Abstract: An electronic amplifier has a feedback circuit with a transconductance amplifier.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) is configured to receive an input signal and includes a boost duty cycle control circuit configured to provide duty cycle control to a power conversion stage configured to drive a load. The power conversion stage is configured to receive an input voltage. The IC also includes a current control circuit configured to control current of a first current source coupled to the first load and an inverter configured to provide an output signal comprising a negative of the input voltage, the output of the inverter configured to be coupled to the boost duty cycle control circuit.

Abstract: Methods for providing a sensor integrated circuit package including employing a conductive leadframe and forming a non-conductive die paddle in relation to the leadframe. The method can further include placing a die on the non-conductive die paddle to form an assembly, forming at least one electrical connection between the die and the leadframe, and overmolding the assembly to form an integrated circuit package.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for performing a self-test of a magnetic field sensor using internal diagnostic components for fault detection. The magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic sensing element coupled to a sensor biasing current source and a switching network coupled to the magnetic sensing element. The switching network includes one or more diagnostics switches and one or more signal switches, and the one or more diagnostic switches are coupled to a diagnostic input current source. The switching network is configured to generate a time-multiplexed signal having a magnetic signal responsive to an external magnetic field in a magnetic signal time period and a diagnostic signal in a diagnostic signal time period. The diagnostic signal may be operable to produce an intermediate signal to have a predetermined sequence between a first state and a second state.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a circular vertical Hall (CVH) sensing element comprising a plurality of vertical Hall elements, each one of the plurality of vertical hall elements comprising respective first and second current receiving contacts. The magnetic field sensor additionally includes a sequence switches circuit coupled to the plurality of vertical Hall elements. The magnetic field sensor also includes a first current source sequentially coupled by the sequence switches circuit to the first current receiving contact of sequentially selected ones of the plurality of vertical Hall elements. The magnetic field sensor further includes a second current source sequentially coupled by the sequence switches circuit to the second current receiving contact of the sequentially selected ones of the plurality of vertical Hall elements. The first and second current sources can swap couplings in half-period intervals for each of a plurality of coupling arrangements. A corresponding method is also described.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a device configured to be coupled to a shared bus. The device includes a magnetic field sensing element to sense a magnetic field. Upon receiving a configuration command over the shared bus, the device determines whether a parameter of the sensed magnetic field meets a predetermined criteria. If the parameter of the sensed magnetic field meets the predetermined criteria, the device responds to the configuration command by applying one or more configuration settings. Otherwise, if the parameter of the sensed magnetic field does not meet the predetermined criteria, the device ignores the configuration command.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a transmitter for transmitting data over a serial bus coupled to the transmitter. The transmitter includes a controller to generate data for transmission by the transmitter. A transmit driver is coupled to the controller. The transmit driver, in response to the generated data for transmission, generates logic transitions on the serial bus. The transmit driver generates low-to-high logic transitions on the serial bus by charging the serial bus by a bus current based on (i) a predetermined initial bias level for a first time period, and (ii) a first predetermined maximum bias level for a second time period. The transmit driver generates high-to-low logic transitions on the serial bus by discharging the serial bus by a bus current based on (i) a pre-charged level of the transmit driver, and (ii) a second predetermined maximum bias level for a third time period.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor and associated method provide an output signal with first and second different pulses with first and second different pulse widths indicative of first and second different directions of rotation of a moving target. The magnetic field sensor also includes third pulses with an identifiable encoding to indicate when a signature region in the moving target proximate to the magnetic field sensor passes by the magnetic field sensor. The third pulses each comprise respective state transitions and each comprise respective pulse widths with respective fixed predetermined time durations.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor with a magnet is disposed proximate to a ferromagnetic target object having at least one ferromagnetic surface. The magnetic field sensor is operable to sense a relative location between the magnetic field sensor and the ferromagnetic target object along a movement line. In some embodiments, the target object is also spinning about a rotation axis parallel to the movement line. A corresponding method is described.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements having respective first, second and third maximum response axes, the first second and third maximum response axes pointing along respective first, second, and third different coordinate axes. In response to a magnetic field, the first, second, and third magnetic field sensing elements are operable to generate first second, and third magnetic field signals. Signals representative of the first, second, and third magnetic field signals are compared with thresholds to determine if the magnetic field is greater than the thresholds. A corresponding method is also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor with enhanced immunity to external magnetic interference is presented. Included is a magnetic field signal generator and a demodulator. The magnetic field signal generator produces a magnetic field signal having a modulated signal portion in a first frequency band based on a sensed modulated AC bias magnetic field. The modulated AC bias magnetic field is produced by movement of ferromagnetic target relative to a bias coil when an AC signal is applied to the bias coil. When the magnetic field signal also includes an unwanted signal portion in a second frequency band based on external magnetic interference, demodulation performed by the demodulator results in the modulated signal portion being shifted from the first frequency band to a third frequency band and the unwanted signal portion being shifted to the first frequency band. The bias coil may be provided as part of the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame having a plurality of leads, at least two of which have a connection portion and a die attach portion. A semiconductor die is attached to the die attach portion of the at least two leads. The sensor further includes at least one wire bond coupled between the die and a first surface of the lead frame. The die is attached to a second, opposing surface of the lead frame in a lead on chip configuration. In some embodiments, at least one passive component is attached to the die attach portion of at least two leads.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for positioning a magnetic field sensor IC package having a first channel for a planar magnetic field sensing element and a second channel for vertical magnetic field sensing element in relation to an axis of a ring magnet to provide a desired phase relationship between the first and second channels. In embodiments, positioning the sensor includes an offset angle and a displacement with respect to a centerline of the ring magnet.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor, a magnetic assembly, and a method provide circuits and techniques for or measuring one or more displacement angles of a magnet using magnetic field sensing elements. Applications include, but are not limited to, joysticks.

