Nxp Usa, Inc.

Freescale Semiconductor,inc.

Stmicroelectronics Gmbh

Sgs-thomson Microelectronics Limited

William Ernest Edwards

Randall C Gray

Anthony F Andresen

Mike Robert Garrard

John Matthew Hall

John M Pigott

Michael Robert Garrard

Fred T Brauchler

Gary Carl Johnson

Alistair Robertson

Paul T Bennett

Michael James Callahan, Jr

Victor Adrian Chiriac

Eric J Danstrom

Ibrahim S Kandah

Tien-Yu Tom Lee

Bryan Quinones

Brian George Anthony

David D Putti

Jesse Beeker

Shiraz Contractor

Philip Tobin

Joseph Notaro

Anoop K Aggarwal

Christopher B Lesher

Mitchell A Belser

An input protection circuit () and associated method are disclosed for protecting a circuit input (V) from positive and negative overvoltages at an input voltage (V) with a high-voltage PMOSFET (P) having a gate, a drain connected across a zener diode (ZD) to the gate, and a source connected to receive an input voltage; a blocking FET (N) having a gate connected to a power supply voltage, a drain connected across a zener diode (ZD) to the power supply voltage, and a source connected to the gate of the high-voltage PMOSFET; a high-voltage NMOSFET (N) having a gate connected to the power supply voltage, a source providing the protected output voltage and connected across a zener diode (ZD) to the gate, and a drain connected to a source follower node and a level shifter circuit () connected between the drain of the high-voltage PMOSFET and the source follower node.

High speed wide dynamic range input structure

The embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for determining the health status of a sensed switch. In general, the embodiments described herein determine a measure of a health status of the sensed switch by comparing a voltage on the sensed switch, ascertaining a first comparator state under one test condition and ascertaining a second comparator state under a second test condition. The first comparator state and the second comparator state are and then compared to determine the measure of the health status of the sensed switch.

Methods for switch health determination

A circuit for diagnostic testing includes a current source coupled to a power source and configured to provide wetting current along a path to a load control switch, a current sensor connected in series with the current source along the path, the current sensor being configured to generate a current sensor signal indicative of a current level along the path, a voltage measurement unit having an input terminal coupled to a node along the path through which the wetting current flows to reach the load control switch, the voltage measurement unit being configured to detect a state of the load control switch based on a voltage at the node, and a controller coupled to the current sensor and the voltage measurement unit, the controller being configured to determine a wetting current diagnostic condition in accordance with the current level and the detected state.

Wetting current diagnostics

A method of protecting a dielectric during fabrication is provided. A conductive layer is patterned to form a first conductive shape on a first portion of a dielectric layer and a second conductive shape on a second portion of the dielectric layer. A conductive trace is formed over at least a portion of the second conductive shape. The conductive trace electrically connects the first conductive shape with a substrate tie. An interconnect layer is coupled to the first conductive shape. The conductive trace is etched to electrically isolate the first conductive shape from the substrate tie.

In-line protection from process induced dielectric damage

An electronic control unit suitable for a motorcycle provides diagnostic support, tachometer drive and warning lamp drive all multiplexed onto one pin and driven by a single driver circuit. In a diagnostics mode, the pin is connected to diagnostic equipment. When a diagnostic test has been completed, a tachometer drive signal is output on the pin, the drive signal having a duty cycle set high enough to illuminate the warning lamp if a fault condition is detected by on-board sensors. By combining multiple functions onto a single pin with a single driver circuit, the cost of implementing an engine control unit may be reduced compared with existing arrangements which require separate pins and drivers for each function.

Control system and method of operating a control system

A method and apparatus provide an ability to selectively couple one of the output of the buffer or the output of the digital driver to a data terminal based upon a state of a storage location in which a stored first select indicator is stored and based upon a state of a selection signal. An external serial interface, at a semiconductor die, includes the data terminal, a selection terminal to receive the selection signal, and a clock terminal to receive a clock signal. A buffer includes an input to receive a secondary signal and an output to provide the secondary signal to the data terminal. A digital driver includes a digital output coupled to the data terminal. A first storage location has a storage state based upon the stored first select indicator. Select circuitry provides the selectively coupling.

