Abstract: A capacitive sense array configured to improve noise immunity in detecting a presence of a conductive object is described. In one embodiment, a capacitive sense array includes at least a first set of sense elements disposed in straight parallel lines along a first axis of the capacitive sense array. A second set of sense elements is disposed in crooked paths about a second axis of the capacitive sense array. The first and second sets form a capacitive sense array that includes crooked sense paths in at least one of the axes of the sense array.

Abstract: The threshold voltages of particular nonvolatile memory cells on a word line are selectively increased on a column by column (cell by cell) basis. A selective program is performed on some of the cells, and simultaneously a program inhibit on other of the cells, resulting in all of the cells having a threshold voltage that falls between a minimum acceptable value and a maximum acceptable value.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor array may include a first sensor element of a first plurality of sensor elements, and a second sensor element. The second sensor element may include a plurality of subelements, where each of the plurality of subelements is connected to at least another of the plurality of subelements by one of a plurality of connecting traces. A width of each of the connecting traces may be less than a width of any of the plurality of subelements. Connecting traces in a subset of the plurality of connecting traces may be staggered about a central axis of the second sensor element.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a down pump configured to generate a regulated voltage signal based, at least in part, on an input voltage and a reference voltage. The apparatus includes a level shifter configured to generate an activation signal having a voltage level corresponding to the reference voltage based, at least in part, on the input voltage and the regulated voltage signal. The apparatus includes a switching device configured to generate a drive signal corresponding to the input voltage in response to the activation signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determine a plurality of attribute values of a first detected presence, determine another plurality of attribute values of a second detected presence, and associate the first detected presence with the second detected presence based on the plurality of attribute values and the other plurality of attribute values.

Abstract: A capacitance sense device can include a plurality of sense electrodes; a nonconductive structure comprising first regions formed over the sense electrodes and second regions formed between first regions that are less compressible than the first regions; a conductive touch surface formed over the nonconductive structure; and a capacitance sense circuit coupled to at least the sense electrodes.

Abstract: A touch screen may include pixel elements formed in a display substrate that are spaced from one another by an element spacing. A plurality of capacitance sense pads may be formed from a same conductive transparent layer in an array over the display substrate. Each sense pad may be separated from an adjacent sense pad by a pad spacing aligned within element spacing for a uniform light path for the pixel elements.

Abstract: One disclosed system and method enables dynamic reconfiguration of an electronic device in association with testing activities in a convenient and efficient manner. In one implementation, the electronic device includes a bus for communicating information, a microprocessor for processing data, a programmable functional component including a plurality of functional blocks programmable to provide a plurality of functions and configurations, and a memory for storing instructions including instructions for causing the programmable functional component to change functions and configurations. The components are programmably configurable to perform a variety of functions. In one example, the memory stores a plurality of configuration images that define the configuration and functionality of the circuit. The information stored in the memory facilitates dynamic reconfiguration of the circuit in accordance with the test harness instructions.

Abstract: An interface device and method are provided for sensing movement of an actuator across a surface of a window in an enclosure thereof. The interface device comprises an optical navigation sensor including an illuminator within the interface to illuminate at least a portion of the actuator through the window when the actuator is positioned in contact with or proximal to the surface of the window, and a detector to receive light reflected through the window from the actuator. The interface device further includes a number of capacitive guard-sensors in the enclosure adjacent to the optical navigation sensor to disable the optical navigation sensor when a conductive body is sensed in proximity to the guard-sensors.

Abstract: A method is provided for cleaning a semiconductor topography having one or more contact openings etched through a dielectric layer formed on a substrate. The method substantially eliminates unfilled contacts and reduces contact defects. Generally, the method involves: (i) heating the substrate in a processing chamber to a predetermined temperature; (ii) generating a plasma upstream of the process chamber using a microwave generator and a process gas comprising nitrogen and hydrogen or argon and helium; and (iii) introducing the plasma into the process chamber to clean the semiconductor topography. As the clean is accomplished substantially without the use of an organic solvent, galvanic corrosion of contacts subsequently formed in the contact openings is substantially eliminated. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method and system for electronic sensing of string instrument input. The method includes receiving a first signal from a peak detection circuit. The peak detection circuit is operable to sense string activation. A second signal is received from one or more capacitive sensors. The second signal may include finger placement information. The method further includes processing the first and the second signals to generate an audio signal and outputting the audio signal.

Abstract: A multi-port arbitration system has a write detection circuit coupled to each of a number of ports. An address coincidence detector is coupled to each of the ports. A deactivation pulse generator circuit is coupled to the address coincidence detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine during a power-up of an electronic system whether a conductive object is present at a sensing device at the power-up.

Abstract: A design tool provides a graphical user assignable register map. The design tool graphically displays a register map that indicates locations of system variables in a memory of a processing device for an embedded application. The design tool further provides a user interface element for a user to arrange an order of the system variables in the register map.

Abstract: A non-keyboard computer peripheral device represents itself to a host computer as having a keyboard function in addition to representing its actual function. Keyboard status signals are generated by the host computer in response to a user pressing different keys on an actual keyboard. The peripheral device uses the keyboard status signals to identify different peripheral device operations selected by the user. In one example, a radio receiving device represents itself to the host computer as including the keyboard function. Pressing a button on the receiving device causes the receiving device to send a sequence of keystroke commands to the host computer that cause the host computer to initiate software applications and to display operating instructions to a user. A series of further binding operations are then executed in accordance with the displayed operating instructions.

Abstract: A programmable processing device having a non-volatile memory that may comprise a first memory portion and a second memory portion, where the first section of the first memory portion is configured to store program instructions or data and the second memory portion of the memory word is configured to store either the configuration data or the error detection bits depending upon if an error detection scheme is implemented for the program instructions or data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a charge pump array including multiple charge pump cells. The charge pump array is configurable into a first arrangement of the charge pump cells coupled in series or a second arrangement of the charge pump cells coupled in parallel. The apparatus can include reconfiguration circuitry configured to select the first arrangement of the charge pump cells or the second arrangement of the charge pump cells. The charge pump array is configured to alter a voltage level of a signal based, at least in part, on the selected arrangement of the charge pump cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data loss protection are presented. In one embodiment, a data loss protection switch includes a first port, a second port, an error threshold management component and a multiplexer. Components of the data loss protection switch cooperatively operate to efficiently protect data. The first port receives information from a first data stream. The second port receives data from a second data stream. The error threshold management component analyzes errors in the first data stream and the second data stream. The multiplexer is controlled by the error threshold management component and selects among the first and second data streams based on the analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus determine a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions having a detected change in capacitance value that meets or exceeds a threshold value. In an embodiment, the method and apparatus fit a shape to the plurality of regions and determine another region, the other region being within the fitted shape and not having the detected change in capacitance value that meets or exceeds the threshold value. The method and apparatus may assign an assigned change in capacitance value to the other region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a presence of a conductive object on a sensor array of a first circuit board using active electronic components of a second circuit board, which is coupled to the first circuit board. The apparatus may include a first circuit board, which includes a sensor array of sensor elements, and a second circuit board, coupled to the first circuit board, including sensing circuitry to measure capacitance on the sensor array of the first circuit board. The method may include measuring a capacitance on the sensor array using the active electronic components of the second circuit board, and processing the measured capacitance.