Abstract: Circuitry for balancing cells in a battery pack, the circuitry comprising: cell balancing circuitry configured to transfer energy between cells of the battery pack in synchronisation with a clock signal; and control circuitry configured to control a parameter of the clock signal based on a monitored parameter or information associated with the battery pack.

Abstract: This application describes time-encoding modulator circuitry (200), and in particular a PWM modulator suitable for use for a class-D amplifier. A forward signal path receives a digital input signal (Din) and outputs an output PWM signal (Sout) and includes a first PWM modulator (101). A feedback path provides feedback to an input of the first PWM modulator (101). The feedback path includes an ADC (203) which receive a first PWM signal (Sa) derived from the output PWM signal. The ADC (203) includes a second PWM modulator (401) which generates a second PWM signal (Sb) based on the first PWM signal. A controller (201) controls the second PWM modulator such that a PWM carrier of the second PWM signal is phase and frequency matched to a PWM carrier of the output PWM signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry for driving a piezoelectric transducer. The circuitry comprises amplifier circuitry configured to receive a drive signal and to output an output signal, based on the drive signal, to the piezoelectric transducer, a variable capacitor configured to be coupled in series with the piezoelectric transducer, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to control a capacitance of the variable capacitor to compensate for hysteresis in the piezoelectric transducer and to control a gain of the amplifier circuitry to compensate for signal attenuation caused by the variable capacitor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry for driving a load. The circuitry comprises driver circuitry configured to generate a drive signal, based on an input signal to the driver circuitry, for driving the load, and commutator circuitry for coupling the driver circuitry to the load. The commutator circuitry is configured to alternate between commutation states in response to a level of the drive signal meeting a drive signal threshold or in response to a level of the input signal meeting a first input signal threshold. The circuitry is configured to apply an offset to the input signal when the input signal is below a second input signal threshold so as to increase a minimum level of the drive signal above the drive signal threshold or to increase a minimum level of the input signal above the first input signal threshold.

Abstract: A method of cough detection in a headset, the method comprising: receiving a first signal from an external transducer of the headset; receiving a second signal from an in-ear transducer of the headset; and detecting a cough of a user of the headset based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry for driving a piezoelectric transducer based on an input signal. The circuitry comprises: primary driver circuitry configured to receive the input signal and to output a primary driving signal to the piezoelectric transducer based on the input signal; and secondary driver circuitry configured to receive an error signal indicative of an error between the input signal and the primary driving signal and to output a secondary driving signal to the piezoelectric transducer based on the error signal, wherein the primary driver circuitry and the secondary driver circuitry both comprise switching converter circuitry.

Abstract: A method of cough detection in a headset, the method comprising: receiving a first signal from an external transducer of the headset; receiving a second signal from an in-ear transducer of the headset; and detecting a cough of a user of the headset based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to driver circuitry for driving a piezoelectric transducer. The circuitry comprises: a power supply; a reservoir capacitance; switch network circuitry; and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to control operation of the switch network circuitry so as to charge the reservoir capacitance from the power supply and to transfer charge between the reservoir capacitance and the piezoelectric transducer.

Abstract: A method of cough detection in a headset, the method comprising: receiving a first signal from an external transducer of the headset; receiving a second signal from an in-ear transducer of the headset; and detecting a cough of a user of the headset based on the first and second signals.

Abstract: This application describes time-encoding modulator circuitry (200), and in particular a PWM modulator suitable for use for a class-D amplifier. A forward signal path receives a digital input signal (Din) and outputs an output PWM signal (Sout) and includes a first PWM modulator (101). A feedback path provides feedback to an input to of the first PWM modulator (101). The feedback path includes an ADC (203) which receive a first PWM signal (Sa) derived from the output PWM signal. The ADC (203) includes a second PWM modulator (401) which generates a second PWM signal (Sb) based on the first PWM signal. A controller (201) controls the second PWM modulator such that a PWM carrier of the second PWM signal is phase and frequency matched to a PWM carrier of the output PWM signal.

Abstract: This application relates to Class D amplifier circuits. A modulator controls a Class D output stage based on a modulator input signal (Dm) to generate an output signal (Vout) which is representative of an input signal (Din). An error block, which may comprise an ADC, generates an error signal (?) from the output signal and the input signal. In various embodiments the extent to which the error signal (?) contributes to the modulator input signal (Dm) is variable based on an indication of the amplitude of the input signal (Din). The error signal may be received at a first input of a signal selector block. The input signal may be received at a second input of the signal selector block. The signal selector block may be operable in first and second modes of operation, wherein in the first mode the modulator input signal is based at least in part on the error signal; and in the second mode the modulator input signal is based on the digital input signal and is independent of the error signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Class D amplifier circuitry comprising a mode controller configured to dynamically adjust an operational switching mode of the Class D amplifier over a range between a Class AD mode and a Class BD mode.

