Patents Assigned to Analog Devices, Inc.
  • Method of forming a device by removing a conductive layer of a wafer
    Patent number: 7816165
    Abstract: A method of forming a MEMS device provides a wafer having a base with a conductive portion. The wafer also has an intermediate conductive layer. After it provides the wafer, the method adds a diaphragm layer to the wafer. The method removes at least a portion of the intermediate conductive layer to form a cavity between the diaphragm layer and the base. At least a portion of the diaphragm layer is movable relative to the base. After it forms the cavity, the method seals the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Brosnihan, Robert E. Sulouff, Jr., John M. Sledziewski
  • ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD TO DETERMINE LEAKAGE IMPEDANCE AND LEAKAGE VOLTAGE NODE
    Publication number: 20100259281
    Abstract: A circuit, system, machine-readable storage medium and method for detecting the presence of a leakage path in a multi-cell voltage source is described. The system includes a detection circuit, the detection circuit having a first, second and third amplifiers, a first input of the first amplifier connected to a first terminal of the voltage source and the first input of the second amplifier connected to a second terminal of the voltage source, a second input of each of the first and second amplifiers connected to a reference capacitor, and an output of each of the first, second and third amplifiers connected to a respective first, second and third outputs of the detection circuit; and a processor having inputs connected to the first and second outputs of the detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence C. STREIT
  • Apparatus for Testing Infrared Sensors
    Publication number: 20100260229
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with automatic testing equipment for testing infrared sensors on integrated circuits is provided. The apparatus includes an infrared source, a heat mass, and an electronic frequency modulator. The infrared source is modulated according to a predetermined test frequency such that the infrared source emits an infrared test signal representative of a test temperature and corresponding to the temperature of the heat mass and the predetermined test frequency. A signal processor, electrically coupled to an integrated circuit having an infrared sensor, receives a sensed signal from the infrared sensor in response to the infrared test signal and uses the sensed signal according to the predetermined test frequency to determine a measured temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: John Grubb, Gerard Blaney, Eamon Culhane
  • ARCHITECTURE AND METHOD TO DETERMINE LEAKAGE IMPEDANCE AND LEAKAGE VOLTAGE NODE
    Publication number: 20100259276
    Abstract: A circuit, system and method for detecting the presence of a leakage path in a multi-cell voltage source is described. The system includes a detection circuit, the detection circuit having a first amplifier and a second amplifier, a first input of the first amplifier connected to a first terminal of the voltage source and the first input of the second amplifier connected to a second terminal of the voltage source, a second input of each of the first and second amplifiers connected to a reference voltage point, and an output of each of the first and second amplifiers connected to a respective first and second output of the detection circuit; and a processor having inputs connected to the first and second outputs of the detection circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence C. STREIT
  • Low voltage input stage
    Patent number: 7812676
    Abstract: A transconductance input apparatus energized by supply voltage has an input for receiving an input signal, and an output for delivering an output signal. The apparatus also has a plurality of transconductance stages for converting the input signal into the output signal, which is substantially free of dead zones when the total supply voltage is 2.7 volts or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Ye Lu
  • Output driver with overvoltage protection
    Patent number: 7813093
    Abstract: An output driver in an integrated circuit includes a driver circuit operable by a power supply voltage and coupled to an output pad, and a driver power conditioner configured to generate a fractional pad voltage in response to a voltage on the output pad and to provide the fractional pad voltage to at least one transistor of the driver circuit as a protected supply voltage in response to an absence of the power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Boyko, Stuart R. Patterson
  • Impedance matched lane reversal switching system
    Patent number: 7813706
    Abstract: An impedance matched lane reversal switching system including first and second transceiver pairs, each of the pairs including a transmitter connected to a receiver, the output of the transmitter connected to the input of the receiver and to a node, the node of each pair interconnected with a transmission line and a switching circuit for selectively enabling one of the transmitters of one of the transceiver pairs and disabling the other and selectively utilizing one of the receivers of the other of the transceiver pairs and not the other to selectively reverse an egress side and an ingress side of the lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. St. Germain, Kimo Y. F. Tam
  • Amplifier having input/output cells with discrete gain steps
    Patent number: 7812673
    Abstract: An amplifier has an input section with one or more input cells and an output section with one or more output cells. Either the input section or the output section includes at least two cells that may be selected to provide discrete gain settings. A loop amplifier is configured in a feedback arrangement with the input section. The input and output sections may have multiple selectable cells to provide coarse and fine gain steps. The gain of the loop amplifier may be coordinated with the gain of the input section to provide constant bandwidth operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Barrie Gilbert, John Cowles
  • Robust Self Testing of a Motion Sensor System
    Publication number: 20100251800
    Abstract: A method for self-testing a dual-mass linear accelerometer in which a self-test voltage is applied to urge the two masses to move in opposite directions. Self-test signals are then applied to obtain a differential mode signal to detect masses repositioned in opposing directions. During testing, common disturbances to the two masses are rejected as common mode signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Mueck
  • MEMS Switching Device Protection
    Publication number: 20100254062
    Abstract: A micro-machined switching system for equalizing an electrical property, such as charge due to parasitic capacitance formed at an input and an output of a micro-machined switching device. The micro-machined switching device may be a MEMS relay or a MEMS switch. In addition to the micro-machined switching device, the switching system also includes a balancing module for equalizing the electrical property between the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device. In certain embodiments, the balancing module includes a switch operable in a first state causing charge due to the parasitic capacitance on the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device to substantially balance. The switch is also operable in a second state wherein parasitic capacitance can separately accumulate at the input and the output of the micro-machined switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Cammen Chan, Geoffrey Haigh
