Abstract: An interface circuit for a position sensor system including an oscillator generating an oscillation signal having a carrier frequency and a primary phase, a primary coil responsive to the oscillation signal, and a secondary coil electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil by a target and configured to generate a secondary signal having the carrier frequency and a secondary phase provides phase compensation.

Abstract: An interface circuit for a position sensor system including an oscillator generating an oscillation signal having a carrier frequency and a primary phase, a primary coil responsive to the oscillation signal, and a secondary coil electromagnetically coupled to the primary coil by a target and configured to generate a secondary signal having the carrier frequency and a secondary phase provides phase compensation.

Abstract: Electronic circuits used in magnetic field sensors use transistors for passing a current through the transistors and also through a magnetoresistance element.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a first multiplexor configured to receive one of a plurality of diagnostic signals from circuitry under test (DUT), the first multiplexor responsive to diagnostic signals provided thereto and configured to selectively output one of the diagnostic signals in response to a control signal, a second multiplexor configured to receive one of a plurality of reference signals from one of a plurality of nodes on a reference circuit, the second multiplexor configured to selectively output one of the diagnostic signals in response to a control signal, and a comparator configured to compare the diagnostic signal elicited from the first multiplexor with the reference signal elicited from the second multiplexor, the comparator further configured to output the result of the comparison between the diagnostic signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit including a first multiplexor configured to receive one of a plurality of diagnostic signals from circuitry under test (DUT), the first multiplexor responsive to diagnostic signals provided thereto and configured to selectively output one of the diagnostic signals in response to a control signal, a second multiplexor configured to receive one of a plurality of reference signals from one of a plurality of nodes on a reference circuit, the second multiplexor configured to selectively output one of the diagnostic signals in response to a control signal, and a comparator configured to compare the diagnostic signal elicited from the first multiplexor with the reference signal elicited from the second multiplexor, the comparator further configured to output the result of the comparison between the diagnostic signal and the reference signal.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes threshold generation circuitry and processing. Magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field associated with the object. A motion detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold signal is configured to generate a detector output signal having edges occurring in response to a comparison of the magnetic field signal and the threshold signal. A speed detector responsive to the detector output signal generates a speed signal indicative of a speed of motion of the object. A threshold generator responsive to the speed signal generates the threshold signal having a level that varies in response to the speed signal.

Abstract: Electronic circuits used in magnetic field sensors use transistors for passing a current through the transistors and also through a magnetoresistance element.

Abstract: Electronic circuits used in magnetic field sensors use transistors for passing a current through the transistors and also through a magnetoresistance element.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit is configured to produce a magnetic field signal having a frequency spectrum. The circuit may also produce a temperature signal. A modulation circuit may modulate the temperature signal with a frequency outside the frequency spectrum of the magnetic field signal. The modulated signal and the magnetic field signal may be combined to produce a combined signal. A separation circuit may be configured to separate component signals from the combined signal. The separation circuit may include a first filter, which, when applied to the combined signal, produces a filtered signal; a modulation circuit configured to shift the data representing the temperature signal to a baseband frequency; and a second filter configured to separate the data representing the temperature signal from the combined signal.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit is configured to produce a magnetic field signal having a frequency spectrum. The circuit may also produce a temperature signal. A modulation circuit may modulate the temperature signal with a frequency outside the frequency spectrum of the magnetic field signal. The modulated signal and the magnetic field signal may be combined to produce a combined signal. A separation circuit may be configured to separate component signals from the combined signal. The separation circuit may include a first filter, which, when applied to the combined signal, produces a filtered signal; a modulation circuit configured to shift the data representing the temperature signal to a baseband frequency; and a second filter configured to separate the data representing the temperature signal from the combined signal.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor for detecting motion of an object includes threshold generation circuitry and processing. Magnetic field sensing elements are configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field associated with the object. A motion detector responsive to the magnetic field signal and to a threshold signal is configured to generate a detector output signal having edges occurring in response to a comparison of the magnetic field signal and the threshold signal. A speed detector responsive to the detector output signal generates a speed signal indicative of a speed of motion of the object. A threshold generator responsive to the speed signal generates the threshold signal having a level that varies in response to the speed signal.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit is configured to produce a magnetic field signal having a frequency spectrum. The circuit may also produce a temperature signal. A modulation circuit may modulate the temperature signal with a frequency outside the frequency spectrum of the magnetic field signal. The modulated signal and the magnetic field signal may be combined to produce a combined signal. A separation circuit may be configured to separate component signals from the combined signal. The separation circuit may include a first filter, which, when applied to the combined signal, produces a filtered signal; a modulation circuit configured to shift the data representing the temperature signal to a baseband frequency; and a second filter configured to separate the data representing the temperature signal from the combined signal.

Abstract: Electronic circuits used in magnetic field sensors use transistors for passing a current through the transistors and also through a magnetoresistance element.

Abstract: Presented herein is a magnetic field sensor architecture that uses outputs of a peak detector and threshold detector operating in parallel to detect magnetic anomalies that may be associated with the target being sensed, e.g., a rotational ferromagnetic object such as a toothed gear, and use such detection to prevent sensor malfunction. The sensor includes an edge detection circuit and an error detection circuit. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit includes circuits to detect edges (or transitions) of the threshold and peak detector output signals and the error detection circuit includes circuits, responsive to the edge detection circuit, to indicate an error when a “missed transition” occurs or a peak-to-peak value of an input signal as detected by the peak detector for a current cycle differs from an expected peak-to-peak value by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A switching device for driving a load is provided. The switching device comprises a control terminal and has a conduction threshold which, when crossed by a control signal coupled to the control terminal, causes the switching device to conduct. A control circuit for generating the control signal is also provided. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal having a first slew rate prior to the control signal crossing the conduction threshold and a second slew rate after the control signal has crossed the conduction threshold. The first slew rate may be faster than the second slew rate.

Abstract: A switching device for driving a load is provided. The switching device comprises a control terminal and has a conduction threshold which, when crossed by a control signal coupled to the control terminal, causes the switching device to conduct. A control circuit for generating the control signal is also provided. The control circuit is configured to generate a control signal having a first slew rate prior to the control signal crossing the conduction threshold and a second slew rate after the control signal has crossed the conduction threshold. The first slew rate may be faster than the second slew rate.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a circuit is configured to produce a magnetic field signal having a frequency spectrum. The circuit may also produce a temperature signal. A modulation circuit may modulate the temperature signal with a frequency outside the frequency spectrum of the magnetic field signal. The modulated signal and the magnetic field signal may be combined to produce a combined signal. A separation circuit may be configured to separate component signals from the combined signal. The separation circuit may include a first filter, which, when applied to the combined signal, produces a filtered signal; a modulation circuit configured to shift the data representing the temperature signal to a baseband frequency; and a second filter configured to separate the data representing the temperature signal from the combined signal.

Abstract: Presented herein is a magnetic field sensor architecture that uses outputs of a peak detector and threshold detector operating in parallel to detect magnetic anomalies that may be associated with the target being sensed, e.g., a rotational ferromagnetic object such as a toothed gear, and use such detection to prevent sensor malfunction. The sensor includes an edge detection circuit and an error detection circuit. In one embodiment, the edge detection circuit includes circuits to detect edges (or transitions) of the threshold and peak detector output signals and the error detection circuit includes circuits, responsive to the edge detection circuit, to indicate an error when a “missed transition” occurs or a peak-to-peak value of an input signal as detected by the peak detector for a current cycle differs from an expected peak-to-peak value by a predetermined amount.

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.

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.