Abstract: Operating a game controller by receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input corresponds to the user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the game controller and the at least partially processed touch pad input is transmitted to a game console via a communications interface of the game controller for use as gaming input. At least partially processing the touch pad input can be by determining hand/foot position, changes in hand/foot position, hand grip/foot pressure, changes in hand grip/foot pressure based upon the touch pad input.

Abstract: Operating a remote control to identify a user by receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive element of the remote control that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input corresponds to the user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the remote control and transmitted to a multimedia system console via a communications interface of the remote control for processing of the at least partially processed touch pad input to identify the user via pattern recognition. At least partially processing the touch pad input can be by identifying at least one finger orientation, at least one finger spacing, at least one finger width, a plurality of finger knuckle/joint locations, and/or a plurality of finger lengths based upon the touch pad input.

Abstract: A game controller with a communications interface, at least one touch sensitive pad having a plurality of touch sensitive elements, and processing circuitry coupled to the communications interface and the at least one touch sensitive pad. The processing circuitry enacts touch pad configuration settings that correlate subsets of the plurality of touch sensitive elements to respective distinct user input locations. The processing circuitry receives touch pad input from the at least one touch sensitive pad. The touch pad input corresponds to a user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The processing circuitry processes the touch pad input to determine user input directions based upon the touch pad configuration settings, and then transmits the touch pad input directions to a game console via the communications interface for use as gaming input.

Abstract: Operating a user input device by scanning touch sensitive elements of a touch pad to measure touch sensitive element values. The touch sensitive element values are compared to a stylus input threshold pattern. Upon a favorable comparison, a stylus input condition is determined, stylus input touch pad processing settings are enacted, and a position of the stylus upon the touch pad is detected. Detection of the stylus position upon the touch pad is based upon the touch sensitive element values and the stylus input touch pad processing settings. The touch sensitive element values are compared to a touching finger threshold pattern. Upon a favorable comparison, a touching finger condition is determined, touching finger touch pad processing settings are enacted, and the touching finger's position upon the touch pad is detected based upon the touch sensitive element values.

Abstract: Operating a game controller to identify a user by receiving touch pad input from at least one touch sensitive pad of the game controller that has a plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input corresponds to the user's touch of at least some of the plurality of touch sensitive elements. The touch pad input is at least partially processed by processing circuitry of the game controller and transmitted to a game console via a communications interface of the game controller for processing of the at least partially processed touch pad input to identify the user via pattern recognition. At least partially processing the touch pad input can be by identifying at least one finger orientation, at least one finger spacing, at least one finger width, a plurality of finger knuckle/joint locations, and/or a plurality of finger lengths based upon the touch pad input.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a multi-voltage multi-battery power management integrated circuit. Various aspects of the present invention provide a power management integrated circuit. The power management IC may comprise a first regulator module that receives a first battery power signal from a first battery characterized by a first battery voltage and outputs a first regulated power signal, based at least in part on the first battery power signal. The power management IC may also comprise a second regulator module that receives a second battery power signal from a second battery characterized by a second battery voltage and outputs a second regulated power signal, based at least in part on the second battery power signal. The second battery voltage may, for example, be substantially different than the first battery voltage. The power first and second regulated power signals may, for example, correspond to substantially different power supply voltages.

Abstract: A system and method for storing power utilization information in an integrated circuit and utilizing such information. Various aspects of the present invention provide an integrated circuit that comprises a first module, which stores power utilization information for at least a portion of the integrated circuit. A second module of the integrated circuit may communicate the power utilization information with an electrical device external to the integrated circuit. Various aspects of the present invention provide a method for storing power utilization information in an integrated circuit. For example, a performance characteristic and/or a power supply characteristic may be monitored as the integrated circuit is utilized. Power utilization information may be determined from the monitored characteristic(s), and the power utilization information may be stored in the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A switch regulator module includes a switch and a current sensing module. The switch has an input port and an output port. The current sensing module senses a first voltage at the input port of the switch and a second voltage at the output port of the switch. The current sensing module generates a sense signal that is proportional to a current that flows through the switch based on the first and second voltages.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising multiple independent power supply zones at substantially the same voltage level and a method for utilizing such power supply zones. An integrated circuit may comprise a first module and may, for example, comprise a second module. A first power supply bus may communicate first electrical power to the first module, where the first electrical power is characterized by a first set of power characteristics comprising a first voltage level. A second power supply bus may communicate second power to the second module, where the second power is characterized by a second set of power characteristics comprising a second voltage level that is substantially similar to the first voltage level. The second set of power characteristics may, for example, be substantially different than the first set of power characteristics. The second power supply bus may also, for example, communicate the second electrical power to the first module.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Embodiments of the present invention provide novel ADC architectures directed at reducing the overall ADC area and power consumption. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in pipelined ADCs, cyclic ADCs, and successive approximation (SAR) ADCs, for example. Further, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using both single-ended and differential configurations.

