Abstract: Systems and methods described herein a sensor integrated circuit (IC) is provided having a protection circuit configured to protect circuitry within the IC from a transient pulse on a connection (i.e., power pin) to a power supply that is configured to provide power to the IC. The protection circuit can be disposed in a current path between a power pin of the IC and additional circuitry or nodes within the IC, such as but not limited to, a regulator or a bi-directional current source. The protection circuit includes a reverse blocking device having a first terminal coupled to the power supply at which a predetermined power supply voltage is provided and a second terminal coupled to an input of the regulator.

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: Systems and methods described herein provide a current sensor having fault detection circuitry configured to detect over-current and/or current faults corresponding to current through a conductor being greater than a predetermined level. The current sensor can include a shared signal path, a main signal path, and a fault detection signal path to perform both fault detection and current detection signal processing. The current sensor can include one or more magnetic field sensing elements configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of the current through the conductor, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive the magnetic field signal and convert the magnetic field signal into a digital signal, and a fault detector responsive to the digital signal to generate a fault signal indicative of the current through the conductor being greater than a predetermined level.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed towards integrating a shield layer into a current sensor to shield a magnetic field sensing element and associated circuitry in the current sensor from electrical, voltage, or electrical transient noise. In an embodiment, a shield layer may be disposed along at least one surface of a die supporting a magnetic field sensing element. The shield layer may be disposed in various arrangements to shunt noise caused by a parasitic coupling between the magnetic field sensing element and the current carrying conductor away from the magnetic field sensing element.

Abstract: A current sensor integrated circuit includes a lead frame having a primary conductor and at least one secondary lead, a semiconductor die disposed adjacent to the primary conductor, an insulation structure disposed between the primary conductor and the semiconductor die, and a non-conductive insulative material enclosing the semiconductor die, the insulation structure, a first portion of the primary conductor, and a first portion of the at least one secondary lead to form a package. The first portion of the at least one secondary lead (between a first end proximal to the primary conductor and a second end proximal to the second, exposed portion of the at least one secondary lead) has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the second, exposed portion of the least one secondary lead. A distance between the second, exposed portion of the primary conductor and the second, exposed portion of the at least one secondary lead is at least 7.2 mm.

Abstract: A system for communicating between electronic devices on a communication bus includes a communication bus and one or more communication circuits each having an output driver coupled to the communication bus and each having an input terminal. Each communication circuit produces, in response to a request message, a data communication on the communication bus in a predetermined order with respect to data communications from other communication circuits so that the data communications from each communication circuit form a sequential data stream in response to the request message.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance element assembly has two stacks of material layers with respective reference layers and respective bias layers that have relative magnetic directions that are not perpendicular to each other. Bias layers in the two stacks have bias magnetic directions that oppose each other. Linear range is increased.

Abstract: A driver coupled to a configurable load having a first load portion coupled to a second load portion at an intermediate node includes a first switch coupled to the intermediate node and to a battery voltage, and a second switch coupled to the second load portion and ground. A current steering control circuit of the driver is responsive to a feedback voltage associated with the intermediate node and is configured to generate a first switch control signal and a second switch control signal to control a slew rate of either the first switch or the second switch. The current steering control circuit can include a gate driver and a current steering amplifier.

Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic field sensor is configured to detect a ferromagnetic object. The magnetic field sensor includes a magnet that includes two North regions and two South regions configured to generate opposing directions of magnetization to form a magnetic flux. The magnetic field sensor also includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate an is output signal responsive to changes in the magnetic flux caused by movement of the ferromagnetic object.

Abstract: A sensor integrated circuit includes an energy storage device having a first terminal coupled to a functional circuit and a blocking circuit coupled between a power supply pin and the first terminal of the energy storage device. The blocking circuit permits the energy storage device to store energy from an external power supply coupled to the power pin. The first terminal of the energy storage device is inaccessible from outside of the sensor IC. Additional features of the sensor IC can include a high regulator, a low regulator, and a low power circuit.

Abstract: A shifting device with two positive-locking shifting element halves includes a positive connection between the shifting element halves that is able to be established or released. The respective prevailing operating states of the shifting element halves are determined through a sensor device. The surface areas of an encoder contour relative to a measuring device are formed in a convex or concave manner, whereas a perpendicular gap between the surface areas of the encoder contour and a permanent magnet, starting from a joint area between the surface areas in the direction of an end area of the surface areas increases or decreases in each case.

