Real-time and adaptive radio-frequency power protection
Granted: March 2, 2021
Patent Number:
10938355
An apparatus includes an amplifier circuit and a protection circuit. The amplifier circuit may be configured to generate an output signal by amplifying an input signal received at an input port. The input signal may be a radio-frequency signal. The protection circuit may be configured to (i) generate a detection signal by detecting when a level of the input signal exceeds a corresponding threshold, where the level is a power level, a voltage level or both, (ii) route the input signal…
Wireless power transmission using a capacitive sensor
Granted: March 2, 2021
Patent Number:
10938255
A capacitor sensor array (or grid) over a wireless power transmission coil can include a first set of lines; a second set of lines intersecting the first set of lines; a first multiplexer coupled to provide a charge (e.g. in the form of a DC voltage) from a voltage source to the first set of lines and provide first signals to detect voltages on each line; and a second multiplexer coupled to provide a charge from the voltage source to the second set of lines and provide second signals to…
Coil design for wireless power transfer
Granted: February 16, 2021
Patent Number:
10923273
In some embodiments, a transmit coil configuration is provided. A coil configuration for a wireless transmitter according to some embodiments can include a plurality of turns coupled between a first tap coupled to an innermost turn and a second tap coupled to an outermost turn; and at least one adjustment tap coupled to at least one turn of the transmitter coil between the innermost turn and the outermost turn. The transmission coil can include an MST coil coupled to the second tap of…
Wireless power transmitter reactive energy control
Granted: December 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10879739
A wireless power transmitter according to some embodiments can include a transmitter circuit configured to be coupled across a series coupled capacitor and transmit coil; and a controller coupled to a node between the capacitor and the transmit coil, the controller configured to adjust a reactive energy in the series coupled capacitor and transmit coil in response to a change in operating frequency.
Method to improve power amplifier output return loss and back-off performance with RC feedback network
Granted: December 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10879623
An apparatus includes a plurality of transmitter channels and a plurality of feedback networks. Each of the plurality of transmitter channels may be coupled to a respective antenna element in a respective group of antenna elements of a phased array antenna. Each of the transmitter channels generally comprises a power amplifier circuit configured to drive the respective antenna element in the respective group of antenna elements to produce and steer a radio-frequency beam. Each of the…
Method to synchronize integrated circuits fulfilling functional safety requirements
Granted: December 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10877919
In accordance with aspects of the present invention, a method of synchronizing two integrated circuits is presented. A method of synchronizing two integrated circuits can include sending a first pulse from a master IC to a slave IC over a SYNC bus; receiving a second pulse on the SYNC bus from the slave IC; checking the second pulse; triggering an interrupt if a failure is detected; and initiating measurement if synchronization is detected.
Wide programmable gain receiver data path for single-ended memory interface application
Granted: December 22, 2020
Patent Number:
10872054
An apparatus includes an interface and a plurality of impedance branches. The interface may be configured to receive a data signal and a plurality of selection signals. The plurality of impedance branches may comprise a group of branches and a separated branch. The plurality of impedance branches may be configured to adjust an impedance value and a gain of a data path for the data signal in response to the selection signals. The group of branches may be controlled in response to the…
Minimizing timestamp error in PTP systems
Granted: December 15, 2020
Patent Number:
10868664
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method of minimizing timing error in a precise timing protocol system includes receiving an input 1PPS signal and a clock signal; outputting an output 1PPS signal a number of clock edges after receipt of the input 1PPS signal; adjusting the clock signal until the output 1PPS signal as jumped a clock cycle; and adjusting an offset to bring the output 1PPS signal to within a half clock period. In some embodiments, further…
Digitally self-calibrated zero-voltage switching (ZVS) detection system
Granted: December 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10852327
In some embodiments, a threshold calibration system to provide a zero voltage switching signal is presented. The system includes a divider coupled to a switching node; a calibration ramp generator; a reference voltage generator; a comparator; a first multiplexer coupled to receive a divider output signal from the divider and a calibration ramp signal from the calibration ramp generator and provide a signal to the comparator based on a calibration enable signal; a second multiplexer…
Wireless power multiple receive coil self-startup circuit for low battery condition
Granted: November 17, 2020
Patent Number:
10840741
A wireless power circuit is presented that includes a transmit coil coupled to a first node; a receive coil coupled to the first node; a switch circuit coupled to the transmit coil and the receive coil opposite the first node, the switch switching the transmit coil to a second node in a transmit mode and switching the receive coil to the second node in a receive mode; a controller coupled to the first node and the second node, the controller coupled to provide signals to the switch…
