Universal digital block interconnection and channel routing
Granted: April 28, 2015
Patent Number:
9018979
A programmable routing scheme provides improved connectivity both between Universal Digital Blocks (UDBs) and between the UDBs and other micro-controller elements, peripherals and external Inputs and Outputs (I/Os) in the same Integrated Circuit (IC). The routing scheme increases the number of functions, flexibility, and the overall routing efficiency for programmable architectures. The UDBs can be grouped in pairs and share associated horizontal routing channels. Bidirectional…
Deuterated film encapsulation of nonvolatile charge trap memory device
Granted: April 28, 2015
Patent Number:
9018693
Nonvolatile charge trap memory devices with deuterium passivation of charge traps and methods of forming the same are described. In one embodiment, the device includes a channel formed from a semiconducting material overlying a surface on a substrate connecting a source and a drain of the memory device. A gate stack overlies the channel, the gate stack comprising a tunneling layer, a trapping layer, a blocking layer, a gate layer; and a deuterated gate cap layer. The gate cap layer has a…
Systems and methods for discharging load capacitance circuits
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9013938
Circuits, systems, and methods for discharging loads are provided. One circuit includes a node coupled to a voltage source, a capacitor, a source-follower device coupled between the node and the capacitor, and a current source coupled to the capacitor. The source-follower device is configured to switchably couple the capacitor to the node to discharge the voltage source and the current source is configured to discharge the capacitor. One system includes the above circuit coupled to a…
Smart scanning for a capacitive sensing array
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9013441
A method and apparatus scan a plurality of scan groups in a capacitive sense array to generate signals corresponding to a mutual capacitance between the electrodes. Each of the plurality of scan groups is formed from a subset of the plurality of electrodes. A processing device identifies a scan group where the generated signal is affected by a presence of a conductive object. The processing device individually scans the subset of the plurality of sense elements in the identified scan…
Multi-stage stylus detection
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9013429
A system comprises a processing device and a capacitive sense array that includes a plurality of electrodes. The system receives a first signal from a first scan of electrodes in a capacitive sense array. The system processes the first signal using a first set of sequences to detect a stylus. The system receives a second scan from a second scan of electrodes in a capacitive sense array. The system processes the second signal using a second set of sequences to detect the stylus.
Method and apparatus for data transmission via capacitance sensing device
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9013425
Methods, devices, and systems for a touch sensor or a capacitive sensing device to interact with external objects. One method utilizes a capacitive profile on the external object. Another method involves the further use of a capacitive sensor array for wireless communication with the external object.
Programmable input/output circuit
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9013209
A apparatus, having a processing system and an input buffer coupled with both the processing system and one of two IO pads, and a reference buffer coupled to both the input buffer and the second of the IO pads such that the reference generator controls the input threshold of the input buffer in response to an analog voltage received from an external circuit on the second of the IO pads.
Mutual capacitance sensing circuits, methods and systems
Granted: April 21, 2015
Patent Number:
9013195
A capacitance sensing system may include a first selection circuit that couples N electrodes of a first electrode set to a capacitance sense circuit; and a second selection circuit that couples M electrodes of a second electrode set, substantially simultaneously, to a signal generator circuit as a group to induce current in the N electrodes by mutual capacitance between the M and N electrodes; wherein N is at least one, and M>N.
Internal data compare for memory verification
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9007843
A method and apparatus to program data into a row of a non-volatile memory array and verify, internally to the non-volatile memory array, that the data was successfully programmed. The verification includes comparing the programmed data from the row of the non-volatile memory array to data in the plurality of high voltage page latches that were used to program the row.
