Block encryption security for integrated microcontroller and external memory system
Granted: September 26, 2017
Patent Number:
9773431
A secure microcontroller system comprising an integrated cache sub-system, crypto-engine, buffer sub-system and external memory is described according to various embodiments of the invention. The secure microcontroller incorporates block encryption methods to ensure that content communicated between the integrated microcontroller and external memory is protected and real-time performance of the system is maintained. Additionally, the microcontroller system provides a user-configurable…
Color matching with shade detection
Granted: September 19, 2017
Patent Number:
9769393
This disclosure is directed to color matching with shade detection. A method of color matching can include: receiving a camera image of a target, the camera image being collected in the presence of flash illumination; receiving a color sensor spectral measurement of the target, the color sensor spectral measurement being collected in the presence of flash illumination; determining specular and diffuse fractions of a flash intensity profile of the camera image of the target; determining…
Gesture detection and compact representation thereof
Granted: September 19, 2017
Patent Number:
9766710
Techniques are described that may be implemented with an electronic device to detect a gesture within a field of view of a sensor and generate a compact data representation of the detected gesture. In implementations, a sensor is configured to detect a gesture and provide a signal in response thereto. An estimator, which is in communication with the sensor, is configured to generate an elliptical representation of the gesture. Multiple coefficients for the compact representation of the…
Geo-location based authentication in a mobile point-of-sale terminal
Granted: September 5, 2017
Patent Number:
9754255
The invention relates to authentication in mobile financial transactions, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of employing a location tracking function within a mobile device for the purpose of authenticating a user and a trusted transaction when this mobile device is configured to a mobile point-of-sale (POS) terminal. Authentication is primarily implemented by a secure element integrated within the mobile device based on comparison between captured geo-location data…
Adaptive headroom control to minimize PMIC operating efficiency
Granted: September 5, 2017
Patent Number:
9753470
Various embodiments of the invention provide for an adaptive headroom controller circuit that increases the efficiency of switch mode pre-regulator circuits that supply power to multiple linear sub-regulators. Certain embodiments increase efficiency by dynamically modulating the output voltage of the pre-regulator in response to varying headroom voltages requirements, which allows sub-regulators to operate at their individually optimized headroom voltage, thereby, extending battery life…
System and method for current measurement in the presence of high common mode voltages
Granted: September 5, 2017
Patent Number:
9753062
A system and method for making accurate current measurements by determining the differential voltage drop across a resistor in series with the load in the presence of large common mode voltages. A compensating voltage equal in magnitude but 180 degrees out of phase with a common mode voltage is generated and applied to a network of resistors connected to a measurement amplifier, thereby significantly reducing the magnitude of the common mode voltage at the measurement amplifier's inputs.…
Electric-field imager for assays
Granted: September 5, 2017
Patent Number:
9753028
This disclosure describes an electric-field imaging system and method of use. In accordance with implementations of the electric-field imaging system, a fluid sample can be placed on top of a pixel-based impedance sensor. An image of the target analytes can be created immediately afterwards. From this image, computer imaging algorithms can determine attributes (e.g., size, type, morphology, volume, distribution, number, concentration, or motility, etc.) of the target analytes. The…
Maintain power signature (MPS) powered device (PD)
Granted: August 15, 2017
Patent Number:
9735577
A Maintain Power Signature (MPS) Powered Device (PD) is described. In one or more implementations, the MPS device comprises a current sensor configured to sense current flowing from Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to the PD. The current sense based MPS device also comprises a current generator configured to sink electrical current to prevent the PSE from removing power to the PD. Thus, the electrical current comprises a current amplitude characteristic selected based upon MPS requirements…
Gamma switching amplifier
Granted: August 8, 2017
Patent Number:
9728155
Electronic devices with displays are configured to provide a gamma correction signal to each source driver chip driving the display. The gamma correction signal is supplied by a gamma application circuit coupled to each source driver chip. The gamma application circuit includes a switching amplifier configured to output a switching waveform and a filter to input the switching waveform and output the gamma correction signal to an input of each source driver chip. The switching amplifier…
Powered device having semi-active bridge
Granted: August 8, 2017
Patent Number:
9729081
A semi-active bridge for furnishing voltage of a correct polarity to a powered device in a Power over Ethernet (PoE) network is disclosed. In one or more implementations, the semi-active bridge includes a diode having an anode portion and a cathode portion. The anode portion of the diode is connected to an input terminal, and the cathode portion of the diode is connected to an output terminal. The semi-active bridge also includes an active transistor device having a source region and a…
