Patents Assigned to Allegro Microsystems, LLC
  • METAL-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR (MOS) DEVICE STRUCTURE BASED ON A POLY-FILLED TRENCH ISOLATION REGION
    Publication number: 20190363162
    Abstract: A metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor structure is provided herein having one or more horizontal and/or one or more vertical MOS transistor structures formed around trench and liner isolation regions. The trench region serves as a gate electrode, while the liner is formed around the sidewalls of trench region and serves as a gate dielectric of a parasitic MOS within the transistor structure. The MOS transistor structure includes various doped regions formed around one or more portions of the trench and liner regions. The doped regions can have one or more different doping types such that in response to a voltage applied to the trench region, a channel region is formed in at least one of the doped regions and provides a current path within the MOS transistor between different doped regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Sundar Chetlur, Maxim Klebanov, Washington Lamar
  • Methods and apparatus for sensor diagnostics
    Patent number: 10488458
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an integrated circuit having a drive current source, a magnetic sensing element coupled to the drive current source, the magnetic sensing element having first and second differential outputs, and first and second current elements to provide respective currents in relation to the drive current source, wherein the first current element is coupled to the first differential output and the second current element is coupled to the second differential output. In illustrative embodiments, an IC output can output a voltage corresponding to the currents of the first and second current elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun D. Milano, Georges El Bacha, Michael C. Doogue, David J. Haas, Gregory Delmain, Michael Gaboury, William P. Taylor
  • Magnetic Field Sensors And Output Signal Formats With Functional Safety For A Magnetic Field Sensor
    Publication number: 20190353677
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method provide an output signal indicative of a speed of rotation and/or a direction of movement of a ferromagnetic object having ferromagnetic features and capable of moving. A variety of signal formats of the output signal are described, each of which have pulses at a rate faster than the ferromagnetic features pass by the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor includes a plurality of diagnostic circuits that detect a failure of the magnetic field sensor and output a diagnostic signal indicative of the failure. The controller can receive the diagnostic signals and generate a sensor output signal including a failure state to indicate the detected failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hyungsok Lim, Haeyoung Choi
  • Circular vertical hall (CVH) sensing element with signal processing and arctangent function
    Patent number: 10481220
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element to produce a signal representing an external magnetic field as detected by the CVH sensing element, a sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter to generate a converted signal, modulators to produce quadrature modulated signals from the converted signal, and a processor to produce an estimated angle of the external magnetic field using the quadrature modulated signals. An arctangent function may be used to calculate the estimated angle. A sliding window integration scheme may be used over one or more CVH cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Octavio H. Alpago, Ezequiel Alves, Hernán D. Romero
  • Systems and methods for current sensing
    Patent number: 10481181
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed towards differential current sensing a current sensor having two or more magnetic field sensing elements that are oriented to sense a magnetic field generated by a current through an external conductor in the same direction. The current sensor can be positioned such that at least one first magnetic field sensing element is vertically aligned with the external conductor and at least one second magnetic field sensing element is not vertically aligned with the external conductor. The magnetic field sensing elements may be spaced from each to measure a gradient field and can generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a distance between the respective magnetic field sensing element and the current carrying external conductor. A difference between the magnetic field signals can be determined that is indicative of the current through the external conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Wade Bussing, Alexander Latham, Shaun D. Milano, Christian Feucht
  • Multi-mode charge pump
    Patent number: 10483846
    Abstract: A multi-mode charge pump generates a regulated voltage at an output node from a battery input voltage. The multi-mode charge pump has a plurality of flying capacitors and a plurality of switches coupled to the flying capacitors in order to selectively couple the flying capacitors to the battery, the output node or a reference potential. The regulated voltage is provided across a storage capacitor coupled to the flying capacitors, and the regulated voltage is input to a comparator. The comparator also receives a reference voltage and compares the regulated voltage to the reference voltage to generates an asynchronous regulation signal. A controller in the multi-mode charge pump can automatically transition between operation modes such as a buck mode, a doubler mode and a tripler mode by controlling actuation of the switches in response to the asynchronous regulation signal and clock signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gianluca Allegrini, Thomas Ross, James McIntosh
  • Magnetic field sensor to detect direction of angular rotation of a rotating magnetic structure, speed of the rotating magnetic structure or fault
    Patent number: 10480957
