Allegro Microsystems, LLC

Richard Dickinson

Michael C Doogue

William P Taylor

Jason Stauth

Ravi Vig

Glenn A Forrest

Jay J Gagnon

Sandra R Pinelle

John B Sauber

Ray Engel

Andreas P Friedrich

Nirmal Sharma

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.

Folding current sensor

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.

Arrangements for a current sensing circuit and integrated current sensor

An electronic circuit includes a substrate having a surface and a device supported by the surface of the substrate. The electronic circuit also includes a magnetic field transducer disposed over the surface of the substrate and an insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the magnetic field transducer. The electronic circuit also includes a conductor disposed over the magnetic field transducer. The conductor is configured to carry an electrical current to generate a first magnetic field. The electronic circuit is responsive to the first magnetic field.

Integrated sensor

An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field transducers, with the first surface being proximate the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor portion. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit relative to a conventional orientation. With this arrangement, a current sensor is provided for which the one or more magnetic field transducers are very close to the current conductor portion, resulting in a current sensor having improved sensitivity.

Current sensor

An electronic circuit includes a first substrate having a first substrate surface and a device supported by the first substrate surface. The device is selected from among a passive electronic component and an active electronic component. The electronic circuit also includes a second substrate having a second substrate surface and a conductor proximate to the second substrate. The electronic circuit also includes a magnetic field transducer disposed over the conductor and coupled to the device and an insulating layer disposed between the conductor and the second substrate. The conductor is adapted to carry an electrical current to generate a first magnetic field. The electronic circuit is responsive to the first magnetic field. In some embodiments, the conductor is a secondary conductor and the circuit further includes a primary conductor disposed proximate to the magnetic field transducer and an insulating layer disposed between the primary conductor and the second substrate.

Multi-substrate integrated sensor

An integrated sensor has a magnetic field sensing element and first and second relatively high magnetically permeable members forming a gap, wherein the magnetic field element is disposed within the gap. The magnetically permeable members provide an increase in the flux experienced by the magnetic field sensing element in response to a magnetic field. The integrated sensor can be used as a current sensor, a proximity detector, or a magnetic field sensor.

Integrated sensor having a magnetic flux concentrator

A method and apparatus provide a substrate having a depression into which a magnetic material is disposed, forming a magnetic flux concentrator and/or a permanent magnet. A magnetic field sensing element can be disposed proximate to the depression.

Integrated magnetic flux concentrator

An integrated current sensor includes a magnetic field transducer such as a Hall effect sensor, a magnetic core, and an electrical conductor. The conductor includes features for receiving portions of the Hall effect sensor and the core and the elements are dimensioned such that little or no relative movement among the elements is possible.

Integrated current sensor

An integrated sensor includes a magnetoresistance element electrically coupled to a device disposed on or integrated in a silicon substrate. A conductor is provided proximate to the magnetoresistance element. The integrated sensor can be used to provide various devices, such as a current sensor, a magnetic field sensor, or an isolator. Further, the integrated sensor can be used in an open loop configuration or in a closed loop configuration in which an additional conductor is provided. The magntoresistance element may be formed over the silicon substrate or on a separate, non-silicon substrate. Also described is an integrated sensor comprising a substrate, a magnetic field transducer disposed over a surface of the substrate, and a conductor disposed over the surface of the substrate proximate to the magnetic field transducer. The magnetic field transducer can be a Hall effect transducer or a magnetoresistance element.

An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field transducers, with the first surface being proximate the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor portion. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit relative to a conventional orientation. A current conductor portion can be deposited proximate to a surface of the substrate and proximate to the one or more magnetic field sensors. With this arrangement, a current sensor is provided for which the one or more magnetic field transducers are very close to the current conductor portion, resulting in a current sensor having improved sensitivity. An insulating layer can be disposed between the current conductor portion and the substrate.

An integrated circuit current sensor includes a lead frame having at least two leads coupled to provide a current conductor portion, and substrate having a first surface in which is disposed one or more magnetic field transducers, with the first surface being proximate the current conductor portion and a second surface distal from the current conductor portion. In one particular embodiment, the substrate is disposed having the first surface of the substrate above the current conductor portion and the second surface of the substrate above the first surface. In this particular embodiment, the substrate is oriented upside-down in the integrated circuit relative to a conventional orientation. A current conductor portion can be deposited on a surface of the substrate proximate to the one or more magnetic field sensors. With this arrangement, a current sensor is provided for which the one or more magnetic field transducers are very close to the current conductor portion, resulting in a current sensor having improved sensitivity.

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South Boston, MA, United States of America

Richard Dickinson