IP Library Granted Patent US 10,230,006
Granted Patent B2
US 10,230,006 · App. 15/618,251 · Granted Mar 12, 2019

Magnetic field sensor integrated circuit with an electromagnetic suppressor

Inventors: Ravi Vig (Bedford, NH); William P. Taylor (Amherst, NH); Paul A. David (Bow, NH); P. Karl Scheller (Manchester, NH); Andreas P. Friedrich (Metz-Tessy, FR)
Assignee: Allegro MicroSystems, LLC
H01L29/82G01D5/147G01R33/0047G01R33/0052G01R33/06H01L2224/45147H01L2224/48247H01L2924/00011
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,230,006
App. No.
15/618,251
Granted
Mar 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic field sensor includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second surface attached to the lead frame, and a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame. The sensor may include a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material. An electromagnetic suppressor comprising a ferromagnetic material encloses a passive device spaced from the non-conductive mold material and coupled to a plurality of leads.

Claims (44)

1. A magnetic field sensor comprising:

a lead frame having a first surface, a second opposing surface, and a plurality of leads;

a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second opposing surface attached to the first surface of the lead frame;

a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame;

a passive component coupled to the plurality of leads and spaced from the non-conductive mold material;

an electromagnetic suppressor comprising a molded ferromagnetic material enclosing the passive component; and

a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material, wherein the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a central aperture having a surface extending from the non-conductive mold material to an outer peripheral surface of the ferromagnetic mold material, wherein the surface of the central aperture comprises a bend at an intermediate location such that the surface of the central aperture has a first slope from the non-conductive mold material to the bend and a second slope different than the first slope from the bend to the outer peripheral surface of the central aperture.

2. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one of the electromagnetic suppressor and the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a hard ferromagnetic material.

3. The magnetic field sensor of claim 2 wherein the hard ferromagnetic material is selected from the group consisting of a ferrite, a SmCo alloy, a NdFeB alloy, a thermoplastic polymer with hard magnetic particles, or a thermoset polymer with hard magnetic particles.

4. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 wherein at least one of the electromagnetic suppressor and the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a soft ferromagnetic material.

5. The magnetic field sensor of claim 4 wherein the soft ferromagnetic material is selected from the group consisting of NiFe, Ni, a Ni alloy, steel or ferrite.

6. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic suppressor comprises a first mold element enclosing the passive component and a second mold element enclosing at least a portion of the first mold element.

7. The magnetic field sensor of claim 6 wherein the non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame comprises a first non-conductive mold material and wherein the first mold element comprises a second non-conductive mold material.

8. The magnetic field sensor of claim 7 wherein the second non-conductive mold material comprises a thermoset or a thermoplastic.

9. The magnetic field sensor of claim 7 wherein the first non-conductive mold material and the second non-conductive mold material comprise the same material.

10. The magnetic field sensor of claim 6 wherein the second mold element comprises a ferromagnetic material.

11. The magnetic field sensor of claim 10 wherein the second mold element comprises a hard ferromagnetic material.

12. The magnetic field sensor of claim 10 wherein the second mold element comprises a soft ferromagnetic material.

13. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 wherein the passive component is a capacitor.

14. A magnetic field sensor, comprising:

a lead frame having a first surface, a second opposing surface, and a plurality of leads;

a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second opposing surface;

a non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame;

a ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material, wherein the ferromagnetic mold material comprises a central aperture having a surface extending from the non-conductive mold material to an outer peripheral surface of the ferromagnetic mold material, wherein the surface of the central aperture comprises a bend at an intermediate location such that the surface of the central aperture has a first slope from the non-conductive mold material to the bend and a second slope different than the first slope from the bend to the outer peripheral surface of the central aperture;

at least one capacitor coupled to at least two of the plurality of leads and spaced from the non-conductive mold material; and

an electromagnetic suppressor comprising a molded ferromagnetic material enclosing the at least one capacitor.

15. The magnetic field sensor of claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic suppressor comprises a hard ferromagnetic material.

16. The magnetic field sensor of claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic suppressor comprises a soft ferromagnetic material.

17. The magnetic field sensor of claim 14 wherein the electromagnetic suppressor comprises a first mold element enclosing the at least one capacitor and a second mold element enclosing at least a portion of the first mold element.

18. The magnetic field sensor of claim 17 wherein the non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame comprises a first non-conductive mold material and wherein the first mold element comprises a second non-conductive mold material.

19. The magnetic field sensor of claim 17 wherein the ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material comprises a first ferromagnetic mold material and wherein the second mold element comprises a second ferromagnetic mold material.

20. A magnetic field sensor, comprising:

a lead frame having a first surface, a second opposing surface, and a plurality of leads; a semiconductor die having a first surface in which a magnetic field sensing element is disposed and a second opposing surface;

a first non-conductive mold material enclosing the die and at least a portion of the lead frame;

a first ferromagnetic mold material secured to a portion of the non-conductive mold material wherein the first ferromagnetic mold material comprises a central aperture having a surface extending from the first non-conductive mold material to an outer peripheral surface of the first ferromagnetic mold material, wherein the surface of the central aperture comprises a bend at an intermediate location such that the surface of the central aperture has a first slope from the first non-conductive mold material to the bend and a second slope different than the first slope from the bend to the outer peripheral surface of the central aperture;

at least one capacitor coupled to at least two of the plurality of leads and spaced from the non-conductive mold material; and

a suppression device comprising:

a first mold element enclosing the at least one capacitor and comprising a second non-conductive mold material; and

a second mold element enclosing at least a portion of the first mold element and comprising a second ferromagnetic mold material.

21. The magnetic field sensor of claim 20 wherein the second non-conductive mold material comprises a thermoset or a thermoplastic.

22. The magnetic field sensor of claim 20 wherein the second ferromagnetic mold material comprises a hard ferromagnetic mold material.

23. The magnetic field sensor of claim 22 wherein the hard ferromagnetic mold material is selected from the group consisting of a ferrite, a SmCo alloy, a NdFeB alloy, a thermoplastic polymer with hard magnetic particles, or a thermoset polymer with hard magnetic particles.

24. The magnetic field sensor of claim 20 wherein the second ferromagnetic mold material comprises a soft ferromagnetic mold material.

25. The magnetic field sensor of claim 24 wherein the soft ferromagnetic mold material is selected from the group consisting of NiFe, Ni, a Ni alloy, steel or ferrite.

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 →
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 →
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 Oct 1, 2020
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053957/0874 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
To: MIZUHO BANK LTD., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053957/0620 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2017
From: VIG, RAVI; TAYLOR, WILLIAM P.; DAVID, PAUL; SCHELLER, P. KARL; FRIEDRICH, ANDREAS P.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 042723/0354 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 15, 2017
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 042822/0425 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2017
From: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS EUROPE LIMITED
To: ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 042723/0376 →
Continuity (3)
Division 13748999 · Jan 24, 2013
Continuation In Part 13424618 · Mar 20, 2012
Related Publication 20170278981A1 · Sep 28, 2017
Cited By (3)
US 12,487,254 US 12,493,057 US 12,642,009