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic field sensor to detect speed and direction of angular rotation of a rotating magnetic structure. The magnetic field sensor includes at least two magnetic field sensing elements configured to sense changes in a magnetic field caused by rotation of the magnetic structure. The IC also includes an output port configured to provide an output signal of the magnetic field sensor. The output signal indicates the angular direction and one of the speed or a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Kerdraon, Gary T. Pepka, Dominikus Maisl, Manfred Busch
  • Magnetic field sensor with feedback loop for test signal processing
    Patent number: 10481219
    Abstract: A sensor circuit may include one or more feedback loops to process and attenuate ripple and/or a test signal. The sensor circuit may comprise at least one magnetic field sensing element to generate a magnetic field signal representing a magnetic field to be measured, a test signal generator circuit configured to generate a test signal and combine the test signal with the magnetic field signal to generate a combined signal, and a signal path for processing the combined signal. The signal path may comprise an amplifier circuit to amplify the combined signal, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert the combined signal to a digital combined signal, and a feedback circuitry coupled to receive the digital combined signal and extract the test signal. A test comparator circuit compares the extracted test signal to a reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hernán D. Romero, Octavio H. Alpago
  • Providing information about a target object in a formatted output signal
    Patent number: 10481218
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a sensor. The sensor includes a processor configured to provide speed and/or direction of a target object based on the speed of the target object; monitor for a diagnostic fault; provide information if the diagnostic fault is detected; monitor for critical faults; and provide information if a critical fault is detected and the sensor recovers from the critical fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Seth Prentice, Michael Finneman
  • Duty cycle of an output signal of a magnetic field sensor to detect speed and direction of angular rotation of a rotating magnetic structure or a fault
    Patent number: 10473486
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic field sensor to detect speed and direction of angular rotation of a rotating magnetic structure. The magnetic field sensor includes at least two magnetic field sensing elements configured to sense changes in a magnetic field caused by rotation of the magnetic structure. The IC also includes an output port configured to provide an output signal of the magnetic field sensor. A duty cycle percentage of the output signal indicates the speed and the direction or indicates a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, P. Karl Scheller
  • SUPPLY VOLTAGE DISTURBANCE IMMUNITY FOR DIGITAL CIRCUITS
    Publication number: 20190339985
    Abstract: A sensor integrated circuit includes a disturb immune memory configured to store data and a digital processor coupled to the disturb immune memory and including a main register. The digital processor is configured to perform one of a fast reset or slow reset of the main register according to a level of a supply voltage to the integrated circuit. The fast reset includes resetting the main register according to the data stored in the disturb immune memory and the slow reset includes resetting the main register according to a default state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Cook, Kenneth Snowdon, John Waranowski, Virag V. Chaware
  • Magnetic field sensor with shared path amplifier and analog-to-digital-converter
    Patent number: 10466298
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises at least one magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a measured magnetic field signal responsive to an external magnetic field; a diagnostic circuit configured to generate a diagnostic signal, wherein the diagnostic signal is not dependent on a measured magnetic field; a signal path comprising an amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter for processing the measured magnetic field signal to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the external magnetic field during a measured time period and for processing the diagnostic signal during a diagnostic time period; and a switch coupled to receive the measured magnetic field signal and the diagnostic signal and direct the measured magnetic field signal to the signal path during the measured time period and direct the diagnostic signal to the signal path during the diagnostic time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Virag V. Chaware, Aaron Cook, Craig S. Petrie
  • Metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) device structure based on a poly-filled trench isolation region
    Patent number: 10468485
    Abstract: A metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor structure is provided herein having one or more horizontal and/or one or more vertical MOS transistor structures formed around trench and liner isolation regions. The trench region serves as a gate electrode, while the liner is formed around the sidewalls of trench region and serves as a gate dielectric of a parasitic MOS within the transistor structure. The MOS transistor structure includes various doped regions formed around one or more portions of the trench and liner regions. The doped regions can have one or more different doping types such that in response to a voltage applied to the trench region, a channel region is formed in at least one of the doped regions and provides a current path within the MOS transistor between different doped regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Sundar Chetlur, Maxim Klebanov, Washington Lamar
  • DUAL EDGE SYNCHRONIZATION OF ANALOG INPUT TO REDUCE SWITCH POINT JITTER
    Publication number: 20190334692
