Abstract: A digital synthesizer is described that comprises: a ramp generator configured to generate a signal of frequency control words (FCW), that describes a desired frequency modulated continuous wave; a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) configured to receive the FCW signal and generate a DCO output signal; a feedback loop comprising a time-to-digital converter (TDC), wherein the feedback loop is configured to feed back the DCO output signal; a phase comparator coupled to the ramp generator and configured to compare a phase of the FCW signal output from the ramp generator with the DCO output signal fed back from the DCO via the feedback loop and output a N-bit oscillator control signal in response thereto. The TDC receives a representation of the DCO output signal and a reference frequency signal to sample the DCO output signal and outputs multiple selectable delays of the DCO output signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device and a method for operating an ESD protection device are described. In one embodiment, an ESD protection device includes stacked first and second PNP bipolar transistors that are configured to shunt current between a first node and a second node in response to an ESD pulse received between the first and second nodes and an NMOS transistor connected in series with the stacked first and second PNP bipolar transistors and the second node. An emitter and a base of the second PNP bipolar transistor are connected to a collector of the first PNP bipolar transistor. A gate terminal of the NMOS transistor is connected to a source terminal of the NMOS transistor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device and a method of operating an ESD protection device are described. In one embodiment, an ESD protection device includes an NMOS transistor configured to shunt current in response to an ESD pulse and a bigFET connected in parallel with the NMOS transistor. The NMOS transistor includes a source terminal, a gate terminal, and a body. The gate terminal and the body of the NMOS transistor are connected to the source terminal via a resistor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A device is provided for computing a function value of a function F. The device includes a memory, a truncator unit, a selector unit, and an evaluator unit. The memory contains a look-up table comprising a set of entries, each entry having associated with it a domain and an approximation function for approximating F on the associated domain. The truncator unit is arranged to truncate or round a first value X1 to generate a second value X2. The selector unit is arranged to select an entry of the lookup-table according to the second value X2, thus selecting the approximation function that is associated with the selected entry. The evaluator unit is arranged to determine the function value of the selected approximation function at the first value X1.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a near field communication device is provided which comprises a storage unit, wherein said storage unit is configured and adapted to store sequence-specific data relating to at least one sequence of devices of which said near field communication device forms part. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method for configuring a near field communication device is conceived. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a near field communication reader is provided which comprises: a near field communication unit which is configured and adapted to read at least one sequence of devices; and a processing unit which is configured and adapted to execute a function associated with said sequence only if all devices of said sequence have been read. According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method for facilitating the execution of functions is conceived.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a relay device for use in near field communication (NFC) transactions is provided, said relay device comprising a communication unit, wherein said communication unit comprises an NFC controller and a wireless communication controller which are operatively connected to each other through a physical interface, said NFC controller being arranged to establish communication with an NFC-enabled device that is external to the relay device, and said wireless communication controller being arranged to establish communication with a wireless device that is external to the relay device, wherein the communication unit is arranged to relay transaction data between the NFC-enabled device and the wireless device. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method for facilitating near field communication (NFC) transactions is conceived.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering power to a load, which comprises an isolated power converter that converts input power on a primary side to output power and a supply voltage at a node on a secondary side. On the secondary side, a load switch is located on a current path to the load. A secondary-side control circuitry controls the load switch to operate in an ON mode in which current is provided to the load, and in response to a fault condition corresponding to an effective sudden disconnection of the supply voltage, switches the load switch into an OFF mode in which the current path to the load is blocked.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of discharging an input capacitor of a switch mode power supply comprising a power switch and the input capacitor, through the power switch and in response to disconnection of the switch mode power supply from a mains supply, the power switch having a control terminal and main terminals; the method comprising a repeated sequence, the sequence comprising: charging the control terminal to partially close the power switch until a comparator indicates that a capacitor discharge current from the capacitor through the main terminals is equal to a reference signal; and thereafter discharging the control terminal, thereby stopping the capacitor discharge current. A corresponding control and power supply is also disclosed.

Abstract: A Doherty amplifier comprising: a main-power-amplifier having a main-amp-output-terminal; a peaking-power-amplifier having a peaking-amp-output-terminal; a combining node; a main-output-impedance-inverter connected between the main-amp-output-terminal and the combining node; and a transformer connected between the peaking-amp-output-terminal and the combining node.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a mobile device is provided, comprising: a motion sensor configured to detect one or more movements of the mobile device; an audio sensor configured to capture one or more audio signals; a processing unit configured to determine a context of the mobile device in dependence on at least one movement detected by the motion sensor and at least one audio signal captured by the audio sensor. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method for determining a context of a mobile device is conceived. According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding computer program is provided.

Abstract: A biased-transistor-module comprising: a module-input-terminal; a module-output-terminal; a reference-terminal; a module-supply-terminal configured to receive a supply voltage; a module-reference-voltage-terminal configured to receive a module reference voltage; a main-transistor having a main-control-terminal, a main-first-conduction-channel-terminal and a main-second-conduction-channel-terminal, wherein the main-first-conduction-channel-terminal is connected to the module-output-terminal, and the main-second-conduction-channel-terminal is connected to the reference-terminal, and the main-control-terminal is connected to an input-signal-node, wherein the input-signal-node is connected to the module-input-terminal; and a bias-circuit. The bias-circuit comprises: a first-bias-transistor; a first-bias-resistor; a second-bias-transistor; and a second-bias-resistor.

