Allegro Microsystems, LLC

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

Wade Bussing

Alexander Latham

Shaun D Milano

Paul A David

Shixi Louis Liu

Georges El Bacha

Natasha Healey

Christian Feucht

Rishikesh Nikam

Claude Fermon

Robert A Briano

Maxwell McNally

Noémie Belin

Timothy A Clark

In one aspect, an electronic device includes a switching circuit connected to a resistance circuit and ground, the resistance circuit connected to a port and the port configured to be connected in series to an external resistor and a supply voltage. A voltage at the port is a first voltage that is less than the supply voltage if the switching circuit is enabled to be a closed circuit and the voltage at the port is a second voltage that is equal to the supply voltage if the switching circuit is enabled to be an open circuit.

Determining an action by an electronic device based on voltage at a port of the electronic device

A current sensor integrated circuit (IC) includes a unitary lead frame having at least one first lead having a terminal end, at least one second lead having a terminal end, and a paddle having a first surface and a second opposing surface. A semiconductor die is supported by the first surface of the paddle, wherein the at least one first lead is electrically coupled to the semiconductor die and the at least one second lead is electrically isolated from the semiconductor die. The current sensor IC further includes a first mold material configured to enclose the semiconductor die and the paddle and a second mold material configured to enclose at least a portion of the first mold material, wherein the terminal end of the at least one first lead and the terminal end of the at least one second lead are external to the second mold material.

Current sensor integrated circuits

Methods and apparatus for measuring a current difference between at least two current traces in a circuit board. Each wire or trace generates a magnetic field which may then be measured by at least one magnetic field sensing element positioned on an integrated circuit, such as a current sensor integrated circuit or a differential magnetic field sensor integrated circuit. An output disconnect signal may be provided from the current sensor or differential magnetic field sensing integrated circuit to indicate that a current difference above a predetermined threshold exists in the two or more current traces.

Differential current sensor

Systems and methods described herein provide a current sensor based on magnetic field detection having multiple sensor arrangements with multiple, different sensitivity ranges. The outputs of the multiple sensor arrangements can be combined to generate a single output signal. The current sensor can include two or more sensor arrangements, each having one or more magnetic field sensing elements, and configured to sense a magnetic field in different first measurement ranges corresponding to different ranges of currents through the conductor and further configured to generate different magnetic field signals indicative of the sensed magnetic field in the respective measurement range. The current sensor can include a circuit configured to generate an output signal indicative of a combination of the different magnetic field signals that corresponds to the current through the conductor.

Current sensor having multiple sensitivity ranges

A current sensor can include a lead frame. The lead frame can include a first lead and a second lead, wherein the first and second leads are coupled together at a first junction region of the lead frame, wherein the current sensor is operable to sense a magnetic field generated by a first current passing through the first junction region. The current sensor can further include a first die disposed proximate to the lead frame. The first die can include a first magnetic field sensing element disposed on a surface of the first die, a first circuit coupled to the first magnetic field sensing element for generating a first signal indicative of a first current, and a first node coupled to the first signal. The current sensor can further include a second die disposed proximate to the lead frame. The second die can include a second magnetic field sensing element disposed on a surface of the second die, a second circuit coupled to the second magnetic field sensing element for generating a second signal indicative of the first current passing through the first junction region or indicative of a second current passing through the lead frame and a second node coupled to the second signal.

Multi-die integrated current sensor

Systems and methods described herein are directed towards differential current sensing a current sensor having two or more magnetic field sensing elements that are oriented to sense a magnetic field generated by a current through an external conductor in the same direction. The current sensor can be positioned such that at least one first magnetic field sensing element is vertically aligned with the external conductor and at least one second magnetic field sensing element is not vertically aligned with the external conductor. The magnetic field sensing elements may be spaced from each to measure a gradient field and can generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a distance between the respective magnetic field sensing element and the current carrying external conductor. A difference between the magnetic field signals can be determined that is indicative of the current through the external conductor.

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Manchester, NH, United States of America

Wade Bussing