Patents Assigned to Analog Devices, Inc.
  • TRANSITIONING DIGITAL DATA PROCESSORS BETWEEN POWER SAVINGS AND NON-POWER SAVINGS MODES
    Publication number: 20110148672
    Abstract: A sink may be to used to process multimedia digital data. The sink may include a plurality of input ports, an output port, a switchably-enabled selector to select an input port from a plurality of HDMI input ports to couple to an output port, a control circuit to detect encrypted data in a channel of the input ports; and a plurality of decryption engines. Each of the decryption engines may be coupled to respective input ports to synchronize with a corresponding encryption engine of a data source after the control circuit detects encrypted data in the channel of the respective input port. Additional circuitry may be included to operate the sink in a power saving mode. Also, methods for processing the data in both power saving and non-power saving modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Pablo Ventura DOMINGO, Lucas Valentin GARCIA, Michael Joseph FERNALD, Rajesh Rama CHANDRAN, Joseph Michael BARRY
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HDMI TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20110148504
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a high frequency transmitter. One such apparatus includes a pre-amplifier configured to receive an input signal via an input node; and a capacitor block electrically coupled between the pre-amplifier and an output node from which an output signal is transmitted. The capacitor block is configured to provide charge to the output node or pull charge from the output node while the output signal transitions. The apparatus further includes a switch electrically coupled between the output node and a voltage reference, wherein the switch is turned on or off at least partly in response to a signal from the pre-amplifier. This configuration effectively reduces rise and fall time of the output signal for high-frequency transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Stakely, Gan Guo, Jiefeng Yan
  • Apparatus and method for pipelined analog to digital conversion
    Patent number: 7965217
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for pipelined analog-to-digital conversion are disclosed. In some embodiments, a pipelined analog-to-digital converter includes a control and correction circuit; and a plurality of MDAC stages. At least one of the MDAC stages includes: an MDAC input to receive an analog input voltage; and a dual latch flash ADC comprising one or more dual latch comparators. At least one of the dual latch comparators includes: a pre-amplifier having an input coupled to the MDAC input, and an output; a demultiplexer having an input coupled to the output of the pre-amplifier, a first output, and a second output; a first latch having an input coupled to the first output of the demultiplexer, wherein the first latch may generate a first digital signal; and a second latch having an input coupled to the second output of the demultiplexer, wherein the second latch may generate a second digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Murden, Scott G. Bardsley, Peter R. Derounian
  • Apparatus and method for providing multi-mode clock signals
    Patent number: 7961014
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing multi-mode clock signals are disclosed. In some embodiments, a multi-mode driver configured to receive a first clock signal, and to selectively output a different clock signal in response to one or more signals from a controller is provided. The driver can include an H-bridge circuit without substantial increases in the size of the design area. Advantageously, lower jitter and improved impedance matching can be accomplished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: John Kevin Behel
  • Microphone with irregular diaphragm
    Patent number: 7961897
    Abstract: A microphone is formed to have a diaphragm that is configured to improve signal to noise ratio. To that end, the microphone has a backplate having a hole therethrough, and a diaphragm movably coupled with the backplate. The diaphragm has a bottom surface (facing the backplate) with a convex portion aligned with the hole in the backplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason W. Weigold
  • Digital-to-analogue converter
    Patent number: 7956786
    Abstract: An N-bit DAC comprises a main DAC circuit having main nodes on which analogue voltages are produced of progressively increasing values in steps of the value of one MSB value, and a sub-DAC circuit having secondary nodes on which analogue voltages are produced of progressively increasing values in steps of the value of one LSB. A main switch network couples the secondary nodes to a selected pair of main nodes as the MSB value of the digital input signal varies. A secondary switch network selectively couples one of secondary nodes to an output terminal for providing an analogue voltage output signal. The main nodes are coupled between main terminals, and a voltage reference is applied across input terminals. A first offset circuit and a first compensating circuit are selectively coupleable between the main DAC circuit and the input terminals for offsetting the main node analogue voltages downwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Gavin Cosgrave