Ultra-thin combined inductive torque and angle sensor for steering wheel position sensing
Granted: November 17, 2020
Patent Number:
10837848
The invention discloses an inductive torque sensor and a combined inductive torque and angle sensor for position sensing. The object of the invention to propose a torque sensor as well as a combined torque and angle sensor which does not require a shielding of the sensor PCB and which can provide a plausibility check of the torque sensor when using only three sensors will be solved by an inductive torque sensor for detection of torque movements comprising a stationary printed circuit…
Modulus divider with deterministic phase alignment
Granted: November 3, 2020
Patent Number:
10826506
An apparatus includes a plurality of latches and a plurality of logic gates. Each latch may be setable and resettable. The logic gates may be connected to the latches to form a multi-modulus divider that generates an output clock signal by dividing an input clock signal in response to a command signal. Each latch may be commanded into a corresponding initial state while the command signal is in an initialization state. Each latch is generally free to change states while the command…
High efficiency wireless charger system
Granted: November 3, 2020
Patent Number:
10826315
In some embodiments, a wireless power charging circuit includes a wireless power receiver configured to receive wireless power from a receive coil and to produce a first voltage; an open loop capacitor divider coupled to receive the first voltage from the wireless power receiver and configured to provide a second voltage, the second voltage being reduced from the first voltage; and a linear battery charger coupled to receive the second voltage from the open loop capacitor and configured…
Color sensor and method of its production
Granted: October 27, 2020
Patent Number:
10816403
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for producing a color sensor with a sensor characteristic adjusted by three sensor elements that each comprise an element characteristic, and a color filter cooperating with the sensor elements and consisting of color filter elements that each comprise a filter element characteristic, and to a color sensor. Embodiments include a method with which a color sensor with a precisely adjustable sensor characteristic can be produced from several…
Power amplifier bias network implementation for improving linearity for wideband modulated signals
Granted: October 13, 2020
Patent Number:
10804858
An apparatus comprises an amplifier circuit and a bias circuit. The bias circuit is generally configured to dynamically adjust a bias voltage reference at a bias node connected to one or more input transistors of the amplifier circuit to maintain a low baseband impedance.
Q-factor detection method
Granted: October 13, 2020
Patent Number:
10804750
A method of measuring a Q-factor in a wireless power transmitter includes charging a capacitor in a LC tank circuit that includes a transmission coil to a voltage; starting a Q-factor determining by coupling the LC tank circuit to ground to form a free-oscillating circuit; monitoring the voltage across the capacitor as a function of time as the LC tank circuit oscillates; and determining the resonant frequency and the Q-factor from monitoring the voltage.
Q-factor measurement
Granted: October 6, 2020
Patent Number:
10797535
In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method of determining a Q-factor in a transmit circuit with a resonant circuit includes setting a system voltage; performing a coarse scan to determine a course resonant frequency; performing a fine scan based on the course scan to determine a resonant frequency; performing a final measurement at the resonant frequency to determine an average system voltage and an average peak voltage of the resonant circuit; calculating a Q…
Multi-bit cell attenuator
Granted: September 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10790804
Hybrid-coding, multi-cell architecture and operating techniques for step devices provide advantages over binary-coded and thermometer-coded step devices by minimizing or avoiding glitches common in the transient response of binary-coded step devices and by minimizing or avoiding significant increases or degradation in one or more of area, package dimensions, pin counts, power consumption, insertion loss and parasitic capacitance common to thermometer-coded step devices having equivalent…
Wideband vector modulator and phase shifter
Granted: September 29, 2020
Patent Number:
10790594
An apparatus includes a first circuit and a plurality of second circuits. The first circuit may be configured to generate a pair of quadrature signals from a radio-frequency signal. The second circuits may each comprise a plurality of cascode amplifiers. The cascode amplifiers may be connected in parallel. The cascode amplifiers may be configured to generate a plurality of intermediate signals by modulating the quadrature signals in response to a first control signal and a second control…
Optimization of transmit and transmit/receive (TRX) coils for wireless transfer of power
Granted: September 22, 2020
Patent Number:
10784044
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a coil design for the transmission of wireless power. In some embodiments, the coil can include a winding with one or more turns of conductive traces mounted on a substrate, wherein the one or more turns include characteristics that enhance operation of the coil. In some embodiments, the winding includes a transmit coil and a receive coil, each coupled to terminals that provide for a transmit functionality and a receive…
