Abstract: A system may include a resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor, a measurement circuit communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to measure phase information associated with the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and based on the phase information, determine a displacement of a mechanical member relative to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor. The system may also include a Q factor enhancer communicatively coupled to the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor and configured to control a Q factor of the resistive-inductive-capacitive sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to self-test circuitry for a system that includes one or more current control subsystems, each current control subsystem having a load terminal for coupling the current control subsystem to a load. The self-test circuitry comprises: a signal path associated with each current control subsystem, each signal path configured to selectively couple a measurement node to the load terminal of the current control subsystem, wherein the measurement node is common to all of the signal paths; voltage detection circuitry; and test voltage source circuitry configured to provide a test voltage to the measurement node. The voltage detection circuitry is operable to output a signal indicative of a fault condition if a voltage detected at the measurement node differs from the test voltage when the measurement node is coupled to the load terminal.

Abstract: This application relates to method and apparatus for driving acoustic transducers, such as speakers or haptic transducers. A transducer driver circuit (200) has a hysteretic comparator (201) configured to compare, with hysteresis, an input signal (SIN) received at a first comparator input to a feedback signal (SFB) received at a second comparator input. Based on the comparison the hysteretic comparator (201) generates a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal (SPWM) at a comparator output (206). An inductor (203) is coupled between the comparator output and an output node (204). In use a resistive component (208), which may comprise the transducer (301) is coupled to output node (204). The inductor (203) and resistive component (208) provide filtering to the PWM signal (SPWM). A feedback path extends between the output node (204) and the second comparator input to provide the feedback signal (SFB).

Abstract: Circuitry for biasing a sensor comprises a bias generator module configured to receive a supply voltage and to generate a bias voltage for biasing the sensor. The circuitry further comprises a control module configured to compare a voltage indicative of the supply voltage to a threshold voltage and to output a control signal to the bias generator module based on the comparison. The bias generator module is configured to control the bias voltage based on the control signal.

Abstract: A system may include an array of sensor elements, the array of sensor elements each comprising a first type of passive reactive element, a second type of passive reactive element electrically coupled to the array of sensor elements, a driver configured to drive the array of sensor elements and the second type of passive reactive element, and control circuitry configured to control enabling and disabling of individual sensor elements of the array of sensor elements to ensure no more than one of the array of sensor elements is enabled at a time such that when one of the array of sensor elements is enabled, the one of the array of sensor elements and the second type of passive reactive element together operate as a resonant sensor.

Abstract: Isochronous channels may be used for transporting non-isochronous data between components in an electronic device, such as when non-isochronous data is aggregated from multiple non-isochronous data streams to achieve a high peak-to-average bandwidth. The aggregated non-isochronous data sources may include data streams from general-purpose communications interfaces for interconnecting components or sub-systems of components within an electronic device. For example, I2C networks for control and programming of components may be connected to other I2C networks through an isochronous channel, such as a differential pair of Soundwire SWI3S wires.

Abstract: An estimator of direction of arrival (DOA) of speech from a far-field talker to a device in the presence of room reverberation and directional noise includes audio inputs received from multiple microphones and one or more beamformer outputs generated by processing the microphone inputs. A first DOA estimate is obtained by performing generalized cross-correlation between two or more of the microphone inputs. A second DOA estimate is obtained by performing generalized cross-correlation between one of the one or more beamformer outputs and one or more of: the microphone inputs and other of the one or more beamformer outputs. A selector selects the first or second DOA estimate based on an SNR estimate at the microphone inputs and a noise reduction amount estimate at the beamformer outputs. The SNR and noise reduction estimates may be obtained based on the detection of a keyword spoken by a desired talker.

Abstract: A method is used for detecting whether a device is being worn, when the device comprises a first transducer and a second transducer. It is determined when a signal detected by at least one of the first and second transducers represents speech. It is then determined when said speech contains speech of a first acoustic class and speech of a second acoustic class. A first correlation signal is generated, representing a correlation between signals generated by the first and second transducers during at least one period when said speech contains speech of the first acoustic class. A second correlation signal is generated, representing a correlation between signals generated by the first and second transducers during at least one period when said speech contains speech of the second acoustic class. It is then determined from the first correlation signal and the second correlation signal whether the device is being worn.

