Patents Assigned to Allegro Microsystems, LLC
  • Patent number: 8653756
    Abstract: Electronic circuits provide an error signal to control a regulated output voltage signal generated by a controllable DC-DC converter for driving one or more series connected strings of light emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Szczeszynski, Bassem AINahas, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 8638053
    Abstract: Motor control circuits and associated methods to control an electric motor provide an ability to synchronize a rotational speed of the electric motor with an external clock signal, resulting in reduced jitter in the rotational speed of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Chee-Kiong Ng
  • Patent number: 8633745
    Abstract: A level shift circuit is configured to control a high side transistor of a half bridge circuit. The level shift circuit has composite current mirrors and other circuits that reduce the effect of transient voltages that are produced as the half bridge circuit is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Peterson
  • Patent number: 8629642
    Abstract: A control loop circuit for use in a closed-loop control system that controls a system such as a linear motor is presented. The control loop circuit includes a lead-lag compensator that features a lead compensation network configured to reduce output noise without substantially changing the effect of the lead compensation in the control system's frequency response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael G. Ward, David J. Haas
  • Patent number: 8629520
    Abstract: An integrated circuit can have a first substrate supporting a magnetic field sensing element and a second substrate supporting another magnetic field sensing element. The first and second substrates can be arranged in a variety of configurations. Another integrated circuit can have a first magnetic field sensing element and second different magnetic field sensing element disposed on surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 8629539
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to provide an integrated circuit package having a conductive leadframe, a non-conductive die paddle mechanically coupled to the leadframe, and a die disposed on the die paddle and electrically connected to the leadframe. With this arrangement, eddy currents are reduced near the magnetic field transducer to reduce interference with magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Shaun D. Milano, Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8624588
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method provide an output signal indicative of a speed of rotation and a direction of rotation of a ferromagnetic object capable of rotating. A variety of signal formats of the output signal are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Ravi Vig, P. Karl Scheller, Paul David
  • Publication number: 20130335066
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cesaretti, Gerardo A. Monreal, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
  • Patent number: 8610371
    Abstract: In one aspect, a circuit includes a plurality of comparators. Each comparator is configured to receive a first input from a corresponding load of a plurality of loads and to receive a second input as a regulation voltage. The circuit also includes an amplifier configured to receive signals provided by the plurality of comparators, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) circuit configured to receive a control signal from the amplifier and to provide a signal to a primary switch to control voltage provided to the loads and an output switch sequencer coupled to each of the comparators and configured to provide control signals to control switches coupled to the primary switch enabling one control switch to be active at a time. Each control switch provides a voltage increase to a respective load of the plurality of loads if enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Nai-Chi Lee, Gregory Szczeszynski, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 8604777
    Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) current sensor that self-calibrates to adjust its signal gain when employed in a current divider configuration is presented. The current sensor includes an integrated current conductor, a magnetic field transducer, a controllable gain stage and a calibration controller. The integrated current conductor is adapted to receive a portion of a calibration current. The calibration current corresponds to a full scale current. The magnetic field transducer, responsive to the calibration current portion, provides a magnetic field signal having a magnitude proportional to a magnetic field generated by the calibration current portion. The controllable gain stage is configured to amplify the magnetic field signal with an adjustable gain to provide an amplified magnetic field signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, Shaun D. Milano
  • Patent number: 8598867
    Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object provides a threshold selection module that uses one or more threshold signals identified prior to a present cycle of magnetic field signal in order to establish a threshold signal used for a present cycle of the magnetic field signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Andreas P. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8577634
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor including a bidirectional node is configured to perform at least one of generating sensor data, storing sensor data, or communicating sensor data in a serial data signal in response to a trigger signal received at the bidirectional node. An alternative sensor having a node that may or may not be a bidirectional node is configured to reset at least one of a sensor data signal, a clock, a register, or a counter in response to a trigger signal received at the node and is further configured to communicate the sensor data signal in response to the trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Mark J. Donovan, Craig S. Petrie, Nevenka Kozomora, Michael C. Doogue
  • Patent number: 8564285
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a Hall element configured to generate a Hall element output signal in response to a magnetic field, the Hall element output signal comprising a magnetic field signal component and an offset signal component. The magnetic field sensor also includes a Hall element modulation circuit coupled to receive the Hall element output signal and configured to generate a modulation circuit output signal. The Hall element modulation circuit is modulated with a modulation signal having a changing modulation frequency that changes between a minimum frequency and a maximum frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Hernan D. Romero, Gerardo Monreal
  • Publication number: 20130249546
    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. In some embodiments, at least one passive component is attached to the die attach portion of at least two leads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Paul David, William P. Taylor, P. Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Andreas P. Friedrich
  • Publication number: 20130249536
    Abstract: A motion sensor has an output protocol processor configured to provide a validated output signal after a determined time period, wherein the determined time period is extended if a vibration is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Andrea Foletto, Devon Fernandez, Eric Burdette
  • Publication number: 20130249029
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Paul David, P. Karl Scheller, Andreas P. Friedrich
  • Patent number: 8542010
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cesaretti, Gerardo Monreal, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
  • Patent number: 8542011
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Weihua Chen, Michael G. Ward
  • Publication number: 20130226490
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130214778
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Allegro Microsystems, LLC