Patents Assigned to Melexis
  • Patent number: 11656099
    Abstract: A rotation angle detector includes a magnet arranged to rotate, and a magnetic detection circuit provided with a first pair of magnetic detection elements arranged to be in combination sensitive to a first magnetic field in circumferential direction to the first surface and to a second magnetic field in normal direction to the first surface and arranged away from the rotation axis, and configured to detect magnetic flux of the magnet. A second pair of magnetic detection elements are arranged to be in combination sensitive to the first magnetic field in circumferential direction to the first surface and to the second magnetic field in normal direction to the first surface. A signal processing unit is configured to output a signal representative of a rotation angle of the magnet based on outputs of the first and second pair of magnetic detection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Takumi Yoshiya
  • Patent number: 11655142
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor device comprising: configuring a moulding support structure and a packaging mould so as to provide predetermined pathways to accommodate a moulding compound, the moulding support structure defining a first notional volume adjacent a second notional volume. An elongate sensor element and the moulding support structure are configured so that the moulding support structure fixedly carries the elongate sensor element and the elongate sensor element resides substantially in the first notional volume and extends towards the second notional volume, the elongate sensor element having an electrical contact electrically coupled to another electrical contact disposed within the second notional volume. The moulding support structure carrying (102) the elongate sensor element is disposed within the packaging mould (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventor: Appolonius Jacobus Van Der Wiel
  • Patent number: 11644343
    Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a position of a target, in particular for offset invariant sensing of the position of the target, is described as well as a corresponding method. The apparatus comprises at least three sensor elements. At least one sensor element of the at least three sensor elements generates a first magnetic field. At least two sensor elements of the at least three sensor elements receive a second magnetic field associated with the first magnetic field. The at least two sensor elements of the at least three sensor elements form at least one sensor element pair and provide a signal indicative of the position of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Melexis Technologies SA
    Inventors: Wolfram Kluge, David Ihle, Jorg Rudiger, Sascha Beyer
  • Patent number: 11635310
    Abstract: A position sensor system comprising: a magnetic field generator movable relative to two sensor devices or vice versa. The system has at least one processor adapted with a special algorithm for determining a position of the magnetic field generator in a manner which is highly robust against a disturbance field. A method for determining the position of the magnetic field generator based on a set of equations, in particular a set of linear equations which allows to completely eliminate the external disturbance field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Javier Bilbao De Mendizabal
  • Publication number: 20230121579
    Abstract: An evaluation and control unit (100) for a broadband lambda probe (200) and a method for operating the same are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Melexis Technologies NV
    Inventors: Claudius Bevot, Bernhard Ledermann, Stefan Kremer, Volodymyr Sotnikov
  • Patent number: 11632118
    Abstract: An oscillator-based sensor interface circuit includes first and second input nodes arranged to receive first and second electrical signals representative of an electrical quantity, respectively; an analog filter; a first oscillator arranged to receive a first oscillator input signal and a second oscillator different from the first oscillator and arranged to receive a second oscillator input signal; a comparator arranged to compare signals coming from the first and second oscillators; a first feedback element arranged to receive a representation of the digital comparator output signal and to convert the representation into a first feedback signal to be applied to the oscillation means; a digital filter arranged to yield an output signal, being an filtered version of the digital comparator output signal; a second feedback element arranged to receive the output signal and to convert the output signal into a second feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventor: Johan Vergauwen
  • Patent number: 11614344
    Abstract: A method of determining an angular position of a target of an inductive angular position sensor system, relative to a substrate, includes the steps of: receiving, demodulating and digitizing signals, and reducing a DC-offset of the digital signals, and determining an angular position. The step of reducing the DC-offset involves: i) initializing a DC-correction value; ii) subtracting the DC-correction value to obtain DC-shifted signals; iii) clipping the DC-shifted-signals to obtain clipped signals; iv) calculating a first sum by summing values of the clipped signal over one period, and v) calculating a second sum by summing absolute values of the clipped signal over said period; vi) adding to each DC correction value K times the first sum divided by the second sum, where K is a predefined constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Eric Sachse
  • Patent number: 11614343
