Abstract: Embodiments may include a data receiver having input for a current signal. The data receiver may further include a current generator to generate a reference current for comparison against the input current signal. The data receiver may also include a data converter having an input coupled to an intermediate node of the data receiver, the data converter comprising a plurality of cascaded stages with intermediate nodes among the stages.

Abstract: A MEMS microphone has a base, a backplate, and a backplate spring suspending the backplate from the base. The microphone also has a diaphragm forming a variable capacitor with the backplate.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for adding additional functionality to a graphical control for use in a computer program. The method requires providing a graphical control that is displayable on a display device where the graphical control has at least one associated input or one associated output. Initially, the graphical control does not have an associated function. A user can then select a function from a list of functions to associate with the graphical control. The list of functions is associated with computer code for implementing the functions on a particular digital signal processor. The computer system determines whether a new input or output needs to be added to the graphical control based upon a selected function from the list of functions. The computer system also determines if the graphical control should be stacked or repeated. A plurality of functions may be associated with a single graphical control.

Abstract: A micromachined microphone is formed from a silicon or silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. A fixed sensing electrode for the microphone is formed from a top silicon layer of the wafer. Various polysilicon microphone structures are formed above a front side of the top silicon layer by depositing at least one oxide layer, forming the structures, and then removing a portion of the oxide underlying the structures from a back side of the top silicon layer through trenches formed through the top silicon layer. The trenches allow sound waves to reach the diaphragm from the back side of the top silicon layer. In an SOI wafer, a cavity is formed through a bottom silicon layer and an intermediate oxide layer to expose the trenches for both removing the oxide and allowing the sound waves to reach the diaphragm. An inertial sensor may be formed on the same wafer, with various inertial sensor structures formed at substantially the same time and using substantially the same processes as corresponding microphone structures.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit can include a first pair of transistors having connected sources and gates configured to receive a first pump signal and an inverse first pump signal and a second pair of transistors having connected drains and gates configured to receive a second pump signal and an inverse second pump signal, sources of the second pair of transistors being connected to drains of the first pair of transistors at first and second connection nodes, wherein the first and second pair of transistors are all of the same transistor type and provide an output current in response to the first and second pump signals. The charge pump circuit can also include a voltage stabilizer circuit connected to the second connection node and configured to regulate the second connection node to have a voltage within a predetermined range about a selectable voltage. Duty cycle stabilizers and control loops such as delay locked loops can include the charge pump circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining communication between an HDMI sources and an HDMI sink by monitoring data received from the HDMI source, and, based on the monitoring, dynamically switching between a first and a second mode without user intervention. The device may include a head end connector, a tail end connector and a cable. The head end connector may include a controller, a memory and an electrical signal transceiver. The controller may monitor data output from the source, and based on the outputted data; the controller may determine whether to maintain a first communication method or a second communication method.

Abstract: A voltage transformation circuit comprising a first input, a second input, a first output, first and second impedances and a current mirror having master and slave terminals, wherein the first impedance is connected between the first input and the master terminal of the current mirror, the second impedance is connected between the second input and the slave terminal of the current mirror, and the first output is connected to the slave terminal of the current mirror.

Abstract: Two or more buffers may configured and arranged such that a quiescent current that flows through and biases a first buffer also flows through and biases a second buffer. The first and second buffers may, for example, be source followers used as reference buffers that drive inputs of a switched-capacitor circuit.

Abstract: Rather than increasing the mass of the structure, the structure in a sensor system suspends its substrate from some mechanical ground. Motion of the substrate relative to the mechanical ground thus provides the movement information. To those ends, the sensor system includes a base, a substrate, and a flexible member suspended from at least a portion of the substrate. At least a portion of the flexible member is capable of moving relative to at least a portion of the substrate. In addition, the flexible member is secured to the base, thus causing the substrate to be movable relative to the base. Moreover, the mass of the substrate is greater than the mass of the flexible member. The substrate and flexible member are configured to interact to produce a motion signal identifying movement of the base.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.