Patents by Inventor Jeff Eagen

Jeff Eagen 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).

  • Patent number: 9520871
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit that includes a supply voltage transient detection module to activate a hold signal that causes the output to remain in its present state. In one embodiment, the output remains in that state until the supply voltage returns to a normal operating range and the hold signal transitions to an inactive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Jeff Eagen, Devon Fernandez, P. Karl Scheller
  • Patent number: 8957715
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output driver circuit having a plurality of output driver devices connected in a parallel arrangement and an output driver controller that is capable of individually controlling the conducting states of the output driver devices. In at least one embodiment, the controller is capable of achieving any of a plurality of different fall times (and/or rise times) in an output signal by appropriately controlling the conducting states of the output devices if a change in the state of the output signal is desired, in some implementations, the controller is capable of achieving different waveshapes during rising and/or failing edges of an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventor: Jeff Eagen
  • Publication number: 20140145711
    Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object includes a magnetic field sensing element for generating a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object and a motion detector to generate a motion signal indicative of the movement of the object. The motion detector includes a peak identifying circuit to provide a peak signal and a peak sample selection module that selects a sample associated with one or more prior cycles of a magnetic field signal to generate a selected peak signal. The motion detector further includes a threshold generator to generate a threshold signal as a function of the selected peak signal and a comparator to compare the threshold signal with the magnetic field signal to generate the motion signal. Peak samples from prior magnetic field signal cycles may be averaged for use to establish the threshold signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Burdette, James M. Bailey, Daniel S. Dwyer, Jeff Eagen, Glenn A. Forrest, Christine Graham, Eric Shoemaker, P. Karl Scheller
  • Patent number: 8723512
    Abstract: A circuit to detect a movement of an object includes a magnetic field sensing element for generating a magnetic field signal proportional to a magnetic field associated with the object and a motion detector to generate a motion signal indicative of the movement of the object. The motion detector includes a peak identifying circuit to provide a peak signal and a peak sample selection module that selects a sample associated with one or more prior cycles of a magnetic field signal to generate a selected peak signal. The motion detector further includes a threshold generator to generate a threshold signal as a function of the selected peak signal and a comparator to compare the threshold signal with the magnetic field signal to generate the motion signal. Peak samples from prior magnetic field signal cycles may be averaged for use to establish the threshold signal. A method associated with the circuit is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Burdette, James M. Bailey, Daniel S. Dwyer, Jeff Eagen, Glenn A. Forrest, Christine Graham, Eric Shoemaker, P. Karl Scheller
  • Publication number: 20140103964
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an output driver circuit having a plurality of output driver devices connected in a parallel arrangement and an output driver controller that is capable of individually controlling the conducting states of the output driver devices. In at least one embodiment, the controller is capable of achieving any of a plurality of different fall times (and/or rise times) in an output signal by appropriately controlling the conducting states of the output devices if a change in the state of the output signal is desired, in some implementations, the controller is capable of achieving different waveshapes during rising and/or failing edges of an output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventor: Jeff Eagen
  • Publication number: 20130176012
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit that includes a supply voltage transient detection module to activate a hold signal that causes the output to remain in its present state. In one embodiment, the output remains in that state until the supply voltage returns to a normal operating range and the hold signal transitions to an inactive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeff Eagen, Devon Fernandez, P. Karl Scheller
  • Patent number: 7982454
    Abstract: A proximity detector employs a first peak detector circuit and a second peak detector circuit, both responsive to a magnetic field signal. The second peak detector circuit includes a positive peak detector circuit and a negative peak detector circuit, each of which have a predetermined excursion limit in an outward direction away from a center voltage of the magnetic field signal so as to be less affected by a large signature region in the magnetic field signal. The proximity detector also includes an output control circuit. The output control circuit is configured to provide an output signal, which, during a determined time period, changes state in response to the first peak detector circuit, and which, after the determined time period, changes state in response to the second peak detector circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Devon Fernandez, Jeff Eagen, Glenn A. Forrest, Mathew Drouin
  • Patent number: 7518414
    Abstract: A track-and-hold peak detector circuit, which can operate at low input signal frequencies, includes a capacitor to hold a peak voltage of the input signal and logic circuitry that reduces an effect of leakage current into or out of the capacitor, and therefore, provides protection against self-switching of an output signal of the peak detector circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan D. Romero, Jay M. Towne, Jeff Eagen, Karl Scheller
  • Publication number: 20090001972
    Abstract: A proximity detector employs a first peak detector circuit and a second peak detector circuit, both responsive to a magnetic field signal. The second peak detector circuit includes a positive peak detector circuit and a negative peak detector circuit, each of which have a predetermined excursion limit in an outward direction away from a center voltage of the magnetic field signal so as to be less affected by a large signature region in the magnetic field signal. The proximity detector also includes an output control circuit. The output control circuit is configured to provide an output signal, which, during a determined time period, changes state in response to the first peak detector circuit, and which, after the determined time period, changes state in response to the second peak detector circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Devon Fernandez, Jeff Eagen, Glenn A. Forrest, Mathew Drouin
  • Publication number: 20060125531
    Abstract: A track-and-hold peak detector circuit, which can operate at low input signal frequencies, includes a capacitor to hold a peak voltage of the input signal and logic circuitry that reduces an effect of leakage current into or out of the capacitor, and therefore, provides protection against self-switching of an output signal of the peak detector circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Hernan Romero, Jay Towne, Jeff Eagen, Karl Scheller