Abstract: A method may include, when in a low-power mode of a power converter, monitoring an output voltage of the power converter; comparing, with a single comparator, the output voltage to a first threshold voltage and cause the power converter to enter a magnetization phase of the low-power mode responsive to the output voltage falling below the first threshold voltage; and during the magnetization phase and a demagnetization phase of the low-power mode, comparing, with the single comparator, the output voltage to a second threshold voltage lower than the first threshold voltage and cause the power converter to enter the high-power mode responsive to the output voltage falling below the second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A power converter system for converting an input voltage at an input into an output voltage at an output may comprise a switch network comprising a reactive circuit element and a plurality of switches, switch control circuitry configured to operate the plurality of switch in a plurality of periodic, sequential states to regulate the output voltage, and reference current generating circuitry. The reference current generating circuitry may include a comparator coupled to a sensed switch of the plurality of switches and configured to compare a current flowing through the sensed switch to a reference current and current-steering circuitry coupled to the comparator configured to generate the reference current and alternate the reference current between a first reference current and a second reference current whenever the switch control circuitry changes from one state of the plurality of periodic, sequential states to another state of the plurality of periodic, sequential states.

Abstract: In an example there is provided an integrated circuit configured to perform a plurality of functions, the integrated circuit comprising a memory, wherein each function of the integrated circuit is configured to transmit a request to a processor, and wherein the integrated circuit is configured such that the first function to detect that its request has been serviced by the processor is configured to download firmware and/or configuration data for itself and for at least one other function.

Abstract: A method of analysis of an audio signal comprises: receiving an audio signal representing speech; extracting first and second components of the audio signal representing first and second acoustic classes of the speech respectively; analyzing the first and second components of the audio signal with models of the first and second acoustic classes of the speech of an enrolled user. Based on the analyzing, information is obtained information about at least one of a channel and noise affecting the audio signal.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for sensing current in a monitored current path, where the monitored current path is bidirectional such that current can flow in either direction along the monitored current path. A current sensor has first and second sense resistors (401a, 401b) configured to each pass a current corresponding to the current in the monitored current path. The first and second sense resistors are configured to have a matching arrangement, such that current flow through the first sense resistor when current is flowing in one direction in the monitored current path matches current flow through the second sense resistor when current is flowing in the opposite direction in the monitored current path.

Abstract: The present application relates to current sensing circuitry (100) that comprises a differential amplifier (110) comprising first and second inputs configured to sense a current across a sense resistance, and an output configured to output a current sense signal. The circuitry (100) further comprises a first current source, a second current source and a switch network operable in: a first phase in which the first current source is connected to the first input and disconnected from the output, and the second current source is connected to the output and disconnected from the first input; and a second phase in which the first current source is connected to the output and disconnected from the first input, and the second current source is connected to the first input and disconnected from the output.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for clipping prevention. A driver apparatus for driving a transducer has a switching driver configured to switch at least one output node between different switching voltages with a controlled duty-cycle to drive an output signal across the transducer. A clipping prevention controller is configured to control a gain applied to the input signal so as to provide limiting of the input signal to avoid clipping of the output signal. The clipping prevention controller is configured to dynamically control at least one limiting threshold used to determine when to apply limiting of the input signal based on an indication of load resistance of the transducer and the input voltage to the switching driver.

Abstract: A detected sound signal may comprise speech or non-verbal sounds, and many non-verbal sounds contain health information. If the speech, or a non-verbal sound containing health information, was produced by an enrolled user, data relating to the sound can be stored in a storage element. A system also comprises a data modification block, for obfuscating received data to provide an obfuscated version of the stored data. The system then has a first access mechanism, for controlling access to the stored data such that only an authorised user can obtain access to said stored data, and a second access mechanism, for controlling access to said stored data such that the second access mechanism only provides access to the obfuscated version of the stored data.

Abstract: Pre-conditioning circuitry for pre-conditioning a node of a circuit to support a change in operation of the circuit, wherein the circuit is operative to change a state of the node to effect the change in operation of the circuit, and wherein the pre-conditioning circuitry is configured to apply a voltage, current or charge directly to the node to reduce the magnitude of the change to the state of the node required by the circuit to achieve the change in operation of the circuit.

Abstract: An analog filter, comprising, a first-time encoding machine (TEM); and a first delay element.

