IP Library Granted Patent US 9,175,981
Granted Patent B2
US 9,175,981 · App. 13/859,245 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Motion sensor, method, and computer-readable storage medium providing a motion sensor generating a signal having signal states with a reduced amount of state chatter

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,175,981
App. No.
13/859,245
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A motion sensor has a state processor to identify states associated with a magnetic field signal provided by a magnetic field sensing element. The state processor includes a state peak logic module configured to generate a signal having signal states that have a reduced amount of state chatter.

Claims (64)

1. A motion sensor, comprising:

a magnetic field sensing element configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with an object; and

a state processor coupled to receive a signal representative of the magnetic field signal, wherein the state processor is configured to generate a STATE_SM signal indicative of a plurality of states associated with the magnetic field signal, wherein the plurality of states is indicative of a respective range of signal values of the magnetic field signal, wherein the STATE_SM signal comprises a plurality of state transitions, wherein the plurality of state transitions is comprising state transition chatter, and wherein the state processor comprises:

a state peak logic module coupled to receive the STATE_SM signal and configured to generate a STATE_PEAK signal, wherein the STATE_PEAK signal comprises a plurality of state peak transitions, wherein the plurality of state peak transitions has reduced state transition chatter,

wherein the state peak logic module is further coupled to receive a POSCOMP_PK signal having state transitions that occur when a state represented by the STATE_PEAK signal differs from a state represented by the STATE_SM signal by a predetermined number of states, and wherein the state peak logic module comprises a state peak logic processor configured, if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a first state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is greater than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, to set a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal to equal a state value of the STATE_SM signal.

2. The motion sensor of claim 1 , wherein the state peak logic processor is further configured, if the POSCOMP_PK signal has a second different state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is less than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, to also set a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal to equal a state value of the STATE_SM signal.

3. The motion sensor of claim 1 , wherein states values of the STATE_SM signal are held in a STATE_SM register and wherein state values of the STATE_PEAK signal are held in an SM_PEAK register.

4. The motion sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a vibration processor coupled to the state processor, wherein the vibration processor comprises an inflection processor configured to generate a two-state POSCOMP_PK signal having state transitions that occur when a state represented by the STATE_PEAK signal differs from a state represented by the STATE_SM signal by a predetermined number of states.

5. The vibration processor of claim 4 , wherein the inflection processor is further configured, if the POSCOMP_PK signal has a state transition, and if the state value represented by the STATE_SM signal is less than a first predetermined state value or greater than, a second predetermined state value, to change a state of an INFLECTION_FLAG signal.

6. The motion sensor of claim 4 , wherein the state peak logic module comprises a state peak logic processor configured, if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a first state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is greater than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, to set a state value held in a STATE_PEAK register to equal a state value held in a STATE_SM register, wherein the state peak logic processor is further configured, if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a second different state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is less than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, to also set a state value held in the STATE_PEAK register to equal a state value held in the STATE_SM register.

7. The motion sensor of claim 4 , wherein the vibration processor is configured to generate a vibration signal indicative of a vibration of at least one of the object or the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements in response to at least one of the STATE_PEAK signal, the STATE_SM signal, or the POSCOMP_PK signal.

8. The motion sensor of claim 4 , wherein the state processor is further configured to generate a two-state POSCOMP signal having first and second different state transitions that occur when at least one of the STATE_SM signal or the STATE_PEAK signal are representative of respective first and second states.

9. The motion sensor of claim 8 , wherein the first and second states are different states.

10. The motion sensor of claim 8 , wherein the vibration processor is configured to generate a vibration signal indicative of a vibration of at least one of the object or the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements in response to at least one of the STATE_PEAK signal, the STATE_SM signal, the POSCOMP signal, or the POSCOMP_PK signal.

11. A method of detecting a motion of an object, comprising:

generating a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with the object;

generating a STATE_SM signal indicative of a plurality of states associated with the magnetic field signal, wherein each one of the plurality of states is indicative of a respective range of signal values of the magnetic field signal, wherein the STATE_SM signal comprises a plurality state transitions, wherein the plurality of state is comprising state transition chatter;

generating a STATE_PEAK signal related to the STATE_SM signal, wherein the STATE_PEAK signal comprises a plurality state peak transitions, wherein the plurality of state peak transitions has reduced state transition chatter;

generating a POSCOMP_PK signal having state transitions that occur when a state represented by the STATE_PEAK signal differs from a state represented by the STATE_SM signal by predetermined number of states, and

if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a first state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is greater than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, setting a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal to equal a state value of the STATE_SM signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

if the POSCOMP_PK signal has a second different state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is less than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, also setting a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal to equal a state value of the STATE_SM signal.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

