LOW POWER SENSE AMPLIFIER FOR READING MEMORY
Granted: March 8, 2012
Application Number:
20120057422
A low power sense amplifier is configured to sense the state of a memory cell (e.g., non-volatile memory cell) without the use of a reference current or direct current.
Touch Screen Element
Granted: February 23, 2012
Application Number:
20120044206
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more first output signals from a first area of a touch-sensitive position sensor; receiving one or more second output signals from a second area of the touch-sensitive position sensor; calculating a first touch-position estimate based on the first output signals; calculating a second touch-position estimate based on the second output signals; and determining, based at least in part on the first and second touch-position estimates, an…
Mode Switching RC Network
Granted: February 23, 2012
Application Number:
20120043829
Various embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods having a conductive contact configured to couple to a resistor-capacitor (RC) network, a device unit coupled to the conductive contact, and a mode switching unit to change a characteristic of a signal at the conductive contact based at least in part on an RC time constant of the RC network. The mode switching unit may switch the device unit between a first operating mode and a second operating mode based on a signal level of the…
Receiver and Method for the Reception of a Node by a Receiver in a Wireless Network
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120039424
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal; synchronizing the received RF signal with a preamble to determine a time base; determining a first energy value of the received RF signal by averaging received signal strength indication (RSSI) values of the received RF signal over a first period of time; determining a second energy value of the received RF signal over a second period of time; determining a difference value between the first energy value and…
Circuit for Monitoring of Accumulator Cells Connected in Series
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120038364
In one embodiment, a circuit includes a measuring circuit coupled to an accumulator cell. A first output of the measuring circuit outputs a current signal based on a cell voltage of the accumulator cell. The circuit includes an interface circuit coupled to the first output of the measuring circuit and a second output of a level-shifter circuit configured to change a voltage level on the first output at the interface circuit. The level-shifter circuit includes a first input coupled to the…
EX-SITU COMPONENT RECOVERY
Granted: February 16, 2012
Application Number:
20120037189
Disclosed herein are devices, methods and systems for ex-situ component recovery. The ex-situ recovery can be performed by desorbing or outgassing components of a processing system in a recovery system, rather than in the processing system itself. The recovery system can include a docking station and/or a heated vacuum chamber. The heated vacuum chamber can be used to desorb or outgas components that will be located inside the processing system, while the docking station can be used to…
Secure Information Processing
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120036299
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive from a requesting device, at a memory device, a request to access a memory domain associated with the memory device, and to deny, by the memory device, the request if the memory domain comprises any part of a secure domain, and the requesting device has not asserted a secure transfer indication. Additional operations may include granting the request if the memory domain comprises some part of the secure domain and the requesting…
ENHANCED HVPMOS
Granted: February 9, 2012
Application Number:
20120032262
A p-channel LDMOS device with a controlled n-type buried layer (NBL) is disclosed. A Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) oxidation is defined, partially or totally covering the drift region length. The NBL layer, which can be defined with the p-well mask, connects to the n-well diffusion, thus providing an evacuation path for electrons generated by impact ionization. High immunity to the Kirk effect is also achieved, resulting in a significantly improved safe-operating-area (SOA). The…
DETECTING INDUCTIVE OBJECTS USING INPUTS OF INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120025813
An system for detecting inductive objects includes an inductive sensor circuit for detecting changes in an electromagnetic field (“EMF”) environment and an integrated circuit (“IC”) device. The inductive sensor circuit generates an oscillating analog waveform with an envelope that indicates changes in the EMF environment. The oscillating waveform is coupled to the digital input pin of the IC. A digital interface circuit in the IC is coupled to the digital input pin and is…
ROUTABLE ARRAY METAL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT PACKAGE FABRICATED USING PARTIAL ETCHING PROCESS
Granted: February 2, 2012
Application Number:
20120025375
An integrated circuit assembly is fabricated on a metal substrate strip in an array format that has raised circuitry pattern formed by photolithographic and metal etching processes. The circuitry pattern is formed on one side of the metal substrate only. The raised circuitry's etch depth extends partially through the metal substrate. Die attachment can be performed using a non-conductive material applied directly onto and around the raised circuitry features directly under the die. After…
Integrating (SLOPE) DAC Architecture
Granted: January 5, 2012
Application Number:
20120001784
A current source is used to pre-charge a capacitor to a known value. The capacitor can then be connected to a unity gain buffer to provide a low cost DAC. The DAC can include a self-calibration stage to improve accuracy. The DAC can include two or more circuit branches, each including a current source and a capacitor, where each branch can be calibrated and operated separately to reduce mismatch and to provide a continuous analog voltage output.