Wafer-level chip-scale package device having bump assemblies configured to furnish shock absorber functionality
Granted: August 1, 2017
Patent Number:
9721912
Semiconductor devices are described that have bump assemblies configured to furnish shock absorber functionality. In an implementation, a wafer-levelchip-scale package devices include an integrated circuit chip having an array of bump assemblies disposed over the integrated circuit chip. The array of bump assemblies comprises a plurality of first bump assemblies that include solder bumps composed at least substantially of a solder composition (i.e., solder bumps that do not include a…
Method and battery pack device with antenna and diode
Granted: August 1, 2017
Patent Number:
9721085
A device and system are described that include an authentication device having a battery, at least one battery contact, an antenna, at least one antenna contact, a ferrite material barrier, a diode electrically coupled to a battery contact and an antenna contact, and an authenticator coupled to the diode, a battery contact, and an antenna contact. A system includes the device with an authentication device, a transceiver electrically coupled to a near field communication contact, a switch…
Systems and methods for operating secure elliptic curve cryptosystems
Granted: July 25, 2017
Patent Number:
9716584
Various embodiments of the invention implement countermeasures designed to withstand attacks by potential intruders who seek partial or full retrieval of elliptic curve secrets by using known methods that exploit system vulnerabilities, including elliptic operation differentiation, dummy operation detection, lattice attacks, and first real operation detection. Various embodiments of the invention provide resistance against side-channel attacks, such as sample power analysis, caused by…
Integrated standard-compliant data acquisition device
Granted: July 25, 2017
Patent Number:
9716520
An integrated standard-compliant data acquisition device includes an electrically insulating package including a plurality of conductive leads and an integrated circuit (IC) disposed within the electrically insulating package and electrically coupled to at least some of the plurality of conductive leads. The IC includes a first multiplexer (MUX), a second MUX, a third MUX, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a plurality of registers, a fourth MUX, control logic, and communication…
Method for detecting a fault condition of an operational amplifier
Granted: July 25, 2017
Patent Number:
9714971
A method for detecting a fault condition of an operational amplifier of an integrated circuit during operation includes operating an integrated circuit which includes an operational amplifier (op-amp) having a V+ input, a V? input and an op-amp output and an on-line fault detector electrically coupled to the V+ input and the V? input of the op-amp of the on-line fault detector, monitoring an operation of the op-amp with the on-line fault detector, and developing a fault signal at a fault…
Systems and methods for enhancing confidentiality via logic gate encryption
Granted: July 11, 2017
Patent Number:
9705501
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…
Fan-out and heterogeneous packaging of electronic components
Granted: July 11, 2017
Patent Number:
9704809
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a packaging structure configured for providing heterogeneous packaging of electronic components and a process for making same. The packaging structure includes a carrier substrate having a plurality of cavities formed therein. The packaging structure further includes a first die and a second die. The first die is at least substantially contained within a first cavity included in the plurality of cavities. The second die is at least substantially…
Always-on low-power keyword spotting
Granted: July 11, 2017
Patent Number:
9703350
The invention relates to an electronic device that includes a wake-up system that operates at a substantially low power level and is applied to wake up the electronic device from a sleep mode. The wake-up system comprises a sound transducer that converts a received sound signal to an electrical signal and a keyword detection logic that preliminarily identifies a speech energy profile that corresponds to at least one of a plurality of keywords in a part of the electrical signal. In some…
Time of arrival delay cancellations
Granted: July 11, 2017
Patent Number:
9702970
The invention relates to a ranging system for measuring the distance between an interrogator and a transponder. The transponder includes: a signal receiver for receiving a challenge signal from an interrogator; a signal processor for processing the challenge signal and generating a response signal in response to the challenge signal; a buffer for storing the response signal generated by the signal processor; and a signal transmitter for sending the response signal stored in the buffer…
Vertical semiconductor device having frontside interconnections
Granted: June 6, 2017
Patent Number:
9673316
A semiconductor device including a VDMOS device formed therein includes a terminal, or contact, to the drain region of the VDMOS device from the frontside of the device. In one or more implementations, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface and a vertical diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device formed within the semiconductor substrate. The vertical diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor device includes at least one source…
