Abstract: A system includes a plurality of power supplies and a controller. The plurality of power supplies outputs power to a load. A serial bus connects the plurality of power supplies in a daisy chain. The controller is connected to first and last ones of the power supplies by the serial bus. The controller is connected to a management bus via a management bus interface. The controller monitors the plurality of power supplies via the serial bus. The controller transmits status information of the plurality of power supplies to the management bus via the management bus interface of the controller.

Abstract: A system includes a voltage regulator module, a voltage comparator module, and a current limiting module. The voltage regulator module regulates an input voltage supplied by a power supply and supplies an output current to a load. The voltage comparator module compares the input voltage to a first threshold. The current limiting module decreases the output current when the input voltage decreases to less than or equal to the first threshold, decreases the output current until the input voltage increases to greater than the first threshold, and decreases the output current by an additional predetermined amount after the input voltage increases to greater than the first threshold.

Abstract: A gesture sensing device includes one or more sensors and a processor for processing sensed voltages output from the sensors based on ambient light and/or reflected light received by the sensors. The processor determines an ambient light level and/or a distance between the target and the sensors such that, if the ambient light level exceeds an ambient light threshold and/or the distance is less than a distance threshold, the processor determines the motion of a target relative to the sensors based on the ambient light instead of the reflected light.

Abstract: The invention relates to a micro-gyroscope for detecting motions relative to an X and/or Y and Z axis, particularly as a 3D, 5D, or 6D sensor. Sample masses are disposed uniformly about an anchor and can be driven radially relative to the central anchor. Anchor springs are disposed to attach the sample masses to a substrate, and these sample masses can be deflected both radially within and out of the X-Y plane. A sensor mass is disposed on one of the sample masses by means of sensor springs, and the sensor springs allow deflection of the sensor mass within the plane of the sample mass, and orthogonal to the radial drive direction of the sample masses. Drive elements oscillate these sample masses in the X-Y plane, and sensor elements captures the defection of the sample masses due to the Coriolis forces generated when the substrate is rotated.

Abstract: A frequency mixer is disclosed. In an implementation, the multi-LO band switched-core includes a single field-effect transistor (FET) ring having a first mixer core and a second mixer core. The first mixer core and the second mixer core configured to connect to a radio frequency (RF) port and an intermediate frequency (IF) port. The frequency mixer also includes a first local oscillator (LO) transformer and a second LO transformer. The first LO transformer is configured to furnish a first LO signal occurring in a first limited range of frequencies to the first mixer core, and the second LO transformer is configured to furnish a second LO signal occurring in a second limited range of frequencies to the second mixer core.

Abstract: An avalanche photo diode detector including an avalanche photo diode, an adjustable voltage source, a current mirror coupled to the voltage source output of the adjustable voltage source and having a current measurement output, and a processor coupled to the adjustable voltage source and the current mirror. The processor implements a process of obtaining a signal current measurement from the current mirror, computing an estimate of an input optical power level from the signal current measurement and adjusting the output of the adjustable voltage source based upon on the estimate of the input optical power level.

Abstract: A wafer-level packaged semiconductor device is described. In an implementation, the device includes one or more self-assembled resilient leads disposed on an integrated circuit chip. Each of the resilient leads are configured to move from a first position wherein the resilient lead is held adjacent to the chip and a second position wherein the resilient lead is extended away from the chip to interconnect the chip to a printed circuit board. A guard is provided to protect the resilient leads when the resilient leads are in the first position. One or more attachment bumps may also be furnished to facilitate attachment of the device to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit (IC) package is disclosed comprising: (a) removing oxides from side surfaces of terminals of the IC package; (b) substantially covering an underside of the terminals of the IC package; and (c) forming a solder coating on the side surfaces of terminals of the IC packages while covering the underside of the terminals of the IC package. The solder coating on the side surfaces of the terminals protects the terminals from oxidation due to aging and subsequent processes. Additionally, the solder coating on the side surfaces of the terminals substantially improves the solderability of the IC package to printed circuit boards (PCBs) or other mountings. This further facilitates the inspection of the solder attachment using less expensive and complicated methods.