    Abstract: A position sensor system is arranged for determining a position of a sensor device movable along a predefined path relative to a magnetic source. The system includes the magnetic source and the sensor device. The magnetic source has a first plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a first track and a second plurality of magnetic pole pairs arranged along a second track, centrelines of the tracks are spaced apart by a predefined track distance. The sensor device is configured for measuring at least two orthogonal magnetic field components at a first sensor location, and at least two second orthogonal magnetic field components at a second sensor location. The first and second sensor location are spaced apart by a predefined sensor distance smaller than the predefined track distance, in a direction transverse to the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Christian Schott, Gael Close, Bruno Brajon
  • Patent number: 11604234
    Abstract: A sensor system for measuring a physical quantity includes: a bridge sensor having at least two terminal pairs, a current source for applying a bias current between the bias terminal pair, resulting in a differential sensor signal on a readout terminal pair, wherein the differential sensor signal is indicative for the physical quantity, and an amplifier comprising a first input node and a second input node for receiving the differential signal and at least one output node, wherein the amplifier is configured for amplifying the differential sensor signal and putting the resulting signal on the at least one output node, wherein the sensor system is configured such that, in operation, the amplifier is powered by at least part of the bias current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Johan Raman, Pieter Rombouts
  • Patent number: 11600559
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a sensor device (100) comprises providing (200) a package (102) having a first die-receiving subframe volume (104) separated from a second die-receiving subframe volume (106) by a partition wall (116). An elongate sensor element (120) is disposed (202) within the package (102) so as to bridge the first and second subframe volumes (104, 106) and to overlie the partition wall (116). The elongate sensor element (120) resides substantially in the first subframe volume (104) and partially in the second subframe volume (106). The elongate sensor element (120) is electrically connected within the second subframe volume (106).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Appolonius Jacobus Van Der Wiel, Laurent Otte
  • Patent number: 11592317
    Abstract: Method of determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic source, includes: a) determining a first and a second magnetic field component at a first sensor location; b) determining a third and a fourth magnetic field component at a second sensor location; c) determining a first difference of the first and third component, and determining a second difference of the second and fourth component, and determining a first angle based on a ratio of the first and second difference; d) determining a first sum of the first and third component, and determining a second sum of the second and fourth component; e) determining a second angle based on a ratio of said first and second sum; f) comparing the first and second angle to detect error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Gael Close, Eric Lahaye, Lionel Tombez
  • Patent number: 11592318
    Abstract: A system for measuring an angular position of a rotor with respect to a stator, wherein the rotor is rotatable around a rotation axis, and the system includes: a magnetic source mounted on the rotor, having at least four magnet poles and providing a periodically repetitive magnetic field pattern with respect to the rotation axis; a sensor mounted on the stator and comprising a plurality of sensor elements for measuring at least one magnetic field component of the magnetic field and for providing a measurement signal thereof; the sensor being located substantially centered around the rotation axis, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis at a first distance from the magnetic source; the sensor elements being located substantially on a circle at a second distance from the rotation axis; a calculator that determines the angular position by calculating it from the measurement signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Christian Schott, Samuel Huber
  • Patent number: 11579031
    Abstract: A sensor structure for measuring a torque applied to a first shaft and a second shaft interconnected by a torsion bar, includes: a multi-pole ring magnet mechanically connected to the first shaft; two pairs of magnetic yokes mechanically connected to the second shaft, each yoke being connected to one or more pads by fingers; the fingers of the first pair of yokes projecting mainly in a radial direction, the fingers of the second pair of yokes projecting mainly in an axial direction; a first and a second pair of flux collectors with extensions forming a first and a second gap; a first sensor in the first gap, a second sensor in the second gap; a circuit for combining signals from the first and second sensor to reduce or eliminates the influence of an external disturbance field, and for determining the torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventor: Javier Bilbao De Mendizabal
  • Patent number: 11573074
