Patents Assigned to NXP
  • Fouling layer detection on an environmental sensor
    Patent number: 9335251
    Abstract: An environmental sensor is disclosed. The environmental sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a light sensor, a surface through which ambient light can pass to reach a light sensor and a light source operable to illuminate the surface, whereby at least some of the light from the light source is reflected by the surface onto the light sensor. The environmental sensor is operable to determine the presence of a fouling layer on the surface by comparing measurements of ambient light and reflected light by the at least one light sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Aly Aamer Syed, Manvi Agarwal
  • Playing audio in trick-modes
    Patent number: 9336823
    Abstract: A method of playing a digital audio signal at a speed different from that at which it was recorded. The method comprises: playing a first segment of the signal; skipping to a second segment that is not contiguous with the first segment; and playing the second segment, wherein at least one of the first and second segment is played at a rate different from the rate at which it was recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Ganesh Shanmugasundaram, Sumit Jaiswal
  • Reduction of data corruption in wireless systems
    Patent number: 9338817
    Abstract: There is provided a system for reducing the risk of data corruption occurring in wireless systems, by reducing the risk of an un-expected disconnection occurring between a client device (20; 52, 54, 56) and a host device (20; 50). The client device monitors its own power supply, and when the client device determines that its power supply capacity is almost exhausted, the client device sends a low power notification (5; 55) to the host device. The host device receives the low power notification, and in response closes the wireless connection to the client device, thereby preventing an unexpected disconnection from occurring when the clients power supply is finally exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Yuxi Sun, Bart Vertenten
  • Security patch without changing the key
    Patent number: 9338145
    Abstract: A method of patching a cryptographic implementation without changing a key in a cryptographic system, including: sending a message from a first message set to the cryptographic implementation, wherein the first message uses a first portion of the cryptographic implementation; deciding to patch the cryptographic implementation; sending a second message from a second message set to the cryptographic implementation after deciding to patch the cryptographic implementation, wherein the second message use a second portion of the cryptographic implementation that is not used for any messages in the first message set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Wil Michiels, Jan Hoogerbrugge
  • LOW QUIESCENT CURRENT VOLTAGE REGULATOR WITH HIGH LOAD-CURRENT CAPABILITY
    Publication number: 20160124454
    Abstract: Embodiments of voltage regulators and methods for operating a voltage regulator are described. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator includes a set of current mirror circuits configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage and a voltage buffer circuit configured to buffer a reference voltage for the set of current mirror circuits. The set of current mirror circuits form a positive feedback loop. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Ananthasayanam Chellappa
  • BigFET ESD protection that is robust against the first peak of a system-level pulse
    Patent number: 9331067
    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 a bigFET configured to conduct an ESD pulse during an ESD event. The bigFET includes a backgate terminal, a source terminal, and a current distributor connected to the backgate terminal and the source terminal and configured to homogeneously activate a parasitic bipolar junction transistor of the bigFET in response to a current that is generated in the bigFET during the ESD pulse. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Gijs de Raad
  • Cycle stealing when a process or environmental variation is detected and a processing instruction is using a critical path
    Patent number: 9329622
    Abstract: This invention provides a clock control circuit, which can be added to any pipeline-processor to solve timing problems arising from variations due to process outcome and environmental conditions. Critical instructions are detected (instructions that exercise critical paths) in conjunction with environmental sensing (such as process, temperature and voltage). This information is used to control cycle stealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Hamed Fatemi, Rinze Ida Mechtildis Peter Meijer, Ghiath Al-Kadi, Surendra Guntur, Jan Hoogerbrugge
  • Frequency down-conversion
    Patent number: 9331634
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods concern down-converting a radio frequency (RF) signal. As an example, one apparatus includes a first mixer and a second mixer. The first mixer down-converts an RF signal to produce a first intermediate frequency (IF) signal. The second mixer down-converts the first IF signal to produce a second IF signal having a plurality of phase components. The down-converter also includes a plurality of summing circuits. Each of the summing circuits is configured to combine various ones of the phase components of the second IF signal to produce a respective phase component of a third IF signal. The number of phase components in the third IF signal is different from the number of phase components in the second IF signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Frank Leong, Salvatore Drago
  • Electric field gap device and manufacturing method
    Patent number: 9331028
    Abstract: Substrate material is oxidized around side walls of a set of channels. A shielding structure means there is more oxide growth at the top than the bottom with the result that the non-oxidized substrate material area between the channels forms a tapered shape with a pointed tip at the top. These pointed substrate areas are then used to form cathodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Michael In 'T Zandt, Olaf Wunnicke, Klaus Reimann
  • Control of a loudspeaker output
    Patent number: 9332347
    Abstract: A loudspeaker control system is disclosed. The loudspeaker control system includes a loudspeaker, a sensor for measuring a voltage and current and a processor. The processor is adapted to calculate an input-voltage-to-excursion transfer function over time from an admittance function, blocked electrical impedance and force factor, use the input-voltage-to-excursion transfer function over time to predict an excursion and use the excursion to control audio processing of the loudspeaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Temujin Gautama
  • Feedback based topology for synchronization of multi-voltage domain signals in differential drivers
    Patent number: 9329609