Abstract: An aqueous solution and an aqueous dispersion of a composition that contains a polyalkylene oxide, a phenolic antioxidant and a sulfur-containing amine compound are less likely to impair the stability of the polyalkylene oxide even in the case of containing an alkali. In the above composition, the content of each of the phenolic antioxidant and the sulfur-containing amine compound is preferably set to 0.001 to 5 pasts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of the polyalkylene oxide, and the ratio of the sulfur-containing amine compound relative to 100 parts by mass of the phenolic antioxidant is preferably set to 20 to 200 pasts by mass.

Abstract: This application relates to Class D amplifier circuits. A modulator controls a Class D output stage based on a modulator input signal (Dm) to generate an output signal (Vout) which is representative of an input signal (Din). An error block, which may comprise an ADC, generates an error signal (?) from the output signal and the input signal. In various embodiments the extent to which the error signal (?) contributes to the modulator input signal (Dm) is variable based on an indication of the amplitude of the input signal (Din). The error signal may be received at a first input of a signal selector block. The input signal may be received at a second input of the signal selector block. The signal selector block may be operable in first and second modes of operation, wherein in the first mode the modulator input signal is based at least in part on the error signal; and in the second mode the modulator input signal is based on the digital input signal and is independent of the error signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to Class D amplifier circuitry comprising: an input for receiving an input signal; first and second output nodes for driving a load connected between the first and second output nodes. A first driver stage is provided for switching the first node between a first supply rail and a second supply rail, and a second driver stage is provided for switching the second node between the first supply rail and the second supply rail. The Class D amplifier circuitry also includes first driver control circuitry configured to receive a first carrier wave and control the switching of the first driver stage based in part on the first carrier wave; second driver control circuitry configured to receive a second carrier wave and control the switching of the second driver stage based in part on the second carrier wave; and a carrier wave generator configured to provide the first carrier wave and the second carrier wave.

Abstract: A method of detecting live speech comprises: receiving a signal containing speech; obtaining a first component of the received signal in a first frequency band, wherein the first frequency band includes audio frequencies; and obtaining a second component of the received signal in a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band. Then, modulation of the first component of the received signal is detected; modulation of the second component of the received signal is detected; and the modulation of the first component of the received signal and the modulation of the second component of the received signal are compared. It may then be determined that the speech may not be live speech, if the modulation of the first component of the received signal differs from the modulation of the second component of the received signal.

Abstract: This application relates to computing circuitry (200, 500, 600) for analogue computing. A plurality of current generators (201) are each configured to generate a defined current (ID1, ID2, . . . IDj) based on a respective input data value (D1, D2, . . . Dj). A memory array (202), having at least one set (204) of programmable-resistance memory cells (203), is arranged to receive the defined currents from each of the current generators at a respective signal line (206). Each set (204) of programmable-resistance memory cells (203) includes a memory cell associated with each signal line that, in use, can be connected between the relevant signal line and a reference voltage so as to generate a voltage on the signal line. An adder module (207) is coupled to each of the signal lines to generate a voltage at an output node (210) based on the sum of the voltages on each of the signal lines.

Abstract: Provided is a water-absorbent resin dispersion that is capable of maintaining the dispersibility of a water-absorbent resin more readily than conventional dispersions. The water-absorbent resin dispersion of the present invention comprises a water-absorbent resin, a thickener, and an organic solvent, the thickener being dissolved in the organic solvent, and the water-absorbent resin being dispersed in the organic solvent. The water-absorbent resin dispersion of the present invention is capable of maintaining the dispersibility of a water-absorbent resin more readily than conventional dispersions.

Abstract: This application relates to digital PWM modulation. A PWM modulator (400, 1100) has a PWM generator (402) configured to receive pulse width data (PWidth) and to output a PWM signal (SPWM) comprising a plurality of repeating PWM cycle periods, in which the duration of any pulse of the PWM signal in each PWM cycle period is based on the pulse width data. The PWM generator is configured to synchronise the PWM cycle periods, and the start and end of any PWM pulse, to a received first clock signal. The PWM generator is operable to generate pulses that have a positional error from a centred position within the PWM cycle period and a pulse position controller (403) is configured to control the position of a pulse in a PWM cycle period so as to at least partly compensate for the positional error of one or more preceding pulses.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for computing, especially to circuitry for performing computing, at least partly, in the analogue domain. The circuitry (200) comprises a plurality of memory cells (201), each memory cell having first and second paths between an electrode (202) for receiving an input current and respective positive and negative electrodes (203) for outputting a differential-current output. Memristors (101) are located in the first and second paths. The memory cells are configured into sets (205) of memory cells, the memory cells of each said set being connected so as to provide a differential current set output that corresponds to a combination of the cell outputs of all of the memory cells of that set. For each set, at least some of the memory cells of that set are configured to receive a different input current to other memory cells of that set.