Secure memories using unique identification elements
Granted: December 27, 2016
Patent Number:
9531535
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…
Programmable mixed-signal input/output (IO)
Granted: December 20, 2016
Patent Number:
9525420
Techniques are described for providing highly integrated and configurable IO ports for integrated circuits that can be individually configured for a variety of general purpose digital or analog functions, such as multiple channel analog-to-digital converters (ADC), multiple channel digital-to-analog converters (DAC), multiplexers, GPIOs, analog switches, switch and multiplexers, digital logic level translators, comparators, temperature sensors and relays, and so forth. The configurations…
Receiver automatic gain control (AGC) and slicer
Granted: December 13, 2016
Patent Number:
9521405
A system is disclosed that may include an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) module configured to automatically adjust the gain of a receiver, which is configured to receive a signal. The signal includes a number of commands, which have a characteristic command length and a characteristic command interval. The command length may have a substantially shorter duration than the command interval. The system may also include a slicer configured to interface to a command processor. The system…
Semiconductor device having capacitor integrated therein
Granted: December 13, 2016
Patent Number:
9520462
Semiconductor devices are described that include a capacitor integrated therein. In an implementation, the semiconductor devices include a substrate including a dopant material of a first conductivity type. A plurality of trenches are formed within the substrate. The semiconductor devices also include a diffusion region having dopant material of a second conductivity type formed proximate to the trenches. A capacitor is formed within the trenches and at least partially over the…
Energy efficient systems having linear regulators and methods of operating the same
Granted: December 6, 2016
Patent Number:
9513644
The invention relates to systems having linear regulators and methods of operating the systems. The system includes: a linear regulator responsive to an input voltage and operative to output a regulated voltage; a first circuit responsive to the regulated voltage and configured to operate at a first voltage difference between the regulated voltage and a ground level; and a second circuit responsive to the input voltage and the regulated voltage and configured to operate at a second…
Direct measurement of an input signal to a loudspeaker to determine and limit a temperature of a voice coil of the loudspeaker
Granted: November 29, 2016
Patent Number:
9510101
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to a system and method for providing temperature limiting for a voice coil of a speaker. The system and method provide the aforementioned temperature limiting based upon monitoring (e.g., measurement) of an amplifier output signal provided to the speaker. Providing the aforementioned temperature limiting promotes improved protection for the speaker.
System and method for discerning complex gestures using an array of optical sensors
Granted: November 29, 2016
Patent Number:
9507433
A method for gesture determination (e.g., discerning complex gestures) via an electronic system (e.g., a gesture sensing system) including an array of optical sensors is described herein. The method includes detecting a plurality of sub-gestures (e.g., simple gestures provided by a target located proximate to the system) via the array of optical sensors. The sensors generate signals based upon the detected (e.g., received) sub-gestures and transmit the signals to a processor of the…
Device and method with physical unclonable function
Granted: November 22, 2016
Patent Number:
9502356
A physical unclonable function device, an encryptable electronic device, and a process for fabricating the physical unclonable function device are described. In an implementation, a physical unclonable function device includes an integrated circuit device including an active layer, the active layer including an electrode array with multiple electrodes; and a physical unclonable function coating disposed on the active layer, wherein the physical unclonable function coating includes a…
Systems and methods for stable physically unclonable functions
Granted: November 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9485094
Various embodiments of the invention allow to take advantage of the natural statistical variation of physical properties in a semiconductor device in order to create truly random, repeatable, and hard to detect cryptographic bits. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by pairing mismatch values of PUF elements so as to ensure that PUF key bits generated thereform remain insensitive to environmental errors, without affecting the utilization rate of available PUF elements.
Headset with microphone and wired remote control
Granted: November 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9485580
In an example embodiment a headset includes a phone jack, a speaker connected to the phone jack, a microphone coupled to the phone jack and a resistive switch string coupled to the phone jack to the same ring of the phone jack as the microphone. In another example an integrated circuit device includes a charge pump, a multi-voltage LDO having an input which is capable of being coupled to an output of the charge pump, an ADC; and a pull-up resistor coupled between an output of the LDO and…
Systems and methods to reduce quadrature error in sensors
Granted: November 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9484890
Various embodiments of the invention provide for improved performance by reducing a quadrature error signal. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by using a mixed-signal architecture comprising analog and digital circuit components in a closed-loop configuration that generates from a detected quadrature error signal a calibration quadrature signal that is then compensated at a virtual ground of an analog front end circuit. Some embodiments allow for pre-calibration for quadrature…
Gyroscope shock and disturbance detection circuit
Granted: November 1, 2016
Patent Number:
9482534
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…
Reduced frequency backwards clock for isolated sigma-delta modulators
Granted: October 25, 2016
Patent Number:
9479325
A system includes a divider on a first side of electrically isolated circuitry for receiving a clock signal having a characteristic frequency and dividing the clock signal by a characteristic value. The system also includes an optical link coupled with the divider for receiving the divided clock signal and transmitting the divided clock signal from the first side of the electrically isolated circuitry to a second side of the electrically isolated circuitry. The system further includes a…
Programmable multichannel signal selector
Granted: October 25, 2016
Patent Number:
9479188
An example programmable multichannel data converter includes a multiplexer having a plurality of input channels, an output and a channel selector input, a converter having an input coupled to the output of the multiplexer, and a controller having a user-configurable memory stack and control circuitry, the controller having a channel selector output coupled to the multiplexer.
Shut-off circuitry having temperature stable threshold current sensing
Granted: October 25, 2016
Patent Number:
9479042
A circuit is described that provides low power and temperature stability in a compact design. In one or more implementations of the present disclosure, the circuit includes a current sensing element configured for generating a voltage drop based upon a current generated by a current source through a load. The circuit also includes an asymmetric differential circuit for generating a differential output based upon the voltage drop. The circuit also includes an amplifier electrically…
Light sensor having a contiguous IR suppression filter and transparent substrate
Granted: October 18, 2016
Patent Number:
9472696
Techniques are described to furnish an IR suppression filter, or any other interference based filter, that is formed on a transparent substrate to a light sensor. In one or more implementations, a light sensor includes a substrate having a surface. One or more photodetectors are formed in the substrate. The photodetectors are configured to detect light and provide a signal in response thereto. An IR suppression filter configured to block infrared light from reaching the surface is formed…
Light sensor having transparent substrate and through-substrate vias and a contiguous IR suppression filter
Granted: October 18, 2016
Patent Number:
9472586
Techniques are described to furnish an IR suppression filter that is formed on a glass substrate to a light sensor. In one or more implementations, a light sensor includes a substrate having a surface. One or more photodetectors are formed in the substrate and configured to detect light and provide a signal in response thereto. An IR suppression filter configured to block infrared light from reaching the surface is formed on a glass substrate. The light sensor also includes a plurality…
Technique for wafer-level processing of QFN packages
Granted: October 18, 2016
Patent Number:
9472451
Semiconductor package device, such as wafer-level package semiconductor devices, are described that have pillars for providing electrical interconnectivity. In an implementation, the wafer-level package devices include an integrated circuit chip having at least one pillar formed over the integrated circuit chip. The pillar is configured to provide electrical interconnectivity with the integrated circuit chip. The wafer-level package device also includes an encapsulation structure…
Temperature compensated real-time clock
Granted: October 18, 2016
Patent Number:
9470726
Systems and methods of a temperature compensated real-time clock are disclosed. The 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.
Method and apparatus for sensing capacitance value and converting it into digital format
Granted: October 4, 2016
Patent Number:
9459298
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,…