    Abstract: Disclosed is a differential driver circuit including an input module to receive an input signal and split the input signal into high and low components, a first level shifter to receive the high signal component and output a high side input signal to a high side driver, a delay module to receive the low signal component and output a low side input signal to a low side driver, and a multi-voltage domain phase detector to measure a phase difference between the high side input signal and the low side input signal to provide feedback to the input module and output a phase adjusted output signal to match a first delay timing of the first level shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Shishir Goyal, Arnoud van der Wel
  • Controller area network (CAN) device and method for controlling CAN traffic
    Patent number: 9330045
    Abstract: Embodiments of a device and method are disclosed. In an embodiment, a CAN device is disclosed. The CAN device includes a TXD input interface, a TXD output interface, an RXD input interface, an RXD output interface, and a traffic control system connected between the TXD input and output interfaces and between the RXD input and output interfaces. The traffic control system is configured to detect the presence of CAN Flexible Data-rate (FD) traffic on the RXD input interface and if the traffic control system detects the presence of CAN FD traffic on the RXD input interface, disconnect the RXD input interface from the RXD output interface and disconnect the TXD input interface from the TXD output interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Matthias Muth, Bernd Elend
  • Active load modulation antenna
    Patent number: 9331378
    Abstract: Active load modulation antennas for contactless systems typically require the presence of a battery power source in the transponder device. The transponder typically cannot be powered by the reader device alone and also transmit an active load modulation signal. Embodiments in accordance with the invention are disclosed that allow transponder devices to transmit an active load modulation signal when powered only by the reader in the contactless system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Erich Merlin, Christoph Chlestil, Michael Gebhart
  • Local oscillator signal generation
    Patent number: 9331678
    Abstract: A local oscillator signal generation circuit for a frequency divider circuit is disclosed. The local oscillator signal generation circuit includes a delay device adapted to delay a data signal according to a control signal, a data flip-flop having the delayed data signal provided to its data input terminal and a reference clocking signal provided to its clock input terminal and a control circuit adapted to generate first and second partially overlapping pulse windows from the delayed data signal and to generate a control signal based on the first and second partially overlapping pulse windows and the reference clocking signal. The control signal is provided to the delay device to control the amount by which the data signal is delayed so that the data signal is stable when it is sampled by the data flip-flop. A local oscillator signal is derived from the output of the data flip-flop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Jean-Robert Tourret
  • Semiconductor device with multilayer contact and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9331186
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor with a multilayered contact structure. The multilayered structure includes a metal contact placed on an active region of a semiconductor and a metal contact extension placed on the metal contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Soenke Habenicht, Detief Oelgeschlaeger, Olrik Schumacher, Stefan Bengt Berglund
  • Network communications apparatus, system, and method
    Patent number: 9331866
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a communication circuit is configured for automated addressing in a network of series connected communication circuits. The communication circuit includes a voltage source and a switch connected in parallel between first and second data ports of the circuit. While operating in an addressing mode, a first voltage is sampled from a first data port while the switch is closed. The switch is opened to provide a voltage potential between the first and second data port and a second voltage is sampled from the second data port. An address of the communication circuit in the network is determined based on a difference of the first and second voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Luc van Dijk
  • Semiconductor device and manufacturing method
    Patent number: 9331155
    Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising at least one active layer (14, 16) on a substrate (10) and a first contact (24, 26, 28) to the at least one active layer, the first contact comprising a metal in contact with the at least one active layer and a titanium tungsten nitride (TiW(N)) layer (30) on the metal. A method of manufacturing such a semiconductor device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Donkers, Hans Broekman, Stephan Heil, Mark De Keijser, Cecilia van der Schaar
  • Audio system
    Patent number: 9331650
    Abstract: An audio system includes a channel (10) for processing signals. The channel (10) includes a processing module (50) that follows a chain of modules (40) wherein the chain (40) includes a preceding processing module (45). The following processing module (50) is coupled to the preceding processing module (45) in the chain of modules (40) for receiving the output signal (25). The channel (10) further includes a combiner (60). The combiner (60) has two inputs, a first input (65) receives the signal (30) to be processed in the channel (10), and a second input (70) receives a reference signal (75). The combiner (60) further includes an output (80) coupled to an input of the preceding processing module (45) in the chain (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Temujin Gautama
  • Concurrent multiband transceiver
    Patent number: 9329259
    Abstract: The invention refers to an RF front-end (100) adapted to receive or transmit signals located in at least two separated frequency bands (100) comprising an input and an output and further comprising a first phase shifter (5) coupled to the input of the RF front-end (100); a second phase shifter (6) coupled to the output of the RF front-end (100); the first phase shifter (1) being coupled to the second phase shifter (2) via a first amplifier (3) and second amplifier (4), respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Antonius de Graauw, Markus van Schie
  • Comparator circuit
    Patent number: 9331865
    Abstract: Various aspects are directed to communications, as may be implemented in an automotive network. An input transistor has a gate coupled to an input port and to a voltage-limiting circuit, connected between the gate and a power rail. The voltage-limiting circuit presents a voltage to the gate corresponding to a voltage on the input port and less than the supply voltage level, and clamps a gate-source voltage of the transistor. In a power-saving mode, current is blocked on the current path when the input port is at the supply or ground voltage levels. When the input port transitions away from the threshold voltage, the apparatus transitions to a wake-up mode in which current is no longer blocked in the current path and in which a wake-up signal is provided based on the voltage at the input port and a bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Clemens Gerhardus Johannes de Haas