Methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit
View Patent ↗Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and apparatus for an integrated circuit (IC). The methods and apparatus may comprise an integrated circuit comprising a sensor circuit and a driver circuit coupled to the sensor circuit. The driver circuit may include an amplifier configured to generate a bias voltage, a signal converter circuit coupled to the amplifier, and a control circuit coupled to the amplifier. The control circuit may comprise a switch responsive to a control signal and a transistor coupled to the switch.
1. An integrated circuit, comprising:
a sensor circuit; and
a driver circuit coupled to the sensor circuit and comprising:
an amplifier configured to generate a bias voltage at a bias output terminal;
a signal converter circuit coupled to the amplifier, wherein the signal converter circuit comprises a digital-to-analog converter; and
a control circuit coupled to the amplifier and configured to selectively operate the driver circuit in one of:
a current mode; and
a voltage mode.
2. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises:
a plurality of switches, each responsive to a control signal; and
at least one transistor coupled to at least one of the plurality of switches.
3. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises:
a first switch coupled:
in series with a second switch; and
to the bias output terminal;
a third transistor comprising a gate terminal, wherein the gate terminal is coupled to a node positioned between the first and second switches; and
a third switch and a resistive element coupled between a reference voltage and the amplifier.
4. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor circuit comprises a hall element configured to generate a hall signal in response to a magnetic field.
5. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising a switching circuit coupled to the sensor circuit and the driver circuit and responsive to a control signal.
6. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , wherein:
the signal converter circuit is coupled to an inverting terminal of the amplifier; and
the control circuit is coupled to:
a non-inverting terminal of the amplifier; and
a bias output terminal of the amplifier.
7. The integrated circuit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first amplifier circuit coupled to an output of the sensor circuit;
a second amplifier circuit coupled to an output of the first amplifier circuit and the driver circuit; and
a switching circuit coupled:
between the first and second amplifier circuits; and
to the driver circuit;
wherein the switching circuit comprises a plurality of switches.
8. The integrated circuit according to claim 7 , wherein the switching circuit comprises:
a fourth switch coupled between a first output terminal of the first amplifier circuit and a first terminal of the second amplifier circuit; and
a fifth switch coupled between a second output terminal of the first amplifier circuit and a second terminal of the second amplifier circuit.
9. The integrated circuit according to claim 8 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises:
a sixth switch coupled between the fourth switch and the driver circuit; and
a seventh switch coupled to:
the fifth switch;
the driver circuit; and
the first input terminal of the first amplifier circuit.
10. A method for operating a hall sensor integrated circuit, comprising:
generating a current with a driver circuit, comprising:
a signal converter comprising a digital-to-analog converter;
an amplifier coupled to the signal converter; and
a control circuit coupled to the amplifier;
generating a sensor signal with the hall sensor;
decoupling a first amplifier circuit from a second amplifier circuit;
generating a voltage with the driver circuit; and
coupling the first amplifier circuit to the second amplifier circuit.
11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising generating a bias voltage with the amplifier.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein:
generating the voltage comprises coupling the control circuit to the bias voltage; and
generating the current comprises decoupling the control circuit from the bias voltage.
13. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
sampling the sensor signal with a sampling circuit;
amplifying the sampled sensor signal with the first amplifier circuit; and
amplifying a signal from the first amplifier circuit with the second amplifier circuit.
14. A hall sensor integrated circuit, comprising:
a hall sensor circuit configured to generate a hall signal in response to a magnetic field;
a driver circuit coupled to the hall sensor circuit and configured to operate in one of:
a current mode; and
a voltage mode;
wherein the driver circuit comprises:
a control circuit coupled to a bias voltage;
a first amplifier circuit coupled to an output of the hall sensor circuit;
a second amplifier circuit coupled to the driver circuit; and
a switching circuit coupled between an output of the first amplifier circuit and an input of the second amplifier circuit, comprising:
a plurality of switches, wherein each switch is responsive to a dedicated control signal.
15. The hall sensor integrated circuit according to claim 14 , wherein the driver circuit further comprises:
a signal converter; and
an amplifier coupled to the signal converter, comprising:
an inverting input terminal;
a non-inverting input terminal; and
a bias output terminal;
wherein the amplifier is configured to generate the bias voltage.
16. The hall sensor integrated circuit according to claim 14 , wherein the control circuit further comprises:
a first switch coupled to the bias voltage;
a second switch coupled in series with the first switch;
a third transistor comprising a gate terminal, wherein the gate terminal is coupled to a node positioned between the first and second switches; and
a third switch and a resistive element coupled between a reference voltage and the amplifier;
wherein each of the first, second, and third switches are responsive to a dedicated control signal.
17. The hall sensor integrated circuit according to claim 14 , wherein the switching circuit comprises:
a fourth switch coupled between a first output terminal of the first amplifier circuit and a first terminal of the second amplifier circuit; and
a fifth switch coupled between a second output terminal of the first amplifier circuit and a second terminal of the second amplifier circuit.
18. The hall sensor integrated circuit according to claim 17 , wherein the switching circuit further comprises:
a sixth switch coupled to:
the fourth switch;
the driver circuit; and
the first input terminal of the second amplifier circuit; and
a seventh switch coupled to:
the fifth switch;
the driver circuit; and
the second input terminal of the second amplifier circuit.
19. The hall sensor integrated circuit according to claim 14 , wherein the driver circuit further comprises a current mirror coupled to:
the hall sensor circuit; and
the amplifier.
20. The hall sensor integrated circuit according to claim 14 , further comprising:
a signal converter circuit; and
an amplifier comprising:
an inverting input terminal;
a non-inverting input terminal; and
a bias output terminal;
wherein:
the signal converter circuit is coupled to the inverting terminal of the amplifier; and
the control circuit is coupled to:
the non-inverting terminal of the amplifier; and
the bias output terminal of the amplifier.