  • Anti-capture method and apparatus for micromachined devices
    Patent number: 7956621
    Abstract: A MEMS device has a movable beam, a differential capacitor with a movable electrode that moves in response to the displacement of the movable beam and that is disposed between two stationary electrodes, and a voltage circuit for applying a first voltage to the first stationary electrode, second voltage to the second stationary electrode, and a third voltage to the movable electrode. The MEMS device also has a monitor operably coupled with the movable beam to monitor the displacement of the movable beam. In some embodiments, the monitor may monitor the distance between the movable electrode and at least one of the stationary electrodes. The MEMS device further has a voltage reducing circuit operatively coupled with the monitor, the movable electrode, and the stationary electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Hollocher, Howard R. Samuels
  • Differential current output driver with overvoltage protection
    Patent number: 7957111
    Abstract: A differential current output driver and a method for overvoltage protection of a differential current output driver circuit are provided. The output driver includes a differential current output driver circuit operable by a power supply voltage and including first and second driver transistors in a differential current configuration and first and second output pads, and an overvoltage protection circuit configured to generate a protected voltage in response to a voltage on at least one of the first and second output pads and an absence of the power supply voltage, and to apply the protected voltage to at least one transistor of the differential current output driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel T. Boyko, Chih Chuan Che
  • Analog-to-digital converter using digital output as dither
    Patent number: 7956783
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a delta circuit, a sigma circuit, and a quantizer circuit and further includes a feedback circuit that modulates a reference voltage provided to the quantizer circuit based on the quantizer circuit output. Modulation of the quantizer reference voltage dithers the quantizer circuit to effectively reduce or avoid lock bands. The analog-to-digital converter may be used in combination with a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device such as a gyroscope, an accelerometer, or a pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Geen
  • H-bridge buck-boost converter
    Patent number: 7952900
    Abstract: An H-bridge buck-boost converter includes a first half-bridge portion having at least one first transistor, an inductor portion connected to the first half-bridge portion at a first connection, a second half-bride portion connected to the inductor portion at a second connection, the second half-bridge portion having at least one second transistor, and a control portion configured to provide a first switching signal to a gate of the first transistor of the first half-bridge portion as a function of a voltage at the first connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenji Tomiyoshi, Rei Hashimoto
  • Bootstrapped switch circuit
    Patent number: 7952419
    Abstract: A bootstrapped switch circuit can include a switch transistor, having a drain configured as an input terminal to receive an input signal, and a voltage-controlled voltage source, configured to provide predetermined constant voltages between a gate and a source of the switch transistor in response to a control signal received at a control terminal. The predetermined constant voltages can include a first predetermined constant voltage to turn on the switch transistor and pass the input signal to the source and a second predetermined constant voltage to turn off the switch transistor. The first and second predetermined constant voltages can be independent of the magnitude of a signal passed to the source of the switch transistor based on the input signal at the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Steffen Birk
  • Logarithmic temperature compensation for detectors
    Patent number: 7952416
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincenzo DiTommaso
  • Wideband RF amplifiers
    Patent number: 7944307
    Abstract: A device for amplifying signals over a wide frequency range features stacked amplifying modules connected between a DC voltage source and an electrical ground. The stacking configuration reuses the DC current produced the voltage source, and thus reduces the amount of operational DC current permitting the use of lower voltage, higher frequency devices to be used. The amplifying modules are fed signals which are different versions of an input signal, and the output signals are AC coupled using capacitors to balance out gain imbalances and asymmetries between the amplifying modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Goldfarb, Edmund J. Balboni
  • Voltage-measuring circuit and method
    Patent number: 7944199
