Abstract: A sensor includes a sensing element to produce a sensing element signal and a processor responsive to the sensing element signal to generate a sensor output signal comprising a Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT) frame. The SENT frame includes a Status and Communication (SCN) nibble comprising a bit 0 and a bit 1 that represent a status of at least one internal diagnostic indicator and a plurality of data nibbles. At least one of the plurality of data nibbles includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), the CRC being an encoding of the bit 0 and the bit 1 of the SCN nibble and the plurality of data nibbles and at least one of the plurality of data nibbles includes a count that indicates a new frame, the CRC being at least a five bit value.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for trimming a magnetic field sensor having a first magnetic field sensing element. The trimming includes the use of a curve for normalized sensitivity of the first magnetic field sensing element derived from a first curve corresponding to current through a coil in a first direction at a first time. This produces a field affecting the first magnetic field sensing element versus an external field. The trimming further includes a second curve corresponding to current through the coil in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a second time to produce a field affecting the first magnetic field sensing element versus an external field.

Abstract: A sensor includes a sensing element to produce a sensing element signal and a processor responsive to the sensing element signal to generate a sensor output signal comprising a Single Edge Nibble Transmission (SENT) frame. The SENT frame includes a Status and Communication (SCN) nibble comprising a bit 0 and a bit 1 that represent a status of at least one internal diagnostic indicator and a plurality of data nibbles. At least one of the plurality of data nibbles includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), the CRC being an encoding of the bit 0 and the bit 1 of the SCN nibble and the plurality of data nibbles and at least one of the plurality of data nibbles includes a count that indicates a new frame, the CRC being at least a five bit value.

Abstract: In one aspect, a magnetic field sensor includes a magnetic field sensing element configured to detect changes in a magnetic field caused by a target and an encoder configured to process signals originating from the magnetic field element. The encoder is configured to generate a first output signal and a second output signal. In a non-fault state, the first and second output signals are 90 electrical degrees out of phase from one another, and in a fault state, the first and second output signals are in phase with each other.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes an analog front end having first and second magnetic field sensing elements arranged at approximately 90-degrees with respect to each other, a pre-processor and an arctangent processor. The first and second magnetic field sensing elements are arranged in a sideshaft orientation with respect to a rotating object and offset with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotating object, the rotating object having a radial axis and a tangential axis. The pre-processor is configured to receive the first and second magnetic field signals from the analog front end and to apply a correction factor to one or both of the first and second magnetic field signals to produce first and second scaled magnetic field signals. The arctangent processor is configured to calculate an arctangent value of the first and second scaled magnetic field signals.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes an analog front end having first and second magnetic field sensing elements arranged at approximately 90-degrees with respect to each other, a pre-processor and an arctangent processor. The first and second magnetic field sensing elements are arranged in a sideshaft orientation with respect to a rotating object and offset with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotating object, the rotating object having a radial axis and a tangential axis. The pre-processor is configured to receive the first and second magnetic field signals from the analog front end and to apply a correction factor to one or both of the first and second magnetic field signals to produce first and second scaled magnetic field signals. The arctangent processor is configured to calculate an arctangent value of the first and second scaled magnetic field signals.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor that detects an angle of a target includes a first channel having first and second magnetic field sensing elements that are orthogonal with respect to each other and produce first and second magnetic field signals, and a second channel having third and fourth magnetic field sensing elements that are orthogonal with respect to each other and produce third and fourth magnetic field signals. The third sensing element is positioned at an angle (e.g., 45-degrees) with respect to the first sensing element. The magnetic field sensor includes a low power mode circuit that uses comparators to compare the first, second, third, and fourth magnetic field signals to a first, second, third, and fourth threshold, respectively. A processor is configured to use an output of the low power mode circuit to determine the angle of the target.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor that detects an angle of a target includes a first channel having first and second magnetic field sensing elements that are orthogonal with respect to each other and produce first and second magnetic field signals, and a second channel having third and fourth magnetic field sensing elements that are orthogonal with respect to each other and produce third and fourth magnetic field signals. The third sensing element is positioned at an angle (e.g., 45-degrees) with respect to the first sensing element. The magnetic field sensor includes a low power mode circuit that uses comparators to compare the first, second, third, and fourth magnetic field signals to a first, second, third, and fourth threshold, respectively. A processor is configured to use an output of the low power mode circuit to determine the angle of the target.

Abstract: Apparatus including a regulator configured to generate a regulated output and a diagnostic circuit configured to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether the regulator is able to maintain regulation is described. The regulator includes an amplifier having a first input responsive to a reference voltage, a second input responsive to a feedback signal associated with the regulated output, and an output at which a control voltage is provided and further includes a pass element controlled by the control voltage and coupled to a node which the regulated output is provided. The diagnostic circuit is responsive to the control voltage and to the reference voltage to generate the diagnostic signal. The regulator may be a voltage regulator or a current regulator and in some embodiments, the diagnostic signal takes the form of a composite signal indicative of whether a voltage regulator and whether a current regulator can maintain regulation.

Abstract: A serial communication system includes transmission line and at least one slave device. The at least one slave device comprises an active pull-down element coupled to the transmission line to pull a voltage on the transmission line low during transmission, an active pull-up element coupled to the transmission line to pull the voltage on the transmission line high during or after transmission, and a communication circuit configured to transmit data onto the transmission line according to a SENT protocol by activating the pull-down element and the pull-up element.

Abstract: Apparatus including a regulator configured to generate a regulated output and a diagnostic circuit configured to generate a diagnostic signal indicative of whether the regulator is able to maintain regulation is described. The regulator includes an amplifier having a first input responsive to a reference voltage, a second input responsive to a feedback signal associated with the regulated output, and an output at which a control voltage is provided and further includes a pass element controlled by the control voltage and coupled to a node which the regulated output is provided. The diagnostic circuit is responsive to the control voltage and to the reference voltage to generate the diagnostic signal. The regulator may be a voltage regulator or a current regulator and in some embodiments, the diagnostic signal takes the form of a composite signal indicative of whether a voltage regulator and whether a current regulator can maintain regulation.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a device configured to be coupled to a shared bus. The device includes a magnetic field sensing element to sense a magnetic field. Upon receiving a configuration command over the shared bus, the device determines whether a parameter of the sensed magnetic field meets a predetermined criteria. If the parameter of the sensed magnetic field meets the predetermined criteria, the device responds to the configuration command by applying one or more configuration settings. Otherwise, if the parameter of the sensed magnetic field does not meet the predetermined criteria, the device ignores the configuration command.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a device configured to be coupled to a shared bus. The device includes a magnetic field sensing element to sense a magnetic field. Upon receiving a configuration command over the shared bus, the device determines whether a parameter of the sensed magnetic field meets a predetermined criteria. If the parameter of the sensed magnetic field meets the predetermined criteria, the device responds to the configuration command by applying one or more configuration settings. Otherwise, if the parameter of the sensed magnetic field does not meet the predetermined criteria, the device ignores the configuration command.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for trimming a magnetic field sensor having a first magnetic field sensing element. In embodiments, trimming includes the use of a curve for normalized sensitivity of the first magnetic field sensing element derived from a first curve corresponding to current through a coil in a first direction at a first time to produce a field affecting the first magnetic field sensing element versus an external field and a second curve corresponding to current through the coil in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a second time to produce a field affecting the first magnetic field sensing element versus an external field.