Abstract: A multiple output, multiple impedance string digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit can provide a first output having a first resolution in response to a first digital input signal and a second output having a second resolution in response to a second digital input signal. A main impedance string and a secondary impedance string can be coupled using switching networks to provide a first DAC output. By coupling additional switches to the main impedance string and by sharing the main impedance string, a second DAC output can be realized.

Abstract: A higher accuracy ADC circuit (e.g., in which the number of bits of the ADC circuit is twelve or greater) may need calibration multiple times during its working life to avoid bit weight errors. Described are techniques to address DAC element ratio errors between DAC element clusters in a DAC circuit in order to maintain the linear performance of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuits.

Abstract: An RF peak-detector circuit can operate over a wide range and can compensate or correct an output voltage error term that depends on the thermal voltage and the input signal voltage. At or near a minimum value of the input signal voltage range, such compensation can include a scaled base-emitter ratioing of bipolar junction transistors used to generate the output voltage, each of which can be biased by a primary current. At or near a maximum value of the input signal voltage range, this can include using an auxiliary bias current circuit that can shift auxiliary bias current between these bipolar junction transistors. The auxiliary bias current circuit can include scaled bipolar junction transistors in a cross-coupled configuration and an equivalent resistance circuit between emitters of the cross-coupled BJTs. This can provide a robust approach for improving the accuracy of an RF peak-detector circuit over a wide range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to current measurement apparatus. The current measurement apparatus comprises first and second measurement devices with each of the first and second measurement devices being operative to measure current in a respective one of a live conductor and a neutral conductor substantially simultaneously. The current measurement apparatus is operative to make plural different determinations in dependence on the substantially simultaneous current measurements.

Abstract: A transistor switch device is provided that exhibits relatively good voltage capability and relatively easy drive requirements to turn the device on and off. This can reduce transient drive current flows that may perturb other components.

Abstract: To reduce the overall reference charge needed to perform operations, analog-to-digital converters can maintain reference voltage connections of the bit trial capacitors of the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) from the end of a current conversion to just prior to the beginning of the next acquisition phase. At the start of the next acquisition phase, the bottom plates of the bit trial capacitors of the DAC can be shorted to generate a common mode voltage. As the conversion phase begins, the bottom plates of the sampling capacitors are disconnected from the input voltage and the bottom plates of each bit trial capacitor are shorted to generate input common-mode voltage. As bit trials progress, the shorts between the bottom plates of the bit trial capacitors are removed and the bit trial results are applied to the bottom plates of the bit trial capacitors.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices are described that include a proof mass movably connected to a substrate by accordion springs disposed on opposite sides of the proof mass, with a coupler coupling two of the accordion springs together. The coupler is a bar in some implementations, and may be rigid. The coupler therefore restricts the motion of the accordion springs relative to each other. In this manner, the motion of the proof mass may be restricted to preferred types and frequencies.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a first die includes an LC resonant circuit including a first capacitive element, such as a capacitor or a varactor, and an inductive element. The LC resonant circuit is configured to generate a signal having a frequency of oscillation. The first die includes bump pads electrically coupled to both ends of the first capacitive element. A second die can be flip chip mounted on the first die. Bumps can electrically connect a second capacitive element of the second die in parallel with the first capacitive element of the first die. This can increase the Q factor of the LC resonant circuit.

Abstract: A crosspoint switch matrix may include a plurality of point cells provided at intersections between a plurality of input pathways and a plurality of output pathways. The input pathways may be partitioned into groups, each group defined by a demultiplexer that forwards an input signal to the point cells within the group and/or to a demultiplexer of a succeeding group. The output pathways may be partitioned into groups, each group defined by a multiplexer that forwards a signal from an active point cell to an output of the matrix. Multiplexers of groups in intermediate positions between the point cell and the matrix output may relay the output signal between the multiplexers along a bypass pass. When both the input pathways and output pathways are so partitioned, each point cell may be a member of one input pathway group and one output pathway group.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for overvoltage switches with active leakage current compensation are provided. In certain configurations, an IC includes an input node and a protection device or overvoltage switch electrically connected to the input node. The protection device includes a first well and a second well. The second well is positioned adjacent to the first well and has a conductivity type opposite that of the first well. Additionally, a first terminal of the protection device is electrically connected to the first well and to the input node of the IC. The protection device further includes a leakage current compensation circuit that is used to control a voltage level of the second well based on a voltage level of the first terminal to inhibit a leakage current of the first terminal of the protection device.

