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.

Abstract: An example method to reduce data handling on lithium ion battery monitors is provided and includes receiving a request from a micro-controller for data associated with one or more cells, receiving signals corresponding to monitored properties from the cells, calculating derivative properties from the monitored properties, dividing a default data into a plurality of portions, and sending the derivative properties and one of the portions to the micro-controller according to at least a first compute logic option or a second compute logic option. The default data can include cell voltages, auxiliary inputs, stack voltage, reference output voltage, analog voltage output, analog voltage input, temperature, and reference buffer voltage. The default data is provided sequentially to the micro-controller in as many consecutive read backs as the number of portions, where each portion corresponds to the default data measured at a distinct time instant.

Abstract: An image sensor can respond to light either linearly or logarithmically in order to achieve flexible and high contrast performance. This is made possible by using a programmable lookup table, or an array of numbers, that represents control parameter values of the image sensor. The control parameter values in the lookup table are programmable and could be kept constant, increase linearly, or non-linearly, between consecutive indexes. Photodiode control circuitry is used to adapt the response of the photodiodes in the image sensor depending on the lighting impacting upon the image sensor.

Abstract: The sensor interface IC measures or calibrates a target resistance to be used as a gain resistor for a TIA amplifier in the sensor interface IC. One or more excitation currents are generated in response to different specified excitation voltages that are applied to an external calibration resistor having a specified calibration resistance value. Response voltages are measured across the target resistor, respectively in response to the corresponding different one or more excitation currents. The resistance value of the target resistor is determined using a difference between the measured response voltages, a difference between the specified excitation voltages, and the specified calibration resistance value.

Abstract: A magnetic device may include a magnetic structure, a device structure, and an associated circuit. The magnetic structure may include a patterned layer of material having a predetermined magnetic property. The patterned layer may be configured to, e.g., provide a magnetic field, sense a magnetic field, channel or concentrate magnetic flux, shield a component from a magnetic field, or provide magnetically actuated motion, etc. The device structure may be another structure of the device that is physically connected to or arranged relative to the magnetic structure to, e.g., structurally support, enable operation of, or otherwise incorporate the magnetic structure into the magnetic device, etc. The associated circuit may be electrically connected to the magnetic structure to receive, provide, condition or process of signals of the magnetic device.

Abstract: Continuous-time pipeline analog-to-digital converters can achieve excellent performance, and avoid sampling-related artifacts traditionally associated with discrete-time pipeline ADCs. However, the continuous-time circuitry in the ADCs can pose a challenge for digital signal reconstruction, since the transfer characteristics of the continuous-time circuitry are not as well characterized or as simple as their discrete-time counterparts. To achieve perfect digital signal reconstruction, special techniques are used to implement an effective and efficient digital filter that combines the digital output signals from the stages of the CT ADCs.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a high dynamic range analog front-end receiver for long range LIDAR with a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) include a clipping circuit to prevent saturation of the TIA. The output of the clipping circuit is connected via a diode or transistor to the input of the TIA and regulated such that the input voltage of the TIA remains close to or is only slightly above the saturation threshold voltage of the TIA. The regulation of the input voltage of the TIA can be improved by connecting a limiting resistor in series with the diode or transistor. A second clipping circuit capable of dissipating higher input currents and thus higher voltages may be connected in parallel with the first clipping circuit. A resistive element may be placed between the first and second clipping circuits to further limit the input current to the TIA.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanisms for measuring currents flowing in one or more conductor wires. The mechanisms are based on using magnetic sensor pairs arranged within a housing with an opening for the wires, where each magnetic sensor pair can generate a pair of signals indicative of magnetic fields in two different directions. The outputs of the sensor pairs can be used to derive a measure of current(s) flowing through the one or more wires. The use of magnetic sensor pairs that can measure magnetic field in two different directions may enable simultaneous current measurement in multiple wires placed within the opening, improve accuracy of current measurements while relaxing requirements for precise control of the placement of the wire(s), reduce the impact of stray magnetic interference, and enable both AC and DC measurements.

Abstract: In an example, a device for controlling an electronic switch between a power supply and a load includes a first device pin configured to be in communication with the electronic switch, a sensing circuit configured to be connected to an input voltage and to measure a current to the load, a control circuit configured to be in communication with the sensing circuit and the electronic switch, the control circuit configured to use a current limit signal to control operation of the electronic switch, and a current limit circuit configured to be in communication with the control circuit, the current limit circuit configured to generate the current limit signal representing a current limit and automatically adjust the current limit signal in response to a change in at least one of the input voltage and an output voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can provide digital-to-analog converter (DAC) termination circuits. A single or multiple parallel impedance networks can be coupled to a DAC to reduce the DAC's AC impedance, increase the DAC speed, and reduce the DAC settling time. The parallel impedance networks can be coupled to one or more of the DAC terminals in termination specific cases, or to nodes within the DAC. In an example, one-sided T-termination can be used with a single termination impedance path coupled in parallel with the DAC terminals, for reducing AC impedance at the DAC reference terminals, increasing speed, and reducing settling time. In an example, multiple impedance networks can be used in an H-bridge termination solution, which can be useful for high resolution DACs with or within a high voltage range.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gate driver system suitable for driving the gate voltage of one or more transistors. The gate driver system is configured to operate in a first state when the current conducted by the transistor is relatively low and in a second state when the current conducted by the transistor is relatively high. In the second state, the gate voltage is set such that the source voltage at the transistor establishes a lower voltage across a source-driven load than is the case when operating the first state, thereby reducing the level of power consumption in the load during second state operation.

