Magnetic switch with toggle and de-bounce functionality
AssigneeAllegro MicroSystems, LLC
InventorsJoseph James Judkins, III, Ryan J. Metivier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetic switch sensor is provided having a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field indicative of a distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and a target, a first circuit coupled to receive the magnetic field signal and having an output to provide a comparison signal, and a debounce circuit coupled to receive the comparison signal and having an output to provide a debounced signal. The sensor can include a second circuit having an input coupled to receive the debounced signal and an output at which is provided a toggle signal that transitions between first and second levels every other time the magnetic field signal crosses a threshold level.
Claims21
A sensor comprising:
- a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field indicative of a distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and a target;
- a first circuit having an input coupled to receive the magnetic field signal and an output at which is provided a comparison signal indicative of the distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and the target;
- a debounce circuit having an input coupled to receive the comparison signal and an output at which is provided a debounced signal indicative of the distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and the target, wherein the debounce circuit is configured to debounce the comparison signal;
- and
- a switch coupled to the first circuit and configured to selectively couple power to at least a portion of the first circuit for an activation portion of each of a plurality of consecutive time periods.
A sensor comprising:
- a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field indicative of a distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and a target;
- a first circuit having an input coupled to receive the magnetic field signal and an output at which is provided a comparison signal indicative of the distance or angle between the magnetic field sensing element and the target, wherein the first circuit is configured to cause the comparison signal to transition from a first level to a second level when the magnetic field signal crosses a predetermined threshold level;
- a switch coupled to the first circuit and configured to selectively activate at least a portion of the first circuit for an activation portion of each of a plurality of consecutive time periods;
- and
- a debounce circuit responsive to the comparison signal to generate an output signal, wherein the debounce circuit is configured to cause the output signal to transition when the comparison signal is at the same level for a predetermined number of activation portions of consecutive time periods.
A sensor comprising:
- means for generating a magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field indicative of a distance or angle between the magnetic field signal generating means and a target;
- means coupled to the magnetic field signal generating means for generating a comparison signal that transitions every time the magnetic field signal crosses a predetermined threshold level;
- debouncing means coupled to the comparison signal generating means for generating a debounced signal indicative of the distance or angle between the magnetic field signal generating and the target;
- and
- switching means coupled to the comparison signal generating means and configured to selectively couple power to the comparison signal generating means for an activation portion of each of a plurality of consecutive time periods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.