Abstract: A Hall transducer produces a signal Vsig. Threshold voltages V.sub.Pth and V.sub.Nth are generated at the beginning, t.sub.update, of each of a succession of update time intervals, of 64 pulses in Vsig, to be fixed percentages respectively of the peak to peak voltage in Vsig. A proximity-detector binary output voltage is high when Vsig exceeds threshold voltage V.sub.Pth and low when Vsig is below threshold voltage V.sub.Nth. Signals V.sub.Pold and V.sub.Nold, generated by first and second DACs, are equal to the first positive and negative peaks in Vsig after each time t.sub.update initiating the start of a successive interval. Signals V.sub.Pnew and V.sub.Nnew, simultaneously generated by third and fourth DACs, are equal to the greatest positive and negative peak voltages in Vsig during the interval ending at t.sub.update. Counters present their count to the first and second DACs that count pulses from a clock for tracking and holding +/- peaks in Vsig. After each time t.sub.

Abstract: A temperature-compensated current source energizes a Hall element. The current source includes a voltage divider across the DC voltage supply busses and a differential amplifier arranged as a voltage follower which develops the output voltage across a reference resistor, creating a reference current which is amplified to generate a Hall energizing current. This results in a Hall element gain which is controllable over temperature. The temperature coefficient of the resistor can be chosen to compensate for the sensitivity temperature coefficient of a Hall element powered by a constant current source. Additionally, the temperature coefficient of the resistor may be chosen to compensate for the temperature coefficient of a magnet used to generate the magnetic field which the Hall element is intended to detect. The magnitude of the Hall current, and thus the Hall element gain, is directly proportional to the magnitude of the DC voltage supply.

Abstract: An electrical power controller includes an integrated circuit having a Hall element, a Hall voltage amplifier, a ramp signal generator, and a voltage comparator. The output of the ramp generator is connected to one input of the voltage comparator and the output of the Hall voltage amplifier is connected to the outer comparator input. During intervals when the amplified Hall voltage exceeds the ramp voltage, the output of the comparator changes from one binary state to the other such that a stream of pulses is generated at the output of the comparator. Thus as a magnetic field at the Hall element increases, the Hall voltage increases and the width of each pulse in the stream of pulses grows proportionally. Mechanical means is provided for manually moving and guiding the pole of a magnet along a path toward the integrated circuit. Constructions of such controllers adapted for use as lamp dimmers and DC motor speed controllers are described.