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 and a separately formed ferromagnetic element, such as a magnet, is disposed adjacent to the lead frame.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a position sensor to sense the position of a ferromagnetic target and generate a target position signal, a scaling block to receive the target position signal, and a digital RC filter to generate an output using bit shifting for dividing by some factor of two, wherein all division for computations in the RC filter are performed by bit shifts.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring battery voltage includes a first capacitor configured to receive a charge from a battery. A first switch may be configured to selectively couple the first capacitor to the battery. A second capacitor may be coupled to a reference potential. A second switch may be configured to selectively couple the second capacitor to the first capacitor to transfer at least a portion of the charge on the first capacitor to the second capacitor.

Abstract: Magnetic field sensor and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. The magnetic field sensor and techniques can use one or more peak values of a proximity signal representative of proximity of the sensed object, can generate one or more difference values representative of difference between the peak values of the proximity signal and threshold values of a threshold signal proportional to the peak values, can categorize the one or more difference values into a plurality of potential categories, wherein at least one of the plurality of potential categories is representative of a respective passing self-test and wherein another at least one of the plurality of potential categories is representative of a respective marginally passing self-test, can assign category values to the plurality of potential categories, and can communicate at least one of the plurality of category values.

Abstract: Circuits and methods use a feedback arrangement to select one or more measuring devices from a plurality of measuring devices in order to rapidly identify a direction of a sensed parameter. In some embodiments, the plurality of measuring devices corresponds to a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and the sensed parameter is a magnetic field.

Abstract: Novel anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) sensor architectures and techniques for fabricating same are described. In some embodiments, AMR sensors having barber pole structures disposed below corresponding AMR sensing elements are provided. AMR sensors having segmented AMR sensing elements are also described. Fabrication techniques that can be used to fabricate such sensors are also described. Fabrication techniques are also described that can reduce the risk of contamination during AMR sensor fabrication.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a comparator detector for which a measured threshold value is stored prior to power down and recalled upon power up for use by the comparator detector. A corresponding method is associated with the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation.

Abstract: A motion sensor has a state processor to identify states associated with a magnetic field signal provided by a magnetic field sensing element. The state processor includes a state peak logic module configured to generate states that have a reduced amount of state chatter.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a true power on state (TPOS) detector for which a measured threshold value is stored prior to power down and recalled upon power up. A corresponding method is associated with the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor and a method used therein provide a measured signal representative of an angular speed of rotation of a target object. The magnetic field sensor, in accordance with the measured speed of rotation, can automatically change various characteristics of the magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a plurality of sensing elements configured to generate a plurality of sensing element signals. The electronic circuit also includes a control signal generator configured to generate a plurality of control signals. The electronic circuit also includes a combining circuit. The combining circuit includes a plurality of switching circuits. Each switching circuit is configured to generate a respective switching circuit output signal being representative of either a non-inverted or an inverted respective one of the plurality of sensing element signals depending upon the first state or the second state of a respective one of the plurality of control signals. The combining circuit also includes a summing circuit coupled to receive the switching circuit output and configured to generate a summed output signal corresponding to a sum of the switching circuit output signals.

Abstract: Fabrication of a semiconductor package includes placing a conductive material on a protrusion from a leadframe to form a first assembly, forming a non-conductive mask about the protrusion, and placing a die on the first assembly, the die having an active area. Fabrication can further include reflowing the conductive material to form a second assembly such that a connection extends from the die active area, through the conductive material, to the protrusion. A semiconductor package includes a leadframe having a protrusion, a conductive material reflowed to the protrusion, and a die having an active area coupled to the protrusion by the reflowed solder.

Abstract: A switching device for driving a load is provided. The switching device comprises a control terminal and has a conduction threshold which, when crossed by a control signal coupled to the control terminal, causes the switching device to conduct. A control circuit for generating the control signal is also provided. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal having a first slew rate prior to the control signal crossing the conduction threshold and a second slew rate after the control signal has crossed the conduction threshold. The first slew rate may be faster than the second slew rate.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a linear magnetic field sensor to produce a voltage proportional to a sensed magnetic field and an interface having only two terminals for external connections. The two terminals of the interface include a power supply terminal and a ground terminal. The interface includes a voltage-controlled current generating device that is connected between the two terminals and is controlled by the voltage to provide a current signal that is proportional to the sensed magnetic field.

Abstract: In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. In another aspect, a circuit includes an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to a first input of an amplifier to maintain operability of a current regulator circuit. The adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor can provide an output signal indicative of a passing condition or a failing condition of the magnetic field sensor. The output signal has one of a variety of output signal formats.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor has a plurality of vertical Hall elements arranged in at least a portion of a polygonal shape. The magnetic field sensor includes an electronic circuit to process signals generated by the plurality of vertical Hall elements to identify a direction of a magnetic field. A corresponding method of fabricating the magnetic field sensor is also described.

Abstract: A method of providing a magnetic sensor with a signal inversion module coupled to a signal generation module for inverting a first waveform and a second waveform, wherein the signal inversion module outputs the first and second waveforms in a first region spanning a first range of angular position of the magnet and outputs the first and second inverted waveforms in a second region spanning a second range of angular position of the magnet.