Patents by Inventor Andreas P. Friedrich
Andreas P. Friedrich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10323958Abstract: An assembly has a base structure, a rotatable structure, a first magnet coupled to the base structure, a second magnet coupled to the rotatable structure, and a magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can identify at least one condition (i.e., position) of the assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Stefan Kranz, Stephan Schurt, Andreas P. Friedrich, Yannick Vuillermet
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Publication number: 20190157465Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Paul A. David, P. Karl Scheller, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Patent number: 10234513Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die supporting a magnetic field sensing element, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and a portion of the lead frame, a ferromagnetic mold material secured to the non-conductive mold material and a securing mechanism to securely engage the mold materials. The ferromagnetic mold material may comprise a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator or a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet. The ferromagnetic mold material may be tapered and includes a non-contiguous central region, as may be an aperture or may contain the non-conductive mold material or an overmold material. Further embodiments include die up, lead on chip, and flip-chip arrangements, wafer level techniques to form the concentrator or bias magnet, integrated components, such as capacitors, on the lead frame, and a bias magnet with one or more channels to facilitate overmolding.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Andreas P. Friedrich, Paul David, Marie-Adelaide Lo, Eric Burdette, Eric Shoemaker, Michael C. Doogue
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Patent number: 10230006Abstract: 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. An electromagnetic suppressor comprising a ferromagnetic material encloses a passive device spaced from the non-conductive mold material and coupled to a plurality of leads.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2017Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Paul A. David, P. Karl Scheller, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Publication number: 20190056241Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for determining a position of a magnet, the position identified by one or more position variables can include: one or more magnetic field sensing element operable to generate one or more magnetic field measurements of the magnet and an associated one or more measured magnetic field variable values; a first module for identifying calculated magnetic field variable values associated with a plurality of positions of the magnet; a second module operable to perform an optimization process to determine a value of a distance function, the distance function using the one or more measured magnetic field variable values and the calculated magnetic field variable values; and a third module operable to determine the position of the magnet by associating the value of the distance function with corresponding values of the one or more position variables. A complimentary method can be used in the magnetic field sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2017Publication date: February 21, 2019Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Yannick Vuillermet, Andrea Foletto, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Publication number: 20190049527Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a passive component, semiconductor die supporting a magnetic field sensing element and attached to the lead frame, a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame, and a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. The lead frame has a recessed region and the passive component is positioned in the recessed region. The ferromagnetic mold material may comprise a soft ferromagnetic material to form a concentrator or a hard ferromagnetic material to form a bias magnet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Andreas P. Friedrich, Paul A. David, Marie-Adelaide Lo, Eric Burdette, Eric G. Shoemaker, Michael C. Doogue
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Publication number: 20190049529Abstract: Hall effect elements are driven by current generators that use vertical epi resistors disposed away from an edge of a substrate upon which, within which, or over which, the Hall effect elements, the current generators, and the vertical epi resistors are disposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2017Publication date: February 14, 2019Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Juan Manuel Cesaretti, Andreas P. Friedrich, Gerardo A. Monreal, Alejandro Gabriel Milesi
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Publication number: 20180267594Abstract: A system and method for managing occupation of a shared space using a management system comprising a display device located at the shared space and a server, wherein the display device and the server include first interfaces configured for exchange of data and lower power second interfaces configured for signaling the presence of data to be exchanged, where the first interface is in an active mode by default and is placed into an active mode when the server sends a signal to the display device via the second interfaces, or when a user performs an action at the display device, that indicates there is data to be exchanged between the display device and the central server.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2016Publication date: September 20, 2018Applicant: Roomz SAInventors: Roger MEIER, Andreas P. FRIEDRICH
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Patent number: 10078117Abstract: A magnetic field sensor and an associated method use one or more magnetoresistance elements driven with an AC mixing current and experiencing an AC mixing magnetic field to generate a DC voltage signal or a DC voltage signal component related to a slope of a transfer curve of the one or more magnetoresistance elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignees: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternativesInventors: Gerardo A. Monreal, Andreas P. Friedrich, Claude Fermon, Myriam Pannetier-Lecoeur
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Publication number: 20180094951Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a back bias magnet to generate a DC magnetic field. First and second magnetic field sensing elements of the magnetic field sensor are disposed proximate to at least one ferromagnetic surface of a ferromagnetic target object. The first and second magnetic field sensing elements generate first and second electronic signals, respectively, in response to first and second sensed magnetic fields corresponding to the DC magnetic field but influenced by the at least one ferromagnetic surface. The magnetic field sensor generates a difference signal that is a difference of amplitudes of the first and second electronic signals. The difference signal is indicative of a rotation measurement of an absolute relative rotation of the ferromagnetic target object and the magnetic field sensor about a rotation axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Simon Tima, Yannick Vuillermet, Andreas P. Friedrich, Thomas Kerdraon
