Maxim Integrated Patent Applications

BACKWARD COMPATIBLE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING 4P AUDIO JACK TO PROVIDE POWER AND SIGNAL TO HEADSET WITH ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION

Granted: August 25, 2016
Application Number: 20160249127
A backward compatible system and method for using 4P audio jack in an electronic device to provide power and signal to headset with active noise cancellation (ANC) as well as accessories that require an external power are disclosed. The method involves automatically deciding at the electronic device accessory type after accessory insertion detected and choosing proper accessory communication mode based at least on the decided accessory type and accessory input signal. The accessory…

MICRO-GYROSCOPE FOR DETECTING MOTIONS

Granted: June 23, 2016
Application Number: 20160178374
The invention relates to a micro-gyroscope for detecting motions relative to an X and/or Y and Z axis, particularly as a 3D, 5D, or 6D sensor. Sample masses are disposed uniformly about an anchor and can be driven radially relative to the central anchor. Anchor springs are disposed to attach the sample masses to a substrate, and these sample masses can be deflected both radially within and out of the X-Y plane. A sensor mass is disposed on one-of the sample masses by means of sensor…

MICROMECHANICAL CORIOLIS RATE OF ROTATION SENSOR

Granted: June 16, 2016
Application Number: 20160169676
A micromechanical Coriolis rate of rotation sensor for detecting a rate of rotation, comprising a substrate, a measurement axis, a detection axis, and a drive axis, each disposed orthogonally to each other and a first and a second driving mass disposed in a plane parallel to the substrate. Each driving mass being rotatably connected to the substrate by means of a central suspension. The two central suspensions being disposed along the detection axis. Drive electrodes generate rotary…

TEMPERATURE COMPENSATED REAL-TIME CLOCK

Granted: April 28, 2016
Application Number: 20160116515
A temperature compensated real-time clock systems and methods can include: measuring a temperature with a temperature sensor; detecting a temperature dependent frequency from an oscillator; inputting the temperature and determining a temperature estimate for the oscillator with an infinite impulse response filter; and determining a compensation factor, for the oscillator.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING CONFIDENTIALITY VIA LOGIC GATE ENCRYPTION

Granted: April 7, 2016
Application Number: 20160099714
Presented are systems and methods that allow hardware designers to protect valuable IP and information in the hardware domain in order to increase overall system security. In various embodiments of the invention this is accomplished by configuring logic gates of existing logic circuitry based on a key input. In certain embodiments, a logic function provides results that are dependent not only on input values but also on an encrypted logic key that determines connections for a given logic…

TAMPER DETECTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INDUSTRIAL & METERING DEVICES NOT REQUIRING A BATTERY

Granted: April 7, 2016
Application Number: 20160098918
Embodiments of the invention prevent unauthorized access to electronic systems by providing an enclosure with improved intrusion detection around sensitive areas of a secured electronic system. Certain embodiments eliminate the need for constant battery power and yet provide uninterrupted high-security supervision at the device perimeter such that even following a power down event it is possible to determine whether a device has been tampered with, so that appropriate action can be…

THREE PHASES CONTROLLER FOR BUCK-BOOST REGULATORS

Granted: March 31, 2016
Application Number: 20160094125
Systems, devices and methods using three separate switching phases for a buck-boost regulator are disclosed. The regulator may operate in a boost mode, a buck mode or in a buck-boost mode. The output voltage remains constant through mode changes and the ripple voltage is well-controlled. If the input voltage is lower than the output voltage by a first threshold, the regulator operates in boost (step-up) mode. If the input voltage is higher than the output voltage by a second threshold,…

SECURE MEMORIES USING UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION ELEMENTS

Granted: March 24, 2016
Application Number: 20160087795
Various embodiments of the invention relate to secure systems and modules, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of generating and applying identification elements uniquely associated with memory, memory mapping and encrypted storage. These unique identification elements provide an improved, statistically random source from which keys and memory mappings may be derived. The application of these keys across various architectures result in an improvement in the security of…

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING CRYPTOGRAPHIC KEYS IN A SECURE MICROCONTROLLER

Granted: March 10, 2016
Application Number: 20160072628
The present invention relates to key management in a secure microcontroller, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of automatically and transparently employing logic or physical address based keys that may also be transferred using dedicated buses. A cryptographic engine translates a logic address to at least one physical address, and processes a corresponding data word based on at least one target key. The target key is selected from a plurality of keys based on the…

DETECTING AND THWARTING BACKSIDE ATTACKS ON SECURED SYSTEMS

Granted: February 11, 2016
Application Number: 20160042199
Security devices for protecting ICs from backside security attacks. A security device includes an N? well formed in a substrate, a P+ center disposed in the central region of the N? well, and a P+ ring surrounding the N? well. To prevent latchup, a pair of inner and outer N+ rings is formed in the N? well. When a current source is applied to the P+ center, the current flows through a portion of the substrate and is picked up by the P+ ring. When an attacker mills the substrate or makes a…