holding states values of the STATE_SM signal in a STATE_SM register; and

holding values of the STATE_PEAK signal in an SM_PEAK register.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

generating a two-state POSCOMP_PK signal having state transitions that occur when a state represented by the STATE_PEAK signal differs from a state represented by the STATE_SM signal by a predetermined number of states.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

if the POSCOMP_PK signal has a state transition, and if the state value represented by the STATE_SM signal is less than a first predetermined state value or greater than a second predetermined state value, changing a state of an INFLECTION_FLAG signal.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a first state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is greater than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, setting a state value held in a STATE_PEAK register to equal a state value held in a STATE_SM register; and

if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a second different state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is less than a state value of the STATE_PEAK, setting a state value held in the STATE_PEAK register to equal a state value held in the STATE_SM register.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

generating a vibration signal indicative of a vibration of at least one of the object or the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements in response to at least one of the STATE_PEAK signal, the STATE_SM signal, or the POSCOMP_PK signal.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

generating a two-state POSCOMP signal having first and second different state transitions that occur when at least one of the STATE_SM signal or the STATE_PEAK signal are representative of respective first and second states.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first and second states are different states.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

generating a vibration signal indicative of a vibration of at least one of the object or the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements in response to at least one of the STATE_PEAK signal, the STATE_SM signal, the POSCOMP signal, or the POSCOMP_PK signal.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code thereon for providing sensing of a motion of an object, the medium comprising:

instructions for receiving a magnetic field signal indicative of a magnetic field associated with the object;

instructions for generating a STATE_SM signal indicative of a plurality of states associated with the magnetic field signal, wherein each one of the plurality of states is indicative of a respective range of signal values of the magnetic field signal, wherein the STATE_SM signal comprises a plurality of state transitions, wherein the plurality of state transitions is comprising state transition chatter;

instructions for generating a STATE_PEAK signal related to the STATE_SM signal, wherein the STATE_PEAK signal comprises a plurality of state peak transitions, wherein the plurality of state peak has reduced state transition chatter;

instructions for generating a POSCOMP_PK signal having state transitions that occur when a state represented by the STATE_PEAK signal differs from a state represented by the STATE_SM signal by a predetermined number of states, and

instructions for, if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a first state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is greater than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, setting a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal to equal a state value of the STATE_SM signal.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , further comprising:

instructions for, if the POSCOMP_PK signal has a second different state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is less than a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal, also setting a state value of the STATE_PEAK signal to equal a state value of the STATE_SM signal.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , further comprising:

instructions for holding states values of the STATE_SM signal in a STATE_SM register; and

instructions for holding values of the STATE_PEAK signal in an SM_PEAK register.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23 , further comprising:

instructions for generating a vibration signal indicative of a vibration of at least one of the object or the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements in response to at least one of the STATE_PEAK signal, the STATE_SM signal, or the POSCOMp_PK.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23 , further comprising:

instructions for generating a two-state POSCOMP signal having first and second different state transitions that occur when at least one of the STATE_SM signal or the STATE_PEAK signal are representative of respective first and second states.

26. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , wherein the first and second states are different states.

27. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 25 , further comprising:

instructions for generating a vibration signal indicative of a vibration of at least one of the object or the plurality of magnetic field sensing elements in response to at least one of the STATE_PEAK signal, the STATE_SM signal, the POSCOMP signal, or the POSCOMP_PK signal.

28. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21 , further comprising:

instructions for generating a two-state POSCOMP_PK signal having state transitions that occur when a state represented by the STATE_PEAK signal differs from a state represented by the STATE_SM signal by a predetermined number of states.

29. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , further comprising:

instructions for, if the POSCOMP_PK signal has a state transition, and if the state value represented by the STATE_SM signal is less than a first predetermined state value or greater than a second predetermined state value, changing a state of an INFLECTION_FLAG signal.

30. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 28 , further comprising:

instructions for, if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a first state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is greater than a state value of the STATE_PEAK, setting a state value held in a STATE_PEAK register to equal a state value held in a STATE_SM register; and

instructions for, if the POSCOMP_PK signal is equal to a second different state, and a state value of the STATE_SM signal is less than a state value of the STATE_PEAK, setting a state value held in the STATE_PEAK register to equal a state value held in the STATE_SM register.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 053957/FRAME 0874 Recorded Nov 1, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065420/0572 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (R/F 053957/0620) Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: MIZUHO BANK, LTD., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 064068/0360 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 22, 2023
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064068/0459 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MIZUHO BANK LTD., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053957/0620 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053957/0874 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2014
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS EUROPE LIMITED
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 034171/0492 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2013
From: FOLETTO, ANDREA; FERNANDEZ, DEVON; BURDETTE, ERIC
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 030196/0857 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 11, 2013
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 030203/0733 →