    Abstract: An embodiment of a voltage-measuring circuit includes: a first resistor connected to a first measurement node; a second resistor connected to the first resistor and a second measurement node; a configuration switch configured to, in response to a control signal, selectively interconnect the first and second resistors, during enable and disable phases of the control signal respectively, into and out of either a parallel or a series configuration; and a control and measurement circuit configured to provide the control signal, receive a first measurement voltage from the first and second measurement nodes during the enable phase, and receive a second measurement voltage from the first and second measurement nodes during the disable phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: John Wynne
  • Apparatus and method of wafer bonding using compatible alloy
    Patent number: 7943411
    Abstract: A method of forming an inertial sensor provides 1) a device wafer with a two-dimensional array of inertial sensors and 2) a second wafer, and deposits an alloy of aluminum/germanium onto one or both of the wafers. The alloy is deposited and patterned to form a plurality of closed loops. The method then aligns the device wafer and the second wafer, and then positions the alloy between the wafers. Next, the method melts the alloy, and then solidifies the alloy to form a plurality of conductive hermetic seal rings about the plurality of the inertial sensors. The seal rings bond the device wafer to the second wafer. Finally, the method dices the wafers to form a plurality of individual, hermetically sealed inertial sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Martin, Timothy J. Frey, Christine H. Tsau
  • Apparatus for and method of performing an analog to digital conversion
    Patent number: 7944386
    Abstract: An analog to digital converter, comprising a first converter adapted to perform a first, more significant, part of a conversion as a successive approximation conversion, a pipeline conversion or a flash conversion to generate a first conversion result and a residue. The ADC also comprising a second converter adapted to perform a second, least significant, part of the conversion as a sigma-delta conversion by sampling the residue to generate a second conversion result, and a processor adapted to combine the first conversion result and the second conversion result to generate a final conversion result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Peter Hurrell, Colin G Lyden
  • Sealed capacitive sensor
    Patent number: 7938014
    Abstract: A sealed capacitive sensor includes a substrate having a diaphragm forming a first plate of a capacitor; a second fixed plate of the capacitor spaced from the diaphragm and defining a predetermined dielectric gap and a sealing medium connecting together the substrate and fixed plate in an integrated structure and hermetically sealing the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Meehan, William Hunt, Eamon Hynes, John O'Dowd, Oliver Kierse
  • Wafer level CSP packaging concept
    Patent number: 7939916
    Abstract: An electronics package includes a wafer die substrate containing electronic circuits and having a top surface and a bottom surface. A top protective layer is substantially thinner than the substrate and covers the top surface. A bottom protective layer is substantially thinner than the substrate and covers the bottom surface. Circuit contacts are distributed about the bottom protective layer for electrically coupling the substrate electronic circuits to external electronic circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan O'Donnell, Oliver Kierse, Thomas M. Goida
  • Packaged chip devices with atomic layer deposition protective films
    Patent number: 7939932
    Abstract: A low-temperature inorganic dielectric ALD film (e.g., Al2O3 and TiO2) is deposited on a packaged or unpackaged chip device so as to coat the device including any exposed electrical contacts. Such a low-temperature ALD film generally can be deposited without damaging the packaged chip device. The ALD film is typically deposited at a sufficient thickness to provide desired qualities (e.g., hermeticity for the entire packaged chip device, passivation for the electrical contacts, biocompatibility, etc.) but still allow for electrical connections to be made to the electrical contacts (e.g., by soldering or otherwise) directly through the ALD film without having to expose the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Martin
  • Jump instruction having a reference to a pointer for accessing a branch address table
    Patent number: 7941653
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing a jump operation in a pipelined digital processor. The method includes writing target addresses of jump instructions to be executed to a memory table, detecting a first jump instruction being executed by the processor, the first jump instruction referencing a pointer to a first target address in the memory table, the processor executing the first jump instruction by jumping to the first target address and modifying the pointer to point to a second target address in the memory table, the second target address corresponding to a second jump instruction. The execution of the first jump instruction may include prefetching at least one future target address from the memory table and writing the future target address in a local memory. The second target address may be accessed in the local memory in response to detection of the second jump instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Mayer, Adil Bahadoor, Michael Long