Abstract: An apparatus to insure safe behavior in an inverter system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first high side gate driver, a first low side gate driver, a microcontroller configured to control the first high side and low side gate drivers. A voltage regulator provides a supply voltage to the microcontroller. A first pair of high side voltage regulators provide a first pair of high side supply voltages to the first high side gate driver. A first pair of low side voltage regulators provide a first pair of low side supply voltages to the first low side gate driver.

Abstract: A dynamic safe state control circuit is disclosed that controls an electrical motor based on vehicle speed. A microcontroller or other processing device is configured to control an inverter system of an electrical motor. The dynamic safe state control circuit is configured to receive a first signal that corresponds to a speed of the electric motor. The circuit is configured to activate any one of a plurality of safe states in the inverter system based on the first signal and in response to a malfunction in the microcontroller.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a circuit configured to selectively activate a transistor. The circuit is further configured to assert a signal when the circuit detects an electrical short between terminals of the transistor or when the circuit detects the transistor does not conduct current while the transistor is activated by the circuit. The circuit is further configured to output another signal, which is set to a first state or a second state. The other signal is set to the first state when the circuit detects the electrical short. The other signal is set to the second state when the circuit detects the transistor does not conduct current while activated.

Abstract: An apparatus to insure safe behavior in an inverter system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first high side gate driver, a first low side gate driver, a microcontroller configured to control the first high side and low side gate drivers. A voltage regulator provides a supply voltage to the microcontroller. A first pair of high side voltage regulators provide a first pair of high side supply voltages to the first high side gate driver. A first pair of low side voltage regulators provide a first pair of low side supply voltages to the first low side gate driver.

Abstract: A dynamic safe state control circuit is disclosed that controls an electrical motor based on vehicle speed. A microcontroller or other processing device is configured to control an inverter system of an electrical motor. The dynamic safe state control circuit is configured to receive a first signal that corresponds to a speed of the electric motor. The circuit is configured to activate any one of a plurality of safe states in the inverter system based on the first signal and in response to a malfunction in the microcontroller.

Abstract: A wheel speed sensor interface receives an analog signal from a wheel speed sensor and converts the analog signal to a digital wheel speed sensor output signal. A detector circuit is configured to detect a transient occurring within a voltage source powering the wheel speed sensor, and compensate the digital wheel speed sensor output signal as a function of the detection of the transient so that it is an accurate representation of a wheel speed detected by the wheel speed sensor. The detector circuit includes a current mirror coupled to the voltage source, and outputs a compensation current to a current comparator of the wheel speed sensor interface.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a circuit configured to selectively activate a transistor. The circuit is further configured to assert a signal when the circuit detects an electrical short between terminals of the transistor or when the circuit detects the transistor does not conduct current while the transistor is activated by the circuit. The circuit is further configured to output another signal, which is set to a first state or a second state. The other signal is set to the first state when the circuit detects the electrical short. The other signal is set to the second state when the circuit detects the transistor does not conduct current while activated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resistive short circuit immunity for wheel speed sensor interface on braking system. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first circuit for transmitting a first current to a wheel speed sensor, and a second circuit for receiving a second current from the wheel speed sensor. Another circuit is coupled to the first and second circuits and configured to detect and respond to a near zero resistive short between the wheel speed sensor and ground. In this embodiment the circuit is configured to detect the near zero resistive short based on a direct or indirect comparison between magnitudes of the first and second currents to a first predetermined value, and based on a direct or indirect comparison between magnitudes of the first and second currents to a second predetermined value.

Abstract: An example apparatus that employs circuitry operating in response to digital clock signal circuitry. The apparatus includes first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry produces a high-frequency digital clock signal characterized by a high frequency which carries radiative noise interference and by a modulated low-frequency digital clock signal characterized by a low frequency modulated by a first type of modulation. The second circuitry produces another low-frequency digital clock signal by combining a disparate modulation signal and a feedback signal derived from the other low-frequency digital clock signal, wherein the disparate modulation signal is characterized by modulating the feedback signal via a second type of modulation that is independent of the first type of modulation and by cancellation/blocking of the radiative noise interference manifested by the circuitry operating in response to the digital clock signal circuitry.

Abstract: An example apparatus that employs circuitry operating in response to digital clock signal circuitry. The apparatus includes first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry produces a high-frequency digital clock signal characterized by a high frequency which carries radiative noise interference and by a modulated low-frequency digital clock signal characterized by a low frequency modulated by a first type of modulation. The second circuitry produces another low-frequency digital clock signal by combining a disparate modulation signal and a feedback signal derived from the other low-frequency digital clock signal, wherein the disparate modulation signal is characterized by modulating the feedback signal via a second type of modulation that is independent of the first type of modulation and by cancellation/blocking of the radiative noise interference manifested by the circuitry operating in response to the digital clock signal circuitry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for resistive short circuit immunity for wheel speed sensor interface on braking system. In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first circuit for transmitting a first current to a wheel speed sensor, and a second circuit for receiving a second current from the wheel speed sensor. Another circuit is coupled to the first and second circuits and configured to detect and respond to a near zero resistive short between the wheel speed sensor and ground. In this embodiment the circuit is configured to detect the near zero resistive short based on a direct or indirect comparison between magnitudes of the first and second currents to a first predetermined value, and based on a direct or indirect comparison between magnitudes of the first and second currents to a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A wheel speed sensor interface receives an analog signal from a wheel speed sensor and converts the analog signal to a digital wheel speed sensor output signal. A detector circuit is configured to detect a transient occurring within a voltage source powering the wheel speed sensor, and compensate the digital wheel speed sensor output signal as a function of the detection of the transient so that it is an accurate representation of a wheel speed detected by the wheel speed sensor. The detector circuit includes a current mirror coupled to the voltage source, and outputs a compensation current to a current comparator of the wheel speed sensor interface.

Abstract: A power regulator includes an output terminal to provide a regulated voltage, a first control unit to control a first operation mode, a second control unit to control a second operation mode, and a detection unit connected to the output terminal. The detection unit detects, at start-up, whether or not an external inductor is connected to the output terminal, activates the first operation mode when an external inductor is detected, and activates the second operation mode when no external inductor is detected. The detection unit also detects in which of at least two distinct inductance ranges the inductance of the detected inductor lies so as to provide inductance dependent control in the first operation mode.