Abstract: A method of compensating a photo sensor (and a corresponding photo sensor with compensation) insures the accuracy of the photo sensor, e.g., over environmental variations or photo cell variations. The method comprises: providing a first signal indicative of a light level; providing a second signal indicative of an environmental parameter, e.g., temperature; and calculating, responsive to the first signal and the second signal, a compensated signal that is indicative of an absolute light level. The calculating can be performed by a processor and utilize calibration and compensation information or parameters, which can be obtained experimentally.

Abstract: A direct current (DC) offset correction system for a direct conversion receiver and corresponding receiver and methods facilitate reduction of DC offsets in such receivers. One method includes calibrating a DC offset correction system in a closed loop configuration over each of a plurality of gain settings to provide a plurality of offset data for an operating mode of the direct conversion receiver; selecting one of the plurality of offset data based on a current gain setting of the direct conversion receiver as supplied, e.g., by an AGC system; and operating the DC offset correction system in an open loop configuration using the one of the plurality of offset data to correct for a DC offset in the direct conversion receiver.

Abstract: A dual-axes hinge part (106) defines a lower hinge (132) and an upper hinge (130) of an electronic device (100). The upper hinge (130) permits a component, such as a display member (102) to pivot with respect to the hinge part (106) in a portrait mode. The lower hinge (132) permits both the display member (102) and the hinge part (106) to pivot with respect to a base (104) in a landscape mode. The axes of the hinges (130, 132) cross one another and lie in different planes. The hinge part (106) conforms to the shapes of the housing of the display member (102) and the housing of the base (104) and has no parts that project substantially beyond the boundaries of the display member (102) and the base (104). Thus, the hinge part (106) provides dual-axes functionality while not detracting from the aesthetics of the electronic device (100).

Abstract: A method for reducing adjacent channel interference begins by determining a desired channel of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The method continues by determining a plurality of potential local oscillations for the desired channel. The method continues by determining a proximal power level of an image frequency of each of the plurality of potential local oscillations to produce a plurality of proximal power levels. The method continues by selecting one of the plurality of potential local oscillations for down converting the desired channel based on the plurality of proximal power levels.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems for suppressing noise in an input signal include setting a minimum overall gain in a noise reduction processor for processing a first frame of data associated with the input signal. In response to a new minimum overall gain being set, the minimum overall gain in the noise reduction processor is replaced with the new minimum overall gain, and a second frame of data associated with the input signal is processed to suppress noise using the new minimum overall gain. The new minimum overall gain can be a function of the input signal or an output signal of the noise reduction processor. The new minimum overall gain can correspond to a difference between an estimated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) improvement that is calculated using time-domain data and a target SNR improvement.

Abstract: A method (300) of extending battery life in a communication device having a plurality of receivers includes receiving information with a primary receiver that is configured to operate on a first network (303) and controlling a secondary receiver that is configured to operate on a second network that is independent from the first network in accordance with the information obtained with the primary receiver. A corresponding communication device (201) includes: a primary receiver (221) configured to operate on a first network (203); a secondary receiver (227, 233) configured and arranged to operate as a short range receiver with an access point (205, 207) that is independent of the first network; and a controller (225, 231, 237) that is configured to control the secondary receiver in accordance with information obtained from the primary receiver.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems for reading a memory cell include a first current sourced from a first current source into a summing node, wherein the first current source is coupled to a first reference. A second current is sourced from a second current source into the summing node, wherein the second current source is coupled to the first reference through a programmable fuse. A third current is sunk from the summing node with a current sink, wherein the current sink is coupled to a second reference, and wherein a third current limit is greater than a first current limit and less than the sum of the first current limit and the second current limit. A voltage at the summing node is output in response to the first current, the second current, and the third current. The first and second current sources, and the current sink can be current mirrors.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems in a low noise amplifier include selecting a selected sub-band for amplifying, wherein the selected sub-band is one of a plurality of sub-bands, wherein each sub-band is a portion of a frequency band, and wherein each sub-band has a corresponding sub-band center frequency. Next, a gate-source capacitor is adjusted so that a real part of an LNA input impedance corresponds to a real part of a source impedance at the selected sub-band center frequency. A match capacitor is also adjusted so that the LNA input impedance corresponds to the complex conjugate of the source impedance at the selected sub-band center frequency. The gate-source capacitor and the match capacitor can each be adjusted by recalling capacitor values from memory that correspond to the selected sub-band, and connecting selected capacitor components in response to the recalled capacitor values.

Abstract: A radio frequency power amplifier includes a feedback control system coupled to an input signal and a first feedback signal and configured to provide an output; a controlled supply configured to provide power that is controlled in accordance with a signal; and a radio frequency gain stage powered from the controlled supply, driven by the output from the feedback control system, and configured to provide an output signal at the radio frequency to a resonant load, where the first feedback signal corresponds to the output signal. Some embodiments include a sequencer in the feedback control system and others utilize an additional feedback loop to control the power provided by the controlled supply.

Abstract: Methods (FIGS. 7 and 8) and corresponding apparatus (200) for estimating a parameter (125) associated with a received signal (120), one method comprising: providing (704, 806) a signal sample (129, 301) corresponding to the received signal (120); processing the signal sample (705, 807) to suppress on channel interference and provide a processed sample or signal estimate; and determining, for example, a delay parameter by comparing (709, 809) the processed sample to a predetermined sample.

