Abstract: A magnetic structure for detecting a relative motion between the magnetic structure and a magnetic field sensor comprises at least two permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are arranged along a predetermined line which for example is a straight or circular line at a predetermined distance g from each other. The permanent magnets are magnetized in the direction of the line, adjacent permanent magnets having an opposite direction of magnetization.

Abstract: An optical data transceiver is manufactured by forming an integrated control circuit (101) on a suitable substrate, such as a silicon wafer, and then mounting said integrated circuit (101) onto the lead frame (102). Electrical connections may then be made between said integrated circuit (101) and said lead frame (102). The combined assembly comprising the integrated circuit (101) and lead frame (102) is then inserted into the cavity of a mold tool (not shown). A suitable molding compound is injected to encapsulate the combined assembly. The mold tool is provided with a projection (not shown) that is in contact with a portion of the surface of the integrated circuit (101) when the assembly is in the mold tool. As a result, the opening (106), exposing that portion of the surface of the integrated control circuit (101) that was in contact with the projection of the mold tool, is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing the contrast of an image. The method may include creating a histogram of an original image, determining output pixel values based on one or more thresholds that define a minimum number of pixels in each histogram bin, and correcting the original image using the output pixel values.

Abstract: A vertical Hall sensor which is integrated in a semiconductor chip has at least 6 electric contacts which are arranged along a straight line on the surface of the semiconductor chip. The electric contacts are wired according to a predetermined rule, namely such that when the contacts are numbered through continuously and repeatedly with the numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 starting from one of the two outermost contacts, the contacts to which the same numeral is assigned are electrically connected with each other.

Abstract: A Hall sensor comprises two separate wells and each having respective contacts provided thereover. An oppositely directed bias current is supplied via contacts. Accordingly, a differential signal can be obtained from the two output contacts. As in each well the middle contact can be precisely centred between the two outer contacts, the intrinsic offset is small. The sensor 300 can be subjected to reversed operation by reversing the bias current direction. This provides a sensor with a low and temperature-stable offset.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to selectably operate a pixel circuit within an active pixel image sensor in a source follower mode or a common source amplifier mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform low noise reset of a pixel circuit within an active pixel image sensor.

Abstract: An encapsulated calorimetric flow meter according to the present invention comprises an integrated circuit (104) mounted on a lead frame (102). The integrated circuit has a channel (105) provided in its lower face, the channel being aligned with two holes (103) provided in the lead frame, the holes coinciding with the ends of the channel (105). There are further slots (111) in the lead frame (102) alongside the integrated circuit to thermally isolate it from the rest of the lead frame (102), which acts as a heat sink to keep the entry and exit fluid at ambient temperature. The flow meter is manufactured by mounting the integrated circuit (104) on to a suitable lead frame (102). The assembly of integrated circuit (104) and lead frame (102) is then inverted and blobs of gel (112, 114) are then deposited onto the lead frame (102) covering the holes (103). The assembly is then inserted into a mould (100) and encapsulated within a suitable mould compound.

Abstract: A circuit for generating non-overlapping clock signals includes a programmable delayed reference clock signals circuit to produce a plurality of delayed reference clock signals and a plurality of delay clock signal generators, operatively connected to the programmable delayed reference clock signals circuit, to generate non-overlapping clock signals. Each delay clock signal generator includes a latch or flip-flop to control a delay in a rising edge of a clock signal and to output a first signal, another latch or flip-flop to control a delay in a falling edge of a delayed clock signal and to output a first signal, and a logic circuit to generate the clock signal from the first and second signals. The latches or flip-flops independently control a delay in the rising edge of the clock signal in response to one of the plurality of delayed reference clock signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to perform low noise reset of a pixel circuit within an active pixel image sensor.

Abstract: Tire pressure monitoring system for a vehicle includes sensor units mounted in each tire of the vehicle, each sensor unit being operable to output an RF signal indicative of the pressure in the tire in which it is mounted; a pair of communicator units for receiving signals from said sensor units, said pair of communicator units being provided at different locations on the vehicle; and a control unit connected to said communicator units wherein said control unit is operable to determine which sensor unit is associated with which tire by monitoring the strength of the RF signal received from each respective sensor unit by each communicator unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to operate a pixel circuit within an active pixel image sensor in a common gate amplifier mode.

Abstract: A device for measuring current comprises a magnetic field sensor for measuring the magnetic field produced by a current I flowing through a current conductor and a yoke of a magnetic material with a relative permeability of at least 100. The magnetic field sensor preferably comprises a semiconductor chip with at least one Hall element and an electronic circuit for the operation of the Hall element. The yoke consists of an oblong piece of sheet metal or a laminate of sheet metals with two ends, that has been brought by bending into a form in which the front sides of the ends of the yoke face each other and are separated by an air gap. The ends of the yoke may be flush, tapered, or flayed relative to the width of the yoke.

