Abstract: A digital signal processor includes a control block configured to issue instructions based on a stored program, and a compute array including two or more compute engines configured such that each of the issued instructions executes in successive compute engines of at least a subset of the compute engines at successive times. The digital signal processor may be utilized with a control processor or as a stand-alone processor. The compute array may be configured such that each of the issued instructions flows through successive compute engines of at least a subset of the compute engines at successive times.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of reducing power consumption in a circuit by adaptive bias current generation of a bias current configured to bias, at least in part, at least one amplifier of the circuit is provided. The method comprises establishing the bias current based, at least in part, on a reference frequency of a reference clock providing a clock signal to at least one component of the circuit, and changing the bias current in response to a change in the reference frequency of the at least one reference clock, the bias current being change non-linearly with respect to the change in the reference frequency of the at least one reference clock. In another aspect, the method comprises establishing the bias current based, at least in part, on a capacitance of a reference capacitor, and changing the bias current in response to a change in the capacitance of the reference capacitor such that the bias current is changed non-linearly with respect to changes in the capacitance of the reference capacitor.

Abstract: The invention is a novel scheme of performing an analog to digital conversion of simultaneous sampled analog inputs using multiple sample and hold circuits and a single successive approximation analog to digital converter (“SAR ADC”). Each of the analog inputs are stored on capacitors in the sample and hold circuits, and the sample and holds are sequentially connected to the capacitor DAC. After the digital conversion of the of the input signals stored on a sample and hold, the connected sample and hold is disconnected and the charge on the DAC is reset before the next sample and hold circuit is connected. The process is repeated until all analog inputs have been converted.

Abstract: Methods and devices for calculating the position of a movable device are disclosed. The device may include multiple optical detectors (ODs) and the movable device may include light sources. Optics may be above the ODs. A controller may calculate the position of the light source based on data from the ODs and properties of the optics. The device may be a game console, and the light source may be a game controller. The roles of the OD and light sources may be interchanged. The rotation of the movable device may be determined using multiple light sources and/or multiple ODs on the movable device. The movable device may calculate its position and transmit it to a console. The light sources may be modulated by time or frequency to distinguish between the light sources. There may be two or more movable devices. There may be two or more consoles.

Abstract: A peak-to-average measurement system includes an envelope detector to extract the modulation envelope of an input signal having a modulated carrier. The resulting baseband envelope signal is applied to a peak detector and an averaging circuit. In one embodiment, the averaging circuit includes a translinear core to generate a squared signal in response to the envelope signal and an RMS-average circuit to perform the averaging portion of an RMS function. The translinear core may also generate a replicated version of the envelope signal for the peak detector. The use of a common envelope detector for both the peak detector and averaging circuit may provide improved scaling accuracy.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving protection of a semiconductor junction of a semiconductor device. One such apparatus includes a bipolar transistor including an emitter, a base, and a collector; a first junction protection device including a first end electrically coupled to the emitter of the bipolar transistor, and a second end electrically coupled to a node; and a second junction protection device including a first end electrically coupled to a voltage reference, and a second electrically coupled to the emitter of the bipolar transistor. Each of the first and second junction protection devices may have a substantially higher leakage current than the leakage current of the base-emitter junction of the bipolar transistor when reverse biased.

Abstract: Calibration methods and structures are provided for pipelined analog-to-digital converter systems. They are arranged to process samples of the digital codes with an algorithm that is preferably configured to repeatedly update an estimate of the transfer function with the difference between one of the input signals and the analog equivalent of the corresponding digital code. The calibration methods and structures are further configured to calibrate the transfer function of the converter stage wherein the samples are selected in accordance with various steps. These steps can include the step of injecting dither signals into a flash portion and an MDAC portion of the converter stage to thereby maintain dynamic range. They can also include the step of limiting the samples to those processed through a selected subrange of the subranges. They can further include the step of limiting the samples to those in which the absolute value of the input signals is less that 0.

Abstract: A MEMS switch with a platinum-series contact is capped through a process that also passivates the contact by controlling, over time, the amount of oxygen in the environment, pressures and temperatures. Some embodiments passivate a contact in an oxygenated atmosphere at a first temperature and pressure, before hermetically sealing the cap at a higher temperature and pressure. Some embodiments hermetically seal the cap at a temperature below which passivating dioxides will form, thus trapping oxygen within the volume defined by the cap, and later passivate the contact with the trapped oxygen at a higher temperature.

