Patents by Inventor Karl Scheller

Karl Scheller 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: 7619406
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Voisine, Devon Fernandez, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Kirsten Doogue
  • Patent number: 7548056
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Voisine, Devon Fernandez, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Kirsten Doogue
  • 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: 20080143326
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Cory Voisine, Devon Fernandez, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Kirsten Doogue
  • Publication number: 20080143327
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Cory Voisine, Devon Fernandez, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Kirsten Doogue
  • Patent number: 7368904
    Abstract: A proximity detector includes a fine DAC and a coarse DAC, outputs of which are summed to provide a tracking signal for tracking a magnetic field signal. The proximity detector provides two mode of operation. In a first mode of operation the coarse and fine DACs operate in combination as one higher order DAC. In a second mode of operation, the coarse DAC is provided with one or more extra counts, allowing the tracking signal to move more rapidly to track a rapidly changing magnetic field signal. In another embodiment, the proximity detector also includes an offset circuit for bringing at least one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal towards the other one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Scheller, Gerardo Monreal, Jason Stauth
  • Patent number: 7362094
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cory Voisine, Devon Fernandez, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Kirsten Doogue
  • Publication number: 20070164732
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for detecting passing magnetic articles using a first, True Power On State (TPOS) detector during a first time interval and transitioning to a second, running mode detector after the first time interval, when the output of the second detector is accurate. A phase comparator is responsive to the output signal of the first and second detectors and provides a control signal indicative of a change in the phase relationship between the two output signals. An output switch controlled by the phase comparator provides, as the detector output signal, the first detector output signal during the first time interval and the second detector output signal thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Cory Voisine, Devon Fernandez, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig, Kirsten Doogue
  • Publication number: 20070132450
    Abstract: A proximity detector includes a fine DAC and a coarse DAC, outputs of which are summed to provide a tracking signal for tracking a magnetic field signal. The proximity detector provides two mode of operation. In a first mode of operation the coarse and fine DACs operate in combination as one higher order DAC. In a second mode of operation, the coarse DAC is provided with one or more extra counts, allowing the tracking signal to move more rapidly to track a rapidly changing magnetic field signal. In another embodiment, the proximity detector also includes an offset circuit for bringing at least one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal towards the other one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Karl Scheller, Gerardo Monreal, Jason Stauth
  • Patent number: 7199579
    Abstract: A proximity detector includes a fine DAC and a coarse DAC, outputs of which are summed to provide a tracking signal for tracking a magnetic field signal. The proximity detector provides two mode of operation. In a first mode of operation the coarse and fine DACs operate in combination as one higher order DAC. In a second mode of operation, the coarse DAC is provided with one or more extra counts, allowing the tracking signal to move more rapidly to track a rapidly changing magnetic field signal. In another embodiment, the proximity detector also includes an offset circuit for bringing at least one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal towards the other one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Scheller, Gerardo Monreal, Jason Stauth
  • Publication number: 20060125530
    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: December 13, 2004
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Inventors: Hernan Romero, Jay Towne, Karl Scheller
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7053674
    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: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hernan D. Romero, Jay M. Towne, Karl Scheller
  • Publication number: 20060103377
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotation detecting sensor suitable for use under a vibration-abundant condition as e.g. a sensor disposed in an automobile body for detecting rotation of an engine or ABS. The sensor includes a detecting element for detecting rotation of a rotary body as a change in a magnetic flux and outputting a signal and an integrated circuit for processing the amplified signal into a pulse corresponding to the detected rotation of the rotary body. The signal processing includes an initialization such as a gain adjustment for obtaining an appropriate gain for use in the subsequent process of conversion of the amplified signal to the pulse. According to this invention, a re-initialization is effected to obtain a new initial value such as a new gain if the previously effected initialization is determined inappropriate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Applicants: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Allegro MicroSystems Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Hara, Kazuhiro Kamiya, Kenichi Taguchi, Toshiyuki Matsuo, Takayoshi Tsuzuki, Glenn Forrest, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig
  • Patent number: 7046000
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rotation detecting sensor suitable for use under a vibration-abundant condition as e.g. a sensor disposed in an automobile body for detecting rotation of an engine or ABS. The sensor includes a detecting element for detecting rotation of a rotary body as a change in a magnetic flux and outputting a signal and an integrated circuit for processing the amplified signal into a pulse corresponding to the detected rotation of the rotary body. The signal processing includes an initialization such as a gain adjustment for obtaining an appropriate gain for use in the subsequent process of conversion of the amplified signal to the pulse. According to this invention, a re-initialization is effected to obtain a new initial value such as a new gain if the previously effected initialization is determined inappropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Allegro MicroSystems Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Hara, Kazuhiro Kamiya, Kenichi Taguchi, Toshiyuki Matsuo, Takayoshi Tsuzuki, Glenn Forrest, Karl Scheller, Ravi Vig
  • Publication number: 20050194970
    Abstract: A proximity detector includes a fine DAC and a coarse DAC, outputs of which are summed to provide a tracking signal for tracking a magnetic field signal. The proximity detector provides two mode of operation. In a first mode of operation the coarse and fine DACs operate in combination as one higher order DAC. In a second mode of operation, the coarse DAC is provided with one or more extra counts, allowing the tracking signal to move more rapidly to track a rapidly changing magnetic field signal. In another embodiment, the proximity detector also includes an offset circuit for bringing at least one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal towards the other one of the magnetic field signal and the tracking signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventors: Karl Scheller, Gerardo Monreal, Jason Stauth