Abstract: A microphone circuit has a clip detection circuit (30) which detects when an analog to digital converter (ADC, 12) output has reached a threshold. A variable capacitance (34a, 34b, 34c, 34d), which functions as a variable input load associated with the microphone (11), is controlled based on the clip detection circuit output, the feedback is thus based on the ADC output level, and the processing of this signal can be implemented without requiring baseband processing of the signal—it can simply be based on a state of the ADC output.

Abstract: An integrated circuit and a method of making the same. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a major surface. The integrated circuit also includes a directional light sensor. The directional light sensor includes a plurality of photodetectors located on the major surface. The directional light sensor also includes one or more barriers, wherein each barrier is positioned to shade one or more of the photodetectors from light incident upon the integrated circuit from a respective direction. The directional light sensor is operable to determine a direction of light incident upon the integrated circuit by comparing an output signal of at least two of the photodetectors.

Abstract: A resistive divider circuit for differential signaling is disclosed. The resistive divider includes a first branch and a second branch and each branch has an input, a first resistive component comprised of a number of unit resistors, a second resistive component comprised of a number of unit resistors, and an output connected between the first resistive component and the second resistive component, the output forming a differential mode output. The first resistive component and the second resistive component are comprised of an equal number of unit resistors.

Abstract: The invention relates to frequency conversion systems, in particular for use as up-converters or down-converters in radiofrequency (RF) receivers or transmitters, exemplary embodiments including a radiofrequency receiver including an RF signal input; a mixing module including a first plurality of IF amplifiers each connected to the RF signal input via a switch; a multi-phase local oscillator signal generator configured to provide a switching signal to each switch; and a summing module configured to receive output signals from each of the IF amplifiers and to provide a second plurality of output IF signals from a weighted sum of the IF amplifier output signals, wherein the second plurality is different to the first plurality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the rate of flow of an ion-containing fluid in a channel are disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a captive sensor operable to detect changes in capacitance value due to the deflection of the ions in the fluid by a magnetic field, and a processor operable to determine a flow speed of fluid from the detected change in capacitance value and a predetermined value of magnetic field strength. Such apparatus may be implemented using CMOS technology. The apparatus may operate in a magnetic field generated by a permanent magnet and measure the flow reliably.

Abstract: A system and method for driving a relay circuit involves driving a relay circuit using a first driver circuit if a voltage of a battery supply for the relay circuit is lower than a voltage threshold and driving the relay circuit using a second driver circuit if the voltage of the battery supply for the relay circuit is higher than the voltage threshold.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of producing adaptive thresholds in a binary frame based communication system, including: collecting Kst samples of a received signal corresponding to a start bit; computing an estimate of as received signal parameter Pst in the start bit; adjusting an start threshold based upon Pst; collecting Ksp samples of the received signal corresponding to a stop bit; computing an estimate of a received signal parameter Psp in the stop bit; and adjusting an stop threshold based upon Psp.

Abstract: A method for obfuscating functionality of computer software is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method involves determining a first set of instructions needed to perform a target operation and a second set of instructions for at least one or more additional operations. The second set of instructions is tuned to contain instructions such that, by executing the second set of instructions, the function of the first set of instructions can be performed. Once the first and second sets of instruction are determined and tuned, a code library is created and code fragments in the library correspond to code needed to perform the function of the first set of instructions when executed. Instructions are then added to the second set of instructions such that, when executed, will cause the functionality of the first set of instructions to be achieved.

Abstract: A device includes a near field communication (NFC) circuit that is configured and arranged to communicate data with external devices. An internal communication circuit communicates data over a microprocessor bus. A secure memory circuit stores an identifier that is unalterable in the secure memory circuit. Logic circuitry performs a secure transaction protocol.

