less than or equal to a predetermined level in the absence of a fault and is greater than the predetermined level in the presence of a fault. The comparator is responsive to the load current and to a threshold level and is configured to generate a comparator output signal having a level indicative of whether the load current is less than or greater than the threshold level in order to thereby determine the absence or presence of a fault during in situ operation, respectively.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance (MR) element includes a first stack portion comprising a first plurality of layers including a first spacer layer having a first thickness and a first material selected to result in the first stack portion having a first sensitivity to the applied magnetic field. The MR element also has a second stack portion comprising a second plurality of layers, including a second spacer layer having a second thickness to result in the second stack portion having a second sensitivity to the applied magnetic field. The first thickness may be different than the second thickness resulting in the first sensitivity being different than the second sensitivity.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes one or more magnetic field sensing elements and a back-biased magnet arranged to avoid saturation of the one or more magnetic field sensing elements, particularly when the one or more magnetic field sensing elements comprise one or more magnetoresistance elements. The one or more magnetoresistance elements can be arranged in a resistor bridge.

Abstract: In one aspect, a gate driver circuit includes a clamp circuit connecting a first node to a second node. The clamp circuit is configured to provide a clamp voltage. The gate driver circuit also includes a first driver connected to the first node and to the second node. The first driver comprising a first input configured to receive the clamp voltage from the clamp circuit. The gate driver circuit further includes a first transistor having a drain connected to the first node, a source connected to a circuit output and a gate connected to an output of the first driver. The first transistor has a gate-to-source voltage and an output voltage of the circuit output does not exceed the clamp voltage less the gate-to-source voltage of the first transistor.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a multiplexor configured to receive data from a non-volatile memory and configured to receive data from a shadow memory, a shift register configured to generate a first signature from the data received from the non-volatile memory and configured to generate a second signature from the data received from the shadow memory; a signature storage configured to store the first signature; and a shadow memory checking controller configured to enable the multiplexor to send the data from the non-volatile memory to the shift register, and send a command to reload the shadow memory with data from the non-volatile memory in response to receiving an error flag. The IC also includes a comparator circuit configured to compare the first signature and the second signature and configured to send the error flag in response to the first signature and the second signature being different.

Abstract: An integrated circuit sensor can have a test program generator that is configured to receive a portion of a scan vector, where the scan vector includes a test mode signal and a scan enable signal. The test program generator is configured to retrieve a launch-off-capture test sequence from the scan vector and use the launch-off-capture test sequence and the test mode signal to generate a launch-off-capture test signal. A test signal generator is configured to generate a launch-off-shift test signal using the launch-off-capture test signal and the scan enable signal. A built-in self-test circuit is configured to test the integrated circuit sensor using the launch-off-shift test signal.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed for detecting an orientation of a magnet, the sensor comprising: a first sensor array including a first plurality of sensor elements that are arranged along a first line; a second sensor array including a second plurality of sensor elements that are arranged along a second line; and a processing circuitry configured to: detect a magnetic field produced by the magnet by using the first sensor array, and identify a first point on the first line where at least one component of the magnetic field has a predetermined value; detect the magnetic field by using the second sensor array, and identify a second point on the second line where at least one component of the magnetic field has the predetermined value; detect an orientation of the magnet relative to the sensor based on the first point and the second point; and output an indication of the orientation of the magnet based on the first point and the second point.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor has first and second rows of magnetic field sensing elements coupled to an electronic circuit. A magnet can be disposed under or over the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor is operable to use the first and second rows of magnetic field sensing elements and the electronic circuit to detect a relative rotation angle between the magnet and the first and second rows of magnetic field sensing elements.