Abstract: This disclosure describes, among other things, embodiments of devices, systems, and methods for using 3-dimensional (3D) magnetic sensors to detect the position of a magnetic target. By using 3D magnetic sensors, a two dimensional array of such magnetic sensors can be used to determine a 3D position of a magnetic target.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pulse generator which generates a pulse train by mixing pulses of a first clock having a first frequency, with pulses of a second clock having a second frequency. Over a predefined time period, the combination of pulses results in a pulse train having an effective frequency which is between the first and second frequencies. A multiplexer is used to select which of the first and second clocks should be provided to the output. Depending on the desired target frequency, the multiplexer is controlled to mix differing amounts of pulses from the first and second clocks. A multiplexer is controlled by a control signal, which is generated using combinatorial logic using the first clock as an input. The pulse generator may be used, for example, as a clock for a charge pump.

Abstract: Isolated DC-DC converters are described. A DC-DC converter is a device which converts a direct current (DC) signal from one voltage to another. An isolated DC-DC converter performs the conversion across an electrical isolation barrier separating two voltage domains. The signal converted from one voltage to another, and transferred from one voltage domain to another, may be a power signal. Described are isolated DC-DC converters which transfer a power signal from one voltage domain to another via an isolator, and a power feedback signal back across the isolator. The isolator is a transformer in some situations.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an adaptive biasing circuit for a power amplifier. The adaptive biasing circuit can include a shunt resistor arrangement and/or a floating gate linearizer arrangement.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to fractional-N phase-locked loops. A digital filter can filter out quantization noise from a modulator. Separate paths can process an integer part associated with an output signal of the digital filter and a fractional part associated with the output signal of the digital filter. The separate paths can be combined in the fractional-N phase-locked loop, for example, as a weighted sum.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to electrical overstress protection devices, and more particularly to electrical overstress monitoring devices for detecting electrical overstress events in semiconductor devices. In one aspect, a device configured to monitor electrical overstress (EOS) events includes a pair of spaced conductive structures configured to electrically arc in response to an EOS event, wherein the spaced conductive structures are formed of a material and have a shape such that arcing causes a detectable change in shape of the spaced conductive structures, and wherein the device is configured such that the change in shape of the spaced conductive structures is detectable to serve as an EOS monitor.

Abstract: An embodiment of a thermoelectric device may include a plurality of thermoelectric cells disposed between first and second planes. Each of the thermoelectric cells may include a thermoelectric element formed from a thermoelectric material of a single semiconductor type, the thermoelectric element including a first end, a second end, and a portion extending from the first end to the second end, the portion extending from the first end to the second end including at least two surfaces that face each other; and at least one conductive element electrically connected to and extending away from the second end of the thermoelectric element toward the first end of the thermoelectric element of another thermoelectric cell. Each thermoelectric cell also may further include an insulating element disposed between the at least two surfaces of the thermoelectric element and between portions of the at least one conductive element.

Abstract: Techniques to generate two separate temperature independent reference voltages. The reference voltages can be generated using a chain of ?VBE cells. A cross-quad ?VBE-cell-based bandgap voltage reference can cancel out noise of associated current sources by forcing them to correlate. Several ?VBE stages can be cascaded together to generate an appreciable PTAT component that can cancel the CTAT component from VBE. In some example configurations, only BJTs are used—without requiring use of an amplifier—to generate the bandgap voltages; in this way, extremely low noise voltage references can be generated. The PTAT and the CTAT voltages can be combined to generate a bandgap voltage of approximately VG0 or approximately 2VG0.

Abstract: An improved receiver for use in a data pocket communications is provide, where the process of configuring the gain of the receiver and identifying a preamble in the data packet are made more robust. The improved receiver does not need to rely on the received power level exceeding a trigger threshold to initiate the gain control. Instead the gain control runs while the receiver is waiting for a data packet. The frequency correction process can run concurrently with the gain control process.

Abstract: A stage, suitable for use in an analog to digital converter or a digital to analog converter where the stage comprises a plurality of slices that can be operated together to form a composite output, can have reduced thermal noise, whilst each slice on its own has sufficiently small capacitance to respond quickly to changes in digital codes applied to the slice. This allows a fast conversion to be achieved without loss of noise performance.