Abstract: A system and method (700) of indicating remaining life of a Non Volatile Memory (NVM) Array can be implemented in an integrated circuit. The method includes estimating (703) the remaining life of an NVM array by characterizing one or more cells to provide an estimate; comparing (709) the estimate to a threshold to provide a comparison; and when the estimate satisfies the threshold, providing (711) an indication corresponding to the comparison. The system comprises an NVM array (201); a controller (202) configured to control the NVM array, to estimate remaining life of the NVM array by characterizing one or more cells, and to provide an output signal corresponding to life expectancy of the NVM array; and a register (215) to store a flag corresponding to the output signal, where the flag may be used to provide information corresponding to predicted life expectancy to a user.

Abstract: A device, method, and computer readable medium are used in connection with providing an indication of zero crossings corresponding to a signal. The signal (113) is received. Noise is removed from the signal (103). In response to the signal with noise removed (115), pairs of points and a time value corresponding to each point are determined (105), wherein the points of each pair are proximate to a predetermined change in an amplitude of the signal. In response to the pairs and the corresponding time values (117), a zero crossing time is determined for each pair (107). A variation in the plurality of zero crossing times (119) is corrected (109). A signal (123) or indication representative of the corrected zero crossing times is output.

Abstract: Methods and corresponding systems for calibrating a digital-to-analog converter include selecting first and second code regions in the digital-to-analog converter, wherein the first and second code regions are separated by a boundary. Thereafter a waveform sequence is input into the digital-to-analog converter, wherein the waveform sequence has a zero offset at the boundary. Then a relative compensation value between the first and second code regions is adjusted to reduce a distortion in an output of the digital-to-analog converter. A magnitude of a third harmonic distortion of the waveform sequence can be used to measure distortion in the output. Adjusting the relative compensation can include converting the output of the digital-to-analog converter to a digital sequence, filtering the digital sequence, and measuring a harmonic distortion in the digital sequence.

Abstract: A noise blanker for use in a radio receiver includes an audio blanker (115) configured to mitigate impulse noise associated with a signal received by the radio receiver and a blanker controller (117) configured to selectively enable the audio blanker and further comprising at least a first blanker enabler and a second blanker enabler. The noise blanker controlled and corresponding method (500) can include a first noise detector, e.g., MPX noise detector (213), configured to provide a first signal when impulse noise is detected in a demodulated signal and a second noise detector, e.g., log RSSI noise detector (211), configured to provide a second signal when impulse noise is detected in a modulated signal, and a logic function (217) coupled to the first and second signals and configured to provide an enable signal to the noise blanker when the first signal or the second signal is provided. Note that in addition to or in lieu of either of the noise detectors, a switching enabler (215), responsive, e.g.

Abstract: A system for luminance characterization of a luminaire includes a ballast coil and a multi-tap capacitor connected in series with the ballast coil. The multi-tap capacitor has a plurality of tap capacitors integrated into a capacitor housing. A plurality of switches are each coupled to one of the plurality of tap capacitors for selectively coupling the tap capacitors together to produce a multi-tap capacitance corresponding to a configuration of the plurality of switches. A lamp is connected in series with the multi-tap capacitor and the ballast coil. A photometer is located to measure light intensity of the lamp and to produce a lumen output measurement. A memory is used to store a database having a plurality of lumen output measurements, each corresponding to a multi-tap capacitance corresponding to all configurations of the plurality of switches.

Abstract: Nodes (103a-d, 105, 107, 109a-c, 111a-c) in an ad hoc communication network are coordinated. The network includes the node (111b) and one or more neighbor nodes (103a-d, 105, 107, 109a-c, 111a,c). The node (111b) can sleep in a low duty cycle. Further, the node (111b) can awaken, responsive to a schedule; and register with a cluster head (101); listen for one or more neighbors, wherein the at least one neighbor can be active (103a-d, 105, 107) or idle (109a-c, 111a,c); and/or listen for one or more requests from the cluster head (101) or active neighbor(s) (103a-d, 105, 107). Responsive to the request(s), the idle node (111b) can become active on a communication link.

Abstract: A generator (304) generates first and second training signals (320, 318) that originate within a wireless communication device (FIG. 3) instead of being received from a source outside the device. A receive portion (212, 214, 216) of the device processes the first training signal to derive a processed training signal. An adaptive equalizer (310) equalizes the processed training signal to derive an equalized training signal. A processor (312) compares the equalized training signal and the second training signal using an adaptive algorithm to derive coefficients for the adaptive equalizer to compensate for variations in the receive portion, and adjusts the adaptive equalizer in accordance with the coefficients to derive a compensated output signal.

Abstract: A miniature vertically polarized multi-frequency antenna 10 is embedded in a substrate 11 and suitable for use within a wireless device. The antenna 10 includes a first lateral member 14 and a second lateral member 16, which is spaced from and parallel to the first lateral member 14. The antenna 10 has a wide tuning range due to multiple resonances provided by the lateral members 14, 16. The antenna 10 is shortened by reactive loading and by embedding the antenna in material having a high dielectric constant. Tuning circuits 30, 32 are coupled to respective ends of one of the lateral members 14, 16. The tuning circuits are located on a common plane with the lateral member to which they are connected. The tuning circuits 30, 32 electronically add reactance to the antenna to alter the frequency at which it resonates.

Abstract: A radio frequency power amplifier and corresponding methods are arranged and configured to drive or provide a radio frequency signal to a resonant load. The amplifier includes a radio frequency switching stage with an output that is coupled to a resonant circuit and configured to provide an output signal with amplitude modulation corresponding to amplitude modulation of an input signal when powered from a fixed voltage power supply and a feedback control system coupled to the input signal and the output signal. The feedback control system includes a sequencer configured to provide a sequencer output that is used to drive the radio frequency switching stage, where the sequencer output has an OFF state that begins at a variable time corresponding to the input and output signal.