Detecting Data Symbols
Granted: November 17, 2011
Application Number:
20110280286
In one embodiment, a method includes generating a set of sequences of chip values and calculating a correlation between a demodulated signal and each one of two or more of the sequences. Each of the correlations has an absolute value, and one of the correlations has a highest absolute value. The method includes selecting the one of the sequences with the correlation having the highest absolute value; identifying a sequence index corresponding to the selected one of the sequences; and,…
Method And Manufacturing Low Leakage Mosfets And FinFets
Granted: October 27, 2011
Application Number:
20110260250
By aligning the primary flat of a wafer with a (100) plane rather than a (110) plane, devices can be formed with primary currents flowing along the (100) plane. In this case, the device will intersect the (111) plane at approximately 54.7 degrees. This intersect angle significantly reduces stress propagation/relief along the (111) direction and consequently reduces defects as well as leakage and parasitic currents. The leakage current reduction is a direct consequence of the change in…
Wireless Data Transmission Between a Base Station and a Transponder Via Inductive Coupling
Granted: October 6, 2011
Application Number:
20110243258
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a carrier signal transmitted by a base station according to either a first data-transmission protocol or a second data-transmission protocol; detecting a first field gap in the carrier signal indicating initiation of a data transmission by the base station; and determining whether a reference duration is present in the carrier signal after the first field gap. The method includes, if the reference duration is present in the carrier signal…
Proximity Sensor
Granted: October 6, 2011
Application Number:
20110242051
In one embodiment, a method includes monitoring detection by a sensing element of a key touch on a touch screen; determining an amount of time that has elapsed since the sensing element last detected a change of capacitance indicative of a key touch on the touch screen; and, if the amount of time that has elapsed exceeds a predetermined time duration, then initiating a particular function of an apparatus.
Autonomous Multi-Packet Transfer for Universal Serial Bus
Granted: September 29, 2011
Application Number:
20110238869
A USB device can be configured for multi-packet data transfer to and from endpoints with minimal software intervention. Minimal software intervention allows a Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the USB device to handle other tasks, maximizing USB bus utilization.
Capacitive Position Sensor
Granted: September 22, 2011
Application Number:
20110227589
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving one or more first signals indicating one or more first capacitive couplings of an object with a sensing element that comprises a sensing path that comprises a length. The first capacitive couplings correspond to the object coming into proximity with the sensing element at a first position along the sensing path of the sensing element. The method includes determining based on one or more of the first signals the first position of the object…
FAST TWO WIRE INTERFACE AND PROTOCOL FOR TRANSFERRING DATA
Granted: September 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110219160
An apparatus and method for exchanging data between devices. An interface between at least two devices features a serial clock line coupled to each device and a bidirectional serial data line coupled to each device. A delay relative to the clock signal is added to an edge of an output enable signal to prevent a collision between devices when control of the data line is switched. Multiple masters and slaves may be connected to the interface.
Transmitting Data Between a Base Station and a Transponder
Granted: September 8, 2011
Application Number:
20110217924
In particular embodiments, an error correction during the transmission of the data word is made possible through the change of the modulation state at pre-defined time points.
Touch Sensitive Screen
Granted: August 18, 2011
Application Number:
20110199333
One embodiment provides a capacitive sensor for determining the presence of an object, such as a user's finger or a stylus. The sensor includes a substrate on which electrodes are deposited. A resistive drive electrode is arranged on one side of the substrate and a resistive sense electrode is arranged on the other side of the substrate. A shorting connection connects between two locations on one of the electrodes. The electrodes are connected to respective drive and sense channels.