Abstract: A protocol can specifie a power-sourcing voltage range that indicates power sourcing capabilities. Additional power sourcing capabilities can be communicated using voltage variations within the power-sourcing voltage range. A power-sourcing device can provide power to an external power-sinking device over a wired connection containing a plurality of wires. A voltage control circuit can be configured to drive a voltage over a wire of the plurality of wires. Processing circuitry can communicate, using the voltage control circuit, first power-sourcing capabilities to the external power-sinking device by setting the voltage over the wire to a value within the power-sourcing voltage range. The processing circuitry can also communicate, using the voltage control circuit, the additional power sourcing capabilities of the power-sourcing device using voltage variations on the wire, the voltage variations maintaining voltage on the wire within the power-sourcing voltage range.

Abstract: A method for forming a multi-sensor system includes forming an inertial sensor fixed electrode of an inertial sensor and a movable electrode of a pressure sensor on a first substrate having through silicon vias (TSVs). A second substrate is fusion bonded to a bonding layer on the first substrate. The second substrate and the bonding layer are patterned to form a transducer layer of the inertial sensor and a pressure sensor fixed electrode of the pressure sensor. The first substrate is etched to form a pressure sensor port aligned with the movable electrode.

Abstract: An object is disclosed, the object (100) comprising a body comprising an antenna; and an integrated circuit embedded in the body and electrically connected to the antenna for receiving and transmitting wireless signals. The integrated circuit receives wireless signals at first and second different frequencies, waits until a command is received at the first frequency from a first reader device before transmitting a first signal and, upon detection of a signal at a second frequency different to the first frequency from a second reader device (201), transmits a second signal without waiting until a command is received.

Abstract: A peripheral device and central device in a communication network, such as a Bluetooth Low Energy network, maintain privacy while establishing a connection. During the connection set-up, energy may be saved in the peripheral device by linking the advertising address of the peripheral device to the resolvable private address of the central device, thereby minimizing the search effort of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A package substrate having an opening and through-substrate interconnect structures is attached to a temporary carrier such as an adhesive film. The active surface of an IC die is placed in contact with the carrier substrate within the opening, to temporarily attach the die to the carrier substrate. Another die is attached to the side of the first die furthest from the carrier substrate. In one embodiment, the dies are attached to each other using an epoxy so that their respective non-active surfaces face each other. Bond wires are connected between interconnects at the active surface of the second die and the substrate. The wires are then encapsulated. After removal of the carrier substrate, a build-up interconnect structure is formed that includes external interconnects of the package substrate, such as solder balls of a ball grid array package.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a clock generator to generate a first clock signal, a delay circuit to generate a second clock signal as a delayed version of the first clock signal, and a plurality of series-connected delay elements having a plurality of outputs, wherein each output from an initial output to a last output is configured to provide the second clock signal delayed by an increasing number of series-connected delay elements. The circuit includes a plurality of flip-flops, wherein a first input of each flip flop is coupled to receive the first clock signal and a second input of each flip flop from an initial flip-flop to a last flip-flop is coupled to receive a corresponding output of the series-connected delay elements from the initial output to the last output, respectively. The circuit includes a plurality of sticky flops, each corresponding to a flip-flop of the plurality of flip-flops.

Abstract: There is provided a method of programming a smart card, said smart card comprising a secure element and a microcontroller unit which is connected to said secure element, the method comprising: (a) the secure element receives a firmware image from a host device; (b) the secure element validates the firmware image; (c) the secure element forwards the firmware image to the microcontroller unit if the firmware image is valid; (d) the microcontroller unit receives the firmware image from the secure element; (e) the microcontroller unit extracts firmware from the firmware image; and (f) the microcontroller unit installs the firmware in a memory unit of said smart card. Furthermore, a corresponding computer program product and a corresponding programmable smart card are disclosed.

Abstract: One example discloses an apparatus for sound signal detection, comprising: a first wireless device including a first pressure sensor having a first acoustical profile and configured to capture a first set of acoustic energy within a time window; wherein the first wireless device includes a wireless signal input; wherein the first wireless device includes a processing element configured to: receive, through the wireless signal input, a second set of acoustic energy captured by a second pressure sensor, having a second acoustical profile, within a second wireless device and within the time window; apply a signal enhancement technique to the first and second sets of acoustic energy based on the first and second acoustical profiles; search for a predefined sound signal within the enhanced sets of acoustic energy; and initiate a subsequent set of sound signal detection actions if the search finds the sound signal.

Abstract: Adaptive message caches are disclosed for packet replay and/or flood protection in mesh network devices. The adaptive message cache includes a replay protection area (RPA) and a flood protection area (FPA). For each received packet, a packet security processor compares packet metadata to metadata entries stored for prior packets within the RPA to provide a replay protection check. If a replay protection check is not passed, the packet is dropped. If passed, the packet security processor compares the packet metadata to metadata entries stored for prior packets within the FPA to provide a flood protection check. If the flood protection check is not passed, the packet is dropped. If passed, the received packet is authenticated for the mesh network. Entries within the RPA/FPA are then updated using the packet metadata. Further, the sizes of the RPA and FPA can be adaptively adjusted based upon the packet metadata.