公开(公告)号：US12169148B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-17

申请号：US17651265

申请日：2022-02-16

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Till-Jonas Ostermann ,  Alexander Latham

IPC: G01L3/10 ,  G01L5/22

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for differential magnetic field torque sensors that include first and second magnetic targets for coupling to one or more rotatable shafts. The magnetic targets can include multipole ring magnets having a plurality of alternating magnetic domains. First and second differential magnetic field angular position sensors positioned proximate to the magnetic targets produce angular position of the targets and a processing unit is operative to receive an angular position from each of the first and second differential magnetic field angular position sensors and determine a difference between the angular positions. The difference corresponds to an angle between the targets, and the processing unit is operative to calculate, based on the angle, a torque applied to the one or more rotatable shafts.

公开(公告)号：US11885645B2

公开(公告)日：2024-01-30

申请号：US17350045

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Alexander Latham ,  Evan Shorman ,  Michael C. Doogue

IPC: G01D18/00

CPC classification number: G01D18/00

Abstract: A sensor includes a sensing element configured to generate a sensing element output signal indicative of a sensed parameter and a signal path responsive to the sensing element output signal and having at least one of an adjustable gain or an adjustable offset, wherein the signal path is configured to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the sensed parameter. A supply voltage detector is configured to generate a supply voltage signal indicative of which of a plurality of voltage ranges a supply voltage of the sensor falls within and at least one of the adjustable gain or the adjustable offset is adjustable in response to the supply voltage signal.

公开(公告)号：US20240027560A1

公开(公告)日：2024-01-25

申请号：US18480573

申请日：2023-10-04

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Yannick Vuillermet ,  Loïc André Messier ,  Simon E. Rock ,  Maxwell McNally ,  Alexander Latham ,  Andreas P. Friedrich

IPC: G01R35/00 ,  G01R15/20 ,  G01R33/07

CPC classification number: G01R35/005 ,  G01R15/207 ,  G01R33/072 ,  G01R15/202

Abstract: Auto-calibrating current sensor integrated circuits (ICs) are configured for mounting at a position relative to a conductor. The auto-calibrating current sensor ICs can include a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements disposed at different locations within the integrated circuit, respectively, and can be configured to measure a magnetic field produced by a current carried by the conductor. The auto-calibrating sensors can include an electromagnetic model of the IC and the conductor. The model can be operative to determine a magnetic field at points in space due to a given current in the conductor at a known location of the conductor from the IC, and also the inverse situation of determining an unknown current and/or location of the conductor based on measurements of a magnetic field at known locations in space due to an unknown current in the conductor. Related auto-calibration methods are also described.

公开(公告)号：US20230314483A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-05

申请号：US17657135

申请日：2022-03-30

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Shixi Louis Liu ,  Maxwell McNally ,  Alexander Latham

IPC: G01R15/20 ,  H01L43/04 ,  H01L43/06 ,  H01L43/14

CPC classification number: G01R15/207 ,  H01L43/14 ,  H01L43/065 ,  H01L43/04

Abstract: A current sensor IC includes a unitary lead frame having a primary conductor with a first thickness and a secondary lead having a second thickness less than the first thickness. A semiconductor die adjacent to the primary conductor includes a magnetic field sensing circuit to sense a magnetic field associated with the current and generate a secondary signal indicative of the current. An insulation structure is disposed between the primary conductor and the die. A mold material encloses a first portion of the secondary lead and a second portion of the secondary lead that is exposed outside of the package has the second thickness. A method of manufacturing a current sensor IC includes providing a unitary lead frame sheet having a first thickness, decreasing a thickness of a portion of the sheet to provide a first portion with the first thickness and a second portion with a smaller thickness, and stamping the sheet to form a repeating lead frame pattern, with each pattern including a primary conductor formed from the first portion and secondary leads formed from the second portion.

