Patents by Inventor Michael C. Doogue

Michael C. Doogue 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: 7994774
    Abstract: A sensor includes a magnetic position sensing element to generate angular position information, a first signal generator, a second signal generator, a first inverter to invert the first waveform for providing a first inverted waveform and a second inverter to invert the second waveform for providing a second inverted waveform, wherein the first and second waveforms are inverted about an offset voltage, and an analog signal processing module to generate a linear output signal from the first waveform, the second waveform, the first inverted waveform, and the second inverted waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica J. Thomas, Michael C. Doogue, Hooman Bustani
  • Patent number: 7973527
    Abstract: An electronic circuit includes a magnetoresistance element for providing an output signal proportional to a magnetic field. The magnetoresistance element also has a hysteresis characteristic. The electronic circuit also includes at least one of a reset conductor or a bias conductor disposed proximate to the magnetoresistance element. For embodiments having a reset conductor, the electronic circuit is configured to generate a reset current carried by the reset conductor in response to the comparison. In response to the reset current, the reset conductor is configured to generate a reset magnetic field at the magnetoresistance element to temporarily force the magnetoresistance element to a saturation region of the hysteresis characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
  • Publication number: 20110121825
    Abstract: A sensor includes a magnetic position sensing element to generate angular position information, a first signal generator, a second signal generator, a first inverter to invert the first waveform for providing a first inverted waveform and a second inverter to invert the second waveform for providing a second inverted waveform, wherein the first and second waveforms are inverted about an offset voltage, and an analog signal processing module to generate a linear output signal from the first waveform, the second waveform, the first inverted waveform, and the second inverted waveform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica J. Thomas, Michael C. Doogue, Hooman Bustani
  • Patent number: 7936164
    Abstract: The invention provides a current sensor that may be folded over a conductor without the need to sever the conductor or thread the conductor through the current sensor. In one embodiment, the current sensor includes an outer body having a first folding portion and a second folding portion coupled to the first folding portion. The current sensor also includes a soft ferromagnetic body disposed within the outer body comprising a first core element and a second core element. The first and second core elements form a lumen when the first and second folding portions are folded. The lumen is configured to receive a conductor. The current sensor also includes a magnetic field detector to sense a current in the conductor. The magnetic field detector is disposed at least partially between the first and second core elements when the first and second folding portions are folded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor, Richard Dickinson
  • Patent number: 7936144
    Abstract: A motion control device for controlling a motor is presented. The motion control device is operable to scale or adjust an input relative to an input range that is based on calibration values and to use that scaled input to produce a drive signal to drive the motor. The motion control device performs a self-calibration to produce the calibration values. The self-calibration involves measuring home position and full travel position values for the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Vig, Paul David, Shaun D. Milano, Michael C. Doogue, David J. Haas
  • Patent number: 7923996
    Abstract: Magnetic field sensors have a magnetic field sensing element and also a feedback circuit to provide a gain-adjustment signal to affect a sensitivity associated with the magnetic field sensing element. In some arrangements, the feedback circuit can include piezoresistors to sense a strain of a substrate over which the magnetic field sensor is disposed. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed strain. In other arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate pulsed magnetic fields proximate to the magnetic field sensing element in order to directly measure the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensing element. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, Gerardo Monreal, William P. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110074405
    Abstract: Magnetic field sensors have a magnetic field sensing element and also a feedback circuit to provide a gain-adjustment signal to affect a sensitivity associated with the magnetic field sensing element. In some arrangements, the feedback circuit can include piezoresistors to sense a strain of a substrate over which the magnetic field sensor is disposed. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed strain. In other arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate pulsed magnetic fields proximate to the magnetic field sensing element in order to directly measure the sensitivity of the magnetic field sensing element. With these arrangements, the feedback circuit can generate the gain-adjustment signal in accordance with the sensed sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, Gerardo Monreal, William P. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7911203
    Abstract: A sensor having a signal generation module including a first magnetic sensor, an analog signal processing module, and a signal inversion module for inverting a first waveform and a second waveform, wherein the signal inversion module outputs the first and second waveforms in a first region spanning a first range of angular position of the magnet and outputs the first and second inverted waveforms in a second region spanning a second range of angular position of the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica J. Thomas, Michael C. Doogue, Hooman Bustani