Abstract: A driver coupled to a configurable load includes a first switch coupled between an intermediate node of the load and a converter supply voltage and a second switch coupled between the converter supply voltage and a reference potential. A slew rate control circuit is responsive to a command input signal and to a feedback voltage across the first and second switches and is configured to generate switch control signals with a controllable slew rate for coupling to control terminals of the first and second switches. In an embodiment, the command input signal includes a load configuration command and a converter mode command.

Abstract: A system for reducing stray field effects comprises a magnetic target producing a changing magnetic field; a first set of magnetic field sensing elements placed in spaced relation to the magnetic target and comprising at least a first magnetic field sensing element and a second magnetic field sensing element, each magnetic field sensing element having an axis of maximum sensitivity; a second set of magnetic field sensing elements placed in spaced relation to the magnetic target and comprising at least a third magnetic field sensing element and a fourth magnetic field sensing element, each magnetic field sensing element having an axis of maximum sensitivity; and wherein the first set of magnetic field sensing elements is positioned closer to a center point of the magnetic field than the second set of magnetic field sensing elements.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit having first and second domains with an insulative material electrically isolating the first and second domains. A conductive shield is disposed between the first and second domains and a current sensor has at least one magnetoresistive element proximate the shield to detect current flow in the shield due to breakdown of the insulative material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a sensor with a main coil to direct a magnetic field at a rotating target for inducing eddy currents in an end of the target and a sensing element to detect a magnetic field reflected from the target, wherein the target end comprises a conductive surface. The reflected magnetic field can be processed to determine an angular position of the target.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor comprises a first coil configured to generate a magnetic field having a first frequency and induce a reflected magnetic field from a target. A second coil configured to generate a diagnostic magnetic field having a second frequency is included. The diagnostic magnetic field is configured not to induce a reflected magnetic field from the target that is measurable by the magnetic field sensor. At least two magnetic field sensing elements detect the reflected magnetic field and the diagnostic magnetic field and generate a signal representing the reflected magnetic field and the diagnostic magnetic field. A processing circuit is coupled to the at least two magnetic field sensing elements and configured to receive the signal, extract a diagnostic magnetic field portion of the signal representing the diagnostic magnetic field, and generate an error signal if a fault is detected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing error compensation for a magnetic field sensing element in a three-phase motor. In embodiments, a driving angle is determined from zero-crossings of the magnet pole-pairs and error compensation levels for the pole-pairs is determined to reduce distortions in the motor current waveform.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance element (e.g. a spin valve) for detecting a changing magnetic field includes a pinning layer, pinned layer adjacent to the pinning layer, a spacer layer adjacent to the pinned layer, and a free layer adjacent to the spacer layer and arranged so that the spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The pinned layer has a bias with a bias direction configured to reduce an effect of a static field on the detection of the changing magnetic field.

Abstract: A control circuit for generating a feedforward control signal based on an input voltage includes a divider coupled to the input voltage to generate a divided voltage and a first buffer responsive to the divided voltage to generate a buffered voltage at an output of the first buffer. The control circuit also includes a first capacitor coupled to the first buffer output and configured to generate a feedforward current when there is a variation in the input voltage and a current mirror circuit including a current mirror output node at which a current mirror output voltage indicative of the input voltage variation is generated. A digitizing circuit is responsive to the current mirror output voltage to generate the feedforward control signal. A DC-DC converter and a method for generating a feedforward control signal based on an input voltage are also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining a position of a gear shift lever of a vehicle. A ferromagnetic target object having selected characteristics influences a magnetic field generated by a back bias magnet. A magnetic field sensor includes magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the target object. Each magnetic field sensing element generates an electronic signal in response to sensed magnetic fields. The gear shift lever moves among a plurality of gears of the vehicle. The magnetic field sensor selects a set of the magnetic field sensing elements to determine a magnetic field difference based on a difference of amplitudes between the electronic signals that is related to a current position of the gear shift lever. Characteristics of the target object enable the magnetic field sensor to detect the position of the gear shift lever. The characteristics include edges proximate to a perimeter of the target object.