Gyroscope Shock and Disturbance Detection Circuit

Granted: February 11, 2016
Application Number: 20160040991
The invention relates to integrated circuits, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of integrating a gyro sensing circuit with a gyroscope to detect a shock or a disturbance, and accurately differentiate rotation-based sense signals from noises introduced by the shock or disturbance. The gyro sensing circuit may be implemented in a differential or non-differential demodulation scheme, and comprises at least one demodulation unit and a peak detector. The at least one…

Micro-Gyroscope and Method for Operating a Micro-Gyroscope

Granted: February 11, 2016
Application Number: 20160040990
A micro-gyroscope for determining a rate of rotation about a Z-axis includes a substrate and two sensor devices each of which comprises at least one drive mass, at least one anchor, drive elements, at least one sensor mass and sensor elements. The drive mass is mounted linearly displaceably in the direction of an X-axis, and can be driven in an oscillatory manner with respect to the X-axis. The sensor mass is coupled to the drive mass by means of springs. The sensor mass is displaceable…

MICRO RATE OF ROTATION SENSOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MICRO RATE OF ROTATION SENSOR

Granted: February 4, 2016
Application Number: 20160033275
The present invention relates to a method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z). The rotation sensor comprises a substrate, driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses. The driving masses are driven by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction. The X-Y sensor masses are coupled to the driving masses, and driven to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center. When a rate of rotation of the…

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ISSUING AN ACCESS AUTHORIZATION

Granted: January 28, 2016
Application Number: 20160027226
A method and a device for issuing an authorization for access to a secured area, particularly a building, a room, a vehicle, a computer system or the like, or for starting a machine, a vehicle, a computer or the like, having a monitoring unit comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and an evaluation device, and having a key, a key card or similar, referred to as a key in short below, having a transmitter, a receiver and an electronic device. A permissible position and/or a permissible…

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SENSING CAPACITANCE VALUE AND CONVERTING IT INTO DIGITAL FORMAT

Granted: January 28, 2016
Application Number: 20160025786
A capacitive sensing system are configured to sense a capacitance value and convert the sensed capacitance value to a digital format. The capacitive sensing system provides good selectivity and immunity to noise and interference, which can be further enhanced by enabling spread spectrum excitation. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing system utilizes a sinusoidal excitation signal that results in low electromagnetic emissions, limited to narrow frequency band. In some embodiments,…

MEMS Gyroscope for Determining Rotational Movements about an X, Y, and/or Z Axis

Granted: January 28, 2016
Application Number: 20160025492
The invention relates to a MEMS gyroscope for detecting rotational motions about an x-, y-, and/or z-axis, in particular a 3-D sensor, containing a substrate, several, at least two, preferably four, drive masses (2) that are movable radially with respect to a center and drive elements (7) for the oscillating vibration of the drive masses (2) in order to generate Coriolis forces on the drive masses (2) in the event of rotation of the substrate about the x-, y-, and/or z-axis. The…

WEARABLE DEVICE FOR USING HUMAN BODY AS INPUT MECHANISM

Granted: January 21, 2016
Application Number: 20160018948
The invention relates to wearable devices for sensing gestures. A watch, which is a wearable device, includes an ultrasonic system that has an ultrasonic transducer and one or more sensors and measures the location of a finger on the back of the user's hand. Using the ultrasonic system, it is possible to use the back of the hand as an extension to the screen display of the watch. The watch can be used as a motion detector and interface with various types of mobile devices, such as…

ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT FOR RECEIVING LOW FREQUENCY ELECTRO-MAGNETIC WAVES WITH AN ADJUSTABLE ATTENUATOR ELEMENT

Granted: January 7, 2016
Application Number: 20160006497
An electronic circuit arrangement for receiving low-frequency electromagnetic waves is proposed, having an inductor (L) acting as an antenna for generating a received signal, having a first receiver (2), connected to the inductor (L), for decoding a first component of the received signal and having a second receiver (3), connected to the inductor (L), for decoding a second component of the received signal, wherein at least the second receiver (3) is connected to the inductor (L) via an…

Method for Detecting Accelerations and Rotation Rates, and MEMS Sensor

Granted: January 7, 2016
Application Number: 20160003617
The invention concerns a MEMS sensor and a method for detecting accelerations along, and rotation rates about, at least one, preferably two of three mutually perpendicular spatial axes x, y and z by means of a MEMS sensor (1), wherein at least one driving mass (6; 6.1, 6.2) and at least one sensor mass (5) are moveably arranged on a substrate (2) and the at least one driving mass (6; 6.1, 6.2) is moved relative to the at least one sensor mass (5) in oscillation at a driving frequency and…

BIPOLAR CHOPPING FOR 1/F NOISE AND OFFSET REDUCTION IN MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS

Granted: November 19, 2015
Application Number: 20150331065
A chopping technique, and associated structure, is implemented to cancel the magnetic 1/f noise contribution in a Tunneling Magnetoresistance (TMR) field sensor. The TMR field sensor comprises a first bridge circuit including multiple TMR elements to sense a magnetic field and a second circuit to apply a bipolar current pulse adjacent to each TMR element. The current lines are serially or sequentially connected to a current source to receive the bipolar current pulse. The field sensor…