Abstract: A system and method for identifying a position of a moving object, regardless of static objects present in the optical field of an active infrared (IR) proximity detector, is provided. Moreover, a modulated light emitting diode (LED) signal is captured and processed through I/Q demodulation. Specifically, the reflections received at an IR sensor are demodulated to generate in-phase (I) and quadrature phase (Q) signals and the derivative of I/Q signals is obtained to isolate motion. For example, an I/Q domain differentiator or a high pass filter is employed to calculate the derivative, which actively remove the effects of all forms of static interference. Further, the phase of the derivative I/Q signals is determined and is utilized to reconstruct the distance at which the motion occurred.

Abstract: A DC-DC voltage converter has a pair of switching transistors to provide an output voltage and are alternately switched in a boost mode of operation responsive to control signals. An inductor is connected to the pair of switching transistor and has an inductor current flowing there through. A current sensor monitors an input current and generates a current sense signal responsive thereto. Control circuitry generates the control signals to the second pair of switching transistors responsive to the current sense signal, the output voltage and a current limit signal, wherein when the current limit signal indicates the inductor current exceeds a current limit the control signals configure the pair of switching transistors to decrease the inductor current.

Abstract: A converter according to one embodiment converts an AC voltage to a regulated output current provided to a DC load of a Z-type configuration. A filter capacitor is provided to average current flowing through the load. The converter includes a rectifier network for rectifying the AC voltage and for providing a rectified voltage, and a smoothing capacitor for smoothing the rectified voltage. The converter includes a hysteretic current mode controller which controls a switching transistor based on sensed voltage and sensed current provided through an inductor coupled in series with the load. The transistor is turned on when current reaches a low valley level and is turned off when the current reaches a peak level. Operation toggles in this manner while a sensed voltage is above a predetermined level. A valley fill network may be provided to keep sensed voltage from falling below the predetermined minimum level.

Abstract: A power converter comprises an input port configured to receive a source of power, an output port configured to provide output power, and a bridge circuit coupled to the input port. The bridge circuit comprises a first switch coupled in series with a second switch, and a third switch coupled in series with a fourth switch. A first clamp rectifier is coupled in series with a second clamp rectifier, and the first and second clamp rectifiers are coupled in parallel with the first and second switches. A first clamp capacitor is coupled between the first and second clamp rectifiers, with the first clamp capacitor operative to reduce power loss in the first and second clamp rectifiers. A first resonant inductor is coupled between the first and second switches. The power converter also includes a transformer operatively coupled to the bridge circuit, with the transformer comprising a primary winding and at least one secondary winding.

Abstract: A method and system control the adding or dropping of phases in a multiphase voltage regulator. The regulator has an efficiency and this efficiency of the regulator is calculated for a given number of phases being activated from an output voltage, input voltage, output current, and duty cycle of the regulator. The efficiency of the regulator is also calculated if a phase is added using the derivative of the duty cycle as a function of the output current. The efficiency of the regulator is further calculated if a phase is dropped using the derivative of the duty cycle as a function of the output current. From these operations of calculating, a phase is either added, dropped, or the phase is maintained at its current value to thereby optimize the efficiency of the regulator.

Abstract: Packaged light detector semiconductor devices (PLDSDs), methods for manufacturing PLDSDs, and systems including a PLDSD are described herein. In an embodiment, a PLDSD includes a light detector die having a surface including an active photosensor region, and a non-imaging optical concentrator including an entrance aperture and an exit aperture axially aligned with one another and with the active photosensor region. A molding material forms the non-imaging optical concentrator and encapsulates at least a portion of the surface of the light detector die that extends beyond the exit aperture of the non-imaging optical concentrator. The non-imaging optical concentrator concentrates light from the entrance aperture toward the exit aperture and onto the active photosensor region.

