Abstract: A magnetoresistance element can have a substrate; a ferromagnetic seed layer consisting of a binary alloy of NiFe; and a first nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed under and directly adjacent to the ferromagnetic seed layer and proximate to the substrate, wherein the first nonmagnetic spacer layer is comprised of Ta or Ru. A method fabricating of fabricating a magnetoresistance element can include depositing a seed layer structure over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the depositing the seed layer structure includes depositing at least a ferromagnetic seed layer over the substrate. The method further can further include depositing a free layer structure over the seed layer structure, wherein the depositing the ferromagnetic seed layer comprises depositing the ferromagnetic seed layer in the presence of a motion along a predetermined direction and in the presence of a predetermined magnetic field having the same predetermined direction.

Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic field sensor includes first and second magnetic field sensing elements having respective first and second maximum response axes. The first and second maximum response axes point along respective first and second different coordinate axes. In response to a magnetic field, the first and second magnetic field sensing elements are operable to generate first and second magnetic field signals. The magnetic field sensor includes an electronic circuit coupled to receive the first and the second magnetic field signals. The electronic circuit is configured to determine a magnitude of a vector sum of the first and the second magnetic field signals and provide one or more signals in response to the magnitude of the vector sum determined.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods that provide a delayed output signal with reduced sampling error are described. Embodiments include a clock circuit that generates a sample clock signal having a predetermined sample clock period. A sampling circuit may generate samples of a received signal during each sample clock period. An interpolation circuit may estimate a value of the received signal at times between the samples of the received signal based on at least a first sample and a second sample of the received signal. The interpolation circuit may estimate a time that the received signal crosses a threshold, and determine a time delta between the first sample and the estimated time that the received signal crosses the threshold. A delay circuit to generate a time delay substantially equal to the time delta is also included. An output signal changes state after the generated time delay.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a magnetic target include a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements arranged about a central point. Each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is configured to measure a magnetic field produced by a magnetic target and provide a respective output signal that represents a respective measurement of a strength of the magnetic field. A processor circuit is coupled to receive the output signal from each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and determine a barycenter of the measurements of the magnetic field based on a position of the magnetic field sensing elements.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for a detecting a magnetic target that reduce output signal jitter are disclosed. A system includes a magnetic target. The magnetic target has a plurality of regions having juxtaposed edges and opposing ends. Adjacent ones of the plurality of regions have different magnetic polarities. The magnetic target includes a first magnetic strip, having a first magnetic polarity disposed at one end of the regions, and a second magnetic strip having a second magnetic polarity opposite to the first magnetic polarity disposed at a second end of the regions to generate a magnetic bias across at least a portion of the regions. The system includes at least one magnetic field sensing element placed in proximity to the magnetic target and configured to produce an output signal responsive to the magnetic target.

Abstract: A linear motion control device for use in a linear control system is presented. The linear motion control device includes a coil driver to drive a coil that, when driven, effects a linear movement by a motion device having a magnet. The linear motion control device also includes a magnetic field sensor to detect a magnetic field associated with the linear movement and an interface to connect an output of the magnetic field sensor and an input of the coil driver to an external controller. The interface includes a feedback loop to relate the magnetic field sensor output signal to the coil driver input.

Abstract: A network slave device includes a transceiver for communicating over a communication bus in accordance with a point-to-point network protocol. The network slave device may include an address to identify the network slave device on the network. It may also include a communication circuit configured to process a command received by the transceiver and generate a reply for transmission over the communication bus if an address included in the command matches the address of the slave device. A master device communicating on the network may send commands including the address of the slave device in accordance with the point-to-point network protocol. In an embodiment, the point-to-point protocol is the SENT protocol.

Abstract: Electronic circuits used in magnetic field sensors use transistors for passing a current through the transistors and also through a magnetoresistance element.

Abstract: In one aspect, a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) includes a Zener diode embedded in the SCR. In another aspect, a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) includes a Zener diode embedded in the LDMOS. In a further aspect, a lateral insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a Zener diode embedded in the IGBT.

