Abstract: In an embodiment, a method for monitoring the state of health of an electronic data carrier involves using a reader device to determine the state of health of the electronic data carrier by reading a parameter value indicative of a state of health from the electronic data carrier. In an embodiment, a system for monitoring a state of health of an electronic data carrier comprising a reader device operable to read data from the electronic data carrier. The reader device is arranged to determine the state of health of the electronic data carrier by reading a parameter value indicative of the state of health from the electronic data carrier.

Abstract: One example discloses a switching capacitive power converter, SCPC, including: an energy storage element; a voltage reference controller, and configured to output an adjusted reference voltage based on a received fixed reference voltage; and a charge pumping circuit configured to operate the SCPC at a charge pumping frequency and configured to charge the energy storage element at the charge pumping frequency if an absolute value of the power converter's output voltage is below an absolute value of the adjusted reference voltage; wherein if the charge pumping frequency is within a predetermined frequency exclusion range, the voltage reference controller is configured to set the adjusted reference voltage to a value such that the charge pumping frequency is no longer within the predetermined frequency exclusion range.

Abstract: A radio transmitter includes a data source, and write stream circuitry coupled to the data source. When a write stream mode is enabled and when there is valid write stream data available from the data source, the write stream circuitry is configured to transmit one or more write stream data symbols to a receiver. When there is no valid write stream data available from the data source, one or more idle symbols are transmitted to the receiver. Each of the idle symbols is randomly selected from a set of at least two idle symbols.

Abstract: Microelectronic packages and methods for producing microelectronic packages are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes bonding a first Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) die having a first MEMS transducer structure thereon to a cap piece. The first MEMS die and cap piece are bonded such that a first hermetically-sealed cavity is formed enclosing the first MEMS transducer. A second MEMS die having a second MEMS transducer structure thereon is further bonded to one of the cap piece and the second MEMS die. The second MEMS die and the cap piece are bonded such that a second hermetically-sealed cavity is formed enclosing the second MEMS transducer. The second hermetically-sealed cavity contains a different internal pressure than does the first hermetically-sealed cavity.

Abstract: A third party device is authorized to access data associated with a user account at a service provider, wherein the third party device and a user device are in data communication with the service provider, and are both NFC-enabled. The method comprises obtaining a request token generated by the service provider, transmitting the request token from the third party device to the user device via NFC, authorizing the request token at the user device, transmitting the authorized request token from the user device to the third party device via NFC, and obtaining an access token generated by the service provider, corresponding to the authorized request token, wherein the access token allows the third party device to access data associated with the user account at the service provider.

Abstract: One example discloses an optical communication interface for a handheld device: wherein the handheld device, has an external surface; wherein the external surface includes an interior facing side and an exterior facing side; a first optical receiver, on the interior facing side of the handheld device, having an optical input and an electrical output; wherein the electrical output is coupled to circuitry; and wherein the optical input is configured to be optically coupled to a second optical transmitter on the exterior facing side of the handheld device.

Abstract: Testing an integrated circuit (IC) that has a set of nominally similar cores and pairs of test data input (TDI) and test data output (TDO) pads common to the different cores. Similar scan chains in parallel in the different cores provide response signals as functions of corresponding TDI signals. Respective combined TDO signals are provided to the TDO pads. In the absence of a defect, the combined TDO signals are asserted and de-asserted like the response signals from corresponding chains in the different cores and like corresponding expected response signals. The combined TDO signals are different from the corresponding expected response signals in the presence of a defect in at least one of the cores. If the result is a fail, the ATE may identify a defective core using a diagnosis module in the IC providing response signals from a selected core.

Abstract: A diagnostic data generation apparatus for a display controller comprises an underrun detector arranged to monitor, when in use, buffer depletion in order to detect an underrun condition. The underrun condition results from a data feed lag associated with a mismatch between a buffer fill rate and a predetermined output data rate. The underrun detector is arranged to generate diagnostic data in response to detection of the underrun condition, the diagnostic data identifying the underrun condition and a location in an array of pixels associated with the underrun condition.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit for a near-field radio, including an inductive-capacitive (LC) tank antenna circuit designed to operate at a predetermined carrier frequency, the tank LC tank antenna circuit including a variable capacitor and an antenna element, a transmitter configured to output a channel sounding signal (CSS) to the LC tank antenna circuit, a receiver to receive the CSS and a tank response from the LC tank antenna circuit, a tank response estimator to extract the tank response of the LC tank antenna circuit by removing the CSS from the received signal and determining an oscillation frequency of the LC tank antenna circuit, and a controller to adjust a reactance of the LC tank antenna circuit to resonate the LC tank antenna circuit and change the oscillation frequency to the predetermined carrier frequency.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device package substrate including a fiducial mark is provided. The method of forming the package substrate includes forming a dielectric layer over a lower portion of the package substrate. A metal layer is formed over a fiducial region of the package substrate. The metal layer is etched to form a first signal line in the fiducial region. A passivation layer is formed over the first signal line. The passivation layer is etched over the first signal line to form a fiducial mark.