Abstract: There is disclosed a user interface unit for a smart card, said user interface unit comprising a two-dimensional capacitive sensor array, wherein the capacitive sensor array comprises an array of corner sensor elements each comprising a capacitor over its area, wherein the respective capacitors of neighboring corner sensor elements in each dimension extend towards each other thereby defining at least one intermediate region therebetween, the area of the or each intermediate region covered by the respective capacitors being in a respective fixed ratio. Furthermore, there is disclosed a corresponding smart card and a method of manufacturing a user interface unit for a smart card.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory circuit and a word-line driver circuit. The memory circuit includes a plurality of rows of memory cells, each memory cell in a corresponding row having pass transistors connected to a shared word-line. The word-line driver circuit is configured and arranged to enable pass transistors of a first set of memory cells of the memory circuit by applying a first voltage to word-lines of the first set of memory cells, disable pass transistors of a second set of memory cells of the memory circuit by applying a second voltage to word-lines of the second set of memory cells, and mitigate leakage of pass transistors of a third set of memory cells of the memory circuit by applying a third voltage to word-lines of the third set of memory cells, wherein the third voltage is between the first and second voltages.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving a resonance circuit is disclosed. The driver circuit includes an input to receive an input signal, an amplifier to amplify the input signal, a pulse generator to generate a pulse train based on a modulation signal, a switch coupled to the pulse generator, a capacitor coupled to the switch in parallel such that when the switch is on, the capacitor is bypassed and a Resistor-Inductor-Capacitor (RLC) tank circuit coupled to the switch and the capacitor such that the capacitor is connected in series to capacitance of the RLC tank circuit.

Abstract: A method of obscuring software code including a plurality of basic blocks, including: calculating, by a processor, a checksum value of the current basic block and a pointer to the end of the current basic block; determining a preceding basic block for the current basic block; inserting the checksum value for the current basic block into the preceding basic block; and inserting instructions into the preceding basic block to determine a pointer to the beginning of the current basic block based upon the checksum value of the current basic block.

Abstract: There is described an RF bidirectional communication device utilizing active load modulation, the device comprising (a) a resonance circuit including an antenna (326), and (b) a control unit (322) for controlling communication of the device, including switching between a transmission mode and a receiving mode, wherein the control unit is adapted to (c) modify a configuration of the resonance circuit such that the resonance circuit has a first resonance frequency (f0) when the device is in the transmission mode and a second resonance frequency (f0+?f) when the device is in the receiving mode, and (d) modify the configuration of the resonance circuit such that a Q-factor of the resonance circuit is periodically decreased while the device is in the transmission mode. There is also described a corresponding method and a system comprising a RF device and a reader/writer device. Furthermore, there is described a computer program and a computer program product.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer device provides amplitude control. Using switch circuit operating in a first mode, a charge voltage is applied to an oscillator circuit that an inductive-capacitive (LC) tank circuit. The LC tank circuit has a capacitive element, and an inductive element that is connected to the capacitive element. Using the switch circuit operating in a second mode, the LC tank circuit is enabled to oscillate. Using driver circuits that are response to a voltage applied to the tank circuit, current is reinforced in the LC tank, and the reinforcement is based upon a transconductance gain of the driver circuits. Using a calibration circuit, an amplitude of an output signal from the oscillator circuit is detected. In response to the detected amplitude, the transconductance gain is adjusted by enabling or disabling auxiliary circuits from plurality of auxiliary circuits.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for charging/discharging a battery and DC/DC converter devices for charging/discharging a battery are described. In one embodiment, a method for charging/discharging a battery involves conveying energy from a direct current (DC) power source to the battery through a DC/DC converter device and conveying energy from the battery to the DC power source through the DC/DC converter device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is surface-mountable non-leaded chip carrier for a semiconductor device. The device comprises a first contact. A second contact is relative to the first contact; the second contact has a split therein to provide first and second portions of the second contact arranged relative to one another to lessen tilting of a soldering condition involving attachment of the chip carrier to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a current control circuit for controlling current flow between a first terminal and second terminal. The current control circuit comprises a current-sensing power MOSFET (metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor). Current control is useful for limiting current flow during linear mode operations such as “hotswap”, “soft start” and “eFuse” operations, in particular, the reducing of or the preventing of high current surges due to discharged capacitive loads suddenly being switched into circuit. Such current surges can cause supply interference or cause malfunction of sensitive circuits due to the effects of the noise pulse. In extreme cases, fuses may blow or circuit breakers may trip due to the high current surges, therefore taking one or more systems offline.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a security token is conceived, in particular a smart card, comprising a tactile sensing user interface, wherein said tactile sensing user interface is adapted to capture a stream of authentication data corresponding to a sequence of positions of a finger engaging with said tactile sensing user interface and representing a user-specific credential for accessing at least one function of a controllable object, said security token being adapted to transmit said stream of authentication data to the controllable object in order to access said function.

Abstract: A MOS varactor structure comprising a semiconductor body having a well region and a plurality of gate electrodes and a plurality of cathode electrodes arranged over the well region, wherein the gate electrodes comprise elongate pads, and the plurality of cathode contacts are connected by a cathode connection pattern, the cathode connection pattern comprising a plurality of arms, each of the plurality of arms arranged to extend over a part of a respective gate electrode pad.