Abstract: An LED driver for driving a plurality of series-coupled LEDs includes a bypass switch having first and second terminals coupled across a portion of the LEDs and a control terminal. A slew rate control circuit is responsive to a command input signal and to a feedback voltage associated with the bypass switch and is configured to generate a bypass switch control signal with a controllable slew rate. The slew rate control circuit is further configured to detect a rate of change of the switch feedback voltage and establish the bypass switch slew rate in response to the detected rate of change. Also described is method for controlling a bypass switch coupled across a portion of a plurality of series-coupled LEDs including detecting a rate of change of a voltage associated with the bypass switch and generating a control signal for the bypass switch in response to a command input signal and to the detected rate of change of the voltage.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor uses upper and lower thresholds. The upper and lower thresholds are limited such that they have a minimum separation distance between equivalent voltage levels of the upper and lower thresholds.

Abstract: A driver circuit is provided for driving a load, such as a multi-phase motor. The driver circuit includes a gate driver for providing a control signal to switching elements coupled to the driver circuit. A first switching element is coupled between a high supply voltage and a switching node of the load, and a second switching element is coupled between the switching node and a low supply voltage. To detect zero crossings of a current through the load, a zero crossing detector includes a first counter coupled to the switching node and a second counter coupled to the control signal. The first counter and second counter count in a predetermined direction based on a detected voltage of the switching node and based on a detected voltage of the control signal, respectively. The zero crossing detector generates an output signal based upon the difference between the first and the second counter.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second surface attached to the lead frame, and a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame. The sensor may include a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. Features include a multi-sloped taper to an inner surface of a non-contiguous central region of the ferromagnetic mold material, a separately formed element disposed in the non-contiguous central region, one or more slots in the lead frame, a molded ferromagnetic suppression device spaced from the non-conductive mold material and enclosing a portion of a lead, a passive device spaced from the non-conductive mold material and coupled to a plurality of leads, and a ferromagnetic bead coupled to a lead.

Abstract: A switching regulator control circuit includes a circuit configured to generate a control signal to control conduction of the regulator switch in response to a reference signal that is ramped to control a rate of change of the regulated output of the regulator and the control signal is gated in response to a PWM signal.

Abstract: An assembly has a base structure, a rotatable structure, a first magnet coupled to the base structure, a second magnet coupled to the rotatable structure, and a magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can identify at least one condition (i.e., position) of the assembly.

Abstract: A bandgap reference circuit includes a voltage reference circuit configured to generate a reference voltage at a first output and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current source configured to generate a PTAT current reference at a second output. A divider circuit is coupled to the reference voltage and configured to generate a divided reference voltage at a third output of the bandgap reference circuit. The bandgap reference circuit further includes a tunable current source coupled to the divider circuit and configured to generate a tunable current reference at a fourth output of the bandgap reference circuit based, at least in part, on the divider circuit. A method of generating a tunable current with a bandgap circuit is also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electronic circuit having a Hall effect element and a resistor bridge, all disposed over a common semiconductor substrate. The resistor bridge includes a first set of resistive elements having a first vertical epitaxial resistor and a first lateral epitaxial resistor coupled in series, and a second set of resistive elements having a second vertical epitaxial resistor and a second lateral epitaxial resistor coupled in series. The first set of resistive elements and the second set of resistive elements can be coupled in parallel. The resistor bridge can be configured to sense a stress value of the Hall effect element.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least one first magnetic field sensing element including at least one first magnetoresistance element configured to provide an output signal of the integrated circuit in response to a detected magnetic field. The integrated circuit also includes at least one second magnetic field sensing element including at least one second magnetoresistance element configured to have a characteristic indicative of a stress condition. A method for detecting a stress condition in an integrated circuit is also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a plurality of magnetoresistance elements, each having at least one characteristic selected to provide a respective, different response to an applied magnetic field, wherein each of the plurality of magnetoresistance elements is coupled in parallel. Illustrative characteristics selected to provide the respective responses include dimensions and/or construction parameters such as materials, layer thickness and order, and spatial relationship of the magnetoresistance element to the applied magnetic field. A method includes providing each of a plurality of magnetoresistance elements with at least one characteristic selected to provide a respective, different response to an applied magnetic field, wherein each of the plurality of magnetoresistance elements is coupled in parallel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for a current sensing device including a magnetoresistive magnetic field sensing element positioned with respect to a shaped conductor such that an applied field generated by current through the shaped conductor forms an offset angle theta defined by the applied field and a field of a pinning layer of the magnetoresistive element. The offset angle increases a linearity of the device output for current in the shaped conductor flowing in a first direction. A further sensor can increase linearity in the opposite direction.