Integrated circuit with a sensor element for providing an encoded output signal
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
- a comparator that receives an input signal, and compares said input signal against a plurality of predetermined threshold values and provides a plurality of comparator output signals each indicative of whether or not said input signal exceeds an associated one of said plurality of predetermined threshold values; and
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state information associated with said plurality of comparator signals, wherein said output stage comprises means for generating said encoded output signal using pulse width modulation, wherein said state information is encoded within said encoded output signal based upon the pulse/pause ratio of said encoded output signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to an integrated circuit with a single sensor element (1) for converting a physical variable into an electrical signal, comprising a comparator unit (4) by which means the electrical signal of the sensor element (1) can be compared with various different threshold values in order to produce different discreet circuit states and an output unit (5) for outputting an output signal representing the different discreet circuit states or the comparator unit (4). The threshold values of the comparators of the comparator unit (4) are stored in a storage unit of the integrated circuit in such a way that they can be regulated with a control device (3). The integrated circuit has a single output terminal (7a) on which the various circuit states of the electrical signal can be picked off in code.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a comparator that receives an input signal, and compares said input signal against a plurality of predetermined threshold values and provides a plurality of comparator output signals each indicative of whether or not said input signal exceeds an associated one of said plurality of predetermined threshold values; and
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state information associated with said plurality of comparator signals, wherein said output stage comprises means for generating said encoded output signal using pulse width modulation, wherein said state information is encoded within said encoded output signal based upon the pulse/pause ratio of said encoded output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a magnetic field transducer comprising a Hall effect transducer that generates and provides an input signal;
a comparator that receives said input signal, and compares said input signal against a plurality of predetermined threshold values and provides a plurality of comparator output signals each indicative of whether or not said input signal exceeds an associated one of said plurality of predetermined threshold values;
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state information associated with said plurality of comparator signals; and
a control unit that includes a memory device that stores and provides said plurality of predetermined threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a transducer element that provides a transducer output signal;
a comparator that receives said transducer output signal, and compares a signal indicative of said transducer output signal against a plurality of adjustable threshold values and provides a plurality of comparator output signals each indicative of one of an associated plurality of switching states; and
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes switching state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a bi-directional integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state information associated with said plurality of comparator signals;
wherein said output stage comprises means for generating said encoded output signal using pulse width modulation, wherein said state information is encoded within said encoded output signal based upon the pulse/pause ratio of said encoded output signal. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a transducer element that provides a transducer output signal;
an amplifier that receives said transducer output signal and provides an amplified transducer output signal;
a comparator network that receives said amplified transducer output signal, and compares a signal indicative of said amplified transducer output signal against a plurality of adjustable threshold values to determine a state of said amplified transducer output signal, and provides a plurality of comparator output signals indicative of said state of said amplified transducer output signal;
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes switching state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state; and
a control unit that includes a memory device that stores and provides said plurality of adjustable threshold values.
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11. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a transducer element that comprises a magnetic field transducer and provides a transducer output signal;
an amplifier that receives said transducer output signal and provides an amplified transducer output signal;
a comparator network that receives said amplified transducer output signal, and compares a signal indicative of said amplified transducer output signal against a plurality of adjustable threshold values to determine a state of said amplified transducer output signal, and provides a plurality of comparator output signals indicative of said state of said amplified transducer output signal;
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes switching state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state; and
a control unit that includes a memory device that stores and provides said plurality of adjustable threshold values.
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12. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a magnetic field transducer that generates and provides an input signal;
a comparator that receives said input signal, and compares said input signal against a plurality of predetermined threshold values and provides a plurality of comparator output signals each indicative of whether or not said input signal exceeds an associated one of said plurality of predetermined threshold values;
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state information associated with said plurality of comparator signals; and
a control unit that includes a memory device that stores and provides said plurality of predetermined threshold values.
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13. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a transducer element comprising a magnetic field transducer that provides a transducer output signal;
a comparator that receives said transducer output signal, and compares a signal indicative of said transducer output signal against a plurality of adjustable threshold values and provides a plurality of comparator output signals each indicative of one of an associated plurality of switching states;
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes switching state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a bi-directional integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state information associated with said plurality of comparator signals; and
a control unit that includes a memory device that stores and provides said plurality of predetermined threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An integrated circuit sensor, comprising:
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a transducer element that comprises a magnetic field transducer and provides a transducer output signal;
an amplifier that receives said transducer output signal and provides an amplified transducer output signal;
a comparator network that receives said amplified transducer output signal, and compares a signal indicative of said amplified transducer output signal against a plurality of adjustable threshold values to determine a state of said amplified transducer output signal, and provides a plurality of comparator output signals indicative of said state of said amplified transducer output signal;
an output stage that receives said plurality of comparator output signals and encodes switching state information associated with said plurality of comparator output signals to provide on a integrated circuit lead an encoded output signal indicative of said state; and
a control unit that includes a memory device that stores and provides said plurality of predetermined threshold values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification