Abstract: Embodiments of a method and system are disclosed. One embodiment is a method for controlling operations in a mobile communication device that is enabled for near field communication (NFC). The method involves starting an NFC service in the mobile communication device, starting an initialization process of a secure element (SE), e.g., a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), of the mobile communication device in response to starting the NFC service, and once the initialization process of the SE has begun, monitoring an SE-specific session ID for an indication of the status of the initialization process of the SE. If the SE-specific session ID indicates that the initialization process is not complete, the method involves continuing to monitor the SE-generated session ID and if the SE-specific session ID indicates that the initialization process is complete, the method involves notifying the NFC service that the initialization process of the SE is complete.

Abstract: A die expansion tool and method for expanding foil of a foil carrier connected to a frame is disclosed. In the embodiment, the die expansion tool has an inner body within a cavity formed by an outer body. The frame of the foil carrier can be positioned within the outer body and a wafer attached to the foil of the foil carrier can be positioned over the inner body. A pressurized fluid system, also within the cavity of the outer body, is positioned such that the pressurized fluid system can move the frame axially around the inner body and expand the foil.

Abstract: Various aspects are directed to circuit apparatuses, portable electronic devices, and executable applets pertaining to storing and providing secure access to data. As consistent with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a memory circuit that stores executable applet data, a near-field communication (NFC) controller that communicates and receives power via an NFC antenna, and a secure element connected to and powered by the NFC controller circuit (e.g., and operable within a portable device). The secure element executes the applet data as follows. In response to an update command and identification (ID) data, the secure element operates in an update mode by storing the ID data. In response to a read command, the secure element operates in a read mode by providing access to the stored ID data. In response to a read-only command, the secure element operates in a read-only mode by providing read-only access to the stored ID data and preventing changes to the stored ID data.

Abstract: A biocompatible electrode is manufactured by depositing filling metal 36 and etching back the filling metal to the surface of the surrounding insulator 30. Then, a further etch forms a recess 38 at the top of the via 32. An electrode metal 40 is then deposited and etched back to fill the recess 38 and form biocompatible electrode 42. In this way, a planar biocompatible electrode is achieved. The step of etching to form the recess may be carried out in the same CMP tool as is used to etch back the filling metal 36. A hydrogen peroxide etch may be used.

Abstract: A method for evaluating, by an radio frequency identification reader (1), a data stream signal (DS) in respect of data and/or collision, comprises comparing the data stream signal (DS) with at least one threshold level, particularly a data bit level and/or a collision level, and evaluating the results of the comparison, wherein both the threshold level and its adaptation speed (?(n)) are adapted in dependence of the course of the data stream signal (DS) and/or the course of said threshold level.

Abstract: A transconductance amplifier comprises a set of amplifier stages. The last stage of the amplifier is split with a certain ratio whereby one part is used to deliver output current and other part to deliver feedback current to the input.

Abstract: Embodiments of digital-to-analog converters (DACs), methods for operating a DAC, and transceiver circuits are described. In one embodiment, a DAC includes an input terminal configured to receive a digital signal, a converter circuit configured to convert the digital signal into an analog signal using first-order interpolation allowing low electromagnetic emissions, and an output terminal configured to output the analog signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, comprising first and second field effect transistors arranged in a cascode configuration: wherein the first field effect transistor is a depletion mode transistor; and wherein the second field effect transistor comprises a first source to gate capacitance and a second additional source to gate capacitance connected in parallel to the first source to gate capacitance. A power factor correction (PFC) circuit comprising the semiconductor device. A power supply comprising the PFC circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of photovoltaic units having respective pairs of first and second power terminals connected in series. Each photovoltaic unit in the series includes a bypass switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic current source of the photovoltaic unit. The bypass switch is configured to provide a bypass of the photovoltaic current source in response to a respective switch control signal. A control circuit determines electrical characteristics of the one or more of the plurality of photovoltaic units by operating the bypass switches of one or more of the photovoltaic units in an open state and operating the bypass switches of the other ones of the photovoltaic units in a closed state. Electrical characteristics exhibited by the series connection of the plurality of photovoltaic units are measured using a detection circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for non-galvanic connection between two electrical circuits is described. A base-unit has an RF power source, a data link and an authentication controller. A contactless unit for communication with a base unit has an RF power receiver, a data link and an authentication controller. The base unit and contactless unit can form a non-galvanic connection to replace conventional connectors, for example in a USB wired bus connection.