Abstract: This application relates to methods and apparatus for driving a transducer. A transducer driver has a switch network that is operable to selectively connect a driver output to any of a first set of at least three different switching voltages which are, in use, maintained throughout a switching cycle of the driver apparatus. The switch network is also operable to selectively connect the driver output to flying capacitor driver. A controller is configured to control the switch network and flying capacitor driver to generate a drive signal at the driver output based on an input signal, wherein in one mode of operation the driver output is switched between two of the first set of switching voltages with a controlled duty cycle and in another mode of operation the driver output is connected to the flying capacitor driver which is switched between first and second states with a controlled duty cycle.

Abstract: A force sensing system for determining if a user input has occurred, the system comprising: an input channel, to receive an input from at least one force sensor; an activity detection stage, to monitor an activity level of the input from the at least one force sensor and, responsive to an activity level which may be indicative of a user input being reached, to generate an indication that an activity has occurred at the force sensor; and an event detection stage to receive said indication, and to determine if a user input has occurred based on the received input from the at least one force sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry comprising: digital circuitry configured to generate a digital output signal; and monitoring circuitry configured to monitor a supply voltage to the digital circuitry and to output a control signal for controlling operation of the digital circuitry, wherein the control signal is based on the supply voltage.

Abstract: A power management system for managing power consumption of a digital signal processor (DSP) that implements a protection system, the power management system comprising: a power management block configured to: detect a parameter indicative of a power of an input signal to the DSP; compare the detected parameter to a threshold; and responsive to a determination that the detected parameter is less than the threshold, cause one or more processing blocks of the DSP to enter a low power mode of operation.

Abstract: A method may include forming an inductor comprising a plurality of inductor coils comprising a plurality of first inductor coils and a plurality of second inductor coils, each inductor coil comprising a spiraling wire of electrically-conductive material wherein the wire of electrically-conductive material is arranged substantially in a plane, wherein the plurality of first inductor coils and the plurality of second inductor coils are electrically coupled to one another and arranged with respect to one another such that within the plane, electrical current flowing through the inductor flows clockwise in the first inductor coils, within the plane, electrical current flowing through the inductor flows counterclockwise in the second inductor coils, each first inductor coil is adjacent to at least one second inductor coil, and each second inductor coil is adjacent to at least one first inductor coil.

Abstract: A system may include a plurality of sensors configured to sense a physical quantity and a calibration subsystem configured to perform a calibration comprising: comparing a measured characteristic from each of at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors to determine a sensitivity drift of at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors; based on the measured characteristics of the at least two sensors and stored reference characteristics for the at least two sensors, calculating a normalization factor; and applying the normalization factor to the measured characteristic of the at least one sensor to ensure sensitivity of the plurality of sensors relative to each other remains approximately constant.

Abstract: A method of detecting a replay attack comprises: receiving an audio signal representing speech; identifying speech content present in at least a portion of the audio signal; obtaining information about a frequency spectrum of each portion of the audio signal for which speech content is identified; and, for each portion of the audio signal for which speech content is identified: retrieving information about an expected frequency spectrum of the audio signal; comparing the frequency spectrum of portions of the audio signal for which speech content is identified with the respective expected frequency spectrum; and determining that the audio signal may result from a replay attack if a measure of a difference between the frequency spectrum of the portions of the audio signal for which speech content is identified and the respective expected frequency spectrum exceeds a threshold level.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vibrational transducer, the method comprising: tracking a temperature metric of the vibrational transducer; and controlling a drive signal for the vibrational transducer, where the drive signal is limited to a value to protect the vibrational transducer from over excursion, and where said value is a function of the tracked temperature metric.

Abstract: A system includes a wireless transmission module configured to transmit electrical energy to a wireless receiver module via reverse wireless charging, one or more electronic components other than the wireless transmission module, a battery configured to provide electrical energy to the wireless transmission module and the one or more electronic components, and a battery management module coupled to the battery and the wireless transmission module. The battery management module is configured to determine an amount of power demanded by the wireless transmission module and the one or more electronic components from the battery and dynamically vary power transfer from the wireless transmission module to the wireless receiver module as a function of the amount of power demanded by the one or more electronic components.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to circuitry comprising audio amplifier circuitry for receiving an audio signal to be amplified; and first and second output nodes for outputting first and second differential output signals. The circuitry further comprises common mode buffer circuitry configured to receive a common mode voltage and to selectively output the common mode voltage to the first and second output nodes.