Abstract: An over-voltage tolerant input circuit has a pad. An Nwell bias circuit is electrically coupled to the pad. A current block circuit is electrically coupled to the Nwell bias circuit. The current block circuit has a control signal coupled to a gate of a transistor in a current path of the Nwell bias circuit. The current block circuit includes a logic gate having a first input coupled to the pad and a second input coupled to an over voltage signal of the Nwell bias circuit. An output of the logic gate is the control signal. An n-type transistor is coupled between the over voltage signal and the first input of the logic gate. A transistor has a gate electrically coupled to the control signal and has a drain coupled to the first input of the logic gate.

Abstract: An operating environment emulation system includes a separate peripheral emulation system having a memory device. The memory device is operable to store one or more executable programs, referred to as emulators. The emulators are operable to emulate an original operating environment. Multiple emulators may be deployed on the emulation system to allow execution and presentation of an original operating environment on several different host computers. The system also includes a method for connecting the emulation system to a host computer or accessory device upon which the emulation will run. The emulator may employ insulation processes to limit interaction between the emulation system and host computer resources.

Abstract: A clock synthesis system may include a feed forward divider circuit configured to divide a source clock signal by one of a plurality of integers in response to a select signal to generate a reference clock that is synchronous to a synchronous pulse; a modulator that modulates the select signal in response to at least a difference value; a multiplier circuit that frequency multiplies the reference clock to generate an output clock; and a timing circuit that generates the difference value in response to the source clock and synchronous pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device, and recognizing three or more button operations performed by the conductive object using two sensing areas of the sensing device. The sensing device may include first, second, and third sensor elements. The third sensor element may include two electrically isolated portions coupled to the first and second sensor elements.

Abstract: A SONOS memory sensing scheme includes a reference current circuit that tracks the changes in the power supply (Vcc). An equalizer of the current sense amplifier is coupled between the read out current line and the reference current line. The current sense amplifier includes data and datab (data bar) outputs which have a common mode noise due to variations in the power supply voltage. The data output is a current generated from the memory cell, and the datab output is generated by the current reference circuit.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a low power voltage reference circuit. The circuit includes a first circuit for generating a PTAT voltage without using an operational amplifier. The circuit also includes a second circuit for generating the reference voltage. The first and the second circuit do not utilize a resistor.

Abstract: An apparatus having a plurality of power supply domains and a plurality of logic components. Each of the plurality of logic components residing within a different one of the plurality of power supply domains. Each of the plurality of logic components is configured to operate with a corresponding clock signal within a respective one of the plurality of power supply domains.

Abstract: Disclosed are a circuit and a method for adaptively biasing a voltage regulator with minimal output overshoot. The circuit includes an adaptive bias current mirror circuit further including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first transistor and the second transistor having source nodes coupled to a drain node of the first transistor. The circuit includes a common node coupled to the source node of the first transistor and the source node of the second transistor, wherein a source degenerate resistor is coupled to the adaptive bias current mirror circuit and is coupled to the common node and wherein the source degenerate resistor is configured to limit an output peak current of the voltage regulator circuit.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and method for forming the same is provided that reduces defects in a nitride film used as a field oxide mask and variations in pad oxide thickness. Generally, the method involves depositing a nitride over pad oxide on a substrate using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), and patterning the PECVD nitride to form a field oxide mask. In certain embodiments, patterning the PECVD nitride involves: (i) forming a patterned resist layer on the PECVD nitride; (ii) etching in a process chamber at least one opening through at least the PECVD nitride; and (iii) stripping the patterned resist layer in-situ in the same process chamber in which the at least one opening was etched through the PECVD nitride using a fluorine based plasma. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method may include controlling a display device in at least first mode by varying a correlation between display driver signals applied across display segments within the display device; wherein the display driver signals vary between substantially only two levels, and a display segment is activated when an average voltage magnitude across the segment over a time period exceeds a threshold value.

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 first capacitor and a second capacitor are charged until voltage at the second capacitor settles to a settling voltage. While charging, the first capacitor is alternately switched between a current source and ground. When the settling voltage is reached, charging of the first capacitor is halted. The second capacitor continues to be charged until voltage at the second capacitor reaches a reference voltage. The amount of time it takes for the settling voltage to reach the reference voltage corresponds to a measure of capacitance on the first capacitor.

Abstract: A memory architecture is provided with an array of non-volatile memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and a sense amplifier coupled to at least one column within the array for sensing a data bit stored within one of the non-volatile memory cells. In order to provide accurate sensing, a reference current generator is provided and coupled to the sense amplifier. The reference current generator provides a first reference current having adjustable magnitude and adjustable slope, and a second reference current having adjustable magnitude, but constant slope. The first reference current is supplied to the sense amplifier for sensing the data bit. The second reference current is supplied to a control block for generating clock signals used to control sense amplifier timing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection to electronic circuits using a gate clamp circuit.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and graphical user interface for generating firmware code for a programmable integrated circuit are disclosed. Embodiments are directed to a configurable menu hierarchy which is displayed as part of a graphical user interface, and therefore may be configured on-screen by a user interacting with elements or regions of the graphical user interface. Once the hierarchy of the menu is configured, a data structure for implementing menu functionality associated with the displayed menu hierarchy may be automatically generated. Firmware may be generated based upon the data structure and stored within a programmable integrated circuit. The firmware may enable the programmable integrated circuit to implement the menu functionality external to the programmable integrated circuit using at least one component of the programmable integrated circuit. The menu functionality may operate in conjunction with at least one user interface device of the electronic device.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method of deterministic collision detection involving at least two ports. The method includes receiving a read/write operation at a first data rate at a first port of a multi-port device, receiving a read/write operation at a second data rate at a second port of the multi-port device, detecting a collision between the first port and the second port if a same address space is accessed by the first port and the second port coincidentally, asserting a busy signal at least one of said first port and said second port a number of clock cycles after detecting said collision, storing an address location of said address space in a memory register, and deterministically report the collision using the address location and the number of clock cycles.

Abstract: Disclosed is an oscillator circuit, comprising a crystal oscillator, an amplifier having an input and an output coupled across the crystal oscillator, a comparator having a reference input and an input coupled to the crystal oscillator and a pole network coupled between the comparator and the amplifier.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop control system and method are described. Present invention phase-locked loop control systems and methods facilitate control of phase-lock loop operations. In one embodiment, phase-lock loop control systems and methods are utilized in the implementation of a modulated frequency synthesizer for facilitating efficient frequency spreading over a designated spectrum. It is appreciated that present invention embodiments can have a variety of implementations and can be compatible with vector accumulation. For example, a phase-locked loop control system or method can facilitate generation of a variety of modulation patterns, including but not necessarily limited to linear or non-linear modulation, standard or non-standard modulation, etc.

Abstract: A configurable switched capacitor block includes a switched-capacitor (SC) sampling circuit, a fully differential amplifier, an SC feedback circuit, and a comparator. The SC sampling circuit is coupled to receive an input signal and to selectively generate a sampled signal to a differential input of the amplifier. The SC feedback circuit is coupled between the differential inputs and the differential outputs of the amplifier to selectively control a feedback of the amplifier. The comparator is coupled to the differential outputs of the amplifier to generate an output signal. The configurable switched capacitor block has multiple modes of operation which are selectable by programming the SC sampling circuit and the SC feedback circuit.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit has a number of buffers each having a variable impedance circuit. A variable impedance sense control block has an impedance code as an output. A sequencing circuit couples the impedance code of the variable impedance sense control block to the variable impedance circuit of each of the buffers.