Abstract: A Maintain Power Signature (MPS) Powered Device (PD) is described. In one or more implementations, the MPS device comprises a current sensor configured to sense current flowing from Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) to the PD. The current sense based MPS device also comprises a current generator configured to sink electrical current to prevent the PSE from removing power to the PD. Thus, the electrical current comprises a current amplitude characteristic selected based upon MPS requirements of the PSE. In some implementations, the current is sunk to a ground. In other implementations, the current is sunk to a storage device, such as a storage device included with the PD and/or external to the PD.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices, such as LDMOS devices, are described that include a plurality of trench regions formed in an extended drain region of the devices. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a substrate having an extended drain region, a source region, and a drain region, all of the first conductivity type, formed proximate to a surface of the substrate. A gate is positioned over the surface and between the source region and the drain region. The gate is configured to receive a voltage so that a conduction region may be formed at least partially below the gate to allow charge carriers (e.g., majority carriers) to travel between the source region and the drain region. A plurality of trench regions are formed within the extended drain region that are configured to increase resistivity within the extended drain region when charge carriers travel between the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a rotation sensor for detecting a plurality of rates of rotation about orthogonal axes (x,y,z). The rotation sensor comprises a substrate, driving masses, X-Y sensor masses, and Z sensor masses. The driving masses are driven by drive elements to oscillate in the X-direction. The X-Y sensor masses are coupled to the driving masses, and driven to oscillate in the X-Y direction radially to a center. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the X-axis or the Y-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are jointly deflected about the Y-axis or X-axis. When a rate of rotation of the substrate occurs about the Z-axis, the X-Y sensor masses are rotated about the Z-axis, and the Z sensor masses are deflected substantially in the X-direction.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention provide extend the switching frequency range of DC/DC multiphase switching regulators in order to overcome prior art frequency limitations in the number of available phases, for example, in low input to output ratio applications. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by enabling partial overlap between multiple phases using asynchronous logic. The invention is easily scalable without introducing significant silicon area penalties.

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: Various embodiments of the present invention are related to integrated circuits for processing data at a microcontroller interface. The microcontroller interfaces to a memory. The method is employed to process input data provided by the microcontroller during a memory write operation, or input data extracted from the memory during a memory read operation, respectively. A write/read control is used to indicate the memory write or read operation, and a logic address is translated to at least one physical address in the memory. The write/read control and the logic address are further employed to determine a data process mode. In various data processing modes, the input data are processed according to at least one of a plurality of data processing methods to result in processed data in different data formats. Data in different formats may be stored in various regions of the memory.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to semiconductor manufacturing and packaging and more specifically to semiconductor manufacturing in MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) inertial sensing products. Embodiments of the present invention improve pressure sensor performance (e.g., absolute and relative accuracy) by increasing pressure insensitivity to changes in thermo-mechanical stress. The pressure insensitivity can be achieved by using the array of pressure sensing membranes, suspended sensing electrodes, and dielectric anchors.

Abstract: Techniques are described for providing highly integrated and configurable IO ports for integrated circuits that can be individually configured for a variety of general purpose digital or analog functions, such as multiple channel analog-to-digital converters (ADC), multiple channel digital-to-analog converters (DAC), multiplexers, GPIOs, analog switches, switch and multiplexers, digital logic level translators, comparators, temperature sensors and relays, and so forth. The configurations of individual ports can be set by a configuration register that can, for instance, designate the function and voltage range of the port without impacting the other ports. In embodiments, logic mapping of a port order sequence can be defined. A data register can also be included for handling microcontroller commands and storing conversion results from, for instance, a port functioning as an ADC input port.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an MEMS sensor and a method for compensation of a quadrature error on an MEMS sensor, which is intended for detection of movements of a substrate, especially accelerations and/or rotation rates. At least one mass arranged on the substrate and mounted to move relative to it is driven by means of drive electrodes. The mass/es execute a movement deviating from the prescribed movement due to a quadrature error. A deflection of the mass/es occurring due to Coriolis force and quadrature error is detected with detection electrodes. It is proposed according to the invention that a capacitance change be detected as a function of drive movement of the mass/es by means of compensation electrodes. A compensation charge dependent on the quadrature error of the MEMS sensor is generated on the compensation electrodes. For compensation, the distorted or incorrect charge generated by the quadrature error in the detection electrodes is compensated with the compensation charge.

Abstract: A system configured to receive bits of data. The bits of data include most significant bits and least significant bits. The system includes a first converter, a voltage-to-current converter, a current converter, and a current-to-voltage converter. The first converter is configured to generate input voltages. The input voltages represent the most significant bits of the bits of data. The voltage-to-current converter is configured to convert a selected one of the input voltages to a first current. The current converter is configured to, based on least significant bits of the bits of data, interpolate or divide the first current to generate a second current. The current-to-voltage converter is configured to convert the second current to an output voltage. The output voltage represents the most significant bits and the least significant bits.

Abstract: A method of differential signal transfer from a differential input Vinp and Vinn having a common mode input voltage that can be higher than the power supply voltage by providing an input chopper having Vinp and Vinn as a differential input, providing an output chopper, capacitively coupling a differential output Voutp and Voutn of the input chopper to a differential input of the output chopper, capacitively coupling a clock to the input chopper and coupling the clock to the output chopper, the clock having a first phase and a second phase opposite from the first phase, the first phase being coupled to the gates of the first and second transistors and the second phase being coupled to the gates of the third and fourth transistors, and providing protection of the gates of the first through fourth transistors from excessive voltages. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for accessory management and data communication between a portable electronic device and an accessory via audio port is disclosed. The method involves using a microphone line of the accessory in different communication modes including a MIC data mode and a power mode. In the MIC data mode, the MIC line disconnects from a microphone load to operate on a voltage above a predetermined threshold whenever the accessory needs to communicate with the host electronic device. In the MIC power mode, the MIC line connects with the microphone load for the normal operation of the microphone.