Abstract: Optically isolated micromachined (MEMS) switches and related methods are described. The optically isolated MEMS switches described herein may be used to provide isolation between electronic devices. For example, the optically isolated MEMS switches of the types described herein can enable the use of separate grounds between the receiving electronic device and the control circuitry. Isolation of high-voltage signals and high-voltage power supplies can be achieved by using an optical isolator and a MEMS switch, where the optical isolator controls the state of the MEMS switch. In some embodiments, utilizing optical isolators to provide high voltages, the need for electric high-voltage sources such as high-voltage power supplies and charge pumps may be removed, thus removing the cause of potential damage to the receiving electronic device. In one example, the optical isolator and the MEMS switch may be co-packaged on the same substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved Rogowski-type current sensor. In order to allow the sensing coil and the compensation wire to overlap, the sensor is produced using two boards. The current sensing coil is provided on one board, and the compensation wire is provided on another board. The coil and the wire are arranged such that they at least partially overlap, and ideally the compensation wire is formed entirely within the area defined by the coil, albeit in a different plane. This arrangement makes the current sensor far better at rejecting interference than prior art PCB arrangements. In addition, the coil may be formed on a two-sided board. The board has upper radial elements formed on an upper surface, and lower radial elements formed on lower surface. The radial elements are connected using vias formed in the board. The upper radial elements are arranged in a first plane, and the lower radial elements are formed in a second parallel plane.

Abstract: Aspects of the embodiments are directed to time-of-flight (ToF) imaging systems and method for image processing. The ToF imaging system can include a depth sensor; a light steering device; a photodetector; and an image processor. The ToF imaging system can be configured to acquiring a first image of a scene by the photodetector; identifying one or more regions of interest of the scene from the first image; and capturing a depth map of at least one of the one or more regions of interest.

Abstract: A stage, suitable for use in and analog to digital converter or a digital to analog converter, comprises a plurality of slices. The slices can be operated together to form a composite output having reduced thermal noise, while 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. The slices can be sub-divided to reduce scaling mismatch between the most significant bit and the least significant bit. A shuffling scheme is implemented that allows shuffling to occur between the sub-sections of the slices without needing to implement a massively complex shuffler.

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

Abstract: SPI Round Robin Mode for Single-Cycle MUX Channel Sequencing. SPI round robin mode is an SPI mode applicable for MUX devices control. It allows the MUX output to connect to the next input channel sequentially in just one clock cycle. Configurations can be made such as: clock edge to use (rising/falling), ascending/descending channel sequence, and enabling/disabling the channels to go through. The device supersedes an ADC with built in sequencing and is applicable to multiplexing, switching, instrumentation, process control and isolation application—while retaining SPI device control and operation.

Abstract: A dither is an uncorrelated signal, usually pseudo-random noise injected into the input of an ADC such that a given input value of the wanted signal becomes spread over a plurality of codes. This reduces the effect of DNL and also smooths the integral non-linearity (INL) response of the ADC. The advantages of introducing dither could be obtained without having to perturb the signal input to the ADC. This avoids the introduction of additional components in the ADC. The dither can be applied to the components used to form a residue of the ADC stage within a pipelined converter. For example, a dither can be applied solely to a DAC part or different dithers can be applied to a ADC and DAC parts respectively. This allows greater flexibility of linearization of the ADC response and the formation of an analog residue by the DAC.

Abstract: A duty cycled voltage reference circuit is turned on and off synchronously with the operation of a second, reference-consuming, duty-cycled circuit to which it supplies a reference. When the reference consuming circuit no longer has need of the reference, the voltage reference circuit itself is then also powered down. The reference circuit is then powered back up for the next duty cycle sufficiently in advance of the reference consuming circuit such that any auto-zeroing and noise filtering operations required by the reference circuit are complete and a stable reference voltage is output at least simultaneously with, or slightly before, the reference consuming circuit begins to make use of the voltage reference signal. In this manner, synchronous duty-cycled operation of the voltage reference circuit with the reference-consuming circuit is obtained, with the consequence that power consumption by the reference circuit is reduced.

Abstract: An interface circuit to an electromagnetic flow sensor is described. In an example, it can provide a DC coupled signal path from the electromagnetic flow sensor to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. Examples with differential and pseudo-differential signal paths are described. Examples providing DC offset or low frequency noise compensation or cancellation are described. High input impedance examples are described. Coil excitation circuits are described, such as can provide on-chip inductive isolation between signal inputs and signal outputs. A switched mode power supply can be used to actively manage a bias voltage of an H-Bridge, such as to boost the current provided by the H-Bridge to the sensor coil during select time periods, such as during phase shift time periods of the coil, which can help reduce or minimize transient noise during such time periods.