Abstract: Photodetectors, methods for use in manufacturing photodetectors, and systems including photodetectors, are described herein. In an embodiment, a photodetector includes a plurality of photodiode regions, at least some of which are covered by an optical filter. A plurality of metal layers are located between the photodiode regions and the optical filter. The metal layers include an uppermost metal layer that is closest to the optical filter and a lowermost metal layer that is closest to the photodiode regions. One or more inter-level dielectric layers separate the metal layers from one another. Each of the metal layers includes one or more metal portions and one or more dielectric portions. The uppermost metal layer is devoid of any metal portions underlying the optical filter.

Abstract: A polycrystalline fuse includes a first layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate and a second layer of a silicide material on the first layer. The first and second layers are shaped to form first and second terminal portions of a first width joined along a length of the fuse by a fuse portion of a second width narrower than the first width. First and second contacts are connected to the first and second terminal portions respectively. The silicide material being discontinuous in a terminal region of the second layer along the length of the fuse.

Abstract: A system and method for regulating power flow and limiting inductor current in a bidirectional direct current (DC)-to-DC converter is provided. In one aspect, a feedback circuit is provided to control power flow and/or limit inductor current based on the input/output voltage and/or current conditions in the bidirectional DC-DC converter. During a boost mode of operation, the duty cycle of a low-side switch within the bidirectional DC-DC converter is reduced, based on an analysis of the high-side voltage and positive inductor current. Further, during a buck mode of operation, the duty cycle of the low-side switch is increased, based on an analysis of the low-side voltage and negative inductor current. Moreover, the duty cycle of the low-side switch is adjusted, such that, the high-side voltage, low-side voltage and inductor current (in both directions) do not exceed preset threshold and the bidirectional DC-DC converter returns to a steady state.

Abstract: Signals propagating from an aggressor communication channel can cause detrimental interference in a victim communication channel. One or more noise cancellers can generate an interference compensation signal to suppress or cancel the interference based on one or more settings. A controller can execute algorithms to find preferred settings for the noise canceller(s). The controller can use a feedback signal (e.g., receive signal quality indicator) received from a victim receiver during the execution of the algorithm(s) to find the preferred settings. One exemplary algorithm includes sequentially evaluating the feedback resulting from a predetermined list of settings. Another algorithm includes determining whether to move from one setting to the next based on the feedback values for both settings. Yet another algorithm includes evaluating a number of sample settings to determine which of the sample settings result in a better feedback value and searching around that sample setting for a preferred setting.

Abstract: A voltage regulator generates a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage and drive control signals. An error amplifier generates an error voltage signal responsive to the regulated output voltage and a reference voltage. A PWM modulator generates a PWM control signal responsive to the error voltage signal, a ramp voltage and an inverse of the reference voltage. Control circuitry within the PWM modulator maintains the error voltage signal applied to the PWM modulator at substantially a same DC voltage level over the reference voltage operating range and maintains the error voltage signal above a minimum value of the ramp voltage. Driver circuitry generates the drive control signals responsive to the PWM control signal.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power-supply controller includes a switching regulator and a current limiter. The switching regulator is configured to generate an input current such that an output voltage is generated in response to the input current and an input voltage, and the current limiter is configured to limit the input current in response to a quantity that is related to a ratio of the output voltage divided by the input voltage. For example, an embodiment of such a power-supply controller may be able to limit the output or load current from a power supply to a set level by limiting the input current in response to a quantity that is related to the ratio (e.g., the boost ratio) of the output voltage to the input voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing process and temperature variations for on-chip sense resistors are disclosed. The system includes a circuit that can leverage a linear gm circuit in order to provide linear gains (positive gains and/or negative gains). The linearity of the circuit enables compensation for temperature and process variations across an entire range of current (positive to negative). A control signal is generated by using a linear gm amplifier and a replica resistor, which is substantially similar to the on chip resistor. The control signal is used to control the gain of a disparate linear gm amplifier within a compensation circuit, which provides an offset voltage to compensate for the variation in resistance of the on chip resistor.