    Abstract: A method for synchronization of an input signal includes providing the input signal to a first signal path associated with a first clock and to a second signal path associated with a second clock, detecting an edge of the input signal by detecting values of the input signal along the first signal path at a first rising edge of the first clock and at a second rising edge of the first clock, detecting a value of the input signal along the second signal path at an edge of the second clock, and selecting the input signal from the first signal path or from the second signal path according to the detected value of the input signal along the second path when an edge of the input signal along the first path is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Jay M. Towne, Steven E. Snyder, Steven Ricco, Matthew Nealon
  • Magnetic field sensor with shared path amplifier and analog-to-digital-converter
    Patent number: 10451671
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a signal comprise at least one circuit configured to generate a measured signal during a measured time period and a reference signal during a reference time period. Also included is at least one dual- or multi-path analog-to-digital converter comprising at least a first processing circuit configured to process the measured signal, at least a second processing circuit configured to process the reference signal, and a third processing circuit configured to process both the measured signal and the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Petrie, Bryan Cadugan
  • Magnetic field sensor's front end and associated mixed signal method for removing chopper's related ripple
    Patent number: 10444299
    Abstract: A sensor circuit is provided with a chopper-stabilized amplifier circuit configured to receive a signal from at least one magnetic sensing element, a sigma-delta modulator (SDM) configured to receive a signal from the chopper-stabilized amplifier circuit, and a feedback circuit configured to reduce ripple in a signal generated by the chopper-stabilized amplifier circuit. The feedback circuit includes a demodulator to demodulate a signal from the SDM in a digital domain by inverting a bit stream of the signal from the SDM according to a frequency chopping rate, a digital integrator configured to integrate an output signal of the demodulator to form an integrated signal, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to convert the integrated signal to an analog signal and provide the analog signal to the chopper-stabilized amplifier circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hernán D. Romero, Octavio H. Alpago
  • MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR WITH SWITCHING NETWORK
    Publication number: 20190312579
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a substrate, a first coil supported by the substrate and configured to carry a first current in a first direction to generate a first magnetic field, and a second coil supported by the substrate and nested within the first coil to form a gap between the first and second coils, the second coil configured to carry a second current in a second, opposite direction to generate a second magnetic field. A plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is configured to detect the first and second magnetic fields. A switching network is coupled to the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and configured to connect the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements to form a first bridge circuit having a first arrangement of the magnetic field sensing elements and a second bridge circuit having a second arrangement of the magnetic field sensing elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Hernán D. Romero
  • Magnetic field sensor to detect speed and direction of angular rotation of a rotating magnetic structure
    Patent number: 10436606
    Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a magnetic field sensor to detect an angular speed and an angular direction of a rotating magnetic structure. The magnetic field sensor includes at least two magnetic field sensing elements configured to sense changes in a magnetic field caused by rotation of the magnetic structure. The IC also includes an output port configured to provide an output signal of the magnetic field sensor. The output signal indicates the angular direction and the speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Kerdraon, Gary T. Pepka, Dominikus Maisl, Manfred Busch
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUPPRESSING UNDESIRABLE VOLTAGE SUPPLY ARTIFACTS
    Publication number: 20190305565
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide a sensor integrated circuit (IC) having a high voltage bi-directional current source and disconnect switch that are configured to suppress undesirable voltage artifacts. The sensor IC can include a power pin for coupling to an external power supply, a reference pin, and a functional circuit. The bi-directional current source can be disposed in a current path between the power pin and an energy storage device and be configured to control a current flow to the energy storage device and a current flow from the energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Sam Tran
  • MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR AND ASSOCIATED METHODS INCLUDING DIFFERENTIAL CHOPPING
    Publication number: 20190302196
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a first magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a first magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with a target, a second magnetic field sensing element spaced from the first magnetic field sensing element and configured to generate a second magnetic field signal indicative of the magnetic field associated with the target. A switching module coupled to receive the first and second magnetic field signals is configured to generate a combined signal having alternating portions associated with the first and second magnetic field signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Cook