Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC

Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.

Sony Electric Co., Ltd.

Satoshi Yokoo

Atsuhiro Ichikawa

Takashi Ogawa

Fumio Kumazawa

Juichi Uno

Tomofumi Watanabe

Satoshi Noro

A sensor-less detection circuit includes a first voltage adjustment circuit providing a first output voltage at a first node using one of three input voltages. A second voltage adjustment circuit provides a second output voltage at a second node using all three, or only two, of the three input voltages. The second voltage adjustment circuit acts as an internal virtual neutral point for detecting a zero crossing event of the motor. A differential amplifier is coupled with the first and second nodes and outputs a third output voltage at a third node. A reference buffer has a reference voltage input and provides a fourth output voltage at a fourth node. A comparator is coupled with the third and fourth nodes and outputs a fifth output voltage at a fifth node, the fifth voltage indicating a zero cross event.

Sensor-less circuits and related methods for back EMF zero crossing detection

A motor control system, in some embodiments, comprises: a voltage divider circuit having an output node, a voltage on said output node representing a desired motor rotation direction; control logic configured to receive an indication of said voltage; and a motor controller coupled to the control logic, wherein, if said indication of the voltage on the output node falls outside of a predetermined range, the control logic is configured to issue a motor stop signal to the motor controller indicating that at least one resistor of the voltage divider circuit is defective or is missing from the voltage divider circuit.

Identifying voltage to prevent motor integrated circuit damage

In accordance with an embodiment, an automatic zeroing circuit is provided that includes an automatic zeroing circuit, comprising a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A comparator having an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for automatically zeroing a detection circuit includes receiving a first back electromotive force at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. A comparator circuit is calibrated and the first back electromotive force is detected.

Automatic zeroing and detection circuit and method

In accordance with an embodiment, a sensor-less detection circuit is provided that includes a first voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving an induced voltage and a second voltage adjustment circuit coupled for receiving a common voltage. A differential amplifier has an inverting input terminal coupled to the first voltage adjustment circuit and a noninverting input terminal coupled to the second voltage adjustment circuit. In accordance with another embodiment, a method for detecting a motor rotor position is provided that includes receiving a first back electromotive force that is at a first voltage level and shifting the first back electromotive force from the first voltage level to a second voltage level. The first back electromotive force is filtered to generate a first filtered voltage; and a first motor rotor position signal is generated in response to comparing the first filtered voltage with a reference voltage.

Sensor-less circuit and method for detecting a rotor position

In a first operational amplifier, an input signal is input to the negative input terminal, a reference voltage is input to the positive input terminal, a feedback path from the output terminal to the negative input terminal is formed, and the input signal is amplified by a predetermined amplification factor. In a second operational amplifier, an output from the first operational amplifier is input to the positive input terminal, the reference voltage is input to the negative input terminal, and a pair of outputs having opposite polarities to each other and used for performing BTL drive of a load are obtained at the output terminal. Using the above arrangement, a low-frequency signal can be amplified.

Amplifier circuit

Input signals from a signal input terminal are input to a logic circuit, and a control signal corresponding to states of the input signals is output. The control signal is supplied to an output circuit, a plurality of transistors are controlled, and a drive signal is output corresponding to states of the transistors. In the logic circuit, the logic is switched according to the polarity of the setting signal which is input to a logic setting terminal, and a control signal corresponding to the input signal is changed.

Drive signal output circuit and multi-chip package

An efficient logic chip operating power supply having digital circuits in a multi-chip package is provided. A multi-chip package semiconductor device fabricated in common with a driver chip having analog circuits and a logic chip having digital circuits, a logic chip power supply circuit is provided in which a driver chip creates a logic chip power supply dedicated for the logic chip. The logic chip has internal logic circuitry operating by receiving a power supply from the logic chip power supply circuit via power input terminals.

Multi-chip package semiconductor device

An amplifier including the transistors of a first set operates by a power source VCC, and amplifies the input signal, changing in the voltage range of the power source VCC, in the voltage range of the power source VCC. The output of this amplifier operates using a power source VCCwith a converting portion including the transistors of a second set, and the output of the amplifier is converted into an output within the voltage range of the power source VCC. The two output amplifiers amplify the output of this converting portion based on a (&#xbd;) VCCreference. The converting portion performs the conversion using a plurality of transistors with the power source VCCtaken as a power source and a plurality of transistorswith the power source VCCtaken as a power source, as current mirrors.

Level shift circuit

In a multi-chip package semiconductor device, a drive chip having an analog circuit and a logic chip having a digital circuit are mounted within the same package. The driver chip includes a logic-chip power-supply circuit that makes up a logic-chip power supply for the logic chip and a group of operational amplifiers that amplify detection signals from a plurality of sensors. The driver chip has the shape of a square as a whole, and the plurality of operational amplifiers and the logic-chip power-supply circuit are disposed in diagonally opposed positions.

Semiconductor device

In CMOS processing, there may be a case in which a resistance element, such as a poly-silicon resistance, or the like, may be formed which has negative temperature characteristics. In a constant current circuit using this resistance element, a constant current output less affected by the influence of varying temperature is obtained. To a load-side path of a current mirror circuit, a serial connection circuit and a temperature compensation circuit are arranged in parallel each other. The serial connection circuit includes a transistor Q, a resistance element Rand a bipolar transistor Qand flows a current Ihaving positive temperature characteristics. The temperature compensation circuit includes a transistor Qand a resistance element Rand flows a current Ihaving negative temperature characteristics. A constant current output based on the sum current I of the currents Iand Iis obtained.

Constant current circuit operating independent of temperature

Two systems consisting of an on-off control section corresponding to the saturation drive system and a constant voltage control section corresponding to the constant voltage drive system are provided as a circuit for controlling the conduction state of a transistor QPprovided at the output section. The constant voltage unit comprises an operational amplifier A, which monitors the output voltage Vout and feedback-controls the gate voltage of QP. On the other hand, the on-off control section delivers a control signal for turning on and off QPcorresponding to an input signal input to IN-U through invertersand. Switchesandfor selectively applying the output from the control unit of either one of these two systems are provided to select the switch to be turned on based on a mode signal input to SW. This configuration enables the realization of different drive systems and restricts increase in circuit size while commonly using the output unit configured with comparatively large transistors. In addition, since the saturation drive system can be realized without depending on feedback control, high control responsiveness is secured to appropriately perform operation at high frequencies such as switching operations by PWM control.

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Ota, Japan

Satoshi Yokoo