Abstract: A polycrystalline fuse includes a first layer of polycrystalline material on a substrate and a second layer of a silicide material on the first layer. The first and second layers are shaped to form first and second terminal portions of a first width joined along a length of the fuse by a fuse portion of a second width narrower than the first width. First and second contacts are connected to the first and second terminal portions respectively. The silicide material being discontinuous in a terminal region of the second layer along the length of the fuse.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a top metal layer, a bond pad formed on the top metal layer, a conductor formed below the top metal layer, and an insulation layer separating the conductor from the top metal layer. The top metal layer includes a sub-layer of relatively stiff material compared to the remaining portion of the top metal layer. The sub-layer of relatively stiff material is configured to distribute stresses over the insulation layer to reduce cracking in the insulation layer.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein relate to a scanning controller configured produce a horizontal (H) and vertical (V) scanning control signal that is used to control a bi-axial scanning mirror of a scanning laser projector device, a system including such a scanning controller, and a method for generating such an H and V scanning control signal. In an embodiment, the H and V scanning control signal includes H scanning frequency content that is used to control a H scanning frequency of the bi-axial scanning mirror, and V scanning frequency content that is used to control a V scanning frequency of the bi-axial scanning mirror. To avoid cross talk, the scanning controller is configured to produce the H and V scanning control signal such that the H scanning frequency content has a null at DC, and the V scanning frequency content has a null at the H scanning frequency.

Abstract: An auto-compensation method for compensating power regulators configured to generate a regulated output voltage. Auto-compensation may be performed dynamically by determining various coefficients of a compensation function used in compensating the power regulator, based on assumptions about the structure of the regulator and corresponding filters. The method may be used to determine at least the DC loop gain and the position of the compensation zeros, without requiring any prior knowledge of the values of the various components of the system. Furthermore, the selection of the compensation parameters (loop gain, position of zeroes) may be based on measurement of various state variables of the actual power converter, and adjustment of the various coefficients of the compensation function according to the measurements. Since no power-plant model of the power regulator is used, inaccuracies that would be inherent using any method that employs a model of the system instead of the system itself may be eliminated.

Abstract: An embodiment of a power supply includes a supply output node, phase paths, and sensor circuits. The supply output node is operable to carry a regulated output voltage, and each phase path has a respective phase-path non-output node, has a respective phase-path output node coupled to the supply output node, and is operable to carry a respective phase current. And each sensor circuit has a respective sensor node coupled to the phase-path non-output nodes and is operable to generate a respective sense signal that represents the phase current flowing through a respective one of the phase paths. For example, where the phase paths are magnetically coupled to one another, the sensor circuits take into account the portions of the phase currents induced by the magnetic couplings to generate sense signals that more accurately represent the phase currents as compared to conventional sensor circuits.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a method of manufacturing a packaged circuit having a solder flow-impeding plug on a lead frame. The method includes partially etching an internal surface of a lead frame at dividing lines between future sections of the lead frame as first partial etch forming a trench. A non-conductive material that is adhesive to the lead frame is applied in the trench, such that the non-conductive material extends across the trench to form the solder flow-impeding plug. One or more components are attached to the internal surface of the lead frame and encapsulated. An external surface of the lead frame is etched at the dividing lines to disconnect different sections of lead frame as a second partial etch.

Abstract: A DC/DC converter has an output voltage and sources an output current to a load. The DC/DC converter includes an error amplifier with a reference input and a summing input. The reference input is electrically connected to a reference voltage. The summing input is electrically connected to the output voltage and the output current. The summing input is configured for adding together the output voltage and the output current. The error amplifier issues an error signal and adjusts the error signal dependent at least in part upon the output voltage and the output current. A comparator receives the error signal. The comparator has a ramp input electrically connected to a voltage ramp signal. The comparator issues an output signal that is based at least in part upon said error input. A power switch has an on condition and an off condition, and supplies dc current to the load when in the on condition. The power switch has a control input electrically connected to the comparator output signal.