Abstract: An anti-noise signal generator and a method of generating an anti-noise signal are presented. The anti-noise generator includes a first microphone input to receive a first sigma-delta modulated signal at a microphone sampling frequency. The first microphone input is coupled to a combiner via a first path and a second path. The combiner is adapted to combine a first filtered signal from the first path and a second filtered signal from the second path to generate the anti-noise signal. The first path includes a first digital filter adapted to operate at a filter frequency equal or greater than the microphone sampling frequency. The second path includes a second digital filter. The first digital filter may be a sigma-delta based filter that includes a sigma-delta modulator.

Abstract: A pulse-width-modulated switching power converter is provided in which a comparator has a boosted speed to determine a trip point at which a ramp signal equals an error signal. In a linear comparator embodiment, a one-shot bias boosting circuit triggers an increased bias current to the linear comparator to boost the speed to determine the trip point. In a sense-amplifier-based comparator embodiment, a clock generator enables the sense-amplifier-based comparator prior to the trip point.

Abstract: A linear regulator with indirect leakage compensation is presented. The regulator has a pass device coupled between an input voltage and an output node, a feedback loop for controlling the pass device based on a reference voltage and a feedback voltage that depends on an output voltage, an off-state device that is kept in the off-state, and a leakage compensation circuit for sinking a leakage compensation current from the output node, in dependence on a leakage current of the off-state device. The off-state device is coupled between the leakage compensation circuit and an intermediate voltage level of the linear regulator. The intermediate voltage level is a voltage level between the input voltage level and ground, with a magnitude of the intermediate voltage level being smaller than a magnitude of the input voltage level. A corresponding method of operating a linear regulator with leakage compensation is presented.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for protecting a host device from one or more power surges transmitted from a sink device. When a sink device is detected as being connected to the host device, a limited level of power is provided to the sink device over a power transmission line and the sink device is authenticated. A normal level of power is provided to the sink device only if the authentication is successful, otherwise a reduced level of power is provided.

Abstract: A method to fabricate a land grid array wafer level chip scale package is described. A silicon die is provided. A dielectric layer is deposited on the silicon die. An opening is etched through the dielectric layer to a metal pad on the silicon die. At least one redistribution layer is formed over the dielectric layer and contacting the metal pad. At least one copper post is formed on the at least one redistribution layer and forms a land grid array. The wafer is sawed partially through on scribe lines to form cuts exposing sides of the silicon die. Thereafter, a molding compound is applied over the at least one redistribution layer and in the cuts wherein the molding compound encapsulates top and side surfaces of the silicon die.

Abstract: A single-ended to differential circuit is presented. The circuit may be a single-ended to differential integrator or a single-ended to differential amplifier. The circuit determines a first output and a second output voltage based on an input voltage, first and second reference voltages. The circuit has a first, a second and a third input memory element. The circuit in a first phase, samples a voltage indicative of the input voltage on the first input memory element. The circuit in the first phase, samples a voltage indicative of the first reference voltage on the second input memory element. The circuit in the first phase, samples a voltage indicative of the second reference voltage on the third input memory element. The circuit, in a second phase, determines the first and second output voltage based on the sampled voltages on the first, second, and third input memory elements.

Abstract: A symmetrical layout technique for an electrostatic discharge ESD device and a corresponding power supply network is presented. The ESD device protects an electronic circuit against an overvoltage or overcurrent and contains a first contact area to establish an electrical contact with a first supply rail, a second contact area to establish an electrical contact with a second supply rail, and a third contact area to establish an electrical contact with a third supply rail. The first and third supply rails provide a first supply voltage, and the second supply rail provides a second supply voltage. Within the ESD device, an axis of symmetry passes through the second contact area, and the first contact area and the third contact area are arranged on opposite sides with regard to the axis of symmetry. The symmetrical layout technique allows flipping the orientation of the ESD device with regard to the supply rails.

Abstract: Disclosed is a universal input voltage detection system for a flyback converter having a transformer coupled between an input and an output of the flyback converter. The transformer includes a primary winding coupled to the input of the flyback converter to receive an input voltage and a secondary winding coupled to the output of the flyback converter. The universal input voltage detection system comprises a controller, coupled to a switch, at a primary winding side of the transformer. The switch is coupled to the primary winding of the transformer and a current through the primary winding is generated when the switch is turned on. The controller is configured to operate in either continuous conduction mode (CCM) or discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) and indirectly detect the input voltage to the flyback converter based on the current through the primary winding generated while the switch is turned on.

Abstract: An inverter is presented. The inverter may be configured to receive an input voltage at an input node of the inverter, and to generate an output voltage at an output node of the inverter. The inverter may comprise a first transistor coupled between a supply node and the output node of the inverter. Further, the inverter may comprise a second transistor coupled between the output node of the inverter and a reference node. The input node of the inverter may be coupled to a back-gate of the first transistor and to a back-gate of the second transistor.