Abstract: A circuit device is configured with robust circuit connectors. In connection with various example embodiments, an integrated circuit device includes one or more via network layers below a bond pad contact, connecting the bond pad contact with one or more underlying metal layers. Each via network layer includes a plurality of via strips extending about parallel to the bond pad contact and in different directions to structurally support the bond pad contact.

Abstract: Embodiments of a packaged semiconductor device with interior polygon pads are disclosed. One embodiment includes a semiconductor chip and a package structure defining a rectangular boundary and having a bottom surface that includes interior polygonal pads exposed at the bottom surface of the package structure and located on a centerline of the bottom surface of the package structure and edge polygonal pads exposed at the bottom surface of the package structure, located at an edge of the rectangular boundary, and including one edge polygonal pad in the vicinity of each corner of the rectangular boundary. The interior polygonal pads are configured such that a line running between at least one vertex of each of the interior polygonal pads is parallel to an edge of the rectangular boundary of the package structure.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing a silicon wafer are disclosed. A method includes providing a flash memory region in the silicon wafer and providing a bipolar transistor with a polysilicon external base in the silicon wafer. The flash memory region and the bipolar transistor are formed by depositing a single polysilicon layer common to both the flash memory region and the bipolar transistor.

Abstract: It is described a method for encrypting and a method for decrypting at least a portion (155) of a dataset being stored in a memory (150), wherein the dataset has at least two dimensions. The described multi-dimensional cryptographic methods comprise forming a first keystream (165) being assigned to a first dimension of the dataset and forming a second keystream (175) being assigned to a second dimension of the dataset. The encrypting method further comprises encrypting each data packet of the portion (155) of the dataset by using a combination of the first keystream (165) and the second keystream (175). The decrypting method further comprises decrypting each data packet of the portion (155) of the dataset by using a combination of the first keystream (165) and the second keystream (175).

Abstract: A method of characterizing an LED, as well as an integrated circuit using this method, based on a so-called characteristic resistance, in which the LED is operated at a first, relatively low, operating current and then at a second, relatively high, operating current. From the ratio between the difference between the forward voltages at these two operating currents, and the difference between the operating current, the characteristic resistance is determined. The characteristic resistance is measured at two or more moments during the operational lifetime of the device, and a prediction or estimate is made in relation to the total operational lifetime of the devices, from the evolution or change of the characteristic resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus (pad) and method for wirelessly charging a receiver are disclosed. The pad includes one or more NFC antennas which can receive an NFC signal from the receiver. The pad also contains one or more charging coils. Measurement of the signal strength at each charging NFC antenna helps determine which charging coil(s) should be utilized to effect the most efficient charging of the receiver.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, a controller generates a switch signal for controlling a switch to convert an input signal from a phase cut dimmer into a driving signal for a solid state lighting element. The controller determines a conduction period of the input signal from the phase cut dimmer within a half cycle period of the input signal, determines a burst period within the conduction period is a period of time less than the conduction period, and generates a switch signal comprising a plurality of switching cycles over the burst period. The switch signal has first and second subsets of switching cycles. The controller controls the switching cycles of the second subset such that the average energy transferred per switching cycle to the driving signal is less than the average energy transferred per switching cycle to the driving signal for the switching cycles of the first subset.

Abstract: Embodiments of an article of manufacture, a system for processing audio signals and a computer-readable storage medium containing program instructions for processing audio signals are described. In one embodiment, an article of manufacture comprising at least one non-transitory, tangible machine readable storage medium containing executable machine instructions for processing audio signals, where execution of the executable machine instructions by a processing device causes the processing device to perform steps, which include estimating a spectral difference between a first audio signal and a second audio signal that carry the same audio content, transforming the second audio signal based on the spectral difference and generating an output audio signal based on the transformed second audio signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: There is disclosed a metal-insulator-metal, MIM, capacitor. The MIM capacitor comprises a MIM stack formed within an interconnect metal layer. The interconnect metal layer is utilised as an electrical connection to a metal layer of the MIM stack.

Abstract: A near field communication tag (101), comprises a first tag interface (107) for wireless near field communication with a first device (105), a second tag interface (113) for wired communication with a second device (103), a field detection section (119) for detecting a near field (109) for the wireless near field communication, a pin (121) connectable to the second device (103), wherein an output signal (127) is determined based on a result of the detecting of a near field (109) and the output signal (127) is provided to the pin (121), and an electronic storage (125) storing pin configuration information specifying the output signal.