Abstract: An isolation switch driver includes a control circuit to control conduction of an isolation switch and a voltage monitor circuit to monitor a control voltage coupled to the isolation switch and to generate a fault indication if the control voltage is less than a predetermined threshold. The isolator driver can drive an isolation switch coupled between a bridge network and a motor in a motor control system. The monitor circuit can monitor a voltage between a gate terminal and a source terminal of the isolation switch and include a resistive element coupled between the gate terminal and the source terminal to generate a current proportional to the VGS voltage, a current mirror to shift a level of the current to a reference potential, and a comparator to compare the level-shifted current to a threshold current.

Abstract: A method for signaling between a controller and a driver includes receiving, at a pin of the driver coupled to the controller, a command signal generated by the controller and generating, by the driver at the pin coupled to the controller, a fault signal indicating a fault condition. The driver can be configured to drive a switch and the command signal can be configured to cause the driver to open the switch when the command signal is in a first state and to close the switch when the command signal is in a second state. The command signal being in the first state may correspond to the command signal having a voltage level above a first predetermined threshold and the command signal being in the second state may correspond to the command signal having a voltage level below a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor has a reference magnetic field channel and an external magnetic field channel. The magnetic field sensor uses phase discrimination to isolate a reference-magnetic-field signal component from an external magnetic field signal component in the two channels.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a comparator coupled to receive a calculated threshold value based upon a temperature signal, a stored value of a temperature coefficient signal, and a stored value of a measure threshold signal, and also coupled to receive a signal representative of a magnetic field signal. The comparator is configured to compare the calculated threshold value with the signal representative of the magnetic field signal to generate an output signal. A corresponding method is associated with the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) is configured to receive an input signal. The IC includes a boost switch driver configured to provide a switching operation to a boost converter to drive a string of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a current sink driver connected to a current source and configured to provide a current signal to the string of LEDs, and a delay module configured to delay the current signal to the string of LEDs with respect to the input signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit an open pin detector includes a current source coupled to the pin, a comparator having a first input coupled to the pin, a second input responsive to a threshold voltage, and an output at which a comparator output signal is provided. A controller is responsive to the comparator output signal to provide an enable signal to the current source and an open pin signal indicative of an open pin condition at the pin. A method for detecting an open pin condition of a pin of an integrated circuit includes comparing the pin voltage to a first threshold voltage level, initiating open pin detection in response to the pin voltage falling below the first threshold voltage level, such as by providing a current to the pin, and indicating an open pin condition if the pin voltage rises to exceed a second threshold voltage level within a predetermined time interval. Also described is preventing the pin voltage from exceeding a predetermined voltage level during open pin detection.