公开(公告)号：US20230296459A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-21

申请号：US17655469

申请日：2022-03-18

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Alexander Latham

IPC: G01L3/10

CPC classification number: G01L3/104

Abstract: Differential magnetic field torque sensors include first and second magnetic field concentrators that guide magnetic flux to a magnetic field sensor from first and second magnetic field directors and a target, such as a multipole magnet assembly configured as a ring magnet. The magnetic field concentrators have pairs of sections that are interdigitated and configured adjacent to magnetic field sensing elements of the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field directors can each have a plurality of teeth, which can be interdigitated and adjacent or proximate to the target. The magnetic field directors can be configured to be mounted as a unit to a rotatable shaft while the target can be configured to be mounted to a different rotatable shaft. The magnetic field concentrators and magnetic field sensor can be fixed while the magnetic field directors and target can rotate with respect to each other about a twist axis.

公开(公告)号：US20220404182A1

公开(公告)日：2022-12-22

申请号：US17350045

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Alexander Latham ,  Evan Shorman ,  Michael C. Doogue

IPC: G01D18/00

Abstract: A sensor includes a sensing element configured to generate a sensing element output signal indicative of a sensed parameter and a signal path responsive to the sensing element output signal and having at least one of an adjustable gain or an adjustable offset, wherein the signal path is configured to generate a sensor output signal indicative of the sensed parameter. A supply voltage detector is configured to generate a supply voltage signal indicative of which of a plurality of voltage ranges a supply voltage of the sensor falls within and at least one of the adjustable gain or the adjustable offset is adjustable in response to the supply voltage signal.

公开(公告)号：US11262385B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-01

申请号：US16421982

申请日：2019-05-24

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Shaun D. Milano ,  Bryan Cadugan ,  Michael C. Doogue ,  Alexander Latham ,  William P. Taylor ,  Harianto Wong ,  Sundar Chetlur

IPC: G01R15/14 ,  G01R15/20 ,  G01R19/00

Abstract: 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.

公开(公告)号：US11073573B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-27

申请号：US16851473

申请日：2020-04-17

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Alexander Latham ,  Michael C. Doogue ,  Jason Boudreau

IPC: G01R31/00 ,  G01R31/12 ,  G01R35/00 ,  G01D5/14 ,  G01D5/20 ,  G01N27/72 ,  G01N27/82 ,  H01F5/04 ,  G01R33/00 ,  G01R33/025 ,  G01R33/032 ,  G01R33/12 ,  G01N27/90 ,  H01F5/00 ,  H01F27/34

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first substrate and two coils supported by the first substrate and arranged next to each other, the coils configured to each generate a magnetic field which produces eddy currents in and a reflected magnetic field from a conductive target, the two coils arranged so their respectively generated magnetic fields substantially cancel each other in an area between the coils. One or more magnetic field sensing elements are positioned in the area between the coils and configured to detect the reflected magnetic field.

公开(公告)号：US10649042B2

公开(公告)日：2020-05-12

申请号：US16394338

申请日：2019-04-25

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Alexander Latham ,  Michael C. Doogue ,  Jason Boudreau

IPC: G01R33/02 ,  G01R35/00 ,  G01D5/14 ,  G01D5/20 ,  G01N27/72 ,  G01N27/82 ,  G01R33/00 ,  G01R33/025 ,  G01R33/032 ,  G01R33/12 ,  G01N27/90 ,  H01F5/00 ,  H01F27/34

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first substrate and two coils supported by the first substrate and arranged next to each other, the coils configured to each generate a magnetic field which produces eddy currents in and a reflected magnetic field from a conductive target, the two coils arranged so their respectively generated magnetic fields substantially cancel each other in an area between the coils. One or more magnetic field sensing elements are positioned in the area between the coils and configured to detect the reflected magnetic field.

公开(公告)号：US20200018780A1

公开(公告)日：2020-01-16

申请号：US16578767

申请日：2019-09-23

Applicant: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC

Inventor： Bryan Cadugan ,  Rémy Lassalle-Balier ,  Alexander Latham ,  Paolo Campiglio ,  Noémie Belin

IPC: G01R15/20 ,  G01R33/09 ,  G01R19/00 ,  G01R17/00

Abstract: 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.