Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically designing a feedforward filter that is optimized for an audio transparency mode of operation of an audio device, the audio device comprising the feedforward filter and a feedback filter, the method comprising optimizing the feedforward filter for the audio transparency mode of operation, wherein optimization of the feedforward filter is dependent on the feedback filter.

Abstract: A carrier tape has at least two conductive rails affixed at opposite edges of the carrier tape. The purpose of the conductive rails is to provide power to smart labels mounted to the carrier tape for charging the batteries of each of the smart labels or transferring data to or from the smart labels. Holes are pierced into the conductive rails and the carrier tape to make a jagged edge at the backside of each hole in the carrier tape. The jagged edge of each of the holes of the conductive rail and the carrier tape on one layer connects with the conductive rail of the layer immediately adjacent. The smart labels are mounted to the carrier tape with an adhesive. A transport package holds a carrier tape that retains the smart labels and the conductive rails and is configured to transfer charging current or data to the smart labels.

Abstract: A method is provided for using a microcontroller for driving an external device, where the microcontroller comprises a processor coupled to a controller, and the controller comprises a state machine coupled to a storage medium configured to store at least one command executable by the state machine. A drive signal is generated using the controller to drive the external device. The storage medium may be configured by the processor with various commands and waveforms for operating different types of external devices. The proposed microprocessor permits reducing power consumption while at the same time allowing for a broad flexibility of use.

Abstract: A current monitoring circuit for use with an inductor having a magnetizing phase and a de-magnetizing phase is presented. The current monitoring circuit has a voltage controlled oscillator and a first counter. The voltage controlled oscillator generates a clock signal based on a voltage across the inductor. The first counter generates a counter value using the clock signal. The current monitoring circuit may be implemented as part of a switched mode power supply having an inductor coupled to a pair of power switches and a controller adapted to generate a control signal to control the pair of power switches based on the counter value.

Abstract: A key word detection apparatus and a method for low-power voice-activated devices are presented. A first signal processing module operates with a first transducer to receive an incoming signal and generates a first sample. A second signal processing module operates with a second transducer which receives an incoming signal and generates a second sample. In summary, a signal processing system, in particular a key word detection system, has a first low power module that wakes up a second higher power module. The second module uses signals from the first module in order to improve accuracy of key word detection or other signal processing tasks.

Abstract: A digital signal processing system for multiplying a digital value and a digital signal. The digital signal processing system receives the digital value in an encoded format, and multiplies the digital value with the digital signal. The digital value in the encoded format has an offset, which is encoded as a floating point. The disclosure provides a digital processing system that can carry out a multiplication operation with a smaller area, less complexity and/or reduced power usage compared with known multipliers.

Abstract: A method of authenticating a first device at a second device for two wirelessly communicating devices, the method comprising: determining the distance between the two devices based on a property of a received communication; at each device, determining at least one shared physical layer property of the communication channel between the two devices; and authenticating the first device based on the determined distance between the two devices and the determined physical layer property of the communication channel.

Abstract: A digital filter for filtering a pulse density modulation (PDM) signal is presented. The filter has a first filter circuit to receive an input signal and to provide a filtered input signal at successive time steps which include a first filtered value at the first time step and a second filtered value at a second time step. The filter also has a quantizer to provide an output signal comprising output values at successive time steps and a filter variable circuit with a first multiplication circuit to receive the first filter variable, and divide the first filter variable by a first gain factor and a first summing circuit configured to receive the divided first filter variable, receive the output signal, and add the divided first filter variable and the first output value and a second multiplication circuit and a delay circuit.

Abstract: An adaptive sample and hold circuit for signal amplifier range selection is presented. The adaptive sample and hold circuit has an input for receiving an input signal and an output for providing a sample-and-hold-voltage. It also includes a sample-and-hold-capacitor to generate the sample-and-hold-voltage from the input signal, and a range detector. The range detector is adapted to identify a range of the input signal and to adjust a voltage at the sample-and-hold-capacitor based on the range of the input signal to maintain the sample-and-hold-voltage within a predetermined voltage span.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically optimizing a hybrid active noise cancellation system, the hybrid active noise cancellation system comprising a feedback filter and a feedforward filter, the method comprising optimizing the feedforward filter, thereby optimizing the hybrid active noise cancellation system, wherein optimization of the feedforward filter is dependent on the feedback filter.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a device for performing authenticated ranging measurement by a first radio node. The method comprises receiving a first ranging signal from the second radio node; determining a first ranging parameter based on the first ranging signal; determining a range based on the first ranging parameter; and authenticating the second radio node based on the first ranging signal and authentication setup information comprising a condition on the first ranging signal.