Abstract: A device has a cache memory for temporarily storing contents of a buffer memory. The device has a mirror unit coupled between the cache memory and the buffer memory. The mirror unit is arranged for providing at least two buffer mirrors at respective different buffer mirror address ranges in the main address range by adapting the memory addressing. Due to the virtual mirrors data on a respective address in any of the respective different buffer mirror address ranges is the data of the buffer memory at a corresponding address in the buffer address range. The device enables processing of a subsequent set of data in the buffer memory via the cache memory without invalidating the cache by switching to a different buffer mirror.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method is conceived for securing data communicated in a network, the method comprising: receiving, by a destination node in the network, at least one message transmitted by a source node in the network; generating, by said destination node, a session key by executing a one-way function that takes at least a part of a last received message and an initial key as input parameters; using, by said destination node, the session key for encrypting or decrypting said data. Furthermore, according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding computer program product is conceived. Furthermore, according to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding system is conceived.

Abstract: A signal management circuit includes a first input terminal to receive a first signal. A first logic portion is coupled to the first input terminal and configured to provide a first output signal. A second logic portion is coupled to receive a second signal and configured to provide a second output signal. The second signal is based on the first output signal and the first signal. An output terminal is coupled to provide a third output signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal.

Abstract: Switched mode power supply (SMPS) with a control circuitry and method of operating such a SMPS are described. The control circuitry includes a first driver to drive an input switch in response to a driving signal, a pulse circuit to generate a pulse signal in response to the driving signal, a timer circuit to generate a delayed signal in response to the pulse signal and a second driver to drive to the output switch in response to the delayed signal.

Abstract: A multi-mode transceiver arrangement configured to provide for transmission and reception of signalling of a plurality of wireless sensor network protocols, the transceiver comprising; a single transmission path and a plurality of parallel receive paths; said transmission path including a modulator element configured to modulate, at any one time, a signal for transmission in accordance with a particular one of the plurality of wireless standards and a frequency reference element configured to provide a reference frequency to generate signalling for the antenna at a predetermined frequency; said receive paths each configured to receive signalling over a different, predetermined frequency band and including a demodulator to provide a demodulated signal for processing by a controller configured to provide signals to the transmission path and receive signals from the demodulators for symbol recognition thereby enabling the multi-mode transceiver to communicate with a plurality of wireless sensor networks simul

Abstract: Aspects of various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to applications utilizing voltage regulation. In certain embodiments, an oscillator circuit is configured to generate an oscillating signal having a frequency specified by a frequency control signal. A switching power converter is configured to regulate a voltage at an output node according to a target value. The switching power converter enables a path that provides a current to the output node for cycles of the oscillating signal in which the output voltage is below (or above) a first threshold voltage. The switching power converter prevents the path from being enabled for cycles of the oscillating signal in which the output voltage is above (or below) a second threshold voltage. A control circuit adjusts the frequency control signal based on the number of cycles of the oscillating signal in which the path is presented from being enabled.

Abstract: A Doherty amplifier circuit comprising: a splitter having: a splitter-input-terminal for receiving an input signal; a main-splitter-output-terminal; and a peaking-splitter-output-terminal; a main-power-amplifier having a main-power-input-terminal and a main-power-output-terminal, wherein; the main-power-input-terminal is connected to the main-splitter-output-terminal; and the main-power-output-terminal is configured to provide a main-power-amplifier-output-signal; a peaking-power-amplifier having a peaking-power-input-terminal and a peaking-power-output-terminal, wherein: the peaking-power-input-terminal is connected to the peaking-splitter-output-terminal; and the peaking-power-output-terminal is configured to provide a peaking-power-amplifier-output-signal. The splitter, the main-power-amplifier and the peaking-power-amplifier are provided by means of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for controlling an SAR ADC by generating a first signal to control sampling of an analog input voltage at a DAC, and then generating a second signal to start a successive approximation sequence at a comparator and SAR engine to convert the analog input voltage to an N-bit digital value, where the successive approximation sequence includes a settling phase for each bit of the N-bit digital value and is controlled to synchronously end in response to a first synchronous clock signal, and also includes a comparison phase for each bit of the N-bit digital value to allow for comparison of the analog input voltage to a reference voltage, where each comparison phase is controlled to synchronously start in response to the first synchronous clock signal and asynchronously end in response to a second asynchronous clock signal that is self-generated by the comparator.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a radio receiver module for receiving a signal having a lower side band and an upper side band, the module comprising: a noise detector configured to identify a noise frequency associated with an unwanted noise signal within the lower or upper side band; a filter configured to attenuate the noise frequency and increase gain at a mirror frequency within the signal in order to provide a filtered signal, wherein the mirror frequency is within the sideband that is unaffected by the unwanted noise signal and the mirror frequency corresponds to the noise frequency.

Abstract: An eNode-B includes PUSH mapping hardware for improved performance. A scheduler schedules first and second code words of first and second respective user devices. A buffer receives and stores first and second identifiers. A de-multiplexer outputs a first code word number based on the first identifier and a second code word number based on the second identifier. A set of completion queues store the first and second code word numbers. A sequence controller generates first and second select signals corresponding to the first and second identifiers. A multiplexer outputs one of the first and second code word numbers based on the select signals, and the scheduler schedules the first and second code words based on the first and second identifiers.