Abstract: A light sensor is described that includes an IR cut interference filter and at least one color interference filter integrated on-chip. The light sensor comprises a semiconductor device (e.g., a die) that includes a substrate. Photodetectors are formed in the substrate proximate to the surface of the substrate. An IR cut interference filter is disposed over the photodetectors. The IR cut interference filter is configured to filter infrared light from light received by the light sensor to at least substantially block infrared light from reaching the photodetectors. At least one color interference filter is disposed proximate to the IR cut interference filter. The color interference filter is configured to filter visible light received by the light sensor to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths (e.g., light having wavelengths between a first wavelength and a second wavelength) to at least one of the photo detectors.

Abstract: Techniques are described to furnish an IR suppression filter, or any other interference based filter, that is formed on a transparent substrate to a light sensor. In one or more implementations, a light sensor includes a substrate having a surface. One or more photodetectors are formed in the substrate. The photodetectors are configured to detect light and provide a signal in response thereto. An IR suppression filter configured to block infrared light from reaching the surface is formed on a transparent substrate. The light sensor may also include a plurality of color pass filters disposed over the surface. The color pass filters are configured to filter visible light to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths to the one or more photodetectors. A buffer layer is disposed over the surface and configured to encapsulate the plurality of color pass filters and adhesion layer.

Abstract: Techniques are described to furnish a light sensor that includes a patterned IR cut interference filter integrated with a patterned color pass filter. In one or more implementations, the light sensor includes a substrate having a surface. An IR cut interference filter configured to block infrared light is formed over the surface of the substrate. The light sensor also includes one or more color pass filters placed above or below the IR cut interference filter. The color pass filters are configured to filter visible light to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths to the one or more photodetectors. In an implementation, a buffer layer is formed over the surface and configured to encapsulate the plurality of color pass filters to facilitate formation of the IR cut interference filter. In another implementation, the buffer layer is formed over the IR cut interference filter to function as a quasi-sacrificial buffer layer to facilitate formation of the color pass filters.

Abstract: Light sensor devices are described that have a glass substrate, which includes a lens to focus light over a wide variety of angles, bonded to the light sensor device. In one or more implementations, the light sensor devices include a substrate having a photodetector formed therein. The photodetector is capable of detecting light and providing a signal in response thereto. The sensors also include one or more color filters disposed over the photodetector. The color filters are configured to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths to the photodetector. A glass substrate is disposed over the substrate and includes a lens that is configured to collimate light incident on the lens and to pass the collimated light to the color filter.

Abstract: A circuit for maximizing dynamic range in a digital to analog signal path comprises an input for receiving an input signal, a first gain stage coupled to the input having a first gain setting, an second gain stage coupled to the first gain stage, the second gain stage having an second gain setting, a controller configured to selectively increase the first gain setting and decrease the second gain setting according to the input signal level and an output coupled to the second gain stage for transmitting an output signal. A method for maximizing dynamic range in a digital to analog signal path comprises detecting a digital input signal level, detecting a desired user gain level, applying a first gain to the digital input signal, converting the digital input signal into an analog signal, and applying a second gain to the analog signal, wherein the first and second gain are selectively and inversely manipulated according to the digital input signal while maintaining a desired user gain level.

Abstract: Techniques are described to furnish an IR suppression filter that is formed on a glass substrate to a light sensor. In one or more implementations, a light sensor includes a substrate having a surface. One or more photodetectors are formed in the substrate and configured to detect light and provide a signal in response thereto. An IR suppression filter configured to block infrared light from reaching the surface is formed on a glass substrate. The light sensor also includes a plurality of color pass filters disposed over the surface. The color pass filters are configured to filter visible light to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths to the one or more photodetectors. A buffer layer is disposed over the surface and configured to encapsulate the plurality of color pass filters and adhesion layer. The light sensor further includes through-silicon vias to provide electrical interconnections between different conductive layers.

Abstract: In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, a receiver with automatic gain includes a receiver stage, an AGC stage, and a digital processor which collectively define an AGC loop. Preferably, the AGC stage has a control circuit and a feedback circuit with matched transfer characteristics. A digital processor is operative to develop a gain control signal to set a desired gain level of the receiver stage to an optimal level based upon a waveform analysis derived from the gain feedback signal.

Abstract: A method, system and device are provided for pre-filtering device for filtering a video signal prior to digitally encoding. The method includes receiving at least one input picture and at least one reconstructed picture from an encoding process and performing an in-loop temporal filtering process using at least one input picture and at least one reconstructed picture from an encoding process to output a pre-filtered video signal for use in an encoding process. The result is enabling an encoding process to produce an output with increased temporal correlation between adjacent pictures regardless of the coding type, since the artifacts introduced by the encoding process are also considered by the process.

Abstract: A mixed signal processing circuit includes an analog to PWM converting circuit and a finite impulse response (FIR) filter having a multiple output tapped delay line and a summing and integration circuit. The mixed signal processing circuit converts an input analog signal to a PWM signal, forms a multi-level PWM signal from the PWM signal and one or more delayed versions of the PWM signal, and converts the multi-level PWM signal to an output analog signal. The analog to PWM converting circuit is implemented using a triangle waveform generator and a comparator. The FIR filter is implement using a resistive network to apply scaling coefficients of the FIR filter. The mixed signal processing circuit can be implemented within a noise cancellation headphone to generate a noise cancelling signal or generally in applications that would be benefitted from the combination of analog input/output and digital filter techniques.

