Abstract: The stability of a delta-sigma modulator may be improved by limiting a value within the delta-sigma modulator. For example, the value provided to a quantizer may be limited, by a limiter circuit in the delta-sigma modulator, to a value within a single step range of the quantizer. The limiter circuit may be placed in an inner loop of the delta-sigma modulator to decouple the stability of the inner loop from an outer loop. For example, a delta-sigma modulator may be constructed with an inner loop having a sixth order and an outer loop having a second order, in which the stability of the delta-sigma modulator is proportional to that of a second order.

Abstract: A method of forming a scan chain for testing an integrated circuit includes examining an interconnection of register elements in an integrated circuit design. A register element segment is identified which includes a source register element having an output and a destination register element having an input directly coupled to the output of the source register element. The segment is selectively coupled to another scan register element to form a portion of scan chain.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter clock operating mode includes measurement circuitry which measures a master clock frequency of a master clock signal and a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency, the frequency ratio, and a characteristic of an additional data clock signal to an operating mode of the data converter. In another embodiment, the mapping system maps measurements of the master clock frequency alone to a data converter operating mode. In a further embodiment, the measurement circuitry measures the master clock frequency of a master clock signal, which is received directly from a master clock signal source without a modification in the master clock frequency.

Abstract: A circuit including a first element sampling noise from and discharging noise to a signal line in response to an input signal transitioning on selected edges of a clock signal. A second element samples noise from and discharges noise to the signal line in response to another input signal transitioning on other edges of the clock signal differing from the selected edges of the clock signal such that noise coupled into substrate and supply are independent of the input signal.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter operating mode includes measurement circuitry operable to measure a master clock frequency of a master clock signal, the master clock frequency measurement biased by a past operating mode selection, and operable to measure a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter. In an additional embodiment, the measurement circuitry biases the master clock frequency measurement based on a past master clock frequency measurement.

Abstract: A method of forming a scan chain for testing an integrated circuit includes examining an interconnection of register elements in an integrated circuit design. A register element segment is identified which includes a source register element having an output and a destination register element having an input directly coupled to the output of the source register element. The segment is selectively coupled to another scan register element to form a portion of scan chain.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter operating mode includes measurement circuitry that measures a master clock frequency of a master clock signal received without a modification in frequency from a master clock signal source and that measures a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter. In other embodiments, mapping systems map the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter based on mode priority constraints. In additional embodiments, mapping systems map the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter by narrowing the choices of master clock divide ratios and subsequently determining an operating mode from the frequency ratio.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter operating mode includes measurement circuitry for measuring master clock frequency of a master clock signal and a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency and a mapping system for mapping the measurement of the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter. The mapping system generates a set of candidate divide ratios for dividing the master clock frequency to generate corresponding internal master clock frequencies of an internal clock signal and determines the lowest divide ratio which generates a supported internal master clock frequency. In an alternate embodiment, the mapping system determines the divide ratio required by a filter of the data converter by dividing the data clock to master clock frequency ratio by a data clock to internal clock frequency ratio between the data clock frequency and the frequency of an internal clock signal.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in a system utilizing a serial port includes generating a data word having a selected number of bits and ensuring that a last bit of the data word corresponds to a first bit of a next data word. The data word is output through the serial port and the next data word switched for output through the serial port in response to an event.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter operating mode includes measurement circuitry which measures a master clock frequency, measures a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency, and measures a selected operating condition of the data converter. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency, the frequency ratio, and the selected operating condition, to an operating mode of the data converter. In another embodiment, the measurement circuitry adjusts the measurement of the master clock frequency in response to a measurement of the operating conditions of the data converter. In a further embodiment, user input information varies the measurement of the master clock frequency.

Abstract: A method of controlling a terminal of an integrated circuit includes determining a frequency ratio between a frequency of a signal and a frequency of another signal received by an integrated circuit. A selected signal appearing at a selected terminal of the integrated circuit is selectively interpreted in accordance with an operating mode when the frequency ratio is below a selected value and in accordance with another operating mode when the frequency of the signal is above a selected value.

Abstract: A driver circuit with power-down transient suppression includes an amplifier for driving a load coupled to an output of the amplifier, a ramp-down voltage generator having a capacitor and a resistor for generating a ramp-down voltage during power-down of the amplifier, and a differential transistor pair responsive to the ramp-down voltage for pulling-down current at the output of the amplifier during power-down of the amplifier.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter operating mode includes measurement circuitry operable to measure a master clock frequency of a master clock signal and measure a frequency ratio between a data clock frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter utilizing an explicit formula. In a further embodiment, the mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter utilizing a lookup table. In an additional embodiment, the mapping system tests an available set of operating modes, independent of any previous tests, to determine a suitable operating mode for the data converter.

Abstract: A system for determining a data converter operating mode including measurement circuitry operable to measure a master clock frequency by comparing a frequency of a master clock signal and a frequency of a fixed frequency clock signal and operable to measure a frequency ratio between a frequency of a data clock signal and the master clock frequency. A mapping system maps the measurements of the master clock frequency and the frequency ratio to an operating mode of the data converter. In one particular embodiment, the fixed frequency clock signal is provided by an oscillator. In a further embodiment, the master clock signal is generated by multiplying the frequency of another clock signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a delta-sigma modulator by providing a variable-level quantizer, which selectively enables an additional quantizer level(s) during a ramp up sequence of the modulator. The additional quantizer level(s) is/are disabled during normal operation. The quantizer truncates a summer output and selectively enables the additional quantizer levels by clipping the truncated sum within a first range of quantizer levels during the ramp up sequence and within a second range of quantizer levels during normal operation in which there are more quantizer levels in the first range than in the second range. The quantizer preferably enables at least two additional quantizer levels at a low end of the quantizer range. For example, the range of quantizer levels for normal operation of the modulator can be from ?6 to +6, while the range of quantizer levels for ramp up operation of the modulator can be from ?8 to +7.

Abstract: A clock generator circuit includes a counter which counts edges of a received clock signal and a comparator which compares divide ratio control data with a count generated by the counter and generates an active state of a control signal in response. An output flip-flop toggles in response to the control signal and a selected edge of the received dock signal to toggle a state of an output clock signal.