Abstract: A circuit and method utilizing a power control data bus for implementing power control. Various aspects of the present invention provide an electrical circuit that comprises a power supply circuit that outputs electrical power. The electrical circuit may also comprise an integrated circuit that receives electrical power from the power supply circuit. The electrical circuit may also comprise a power control data bus, which communicatively couples a power control data bus interface of the power supply circuit and a power control data bus interface of the integrated circuit. The power control data bus may, for example, carry power control data between the integrated circuit and the power supply circuit. Various aspects of the present invention also provide a method that comprises communicating power control data over a power control data bus and utilizing the power control data to control characteristics of electrical power provided to an integrated circuit or module.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising multiple independent power supply zones at substantially the same voltage level and a method for utilizing such power supply zones. An integrated circuit may comprise a first module and may, for example, comprise a second module. A first power supply bus may communicate first electrical power to the first module, where the first electrical power is characterized by a first set of power characteristics comprising a first voltage level. A second power supply bus may communicate second power to the second module, where the second power is characterized by a second set of power characteristics comprising a second voltage level that is substantially similar to the first voltage level. The second set of power characteristics may, for example, be substantially different than the first set of power characteristics. The second power supply bus may also, for example, communicate the second electrical power to the first module.

Abstract: A circuit and method utilizing a power control data bus for implementing power control. Various aspects of the present invention provide an electrical circuit that comprises a power supply circuit that outputs electrical power. The electrical circuit may also comprise an integrated circuit that receives electrical power from the power supply circuit. The electrical circuit may also comprise a power control data bus, which communicatively couples a power control data bus interface of the power supply circuit and a power control data bus interface of the integrated circuit. The power control data bus may, for example, carry power control data between the integrated circuit and the power supply circuit. Various aspects of the present invention also provide a method that comprises communicating power control data over a power control data bus and utilizing the power control data to control characteristics of electrical power provided to an integrated circuit or module.

Abstract: The present invention provides several scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors and their layout techniques. The capacitors are scaled, for example, by varying the number of metal layers and/or the area of the metal layers used to form the capacitors. The capacitors use different metallization patterns to form the metal layers, and different via patterns to couple adjacent metal layers. In embodiments, optional shields are included as the top-most and/or bottom-most layers of the capacitors, and/or as side shields, to reduce unwanted parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: The present invention provides several scalable integrated circuit high density capacitors and their layout techniques. The capacitors are scaled, for example, by varying the number of metal layers and/or the area of the metal layers used to from the capacitors. The capacitors use different metallization patterns to form the metal layers, and different via patterns to couple adjacent metal layers. In embodiments, optional shields are included as the top-most and/or bottom-most layers of the capacitors, and/or as side shields, to reduce unwanted parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: A second output transmission signal (“TX2”) added to a line driver is a scaled version of the main output transmission signal (“TX1”). TX2 is scaled from TX1 by a variable scale factor K. An adaptive hybrid circuit subtracts TX1 and TX2 from a line signal carrying both a line transmission signal and a line received signal (“RX”). A programmable impedance Ztune is coupled between the TX2 output of the line driver and the RX output of the adaptive hybrid circuit. A transmission echo in the output RX signal is measured. K and Ztune are then adaptively tuned to minimize the transmission echo. The hybrid in this case becomes a 4-port network, one port specifically added to adaptively cancel the transmission echo in the RX output of the adaptive hybrid circuit. Alternatively, the hybrid may be a 3-port hybrid including variable impedances to cancel the line transmission signal.

Abstract: A multimode DSL (digital subscriber line) line driver circuit is disclosed. The line driver circuit includes a switch network that enables the line driver circuit to be switched between multiple DSL communication configurations. Upon receipt of a mode control signal, the line driver circuit switches from a first DSL communication configuration to a second communication configuration. A DSL communication signal configured according to the second DSL communication configuration is received at the line driver circuit. The received DSL communication signal is amplified and/or filtered by the line driver circuit. The received DSL communication signal is transmitted from the line driver circuit. In one example implementation, the line driver circuit may be switched from an asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) configuration to a very high speed digital subscriber line (VDSL) configuration, and may be switched from the VDSL configuration to the ADSL configuration.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a low power warning in a portable communication device based on predicted device utilization. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise monitoring power utilization for a portable communication device. A power utilization profile may be determined based, at least in part, on the results of the power utilization monitoring. Power availability for the portable communication device may be determined. Future power need for the portable communication device may be predicted based, at least in part, on the determined power utilization profile. The predicted future power need and the determined power availability may be analyzed to determine whether to generate a warning indicating a potential future power shortage. If it is determined that a potential future power shortage warning should be generated, such a warning may be generated. Such a warning may, for example, be generated in accordance with user specifications.

Abstract: A second output transmission signal (“TX2”) added to a line driver is a scaled version of the main output transmission signal (“TX1”). TX2 is scaled from TX1 by a variable scale factor K. An adaptive hybrid circuit subtracts TX1 and TX2 from a line signal carrying both a line transmission signal and a line received signal (“RX”). A programmable impedance Ztune is coupled between the TX2 output of the line driver and the RX output of the adaptive hybrid circuit. A transmission echo in the output RX signal is measured. K and Ztune are then adaptively tuned to minimize the transmission echo. The hybrid in this case becomes a 4-port network, one port specifically added to adaptively cancel the transmission echo in the RX output of the adaptive hybrid circuit. Alternatively, the hybrid may be a 3-port hybrid including variable impedances to cancel the line transmission signal.

Abstract: A switch regulator module includes a switch and a current sensing module. The switch has an input port and an output port. The current sensing module senses a first voltage at the input port of the switch and a second voltage at the output port of the switch. The current sensing module generates a sense signal that is proportional to a current that flows through the switch based on the first and second voltages.