Abstract: Negative peak voltage detection for battery end of life estimations in fuel gauging is disclosed. Battery powered devices such cell phones and laptop computers create some noise in the form of negative excursions from the average output voltage of the battery which can cause the battery powered device to stop functioning. By negative peak detection relative to the average battery voltage, the end of life or discharged voltage condition can be altered in response to the negative peaks to obtain the maximum battery life without risk of the device inadvertently shutting down. Average output voltage of the battery may be taken as an estimated open circuit voltage or some other battery voltage. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods that increase the accuracy of voltage-based fuel gauges and allow the use of voltage-based fuel gauges to detect current, and particularly excessive current from a battery without the use of a sense resistor. When used with a coulomb counter, the outputs of a voltage-based fuel gauge and a coulomb counter may be combined in a manner that allows the combination to provide better performance that either alone may provide. Various embodiments and methods of operation are disclosed.

Abstract: Model-based battery fuel gauges that connect across a rechargeable battery and track the per-cent state of charge of the battery. The model based fuel gauges provide a measure of the open terminal voltage of a battery, even when the battery is powering a load, to provide the state of charge information. Analog and digital implementations of the battery model fuel gauges may be used, and incorporated into a battery powered device in various ways, including constantly powered implementations and implementations that are turned on and off with the battery powered device. Various exemplary embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: State based full and empty control for rechargeable batteries that will assure a uniform battery empty condition, even in the presence of a load on the battery. A fuel gauge provides a prediction of the open circuit voltage of the battery, and when the predicted open circuit voltage of the battery reaches the predetermined open circuit voltage of an empty battery, the load is terminated, after which the battery will relax back to the predetermined open circuit voltage of an empty battery. A similar technique is disclosed for battery charging, allowing faster battery charging without overcharging. Preferably an RC battery model is used as the fuel gauge to provide the prediction, but as an alternative, a coulomb counter may be used to provide the prediction, with error correction between successive charge discharge cycles.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a variety of improved techniques for the fast switching of current through, among others, LED loads. A current shunting device is utilized to divert current away from a load at high speed when activated, thus enabling the control of the amount current that flows through the load.

Abstract: A driver and capacitance measuring circuit includes a voltage source that selectively generates an output voltage at a first node during a driver mode to alter a capacitance of a device that is connected to the first node and that has a variable capacitance. A current source selectively provides one of a charging and discharging current at the first node during a measurement mode. A capacitance calculating circuit samples a voltage at the first node during the measurement node, determines a voltage change rate of the first node during the measurement mode and calculates the capacitance of the device based on the voltage change rate and a value of the one of the charging and discharging current.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing system are configured to sense a capacitance value and convert the sensed capacitance value to a digital format. The capacitive sensing system provides good selectivity and immunity to noise and interference, which can be further enhanced by enabling spread spectrum excitation. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing system utilizes a sinusoidal excitation signal that results in low electromagnetic emissions, limited to narrow frequency band. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensing system is configured to operate in a spread spectrum mode, in which the majority of the excitation signal power is carried in the assigned bandwidth. The excitation frequency and the bandwidth of the spread spectrum excitation signal are programmable in a wide range, which allows for avoiding frequency conflicts in the operating environment.

Abstract: In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, a MOSFET power chip includes a first vertical MOSFET and a second vertical MOSFET. The first vertical MOSFET includes a semiconductor body having a first surface defining a source and a second surface defining a drain and a gate structure formed in the semiconductor body near the second surface. A via is formed within the semiconductor body and is substantially perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface. The via has a first end electrically coupled to the first surface and a second end electrically coupled to the gate structure. The second vertical MOSFET includes a semiconductor body having a first surface defining a source, a second surface defining a drain and a gate structure formed in the semiconductor body near the first surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the digital pulse width modulator of these teachings includes comparators and a number of phases and capable of increasing resolution without increasing clock frequency. In another embodiment, the digital pulse width modulator (DPWM) of these teachings includes equality comparators and a number of phases and increases resolution without increasing clock frequency. A further embodiment of the system of these teachings includes a priority encoded comparator component (in one instance including a number of comparators) comparing duty cycle commands against preset minimums, that embodiment being referred to as a frequency Foldback component. Other embodiments and embodiments of the method of these teachings are also disclosed.

Abstract: Current-feedback instrumentation amplifiers that include dynamic element matching for the input transconductance amplifiers by periodically swapping the transconductance amplifiers between the instrumentation amplifier input and the feedback input. The instrumentation amplifiers may include a gain error reduction loop, which loop corrects differences in the gains of the input transconductance amplifiers and eliminates the ripple in the instrumentation amplifier output caused by the dynamic element matching. If chopper stabilization is used, the amplifiers may also include an offset reduction loop. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A mixed signal processing circuit includes an analog to PWM converting circuit and a finite impulse response (FIR) filter having a multiple output tapped delay line and a summing and integration circuit. The mixed signal processing circuit converts an input analog signal to a PWM signal, forms a multi-level PWM signal from the PWM signal and one or more delayed versions of the PWM signal, and converts the multi-level PWM signal to an output analog signal. The analog to PWM converting circuit is implemented using a triangle waveform generator and a comparator. The FIR filter is implement using a resistive network to apply scaling coefficients of the FIR filter. The mixed signal processing circuit can be implemented within a noise cancellation headphone to generate a noise cancelling signal or generally in applications that would be benefitted from the combination of analog input/output and digital filter techniques.