Abstract: There is presented a driver and a corresponding method for driving a p-type power switch. The driver includes a capacitor coupled to a control terminal of the power switch. The driver is configured to apply a control voltage to the control terminal and to connect the control terminal to ground to reduce the control voltage down to a target value to switch the power switch on. When identifying that the control voltage has reached the target value, the driver disconnects the control terminal from ground. The driver may be used in various circuits including switching power converters, audio amplifiers and charge-pump circuits.

Abstract: A method of communication in a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) network comprising a master device and a plurality of slave devices. The method has the steps of: generating a unique identifier parameter comprising a data string having a plurality of bits; assigning to each slave device a unique bit of the unique identifier parameter and a value of the bit representative of active communication; sending from the master device to each slave device a communication which includes the unique identifier parameter; at each slave device, determining the value of the bit assigned to the respective slave device; at each slave device, if the determined value of the bit is representative of active communication, processing the communication, otherwise ignoring the communication.

Abstract: An arbiter for use with a plurality of request signals is presented. The arbiter includes a sequence identifier to identify an order between the plurality of request signals. The arbiter provides a plurality of output signals in which each output signal is associated with a request signal. When the request signals are provided in a sequential order the output signals are provided in the identified sequential order. When the request signals are provided substantially at the same time the output signals are provided in an arbitrary sequential order. A corresponding signal arbitration method and an electronic circuit comprising the arbiter are also presented.

Abstract: A charging circuit and a method with an inductor, an input to receive an input voltage, an output, and a switching means is presented. The switching means performs cycles where each cycle includes, switching the circuit such that the inductor enters into an energy charging state in which the inductor stores energy provided by the input voltage. When energy stored in the inductor reaches an energy threshold, the switching circuit operates such that the inductor enters into an energy discharging state in which the inductor provides energy to the output. The energy threshold is based on a predefined maximum energy storage current value and the time between cycles is based on a duration of the energy discharging state.

Abstract: A method of automated feedforward filter design comprising designing a feedforward filter for a system implementing active noise cancelling is described. The method includes designing the feedforward filter by determining a filter transfer function of the feedforward filter. Optionally, the filter transfer function is determined using a least square method. The method also includes determining the filter transfer function by defining a target transfer function of the feedforward filter and applying the least square method using the target transfer function to determine a filter expression for the filter transfer function. Optionally, the least square method is a weighted least square method.

Abstract: A carrier tape has at least two conductive rails affixed at opposite edges of the carrier tape. The purpose of the conductive rails is to provide power to smart labels mounted to the carrier tape for charging the batteries of each of the smart labels or transferring data to or from the smart labels. Holes are pierced into the conductive rails and the carrier tape to make a jagged edge at the backside of each hole in the carrier tape. The jagged edge of each of the holes of the conductive rail and the carrier tape on one layer connects with the conductive rail of the layer immediately adjacent. The smart labels are mounted to the carrier tape with an adhesive. A transport package holds a carrier tape which retains the smart labels and the conductive rails and is configured to transfer charging current or data to the smart labels.

Abstract: A digital filter structure and related method of digital filtering are presented. The digital filter structure is arranged to receive one or more clocked input signals having a first clock rate, and which is driven at a second clock rate higher than said first clock rate. The digital filter structure has a plurality of delay elements and multiplexing circuitry arranged to selectively engage the delay elements such that, at every clock cycle of the digital filter structure, a filter operation is performed on a different stream of data. The disclosure can be applied in many different contexts. One particular implementation example is that of an adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) system using sigma-delta infinite impulse response filters. In this context the present disclosure minimizes latency and hardware implementation area by requiring only one filtering circuit for multiple channels of data to be filtered.

Abstract: A voltage selection circuit for selecting a voltage from a plurality of input voltages comprising a plurality of diodes, each diode having a first terminal coupled to one of the input voltages, and a current sensor configured to sense a current flow through each diode, wherein the selected voltage is dependent on the sensed current flow. In operation, the circuit functions as a comparator to detect the maximum among the input voltages. The comparator decision is used to close one or more of the power switches to ensure that the load is powered from the highest input voltage.

Abstract: A demodulation unit for recovering a transmitted symbol from a received signal that has been modulated using an MDPSK modulation scheme is described. The demodulation unit is configured to, for a current time instant, derive a current sample of a phase signal indicative of a phase of the received signal. Furthermore, the demodulation unit is configured to determine a set of discrimination signals for the current sample of the phase signal, based on the current sample of the phase signal and based on one or more previous samples of the phase signal for one or more previous time instants. In addition, the demodulation unit is configured to determine the transmitted symbol for the current time instant based on the set of discrimination signals.