    Abstract: A hybrid position sensor for determining the position of a hybrid target includes a main transducer for obtaining a first signal indicative for a position of the hybrid target within a first range and with a first resolution using a first or second technology; a support transducer for obtaining a second signal indicative for the position of the hybrid target within a second range and with a second resolution using the second technology if the main transducer is using the first technology and vice versa, wherein the first range is smaller than the second and the first resolution is higher than the second, and wherein the first technology is magnet based and the second technology is an inductive technology; a combiner for combining the obtained first signal and second signal to determine the position of the hybrid target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Gael Close, Lorenzo Lugani
  • Patent number: 11561268
    Abstract: A method of determining a gradient of a magnetic field, includes the steps of: biasing a first/second magnetic sensor with a first/second biasing signal; measuring and amplifying a first/second magnetic sensor signal; measuring a temperature and/or a stress difference; adjusting at least one of: the second biasing signal, the second amplifier gain, the amplified and digitized second sensor value using a predefined function f(T) or f(T, ??) or f(??) of the measured temperature and/or the measured differential stress before determining a difference between the first/second signal/value derived from the first/second sensor signal. A magnetic sensor device is configured for performing this method, as well as a current sensor device, and a position sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Nicolas Dupre, Yves Bidaux
  • Patent number: 11551493
    Abstract: A sensor system for acquiring a perturbation, induced by a contact patch of a tire, in data generated by a sensor system mounted in the tire, comprises at least one sensor adapted for generating the data related to a physical property of the tire, and an acquisition system comprising memory. The sensor system is adapted for triggering the acquisition system to acquire the data and for storing it in a buffer in the memory, until a predefined delay after the perturbation is recognized. The perturbation is recognized by comparing the stored data with at least one characterizing feature of the perturbation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Julien Canioncq, Ivan Zagan, Yevgeniy Sosuliaka
  • Patent number: 11552677
    Abstract: A transmitter device is provided for transmission of data via DC power distribution lines includes a sequence generator arranged for receiving a raw data bit stream to be transmitted over a positive and a negative DC power distribution line and for deriving a switching sequence based on the raw data bit stream, and a circuit including one or more capacitors and a plurality of switches controllable with the switching sequence derived in the sequence generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES NV
    Inventors: Andreas Ott, Federico D'Aniello, Thomas Freitag, Andrea Baschirotto
  • Patent number: 11543466
    Abstract: A sensor comprises a housing; and a lead frame comprising at least three elongated leads having an exterior portion extending from the housing; and a magnetic sensor circuit disposed in the housing and connected to the lead frame. The housing comprising at least two recesses or at least two lateral protrusions arranged on two opposite sides of the housing, for allowing the sensor to be mounted to the support. A component assembly comprising said sensor mounted on a support, the support comprising a plurality of first and second posts and a plurality of electrical contacts. A method of producing said component assembly, comprising the step of arranging said sensor with its elongated leads adjacent the first posts, and arranging its lateral protrusions and/or lateral recesses adjacent the second posts, and connecting the elongated leads to the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Jian Chen, Matthijs Pardoen, Arnaud Laville, Orlin Gueorguiev Saradjov
  • Patent number: 11541701
    Abstract: An auto-location system for auto-locating a wheel in a vehicle comprises: a sensor module which comprises a sensor adapted for sensing a physical property of the tire when mounted in a tire or on an inner surface of the tire of the wheel, an acquisition system adapted for determining when the part of the tire where the sensor is mounted hits the ground, and forms a contact patch with the ground, by analyzing data from the sensor, and a communication system adapted for transmitting a wireless message, in which a unique identifier is embedded, a transmit delay after the part of the tire where the sensor is mounted hits the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Emeric Pierre, Julien Canioncq, Ivan Zagan
  • Patent number: 11536587
    Abstract: A position sensor device includes position sensor elements for generating analog sense signals. A digitization circuit is provided for a digital signal representative of the input phase based on the analog sense signals and a digital processing unit. An output signal is indicative of the position based on the first output of the processing unit. The processing unit comprises an error signal generator for computing an error signal indicative of a phase difference between the digital signal and a feedback signal. A digital filter filters the error signal to generate the first output. A feedback path provides the feedback signal based on the first output and a filter selector to select a filter to be applied from different filters. At least one input on which a common filter circuit operates is scaled differently for each of the different filters to select different filter bandwidths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: MELEXIS TECHNOLOGIES SA
    Inventors: Eric Sachse, Gael Close