Abstract: A device for providing a reset signal to one or more sequential logic circuits in an electronic system responsive to a supply voltage condition includes a first voltage detector circuit to generate a first pulse after the supply voltage rises to a first threshold voltage level. The device further includes a second voltage detector circuit to generate a second pulse after the supply voltage falls below a second threshold voltage level. The device additionally includes a latch circuit to store a first value based on the first pulse after the supply voltage rises to the first threshold voltage level, disable the first voltage detector circuit after storing the first value, reset to store a second value based on the second pulse after the supply voltage falls below the second threshold voltage level, and to disable the second voltage detector circuit after the resetting.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches are described. The MEMS switches can be actively opened and closed. The switch can include a beam coupled to an anchor on a substrate by one or more hinges. The beam, the hinges and the anchor may be made of the same material in some configurations. The switch can include electrodes, disposed on a surface of the substrate, for electrically controlling the orientation of the beam. The hinges may be thinner than the beam, resulting in the hinges being more flexible than the beam. In some configurations, the hinges are located within an opening in the beam. The hinges may extend in the same direction of the axis of rotation of the beam and/or in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the beam.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for performing DC offset correction of a video signal received over an AC-coupled video link. In one aspect, a transmitter is configured to compute, and provide to a receiver, metadata indicative of a statistical characteristic (e.g., an average or a sum of values) for a group of active pixels of a video signal acquired by a camera. The receiver is configured to compute an analogous statistical characteristic on the video signal received over an AC-coupled video link, and to perform DC offset correction by modifying one or more values of the received video signal based on a comparison of the statistical characteristic computed by the receiver and the one computed by the transmitter and indicated by the received metadata.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for content protection over synchronous data networks. For example, a method of communicating content protected data may include providing link synchronization information over a link of a synchronous bus, and providing content protected data over the link of the synchronous bus. The content protected data may be protected in accordance with the High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) specification or the Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) specification, for example.

Abstract: Various transimpedance amplifier (TIA) arrangements for ultrasonic front-end receivers used in ultrasonic sensing applications are disclosed. An example TIA includes three common-source gain stages in a feedback loop with a common-gate stage. In some aspects, the TIA may include a level shifter configured to maintain the voltage at the gate of a transistor used to implement the first common-source gain stage of the feedback loop shifted by a certain amount with respect to the voltage at an input port to the TIA. In some aspects, at least portions of the TIA may be biased using bias currents that are configured to be process-, supply voltage-, and/or temperature-dependent. Various embodiments of the TIAs disclosed herein may benefit from one or more of the following advantages: reduced noise, reduced input impedance, reduced temperature coefficient of input impedance, and stability for a wide range of sensor frequencies.

Abstract: The subject disclosure includes paralleling of monolithic embedded low drop-out (LDO) linear regulator power rails to provide additional load current, while maintaining accurate current sharing and balancing between the paralleled LDOs without additional power consumption for different load current requirements. Lossless current sensing is used to sense the current for each channel. An offset generator compares the voltages for a master channel and one or more slave channels, and generates an offset voltage according to the sensed error. The offset voltage is added between an input reference voltage and an output regulated voltage to cancel the offset of each channel, so the current of each channel is substantially the same. The lossless current sensing can be realized with equivalent series resistance compensation or current limit sensing. The offset generator can be realized with a resistor and current mirror topology or an input pair added to an error amplifier input.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for communicating video signals and control data over a HD, wired, AC-coupled video and control link. In one aspect, an example system includes a scheduler that is configured to allocate time slots for exchange of data between a transmitter and a receiver over such a link. The scheduler is configured to, for each of at least one or more video lines of a video frame of a video signal acquired by a camera, allocate a plurality of time slots for transmitting a plurality of video components of said video line from the transmitter to the receiver, allocate one or more time slots for transmitting transmitter control data from the transmitter to the receiver, and allocate one or more time slots for transmitting receiver control data from the receiver to the transmitter.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor is provided which may be formed using micromachining techniques commonly used in the manufacture of integrated circuits. This is achieved by forming microcapillaries in a silicon substrate and forming an opening in an insulating layer to allow environmental gases to reach through to the top side of the substrate. A porous electrode is printed on the top side of the insulating layer such that the electrode is formed in the opening in the insulating layer. The sensor also comprises at least one additional electrode. The electrolyte is then formed on top of the electrodes. A cap is formed over the electrodes and electrolyte. This arrangement may easily be produced using micromachining techniques.

Abstract: A power gating circuit includes a first transistor to couple a power supply to a gated power rail after receiving a control signal. The power gating circuit also includes two or more transistors coupled in parallel with the first switch, the one or more transistors configured to sequentially couple the power supply to the gated power rail according to a sequence determined by a comparator circuit and one or more cascaded latches.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a feedback control system and method for a bidirectional VCM. The system employs an analog core that is common to both the PWM and linear modes of operation. The analog core includes a feedback mechanism that determines the error in the current flowing through the motor. The feedback mechanism produces an error voltage that corresponds to the current error, and applies the voltage to a control driver. The control driver then controls the motor, based on the error voltage, in either a PWM or linear mode. By sharing a common core, the switching time between modes is improved. Furthermore, the output current error between modes is reduced.