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Patent number: 9869566Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a back bias magnet to generate a DC magnetic field. First and second magnetic field sensing elements of the magnetic field sensor are disposed proximate to at least one ferromagnetic surface of a ferromagnetic target object. The first and second magnetic field sensing elements generate first and second electronic signals, respectively, in response to first and second sensed magnetic fields corresponding to the DC magnetic field but influenced by the at least one ferromagnetic surface. The magnetic field sensor generates a difference signal that is a difference of amplitudes of the first and second electronic signals. The difference signal is indicative of a rotation measurement of an absolute relative rotation of the ferromagnetic target object and the magnetic field sensor about a rotation axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Simon Tima, Yannick Vuillermet, Andreas P. Friedrich, Thomas Kerdraon
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Publication number: 20170356763Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods for determining a position of a gear shift lever of a vehicle. A ferromagnetic target object having selected characteristics influences a magnetic field generated by a back bias magnet. A magnetic field sensor includes magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the target object. Each magnetic field sensing element generates an electronic signal in response to sensed magnetic fields. The gear shift lever moves among a plurality of gears of the vehicle. The magnetic field sensor selects a set of the magnetic field sensing elements to determine a magnetic field difference based on a difference of amplitudes between the electronic signals that is related to a current position of the gear shift lever. Characteristics of the target object enable the magnetic field sensor to detect the position of the gear shift lever. The characteristics include edges proximate to a perimeter of the target object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2016Publication date: December 14, 2017Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Yannick Vuillermet, Cédric Gillet, Andrea Foletto, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Patent number: 9823090Abstract: A magnetic field sensor operates as a motion detector for sensing a movement of a ferromagnetic target object having features. The magnetic field sensor has a plurality of magnetoresistance elements to generate, in a first channel, a feature signal indicative of a proximity of a feature of a ferromagnetic target object and, in a second channel, an edge signal indicative of a proximity of an edge of a feature of a ferromagnetic target object.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Andrea Foletto, Yannick Vuillermet, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Patent number: 9812588Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLCInventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Paul David, P. Karl Scheller, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Patent number: 9797746Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a magnetic target include a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements arranged about a central point. Each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements is configured to measure a magnetic field produced by a magnetic target and provide a respective output signal that represents a respective measurement of a strength of the magnetic field. A processor circuit is coupled to receive the output signal from each one of the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and determine a barycenter of the measurements of the magnetic field based on a position of the magnetic field sensing elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Yannick Vuillermet, Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto
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Patent number: 9797963Abstract: Systems and techniques for a detecting a magnetic target that reduce output signal jitter are disclosed. A system includes a magnetic target. The magnetic target has a plurality of regions having juxtaposed edges and opposing ends. Adjacent ones of the plurality of regions have different magnetic polarities. The magnetic target includes a first magnetic strip, having a first magnetic polarity disposed at one end of the regions, and a second magnetic strip having a second magnetic polarity opposite to the first magnetic polarity disposed at a second end of the regions to generate a magnetic bias across at least a portion of the regions. The system includes at least one magnetic field sensing element placed in proximity to the magnetic target and configured to produce an output signal responsive to the magnetic target.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Yannick Vuillermet
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Publication number: 20170278981Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Ravi Vig, William P. Taylor, Paul A. David, P. Karl Scheller, Andreas P. Friedrich
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Publication number: 20170268903Abstract: An assembly has a base structure, a rotatable structure, a first magnet coupled to the base structure, a second magnet coupled to the rotatable structure, and a magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can identify at least one condition (i.e., position) of the assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLCInventors: Stefan Kranz, Stephan Schurt, Andreas P. Friedrich, Yannick Vuillermet
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Patent number: 9739637Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes magnetic field sensing elements to generate at least two phase-separated magnetic field signals and a processor including a vector angle generator to generate vector angle values as a function of the magnetic field signals and a vector angle comparator to generate a comparator output signal indicative of a difference between a plurality of vector angle values. An output signal generator responsive to the comparator output signal is configured to generate a sensor output signal indicative of a one or more conditions of motion of the object including: an absence of normal rotation, a direction change, and a vibration. In some embodiments, the vector angle comparator may generate a comparator output signal indicative of a comparison of a vector angle value and one or more threshold values. In this case, the output signal generator may be configured to generate a sensor output signal indicative of a speed of motion and/or a position of the object.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2014Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLCInventors: Christian Feucht, Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto
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Publication number: 20170234702Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a back bias magnet to generate a DC magnetic field. First and second magnetic field sensing elements of the magnetic field sensor are disposed proximate to at least one ferromagnetic surface of a ferromagnetic target object. The first and second magnetic field sensing elements generate first and second electronic signals, respectively, in response to first and second sensed magnetic fields corresponding to the DC magnetic field but influenced by the at least one ferromagnetic surface. The magnetic field sensor generates a difference signal that is a difference of amplitudes of the first and second electronic signals. The difference signal is indicative of a rotation measurement of an absolute relative rotation of the ferromagnetic target object and the magnetic field sensor about a rotation axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, LLCInventors: Simon Tima, Yannick Vuillermet, Andreas P. Friedrich, Thomas Kerdraon