Allegro Microsystems, LLC

Commissariat &#xc0; L'&#xc9;nergie Atomique Et Aux &#xc9;nergies Alternatives

Other

Bryan Cadugan

William P Taylor

Alexander Latham

Rémy Lassalle-Balier

Paolo Campiglio

Claude Fermon

Michael C Doogue

Harianto Wong

Craig S Petrie

Sundar Chetlur

Jason Boudreau

Paul A David

Shaun D Milano

Myriam Pannetier-Lecoeur

Noémie Belin

Hernán D Romero

Mark J Donovan

Joseph James Judkins, Iii

Maxim Klebanov

Yen Ting Liu

David Toebes

Amal Hamdache

Jim Rice

Florian Pallier

Systems and methods described herein are directed towards integrating a shield layer into a current sensor to shield a magnetic field sensing element and associated circuitry in the current sensor from electrical, voltage, or electrical transient noise. In an embodiment, a shield layer may be disposed along at least one surface of a die supporting a magnetic field sensing element. The shield layer may be disposed in various arrangements to shunt noise caused by a parasitic coupling between the magnetic field sensing element and the current carrying conductor away from the magnetic field sensing element.

Systems and methods for integrated shielding in a current sensor

Methods and apparatus for extracting temperature information for an array from a signal through first and second contacts based on temperature dependent properties of the a PN junction. An example method includes connecting first and second PN junctions to a bias source to reverse bias the first and second PN junctions, connecting a first contact to the first PN junction, connecting a second contact to N type material forming a junction with P type material of the first PN junction, and extracting temperature information for the first PN junction from a signal through the first and second contacts based on temperature dependent properties of the first PN junction.

Temperature sensing of an array from temperature dependent properties of a PN junction

Methods and apparatus for a controlling a stimulus source to direct photons to a pixel in a pixel array contained in a detector system, analyzing a response of the pixel in the pixel array; and generating an alert based on the response of the pixel in the pixel array. Example stimulus sources include a conductive trace, a PN junction, and a current source.

Photonic ROIC having safety features

Methods and apparatus for receiving a return laser pulse at a detector system having pixels in a pixel array and analyzing a response of the pixels in the pixel array including comparing the response to at least one threshold corresponding to decay of photonic energy of the laser pulse over distance and target reflectivity, wherein the at least one threshold comprises a first threshold corresponding to a low trigger for a pulse generated by a first type of laser and a second threshold corresponding to a high trigger for the pulse generated by the first type of laser. Embodiments can further include generating an alert signal based on the response of the pixels in the pixel array.

Detector system having type of laser discrimination

A magnetic field sensor includes at least one coil responsive to an AC coil drive signal; at least one magnetic field sensing element responsive to a sensing element drive signal and configured to detect a directly coupled magnetic field generated by the at least one coil and to generate a magnetic field signal in response to the directly coupled magnetic field; a processor responsive to the magnetic field signal to compute a sensitivity value associated with detection of the directly coupled magnetic field and substantially independent of a reflected magnetic field reflected by a conductive target disposed proximate to the at least one magnetic field sensing element; and an output signal generator configured to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor indicative of the reflected magnetic field.

Coil actuated sensor with sensitivity detection

Methods and apparatus for determining the temperature of a pixel array. In embodiments, a first pixel in a pixel array is reverse-biased and a second pixel in the pixel array is forward-biased. A voltage for the second pixel can be measured to determine a temperature of the pixel array from the measured voltage for the second pixel.

Determining a temperature of a pixel array by measuring voltage of a pixel

Methods and apparatus for temperature sensing in a detector system. Dark current from pixels in a pixel array of the detector system can be filtered to remove noise and processed to determine a temperature of the pixel array from the filtered dark current. Calibration of the dark current for a range of temperatures can be performed. In embodiments, the pixels comprise photodiodes.

Temperature sensing of a photodetector array

Detector system comparing pixel response with photonic energy decay

An electronics module assembly for detecting photons is provided to include: a substrate layer; a buried layer deposited upon a first surface area of the substrate layer; an intrinsic layer deposited upon a first portion of a first surface area of the buried layer; a plug layer deposited upon a second portion of the first surface area of the buried layer; a p-plus layer deposited upon a first surface area of the intrinsic layer; an n-plus layer deposited upon a first surface area of the plug layer; a pre-metal dielectric (PMD) layer deposited upon the p-plus layer and n-plus layer; a first node coupled, through the PMD layer, to the p-plus layer; and a second node coupled, through the PMD layer, to the n-plus layer.

Photodetector with a buried layer

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a photodetector device can include a substrate layer; a bottom contacting layer disposed over a surface of the substrate layer and having a first contacting region and a second contacting region, the bottom contacting layer providing a low resistance path between the first and second contacting regions; an insulating layer disposed over a surface of the bottom contacting layer; an intrinsic region disposed within the insulating layer, the intrinsic region in electrical contact with the first contacting region of the bottom contacting layer, the intrinsic region comprising a low band-gap material; a metal contact disposed within the insulating layer and in electrical contact with the second contacting region of the bottom contacting layer; an anode in electrical contact with the intrinsic region; and a cathode in electrical contact with the metal contact.

A magnetoresistance assembly can include a substrate and a first GMR element disposed over the substrate, the first GMR element having a bottom surface and top surface. The magnetoresistance assembly can further include a first TMR element disposed over the substrate, the first TMR element having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a line perpendicular to and intersecting the top or bottom surface of the first TMR element intersects the first GMR element. The first GMR element and the first TMR element are in electrical communication.

Magnetoresistance assembly having a TMR element disposed over or under a GMR element

Methods and apparatus for sensing target position by generating a signal by energizing a shaped coil with an AC signal. A sensor receives a signal reflected by a target in response to the signal from the shaped coil, wherein the shaped coil has a first width, and wherein the sensor includes a first sensing element aligned with the shaped coil at the first width, wherein a ratio of the first width and a distance from the sensor to the target is about three-to-one. The received signal can be processed to determine position information of the target. In some embodiments, a shaped coil can have a trapezoidal shape and sensors aligned with the coil to select a sensor based upon target to sensor distance.

Sensor having a shaped coil

A current sensor can indirectly measure a sensed current by directly measuring static perturbing AC magnetic fields with magnetoresistance elements, the perturbing magnetic fields generated by perturbing coils. The sensed current can be indirectly measured by modulating or changing sensitivities of the magnetoresistance elements in a way that is directly related to the sensed current.

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Bedford, NH, United States of America

Bryan Cadugan