Abstract: A method for use in a biometric process, comprising: for a first function and a second function, applying an acoustic stimulus to a user's ear; and for the second function: receiving a response signal of a user's ear to the acoustic stimulus; and extracting, from the response signal, one or more features for use in a biometric process, wherein the first function is a function other than to induce the response signal for use in the biometric process.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an output signal to an audio transducer comprises: one or more signal paths for receiving respective digital audio input signals, applying respective digital gains, and outputting respective amplified digital audio input signals; one or more inputs for receiving one or more volume parameters associated with the digital audio input signals; converter circuitry, coupled to the one or more signal paths, for converting the one or more amplified digital audio input signals into the analogue domain, and outputting an analogue audio input signal; an analogue gain element, for applying an analogue gain to the analogue audio input signal and outputting the output signal; and a control circuit, coupled to the one or more signal paths, operative to select the analogue gain based on a comparison of the volume parameters and the one or more digital audio input signals as multiplied by the volume parameters, and to select the respective digital gains for each digital audio input signal so that an

Abstract: This application relates to ADC circuitry. An ADC circuit (200) has first and second conversion paths (201a, 201b) for converting analogue signals to digital and is operable in first and second modes. In the first mode, the first and second conversion paths are connected to respective first and second input nodes (202a, 202b) to receive and convert full scale first and second analogue input signals (Ain1, Ain2) to separate digital outputs (Dout1, Dout2). In the second mode, the first and second conversion paths are both connected to the first input node (202a), to convert the first analogue input signal (Ain1) to respective first and second digital signals, and the first and second conversion paths are configured for processing different signal levels of the first analogue input signal. A selector (207) select the first digital signal or the second digital to be output as an output signal based on an indication of amplitude of the first analogue input signal.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for voltage control, and in particular to maintain safe voltages for components of audio driving circuits that are operable in a high voltage mode. An audio driving circuit (100) may include a power supply module (106) and may be operable such that, in use, a voltage magnitude at a source terminal of at least a first transistor (306, 309, 603, 605) of the audio driving circuit can exceed its gate-source voltage tolerance. A voltage generator (111 P) is configured to output a first intermediate voltage (VSAFEP) to an intermediate voltage path for use as a gate control voltage for at least the first transistor, to maintain its gate-source voltage below tolerance. An intermediate path voltage clamp (114P) is provided for selectively clamping the intermediate voltage path to a voltage level, so as to maintain the magnitude of the gate-source voltage of the first transistor below tolerance.

Abstract: A method for controlling a current associated with a power converter may comprise controlling the current based on at least a peak current threshold level for the current and a valley current threshold level for the current, and further controlling the current based on a duration of time that the power converter spends in a switching state of the power converter.

Abstract: The application describes techniques for adaptively setting a threshold that will be used to determine the gain applied to a haptics signal.

Abstract: A correction unit for use in a sensor system, the sensor system comprising a force sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a temporary mechanical distortion of a material under an applied force, the correction unit configured, based on the sensor signal, to: estimate an effect of the applied force on how the material will return towards an undistorted form upon a substantial reduction or removal of the applied force; and generate a corrected signal based on the estimation.

Abstract: A power delivery system may include a power converter configured to electrically couple to a power source and further configured to supply electrical energy to one or more loads electrically coupled to an output of the power converter and control circuitry configured to control the power converter in accordance with a control variable.

Abstract: A system for evaluating a seal between an earphone of a hearing device and an ear canal that includes a first microphone positioned outside the ear canal, a second microphone positioned inside the ear canal, and a controller. The controller is configured to measure a sound level at one or more test frequencies using the first microphone, measure a sound level at the one or more frequencies using the second microphone, calculate a difference between the sound levels measured using the first and second microphones at each of the one or more test frequencies, and determine a measurement of an ear seal based on the calculated one or more differences.

Abstract: A device, comprising: a pair of force sensors located for detecting a user squeeze input; and a controller operable in a squeeze detection operation to detect the user squeeze input based on a cross-correlation between respective sensor signals originating from the pair of force sensors.

Abstract: A baseline unit for use in a sensor system, the sensor system comprising N force sensors which output N sensor signals, respectively, where N?1, the baseline unit configured to: monitor a measure of a rate of change of a sensor test signal, the sensor test signal being one of said N sensor signals or a signal derived from one or more of said N sensor signals; and in dependence upon the measure of the rate of change, control a stored baseline setting to control how a baseline test signal is calculated from said N sensor signals using a baseline-calculation method, the baseline-calculation method configured by the currently-stored baseline setting.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for temperature monitoring for integrated circuits, and in particular to temperature monitoring using a locked-loop circuits, e.g. FLLs, PLLs or DLLs. According to embodiments a locked-loop circuit includes a controlled signal timing module, wherein the timing properties of an output signal (SOUT, SFB) are dependent on a value of a control signal and on temperature. A controller compares a feedback signal (SFB) output from the timing module to a reference signal (SREF) and generates a control signal (SC) to maintain a desired timing relationship. A temperature monitor monitors temperature based on the value of the control signal. For FLLs and PLLs the signal timing module may be a controlled oscillator.