Abstract: A switch detection circuit is provided that senses the voltage on a rectifying component for rectifying a secondary winding current through a secondary winding of a flyback converter's transformer to determine whether a power switch transistor attached to a primary winding of the transformer has ceased cycling.

Abstract: A substrate is provided having a top side and a bottom side, having redistribution layers therein, having at least one copper pillar connected to the redistribution layers on the top side and at least one copper pillar connected to the redistribution layers on the bottom side, and having at least one cavity extending partially into the bottom side of the substrate. At least one passive component is mounted onto the copper pillar on the top side and embedded in a molding compound. At least one silicon die is mounted in the cavity wherein electrical connections are made between the at least one silicon die and the at least one passive component through the redistribution layers. At least one solder ball is mounted on the at least one copper pillar on the bottom side of the substrate to provide package output.

Abstract: Methods and devices for distance measuring/ranging, as well as location measurements both in 2D and 3D are presented. More specifically, the methods and devices are for determining the time of arrival of a radio frequency signal. A method of determining a time of arrival of a radio frequency signal in a receiving device as received from a transmitting device includes receiving a radio frequency signal, determining a first phase. The first phase is defined as a phase of the received radio frequency signal. The method also includes obtaining a second phase. The second phase is defined as a phase of a reference radio frequency signal. The method also includes determining the time of arrival of the radio frequency signal based on comparing the first and second phases.

Abstract: A driving circuit and a method for a backlight using light-emitting diodes, LED, the backlight having a first and second segment is presented. A driving circuit for an LED backlight with a first and second segment has a first terminal, a second terminal for sensing a first signal, a third terminal for connecting to a first current generating unit for providing a first driving current, a first current regulation circuit, a fourth terminal for sensing a second signal, a fifth terminal for connecting to a second current generating unit, a second current regulation circuit for controlling the second current generating unit, and a control unit which is prepared to adjust the supply voltage and to adjust the first and/or second driving current in dependence on the first and the second signal by means of the first and/or the second current regulation circuits.

Abstract: The feedback loop of a switching power converter controller is provided with an averaging circuit that averages either an output voltage, an error signal, or a control voltage. Regardless of which feedback signal is averaged, the averaging occurs over a first cycle of a rectified input voltage to form an averaged signal that is used by the feedback loop in a subsequent cycle of the rectified input voltage.

Abstract: A method of producing an apparatus comprising an electrical circuit that has one or more characteristics that meet a design specification is presented. The method includes designing the electrical circuit with a trim circuit having a trim value that is variable, The electrical circuit is adjustable based on the trim value of the trim circuit. There is encoding of the functional circuit information and/or trim circuit information in a tag, The method has a reading of the functional circuit information and/or the trim circuit information stored in the tag and the determining of the trim value for the trim circuit that results in the characteristic of the electrical circuit meeting the design specification using the functional circuit information and/or the trim circuit information.

Abstract: A current regulator and a method for regulating a current flowing through a device such as a semiconductor light source is presented. The current regulator has a voltage controller coupled to a current steering circuit. The voltage controller is adapted to operate the current steering circuit in a linear mode.

Abstract: Circuits and methods to enable wireless power transmission and reception are presented. A two-stage power converter has a boost regulator to boost an input voltage to an intermediate voltage. Moreover, the two-stage power converter may also comprise a charge pump coupled to the boost regulator to generate an output voltage based on the intermediated voltage. More particularly, the charge pump may comprise a plurality of transistor devices and a flying capacitor and the charge pump may be bypassed during a bypass mode of operation. Finally, the two-stage power converter may have control circuitry coupled to the charge pump. In particular, the control circuitry may generate a control voltage of a first transistor device of the plurality of transistor devices in order to regulate a discharge rate of the flying capacitor, during a transition phase from the bypass mode of operation to a normal mode of operation.

Abstract: In a transmission control method of connection confirmation data packets and a terminal, the terminal can optionally adjust time intervals of the connection confirmation data packets in re-transmissions to a wireless network device for keeping the data link between the wireless network device and the terminal, such that the time intervals are not kept at a fixed time interval but at adjustable time intervals.

Abstract: A switching power converter is provided that communicates with a mobile device to receive a value of a load detection current. The switching power converter adjusts the cycling of a power switch until a constant current mode of operation is entered with a known output current driving the mobile device. The switching power converter subtracts the load current from the output current to measure a soft-short circuit current.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a semiconductor light source is presented. In particular there is a current regulator for regulating a current flowing through a light emitting diode device. The current regulator includes a first switch for receiving a first current flowing through the semiconductor light source and a control circuit coupled to the first switch and adapted to provide a second current proportional to the first current. The current regulator is adapted to regulate the first current using the second current.