Abstract: Magnetic field sensors having at least two bridges including MR elements are described. MR elements of each bridge have different magnetic reference directions. A first bridge is positioned to sense a first uniform magnetic field of a first polarity and a second bridge is positioned to sense a second uniform magnetic field of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity. The first and second uniform magnetic fields make up a differential field of interest. The described magnetic field sensors sense the field of interest in a manner that is immune to stray fields. Dual signal path embodiments are described in which outputs of the two bridges are independently processed and single signal path embodiments include a single signal path for processing the output of a combined (e.g., parallel) bridge arrangement.

Abstract: A system, comprising: a power switch; a controller; a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a first control interface that is coupled between the controller and the primary winding, the first control interface being arranged to: (i) detect an electrical current through the primary winding and (ii) output a fault signal to the controller in response to detecting that the electrical current through the primary winding has crossed a threshold; and a second control interface that is coupled between the secondary winding and the power switch, the second control interface being configured to: (i) provide an electrical current received from the transformer to the power switch, (ii) detect whether an error is present in the operational conditions of the power switch, and (iii) in response to detecting the error, change a level of an electrical current through the secondary winding.

Abstract: A magnetic field speed sensor includes one or more magnetic field sensing elements to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a moveable target and a controller to generate a controller output signal including a plurality of output words, each including a speed pulse and a plurality of data pulses capable of having four different amplitudes. The time between the speed pulses of consecutive output words is indicative of the speed of movement of the target. Each data pulse corresponds to a data bit having a binary value represented by a transition direction of the data pulse and the amplitude of the data pulse. Features include a programmable data pulse width or an adaptively adjustable data pulse width to avoid truncation.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, structures, circuits, and methods providing integrated circuit (IC) packages or modules having a transformer with first and second spiral coils disposed on or adjacent to a substrate, each including one or more coil portions on one or multiple levels and having varying distances to an aperture or coil-origin region. A portion of a soft ferromagnetic core of the transformer can pass through the aperture or be adjacent to the coil origin region. The IC packages and modules may include various types of circuits; in some examples, IC packages or modules may include a galvanically isolated gate driver or other high voltage circuit.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element for a 2D magnetic sensor, the magnetoresistive element including a tunnel barrier layer included between a reference layer having a reference magnetization and a sense layer having a sense magnetization. The sense layer includes a sense synthetic antiferromagnetic structure including a first sense sublayer in contact with the tunnel barrier layer and separated from a second sense sublayer by a first non-magnetic spacer layer such that the first sense sublayer is antiferromagnetically coupled to the second sense sublayer.

Abstract: An amplifier circuits inductive/magnetic sensor interface can include a main signal path including one or more amplifiers configured to receive an input signal and to produce an output signal based on the input signal. The input signal may include a square-wave demodulated signal having an associated modulation frequency and an undesired frequency component at twice the modulation frequency of the square-wave demodulated signal. The amplifier circuit may include a gain feedback loop configured to set a gain of the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit may include a ripple reduction feedback loop configured to receive an intermediate signal on the main signal path and extract the undesired frequency component of the intermediate signal to produce a filtered version of the intermediate signal and provide the filtered version of the intermediate signal to the main signal path.

Abstract: A method is provided for use in a sensor, the method comprising: selecting a switching cycle for the sensor; transitioning the sensor into a state in which at least one component of the sensor is periodically turned on and off in accordance with the switching cycle; sampling an analog signal to generate a sampled signal, the analog signal being generated by at least one sensing element, the analog signal being sampled only during periods in which the at least one component of the sensor is turned on; and generating an output signal based, at least in part, on the sampled signal and outputting the output signal.