  • Publication number: 20110018533
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes a diagnostic circuit that allows a self-test of most of or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including a self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a diagnostic magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Manuel Cesaretti, Gerardo Monreal, William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
  • Patent number: 7859255
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device includes MR elements electrically connected to form a bridge circuit and one or more non-functional (or “dummy”) MR elements for improved matching of the bridge circuit MR elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20100283458
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device includes MR elements electrically connected to form a bridge circuit and one or more non-functional (or “dummy”) MR elements for improved matching of the bridge circuit MR elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7816905
    Abstract: An electronic circuit for sensing a current includes a circuit board having first and second major opposing surfaces and a current conductor for carrying the current. The current conductor includes a circuit trace disposed upon the circuit board. The electronic circuit also includes an integrated circuit disposed upon and electrically coupled to the circuit board at a position so as to straddle the current conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, Richard Dickinson, William P. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20100237450
    Abstract: An integrated circuit can have a first substrate supporting a magnetic field sensing element and a second substrate supporting another magnetic field sensing element. The first and second substrates can be arranged in a variety of configurations. Another integrated circuit can have a first magnetic field sensing element and second different magnetic field sensing element disposed on surfaces thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor, Vijay Mangtani
  • Patent number: 7795862
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) sensing device includes MR elements electrically connected to form a bridge circuit and one or more non-functional (or “dummy”) MR elements for improved matching of the bridge circuit MR elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20100211347
    Abstract: A magnetic field sensor includes built in self-test circuits that allow a self-test of most of, or all of, the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor, including self-test of a magnetic field sensing element used within the magnetic field sensor, while the magnetic field sensor is functioning in normal operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas P. Friedrich, Andrea Foletto, Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor, Ravi Vig, P. Karl Scheller
  • Patent number: 7777607
    Abstract: A material stack has an electrical resistance generally the same in the presence of a magnetic field and in the presence of no magnetic field. The electrical resistance of the material stack has a temperature coefficient generally the same as a magnetoresistance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: William P. Taylor, Michael C. Doogue
  • Patent number: 7772838
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting vibration of an object adapted to rotate includes one or more vibration processors selected from: a direction-change processor adapted to detect changes in a direction of rotation of the object, a direction-agreement processor adapted to identify a direction of rotation of the object in at least two channels and identify an agreement or disagreement in direction of rotation identified by the at least two channels, a phase-overlap processor adapted to identify overlapping signal regions in signals associated with the rotation of the object, and a running mode processor adapted to identify an unresponsive output signal from at least one of the at least two channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Bailey, Michael C. Doogue, Jay M. Towne
  • Patent number: 7768083
    Abstract: An integrated circuit can have a first substrate supporting a magnetic field sensing element and a second substrate supporting another magnetic field sensing element. The first and second substrates can be arranged in a variety of configurations. Another integrated circuit can have a first magnetic field sensing element and second different magnetic field sensing element disposed on surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Doogue, William P. Taylor, Vijay Mangtani
  • Publication number: 20100181997
    Abstract: A sensor includes a signal generation module including a magnetic sensor to provide position information for generating first and second waveforms corresponding to the position information. An analog signal processing module provides an algebraic manipulation of a subset of the first waveform, the second waveform, a first inverted waveform, and a second inverted waveform, to generate a linear output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica J. Thomas, Michael C. Doogue, Hooman Bustani
  • Patent number: 7714570
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a sensor include a signal generation module including a first magnetic sensor to generate a first waveform in the form of a sine wave and a second magnetic sensor to generate a second waveform in the form of a cosine wave, the first and second waveforms containing angular position information of a magnet in relation to the first and second magnetic sensors, and an analog signal processing module for providing an algebraic manipulation of the first waveform and the second waveform to generate a linear position output voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Allegro Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica J. Thomas, Michael C. Doogue, Hooman Bustani