Interconnect sharing with integrated control for reduced pinout

The embodiments described herein include systems with a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) interface and methods of their operation. Embodiments of VRS interfaces include a clearing signal generator configured to generate a clearing signal corresponding with the timing of a noise event. The clearing signal may be configured to clear a post-processing circuit.

Variable reluctance sensor interfaces with clearing and methods of their operation

A control methodology and apparatus for an engine suitable for use in capacitor discharge ignition systems for internal combustion engines or brushless DC motors is provided, which make use of a simple logic block to determine for instance an ignition timing advance angle or duty cycle signal based on actual engine speed versus engine control parameter data stored in a table, which is a read-only memory, preferably configurable. To minimize memory space, a small number of values of engine control parameter versus engine speed are stored in the table and the logic block determines the required engine control signal for a measured value of engine speed by an interpolation process, preferably linear interpolation.

Method and apparatus for determining a value of a variable parameter

A system for determining a temperature of a first portion of an engine, and related circuit, and related method of operation, are disclosed. In one example embodiment, the system includes a wheel having a plurality of magnetic teeth, and an electrical circuit including a variable reluctance sensor (VRS) including at least one winding, the VRS being positioned proximate the wheel, where the VRS is in thermal contact with the first portion, and a comparator having first and second input terminals and an output terminal, where the comparator is configured to output an output signal at the output terminal. Either the output signal or a further signal generated by the electrical circuit is at least indirectly indicative of a resistance of the at least one winding, whereby an indication of the temperature of the first portion can be determined based upon the output signal or further signal.

System and method for temperature sensing in an internal combustion engine

Systems, methods, and circuits for determining one or more switch statuses are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, such a system for determining a status of a switch having first and second terminals includes a first port configured to be coupled to the first terminal, a second port configured to be coupled to the second terminal, and a capacitor coupled between the first port and ground. Additionally, the system includes a comparator device having first and second input ports and an output port, the first input port being coupled at least indirectly to the first port, a current source coupled to the first input port, and a voltage source coupled between the second port and the second input port. The comparator device is configured to provide an output signal at the output port that is at least sometimes indicative of the status of the switch.

System and method for switch status detection

An ignition control device having an Electronic Fuel Injection mode and a Capacitive Discharge ignition mode is described. The ignition control device comprises: an output for providing an output voltage, connected or connectable to a load, the load being a fuel injection actuator of an EFI system or an ignition capacitor of a CDI system; and a driver unit connected to the output, for driving the output voltage from a low level to a high level and from the high level to the low level in dependence on an input signal, each transition of the output voltage from the low level to the high level having a low-to-high transition time which is longer for the CDI mode than for the EFI mode.

Ignition control device having an electronic fuel injection (EFI) mode and a capacitive discharge ignition (CDI) mode

Systems, methods, and circuits for determining one or more switch statuses are disclosed herein. In one example embodiment, such a system includes a first port configured to be coupled to a switch, a capacitor, a comparator having first and second input ports and an output port, a current source coupled to the first input port, and a control component. The first input port is coupled to the first port and a threshold voltage if applied to the second input port. The control component is configured so that, in at least one circumstance, it causes the current source to cease driving the current in response to receiving an indication from the output port indicating that an additional voltage applied to the first input port has changed from being less than the threshold voltage to being greater than that voltage, the indication being indicative of the switch status.

A circuit includes an evaluation node through which current flows from a voltage source node to a sensed switch when the sensed switch is closed. First and second control switches are disposed between the voltage source node and the evaluation node to switch between first and second current paths for the current. The current passes through the first control switch when flowing along the first current path. The second control switch is coupled to a control terminal of the first control switch to deactivate the first control switch and allow the current to flow through the second current path. Multiple passive circuit elements are configured to establish first and second current levels for the current. The passive circuit elements are disposed between the voltage source node and the evaluation node in a circuit arrangement in which no current path to ground is present when the sensed switch is open.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

William Ernest Edwards