Abstract: A magnetic field sensor can be are based upon three element vertical Hall element building blocks, e.g., three element or six element vertical Hall element arrangements, all arranged in a circle. In some embodiments, the circle of vertical Hall elements can be arranged as a CVH sensing element.

Abstract: An electronic circuit can have a first plurality of vertical Hall elements and a second plurality of vertical Hall elements all disposed on a substrate having a plurality of crystal unit cells, wherein the first plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed within five degrees of parallel to an edge of the crystal unit cells, and wherein the second plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed between eighty-five and ninety-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axes of the first plurality of vertical Hall elements.

Abstract: An electronic circuit can have a first plurality of vertical Hall elements and a second plurality of vertical Hall elements all disposed on a substrate having a plurality of crystal unit cells, wherein the first plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed within five degrees of parallel to an edge of the crystal unit cells, and wherein the second plurality of vertical Hall elements have longitudinal axes disposed between eighty-five and ninety-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axes of the first plurality of vertical Hall elements.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor can be are based upon three element vertical Hall element building blocks, e.g., three element or six element vertical Hall element arrangements, all arranged in a circle. In some embodiments, the circle of vertical Hall elements can be arranged as a CVH sensing element.

Abstract: A method comprising: performing a first read from an address in a data storage module by using a first read voltage; storing, in a first register, data that is retrieved from the data storage module as a result of the first read; performing a second read from the address by using a second read voltage; storing, in a second register, data that is retrieved from the data storage module as a result of the second read; detecting whether a weak bit condition is present at the address based on the data that is stored in the first register and the data that is stored in the second register; and correcting the weak bit condition, when the weak bit condition is present at the address.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a first portion of conductive material having varying response to a generated magnetic field along a length of the conductive material, wherein the first portion of conductive material produces a varying eddy current and a varying reflected magnetic field, in response to the generated magnetic field. The apparatus further includes one or more reference portions of conductive material having a relatively invariable response to the generated magnetic field, wherein the reference portion of conductive material produces a relatively invariable eddy current and a relatively invariable reflected magnetic field in response to the generated magnetic field.

Abstract: A method comprising: performing a first read from an address in a data storage module by using a first read voltage; storing, in a first register, data that is retrieved from the data storage module as a result of the first read; performing a second read from the address by using a second read voltage; storing, in a second register, data that is retrieved from the data storage module as a result of the second read; detecting whether a weak bit condition is present at the address based on the data that is stored in the first register and the data that is stored in the second register; and correcting the weak bit condition, when the weak bit condition is present at the address.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a signal isolator IC package including a die having a first die portion isolated from a second die portion. The first die portion is surrounded on six sides by first insulative material and the second die portion is surrounded on six sides by second insulative material. The first die portion provides a first voltage domain and the second die portion provides a second voltage domain. The signal isolator comprises a first signal path between the first die portion and the second die portion, wherein the first signal path is isolated with respect to the first and second die portions.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a first portion of conductive material having varying response to a generated magnetic field along a length of the conductive material, wherein the first portion of conductive material produces a varying eddy current and a varying reflected magnetic field, in response to the generated magnetic field. The apparatus further includes one or more reference portions of conductive material having a relatively invariable response to the generated magnetic field, wherein the reference portion of conductive material produces a relatively invariable eddy current and a relatively invariable reflected magnetic field in response to the generated magnetic field.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a conductive material having varying thickness along its length, the varying thickness providing varying response along a length of the conductive material to a magnetic field having a non-zero frequency; wherein the magnetic field produces an eddy current in the conductive material which generates a reflected magnetic field, wherein the varying response causes the reflected magnetic field to vary in strength along the length of the conductive material. The apparatus may include one or more reference portions of conductive material.

Abstract: A planar Hall effect element be formed upon or can include a P-type substrate. The planar Hall effect element can also include a Hall plate region. The Hall plate region can include a first portion of an N-type layer disposed over the P-type substrate. The first portion of the N-type layer can include a top surface distal from the P-type substrate, and a continuous N-type outer boundary intersecting the top surface of the Hall plate region. The planar Hail effect element can also include an isolation region having a continuous outer boundary and having a continuous inner boundary, the continuous inner boundary in contact with all of the outer boundary of the Hall plate region, the P-type substrate and the first portion of the N-type layer not forming a P/N junction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for performing a self-test of a magnetic field sensor using internal diagnostic components for fault detection. The magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic sensing element coupled to a sensor biasing current source and a switching network coupled to the magnetic sensing element. The switching network includes one or more diagnostics switches and one or more signal switches, and the one or more diagnostic switches are coupled to a diagnostic input current source. The switching network is configured to generate a time-multiplexed signal having a magnetic signal responsive to an external magnetic field in a magnetic signal time period and a diagnostic signal in a diagnostic signal time period. The diagnostic signal may be operable to produce an intermediate signal to have a predetermined sequence between a first state and a second state.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A planar Hall effect element be formed upon or can include a the P-type substrate. The planar Hall effect element can also include a Hall plate region. The Hall plate region can include a first portion of an N-type layer disposed over the P-type substrate. The first portion of the N-type layer can include a top surface distal from the P-type substrate, and a continuous N-type outer boundary intersecting the top surface of the Hall plate region. The planar Hall effect element can also include an isolation region having a continuous outer boundary and having a continuous inner boundary, the continuous inner boundary in contact with all of the outer boundary of the Hall plate region, the P-type substrate and the first portion of the N-type layer not forming a P/N junction.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a first magnetic field sensor configured to sense a ring magnet, a second magnetic field sensor configured to sense the ring magnet and processing circuitry configured to receive a first signal from the first magnetic field sensor and to receive a second signal from the second magnetic field sensor. The processing circuitry is further configured to control an on/off state of at least one light emitting diode (LED) and brightness of the LED based on movement and position of the ring magnet with respect to the first and second magnetic field sensors.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a conductive material having varying thickness along its length, the varying thickness providing varying response along a length of the conductive material to a magnetic field having a non-zero frequency; wherein the magnetic field produces an eddy current in the conductive material which generates a reflected magnetic field, wherein the varying response causes the reflected magnetic field to vary in strength along the length of the conductive material. The apparatus may include one or more reference portions of conductive material.

Abstract: An integrated magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing circuit and a power driving circuit disposed upon or within a common substrate. A method of powering on and off a load uses the above integrated magnetic field sensor.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: In one aspect, an integrated circuit (IC) includes a first magnetic field sensor configured to sense a ring magnet, a second magnetic field sensor configured to sense the ring magnet and processing circuitry configured to receive a first signal from the first magnetic field sensor and to receive a second signal from the second magnetic field sensor. The processing circuitry is further configured to control an on/off state of at least one light emitting diode (LED) and brightness of the LED based on movement and position of the ring magnet with respect to the first and second magnetic field sensors.