Finding I/O placement with a router
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9009646
A method for routing a design may comprise receiving a design for implementing in a target device, wherein the design includes an input/output (I/O) signal of a functional block, and wherein the functional block is assigned to a physical component of the target device; based on the design and on a routing resource graph representing the target device, calculating a route including the physical component and a physical pin of the target device; and assigning the physical pin of the target…
Dynamic mode switching for fast touch response
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9007342
A method of operating a touch-sensing surface may include performing a first scan of a first set of electrodes of a touch-sensing surface, determining a presence of at least one conductive object proximate to the touch-sensing surface, in response to determining the presence of the at least one conductive object, performing a second scan of a second set of electrodes of the touch-sensing surface, and repeating the performing the second scan until the at least one conductive object is no…
Touch sensor pattern
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9007333
A capacitive sensor array may include a first plurality of sensor elements and a second sensor element. The second sensor element may include a main trace intersecting each of the first plurality of sensor elements to form a plurality of intersections each associated with a unit cell, where a contiguous section of the main trace crosses at least one of the plurality of unit cells. An area within the unit cell may include at least a portion of one or more primary subtraces branching from…
Compensation of signal values for a touch sensor
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9007322
An apparatus includes a data conditioning module configured to translate each of a plurality of signal strength values to a compensated signal value, where the compensated signal value is a function of its corresponding signal strength value.
Single layer touch sensor with improved sensitivity and accuracy
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9007310
Touch sensor methods, devices and systems are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a touch sensing system comprising a sensing device for sensing one or more touches on a sensor surface made of multiple conductive strips in one direction and a dual processing device for determining a horizontal position and a vertical position of each touch by processing currents generated in response to the touch, where the currents charge and discharge a capacitor formed…
Eliminating shorting between ferroelectric capacitors and metal contacts during ferroelectric random access memory fabrication
Granted: April 14, 2015
Patent Number:
9006808
Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a ferrocapacitor having a sidewall. An etch stopping film is disposed along the sidewall of the ferrocapacitor, with a hydrogen barrier film disposed between the etch stopping film and the sidewall of the ferrocapacitor.
Stability improvements for timing-driven place and route
Granted: April 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9003346
Techniques for reducing post-routing delay variance are described herein. In an example embodiment, an initial netlist includes multiple instances that represent digital components of an electronic design. An base signature is assigned to each instance in the initial netlist, where the base signature is based on two or more design or connectivity attributes of the instance. The base signatures are then used to generate an initial instance ordering of the instances in the initial netlist.…
Clock synthesis systems, circuits and methods
Granted: April 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9002488
A clock synthesis system may include a feed forward divider circuit configured to divide a source clock signal by one of a plurality of integers in response to a select signal to generate a reference clock that is synchronous to a synchronous pulse; a modulator that modulates the select signal in response to at least a difference value; a multiplier circuit that frequency multiplies the reference clock to generate an output clock; and a timing circuit that generates the difference value…
Methods and apparatus to determine position of an input object
Granted: April 7, 2015
Patent Number:
9001074
A method and apparatus receive a plurality of signal values, the plurality of signal values responsive to an input object. The method and apparatus calculate at least one signal ratio value using the plurality of signal values and determine a position of the input object using the at least one signal ratio value.
Semiconductor packaging identifier
Granted: April 7, 2015
Patent Number:
8999752
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a semiconductor packaging frame allowing identification information to be stored in the paddle area of the individual frame. Forming identification information on the paddle allows unique tracking of the semiconductor frame package during and after manufacturing and for tracking down variances, defects, and other problems during the semiconductor packaging process. Further, the shapes formed from the identification information provide…
Methods and physical computer-readable storage media for initiating re-enumeration of USB 3.0 compatible devices
Granted: March 31, 2015
Patent Number:
8996747
Methods, physical computer-readable media, and devices are provided that allow re-enumeration to be initiated on a USB 3.0-compatible device. The method includes establishing a connection with a host, transmitting an indicator from the device to the host to cause a Link Training and Status State Machine (LTSSM) of the host to move from active state (U0) to one of SS.Inactive and RX.Detect, synchronizing the device with the host, and presenting a new configuration of the device to the…