Abstract: A DC to DC converter comprising an inductor, first and second electrically controllable switches and a controller, wherein the first electrically controllable switch is interposed between an input node and a first terminal of the inductor and the second electrically controllable switch extends between a second terminal of the inductor and a common node or a ground, and where a first rectifier extends between the common node or ground and the terminal of the inductor and a second rectifier connects the second terminal of the inductor to an output node, wherein the controller controls the operation of the first and second switches to perform voltage step down or step up, as appropriate, to achieve a desired output voltage and wherein a decision about when to switch the first electrically controlled switch is made as a first function of a voltage error between the output voltage and a target output voltage, and an estimate of the current flowing in the inductor.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a low noise amplifier. One such apparatus includes a low noise amplifier circuit configured to receive a signal at an input node and to output an amplified signal at an output node. The low noise amplifier circuit includes a first transistor of a first polarity; and a second transistor of a second polarity complementary to the first polarity. The first and second transistors are connected in series between first and second supply voltage nodes via the output node. The circuit further includes a third transistor cascoded with one of the first transistor or the second transistor, but does not include a transistor cascoded with the other transistor. This configuration allows the low noise amplifier circuit to provide an increased high-frequency gain and linearity while having improved high-frequency system noise figure in, for example, deep submicron CMOS technology.

Abstract: In one aspect, a level shifter for shifting a voltage level from a first voltage level to a second voltage level and having a predictable power-up state is provided. The level shifter comprises a first input and a second input forming a differential input to receive signals at the first voltage level, a first output and a second output forming a differential output to provide output signals at the second voltage level, and at least one circuit element coupled between the differential input and the differential output to pull the first output to a lower voltage level than the second output during power-up so that the level shifter powers-up in a desired state.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to phase synchronization in transmitters. One such apparatus includes a wireless transmitter with two or more separate and unrelated local oscillators. The apparatus can provide RF signals to multiple antenna elements, which can be implemented in systems such as beamforming systems or multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. A phase difference between local oscillators is determined using outputs of receivers. The phase difference can be used to adjust a phase of signals associated with one or more of the local oscillators, such that the phase of each signal provided to the multiple antenna elements can be aligned.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to radio frequency (RF) power detection. One such apparatus includes a directional coupler, an RF switch, and an RF power detector. The RF switch can selectively change coupling between the directional coupler and the RF power detector. This can enable accurate power detection based on a ratio of power levels, without factory calibration or laser trimming.

Abstract: A bipolar transistor, comprising a collector, a base and an emitter, in which the collector comprises a relatively heavily doped region, and a relatively lightly doped region adjacent the base, and in which the relatively heavily doped region is substantially omitted from an intrinsic region of the transistor.

Abstract: A system, computer program product and method of obtaining a performance parameter associated with a sensor, such as an accelerometer, is provided. The method includes applying an acceleration to the accelerometer and a first frequency to obtain a sensitivity of the accelerometer at the first frequency. A first self-test is performed on the accelerometer. The first self-test includes stimulating the accelerometer with a first self-test stimulation signal encoded with the first frequency, such that the accelerometer outputs a first signal. A self-test equivalent acceleration is then determined based, at least in part, on the first signal and the accelerometer sensitivity at the first frequency. A second self-test is performed on the accelerometer. The second self-test includes stimulating the accelerometer with a second self-test stimulation signal encoded with the second frequency, such that the accelerometer outputs a second signal.

Abstract: A method for capping a MEMS wafer to form a hermetically sealed device. The method includes applying a glass bonding agent to the cap wafer and burning off organic material in the glass bonding agent. The cap wafer/glass bonding agent combination is then cleaned to reduce lead in the combination. The cleaning is preferably accomplished using an oxygen plasma. The MEMS device is coated with a WASA agent. The cap wafer is then bonded to the MEMS wafer by heating this combination in a capping gas atmosphere of hydrogen molecules in a gas such as nitrogen, argon or neon. This method of capping the MEMS wafer can reduce stiction in the MEMS device.

Abstract: A method of producing a MEMS device removes the bottom side of a device wafer after its movable structure is formed. To that end, the method provides the device wafer, which has an initial bottom side. Next, the method forms the movable structure on the device wafer, and then removes substantially the entire initial bottom side of the device wafer. Removal of the entire initial bottom side effectively forms a final bottom side.

Abstract: Improved capacitive sensor operation is achieved with improved discrimination between environmental drift and apparent drift attributable to human proximity to the sensor. A proximity algorithm detects conditions interpreted as indicating a user is close to, but not touching, a sensor. When such proximity is detected, ambient value calibration is halted, thereby avoiding treating the human's proximity as environmental drift requiring compensation and preventing miscalculation of calibration. The proximity algorithm employs two moving-average filters (implemented in hardware or software) to monitor the CDC output values over time and to make appropriate adjustments to a signal representing the ambient, while distinguishing environmental drift from proximity-induced pseudo-drift.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a bandwidth of a phase-locked loop begins with detecting an error signal generated by the phase-locked loop in response to a stimulus signal. The difference between the integral of the error signal and a nominal value thereof is computed, and the bandwidth of the phase-locked loop is adjusted based on the computed difference.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the invention relates to semiconductor structures, such as planar MOS structures, suitable as voltage clamp devices. Additional doped regions formed in the structures may improve over-voltage protection characteristics.