Abstract: Magnetic field closed loop sensors including offset reduction circuitry to reduce undesired baseband components attributable to offset associated with magnetoresistance elements are described. A superimposed signal including a main signal portion indicative of a parameter of a target and an offset reduced signal portion is coupled to feedback circuitry. The feedback circuitry generates a feedback signal to drive a feedback coil. Main processing circuitry is operative to extract the main signal portion from the superimposed signal and produce a sensor output signal based on the main signal portion. Example offset reduction circuitry can take the form of AC coupling circuitry or a ripple reduction loop.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a magnetoresistance (MR) element includes a free layer. In some embodiments, the free layer also includes a vortex layer comprising a vortex and a skyrmion layer magnetically coupled to the vortex layer. In some embodiments, in the skyrmion layer is configured to form skyrmions that reduce annihilation of the vortex thereby increasing a linear response range of the MR element. In some embodiments, the MR element is a tunneling magnetoresistance element or a giant magnetoresistance element. In some embodiments, the MR element includes a barrier layer, wherein the vortex layer is closer to the barrier layer than the skyrmion layer.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes manufacturing a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) element to sense out-of-plane changes in magnetic field intensity in a magnetic field. The manufacturing includes depositing a plurality of antiferromagnetic layers having magnetization directions alternating by layer between a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. A top layer of the plurality of antiferromagnetic layers has a magnetization direction in the first direction. The manufacturing also includes depositing a ferromagnetic layer directly on the top layer; depositing a first multilayer structure directly on the ferromagnetic layer; depositing a metal layer directly on the first multilayer structure; and depositing a second multilayer structure directly on the metal layer. The ferromagnetic layer, the first multilayer structure, and the second multilayer structure are each parallel to an x-y plane and the first direction is either in a z-direction or in a ?z direction.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for differential magnetic field torque sensors that include first and second magnetic targets for coupling to one or more rotatable shafts. The magnetic targets can include multipole ring magnets having a plurality of alternating magnetic domains. First and second differential magnetic field angular position sensors positioned proximate to the magnetic targets produce angular position of the targets and a processing unit is operative to receive an angular position from each of the first and second differential magnetic field angular position sensors and determine a difference between the angular positions. The difference corresponds to an angle between the targets, and the processing unit is operative to calculate, based on the angle, a torque applied to the one or more rotatable shafts.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an optical system that can include a receiver to protect an optical sensor for damage. In one embodiment, a optical receiver includes a lens to receive an optical signal and a non-linear optical (NLO) element to receive an output from the lens, where the NLO element has an intensity dependent optical index. The receiver can include an optical sensor and an aperture located between the optical sensor and the NLO element.

Abstract: A system comprising: a conductor having a through-hole and a first notch that are formed therein, the through-hole and the first notch being arranged to define, at least in part, a first branch of the conductor, and the through-hole also being arranged to define, at least in part, a second branch of the conductor; and a current sensor that is disposed directly above the first branch of the conductor and the side of the second branch of the conductor, such that no portion of the current sensor is situated directly above the second branch.

Abstract: A packaged current sensor integrated circuit includes a primary conductor having an input portion and an output portion configured to carry a current to be measured by one or more magnetic sensing elements supported by a semiconductor die adjacent to the primary conductor. A method of fabricating the packaged current sensor integrated circuit includes partially encasing the lead frame in a first mold material, applying an insulator to one or more die attach pads, attaching a die to the insulator, electrically connecting the die to secondary leads, and providing a second mold to the subassembly. The package is configured to provide increased voltage isolation.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first type dopant. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device also includes an epitaxial layer above the substrate, having a second type dopant and a top region. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device also includes a trench in the top region of the epitaxial layer; at least one doped ring implanted in the epitaxial layer below the trench; and a dielectric material filling within the trench. In some embodiments, there is a twelve-sided body tie in the epitaxial layer, wherein the sides of the twelve-sided body tie are not all equal to each other.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a desaturation circuit having a temperature compensated voltage threshold for protecting a power transistor, such as a FET. A comparator module has a first input to a voltage source associated with current through the FET and a second input coupled to the voltage threshold circuit. As a resistance of the FET changes due to temperature changes, the voltage threshold changes to compensate for the resistance change of the FET.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for speed sensor having a first detection module with a first sensing element. The first detection module is configured to detect movement of a target during a first mode of operation and a second detection module is configured to detect movement of the target during a low power mode of operation.

Abstract: Switch drive circuits include galvanically isolated switch circuits with power transfer from the switch driver input side to the switch side. A switch drive circuit uses a single transformer to transfer control signals to a secondary side for control of the switch along with power to a secondary side circuit to drive the switch in response to the control signals. By detecting the control signal first before drawing current, the effects of leakage inductance in the transformer are reduced.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a current measurement system, comprising an electrically conductive strip (10) extending along a first direction (y) and comprises a notch (51) extending substantially perpendicular to the first direction (y). A first and second magnetic sensors (21, 22) are provided respectively on each side of the notch (51) and are configured to output a first output signal (Vout,1) according to a first signal magnetic field (41) and a second output signal (Vout,2), respectively. An output signal (Vout) corresponds to the difference between the first and the second output signals (Vout,1. Vout,2). The current measurement system enables current sensing in 100s-1000s A accurately.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include systems, structures, integrated circuit (IC) packages or modules, circuits, and methods providing a transformer with first and second coils and a sense coil configured adjacent to and closely coupled with the second coil to reduce the effects of common mode transients. The circuits, ICs and IC packages and modules may include various types of circuits. In some examples, IC packages or modules may include a galvanically-isolated gate driver or other high voltage circuit.