Abstract: One-axis and two-axis vibratory gyroscopes include a unitary resonator structure conceptually having four beams interconnected in a cross-hatch configuration. While each beam can be considered a unitary piece of material, each beam's attachment to two cross beams conceptually divides the resonant beam into a central section between the attachment points and two tail sections aft of the attachment points. The attachment points are preferably nodal points of the beam with respect to both a drive mode shape and a sense mode shape of the beam for the resonant mode in which the resonator is configured to operate. Thus, the location where two beams intersect is preferably a nodal point for both beams. The tail sections of each beam allow the resonant mode of the resonator to be carefully configured.

Abstract: Actuators are used to move a variety of objects to desired positions. It is generally desirable that they can do this quickly without exhibiting overshoot or ringing. Some actuators are required to respond very quickly and examples of these are voice coil drivers used to move lenses in autofocus cameras provided in everyday devices such as smart phones and tablets. A rapid two step controller scheme had already been disclosed by Analog Devices Inc. While the scheme works well, it can only be used reliably if the resonant frequency of the actuator is known to within 2 or 3%. The inventors have discovered that the resonant frequency of an actuator unexpectedly changes as a function of position. This disclosure provides ways of modifying the control scheme to cope with changes in resonant frequency.

Abstract: An accelerometer has a movable mass suspended above a substrate, and a variable acceleration capacitor supported by the substrate. The movable mass has a mass anchor securing the mass to the substrate, while the acceleration capacitor has both a stationary finger extending from the substrate, and a movable finger extending from the movable mass. The accelerometer also has a variable stress capacitor, which also includes the stress finger, for determining movement of the mass anchor relative to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming an insulating structure, comprising forming an insulating region comprising at least one electrical or electronic component or part thereof embedded within the insulating region, and forming a surface structure in a surface of the insulating region.

Abstract: Aspects of the embodiments are directed to methods and imaging systems. The imaging systems can be configured to sense, by an light sensor of the imaging system, light received during a time period, process the light received by the light sensor, identify an available measurement period for the imaging system within the time period based on the processed light, and transmit and receive light during a corresponding measurement period in one or more subsequent time periods.

Abstract: Aspects of the embodiments are directed to methods and imaging systems. The imaging systems can be configured to sense, by an light sensor of the imaging system, light received during a time period, process the light received by the light sensor, identify an available measurement period for the imaging system within the time period based on the processed light, and transmit and receive light during a corresponding measurement period in one or more subsequent time periods.

Abstract: A self-adaptive SAR ADC techniques that can increase speed and/or decrease its power consumption. In some example approaches, one or more bits from a conversion of a previous sample of an analog input signal can be preloaded onto a DAC circuit of the ADC. If the preloaded bits are determined to be acceptable, bit trials on the current sample can be performed to determine the remaining bits. If not acceptable, the ADC can discard the preloaded bits and perform bit trials on all of the bits. The self-adaptive SAR ADC can include a control loop to adjust, e.g., increase or decrease, the number of bits that are preloaded in a subsequent bit trial using historical data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery stack controller system. The system may include a plurality of battery cell stages with cell controller systems (as described above with respect to the first embodiment). The system may also include a stack controller to send charge/discharge commands to the battery stack via a communication network. The stack controller may send the commands to the battery stack based on the requirements of a load or the state of the battery cell stages. The battery cell stages may either comply with the commands or send the commands to neighboring cells via the communication network.

Abstract: A method cold-melts a high conductivity region between a high-resistivity silicon substrate and a gallium-nitride layer to form a trap rich region that substantially immobilizes charge carriers in that region. Such a process should substantially mitigate the parasitic impact of that region on circuits formed at least in part by the gallium-nitride layer.

Abstract: The trend in wireless communication receivers is to capture more and more bandwidth to support higher throughput, and to directly sample the radio frequency (RF) signal to enable re-configurability and lower cost. Other applications like instrumentation also demand the ability to digitize wide bandwidth RF signals. These applications benefit from input circuitry which can perform well with high speed, wide bandwidth RF signals. An input buffer and bootstrapped switch are designed to service such applications, and can be implemented in 28 nm complementary metal-oxide (CMOS) technology.