Abstract: The method of the present invention for switching an output driver of the type comprising an n-mos transistor and a p-mos transistor configured in a push-pull arrangement operates by directly monitoring the level of the output signal OUT. The method comprises slowly switching off the input to the initially designated active transistor; monitoring the variation in output voltage level in response thereto; and when a desired change in output level is detected the switching the initially designated output transistor on completely and fast. Using this method the parasitic currents in the diodes are much smaller in time and amplitude.

Abstract: A magnetic angle sensor 100 comprises a bulk substrate; a circular well 101 provided upon the bulk substrate; an even numbered plurality of electrodes 102a-102x spaced at regular intervals in a ring formation over the circular well; and means for selectively applying a progressive succession of differently directed bias currents 104 to and/or using the said ring of electrodes 102 to provide a succession of Hall potentials indicative of the relative magnitude of successive differently oriented magnetic field components B in the plane of the magnetic angle sensor 100. The sensor 100 operates cyclically and the full progressive succession cycle involves applying and/or using each electrode 102 in the ring at least once for applying a bias current and/or sensing a Hall potential. In such a manner, the full cycle comprises the progressive succession of the axis of measurement of the sensor 100 through a complete rotation within the plane of the sensor.

Abstract: A packaged, optically active integrated circuit device is shown is manufactured by mounting the integrated circuit (201) onto a first part of a lead frame (206) using epoxy (209). Electrical connections (207) are made using conventional wire bonding techniques between the integrated circuit (201) and peripheral parts (205) of the lead frame (206). Optical adhesive (202) is dispensed onto the surface of the integrated circuit to surround the optically active element (208). A glass lid (203) is placed onto the surface of the integrated circuit (201) aligned with the optical adhesive (202). This provides a mounted and covered assembly. The mounted and covered assembly is placed in a mould tool having projection with a soft surface opposite to and in contact with the exposed surface of the glass lid (203).

Abstract: A method of determining the position of a probe relative to a scale wherein the probe contains a sensor of the type comprising one or more pairs of orthogonal sensing elements X, Y operable to measure properties varying locally with the position of the probe relative to the scale. In use, a sinusoidally varying bias Ix, Iy is applied to each of the elements X, Y. The resultant outputs of elements X and Y are fed to summing means 101 and difference means 102. The summing means 101 is operable to output a summed signal Vsum equal to the instantaneous sum of Vx and Vy. The difference means 102 is operable to output a difference signal Vdiff equal to the instantaneous difference between Vx and Vy. The outputs Vsum and Vdiff are fed into a phase comparator 103, which is operable to determine the phase difference between them. The phase angle between Vsum and Vdiff provides an indication of the position of the probe relative to the scale.

Abstract: An optical data transceiver is manufactured by forming an integrated control circuit (101) on a suitable substrate, such as a silicon wafer, and then mounting said integrated circuit (101) onto the lead frame (102). Electrical connections may then be made between said integrated circuit (101) and said lead frame (102). The combined assembly comprising the integrated circuit (101) and lead frame (102) is then inserted into the cavity of a mould tool (not shown). A suitable moulding compound is injected to encapsulate the combined assembly. The mould tool is provided with a projection (not shown) that is in contact with a portion of the surface of the integrated circuit (101) when the assembly is in the mould tool. As a result, the opening (106), exposing that portion of the surface of the integrated control circuit (101) that was in contact with the projection of the mould tool, is provided.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to configure a photodetector (10) such that no disadvantages are created for processing low luminous intensities on detectors known in prior art, especially when monolithically integrating the evaluation electronics. Said aim is achieved by a photodetector for processing low luminous intensities, comprising a monolithically integrated transimpedance amplifier and monolithically integrated evaluation electronics. An actual photocell component (20) is assigned to the chip face onto which the light preferably falls. Electronic circuit components (30) are arranged on the opposite chip face. Electrical connections (40) between the photocell and the electronic circuit are provided with an extension in the direction running perpendicular to the chip normal.

Abstract: A magnetic structure for detecting a relative motion between the magnetic structure and a magnetic field sensor comprises at least two permanent magnets. The permanent magnets are arranged along a predetermined line which for example is a straight or circular line at a predetermined distance g from each other. The permanent magnets are magnetized in the direction of the line, adjacent permanent magnets having an opposite direction of magnetization.