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMMON-MODE VOLTAGE OF SWITCHING AMPLIFIERS
    Publication number: 20100253396
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an H-bridge controller and method for controlling a common-mode voltage and/or current of an H-bridge circuit. The H-bridge controller comprises a section for receiving a signal indicating at least one of a common-mode voltage and common-mode current of the H-bridge circuit, and a section for generating control signals which determine switching of the H-bridge circuit so as to control at least one of the common-mode voltage and common-mode current of the H-bridge circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Atsushi Matamura
  • Digital Output Sensor FIFO Buffer with Single Port Memory
    Publication number: 20100257292
    Abstract: A digital output sensor includes a sensor module for providing digital data representative of a sensed parameter, a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) memory having a single port memory, and an output port for transmitting the digital data. The digital data from the sensor module is pushed into the FIFO memory buffer via the single memory port, and the digital data is popped out of the FIFO memory buffer via the single memory port for receipt by the output port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Lee
  • DC to DC converter
    Patent number: 7808217
    Abstract: A DC to DC converter comprising: an inductor; a plurality of switches for controlling current flow in the inductor such that the inductor is connected to a supply in a first phase of operation such that the inductor receives energy from the supply, and such that the inductor is connected to an output in a second phase of operation in order to deliver energy to the output; and a controller arranged to monitor the current flow in the inductor at the end of the second phase of operation and to modify the relative duration of the second phase compared to the first phase as a function of the current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Guillaume de Cremoux, Innes J. A. Gray
  • Thermal compensation of an exponential pair
    Patent number: 7808298
    Abstract: To compensate for changes in temperature, a pair of bipolar transistors is connected to a voltage divider and receives a differential voltage that varies with temperature. The voltage divider includes a set of resistors placed in parallel. The set of resistors has a resistance that changes with temperature. As the resistance changes with temperature, the differential voltage provided by the voltage divider changes in proportion to a change in thermal voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Modica, Derek Bowers
  • Radiation sensor with cap and optical elements
    Patent number: 7807972
    Abstract: The invention provides a sensor including a first sensor element formed in a first substrate and at least one optical element formed in a second substrate, the first and second substrates being configured relative to one another such that the second substrate forms a cap over the first sensor element. The cap includes a diffractive optical element and an aperture stop which collectively determine the wavelength of incident radiation that is allowed through the cap and onto the at least one optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Lambkin, William A. Lane, Andrew David Bain
  • LOGARITHMIC TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION FOR DETECTORS
    Publication number: 20100244931
    Abstract: The intercept of a logarithmic amplifier is temperature stabilized by generating a signal having the form H log H where H is a function of temperature such as T/T0. The first H factor is cancelled, thereby generating a correction signal having the form Y log H. The cancellation may be implemented with a transconductance cell having a hyperbolic tangent function. The H log H function may be generated by a pair of junctions biased by one temperature-stable current and one temperature-dependent current. The pair of junctions and the transconductance cell may be coupled together in a translinear loop. A user-accessible terminal may allow adjustment of the correction signal for different operating frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Vincenzo DiTommaso
  • USB ISOLATOR WITH ADVANCED CONTROL FEATURES
    Publication number: 20100250820
    Abstract: A USB-based isolator system conveys USB signals between a pair of galvanically isolated circuit systems and supports controlled enumeration by a downstream device on upstream USB signal lines. The isolator system provides a multi-mode voltage regulator to support multiple voltage supply configurations. The isolator system further provides control systems for each of the isolated circuit systems and provides robust control in a variety of start up conditions. Additionally, the isolator system includes refresh timers and watchdog mechanisms to support persistent operation but manage possible communication errors that can arise between the isolated circuit systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric GAALAAS, Mark CANTRELL
  • MULTI-BIT DIGITAL SIGNAL ISOLATOR
    Publication number: 20100246646
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a multi-bit digital signal isolation system including a plurality of micro-transformers, each having a primary winding and a secondary winding, a transmitter circuit receiving a multi-bit signal and transmitting an encoded logic signal across the plurality of micro-transformers corresponding to the multi-bit signal, the primary winding of each micro-transformer receiving a signal corresponding to one of at least three possible states, and a receiver circuit receiving the encoded logic signal from the secondary windings of the plurality of transformers, decoding the encoded logic signal and reconstructing the received multi-bit signal based upon the decoded signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Eric GAALAAS
  • MEMS Device with Opposite Polarity Spring Bimorph
    Publication number: 20100242604
    Abstract: A MEMS device has a mass supported at least in part by a spring. Among other things, the spring has first and second layers, and first and a second electrodes. The first and second layers are between the first and second electrodes, and the first and second layers, which are oppositely polarized, form a bimorph.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Firas Sammoura, Kuang Yang
  • Method for locking a synthesised output signal of a synthesised waveform synthesiser in a phase relationship with an input signal, and a digital waveform synthesiser for producing a synthesised output signal in a phase relationship with an input signal
    Patent number: 7804927
    Abstract: A digital waveform synthesiser (1) is implemented as a single chip integrated circuit on a single chip (2) and comprises a direct digital synthesiser (10) which produces a synthesised output signal waveform on an output terminal (4) which is substantially phase and frequency locked to the phase and frequency of an externally generated input signal applied to an input terminal (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Juergen Tucholski