Abstract: RF repeater circuits may be used to regenerate an RF signal. A method and apparatus is described for regenerating a received RF signal the RF signal comprising a plurality of channels, each channel comprising a plurality of channel symbols, the method comprising producing a digitized RF signal from the received RF signal, extracting spectral information of each of the channels from the digitized RF signal, recovering one or more channel symbols from each of the plurality of channels, remodulating the channel symbols, and converting the remodulated channel symbols to an analog signal resulting in a regenerated RF signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of transceiver circuits and methods for operating a transceiver circuit are described. In one embodiment, a transceiver circuit includes a feedback loop connected to a bus and a control circuit connected to the bus. The feedback loop includes a tunable low-pass filter. The control circuit is configured to detect a radio frequency (RF) disturbance on the bus and control the bandwidth of the tunable low-pass filter in response to detection of the RF disturbance on the bus. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, a resonant converter comprises a signalling transformer that is used to transfer information between the secondary winding and primary winding of the converter whilst maintaining mains isolation between the two sides. In the embodiment, according to the disclosure, the use of a signalling transformer (in addition to a switching, or resonant, transformer) eliminates the need for an opto-coupler to transfer information and so allows for the construction of a simpler, more reliable and/or cheaper resonant converter. Other embodiments described herein may be suitable for use in dimmable LED driver applications, for example.

Abstract: An LED controller circuit for use in an LED drive circuit in which a coil current control scheme is used to deliver power to an LED arrangement from a phase cut dimmer. The controller circuit includes means for determining, based on an analysis/signal processing of the on-time of the transistor, the dimmer characteristics, including the on state and off states of the ac dimmed voltage signal. This avoids the need for the controller circuit to process the dimmer output.

Abstract: In a method for transmitting an NFC application, a secure channel is established by way of a proxy between a Trusted Service Manager and an NFC device via a computing device including the proxy and via an RFID reader being a part of the computing device. The NFC application received at the computing device from the Trusted Service Manager is channeled through the secure channel to the NFC device utilizing the proxy.

Abstract: A near field communication (NFC) device for providing a communication path between a processing unit of the device and an external device is disclosed. A mobile device is also disclosed. An NFC integrated circuit (IC) is also disclosed. In an embodiment, an NFC IC includes a mobile host processor interface for communicating with a mobile host processor, a wireless interface for communicating with at least one of a contactless card and an external radio frequency (RF) reader, and a single wire protocol (SWP) interface for communicating with a secure element. In an embodiment, the NFC IC is configured to enable communications between the secure element and the mobile host processor by providing a channel for exchange of ISO 7816 commands between the mobile host processor and the secure element, wherein the ISO 7816 commands are carried over the SWP interface and the mobile host processor interface.

Abstract: A circuit embodied in a mobile device is disclosed. The circuit includes a headphone audio driver, a loudspeaker audio driver and a switch coupled to outputs of the headphone audio driver and the loudspeaker audio driver. The switch is configured to connect the output of the loudspeaker audio driver to an external speaker when an external speaker is connected to the mobile device. The external speaker may be detected using methods such as automatic accessory detection or impedance measurement or a user configuration or a use action. The circuit may also include an impedance detector to drive the switch based on an impedance measurement. A user interface is provided to enable a user of the mobile device to driver the switch based on user preferences.

Abstract: An integrated circuit based transformer, comprising: a primary winding located in a winding layer, the primary winding having two primary terminals at a first side of the transformer; a secondary winding located in a winding layer, the secondary winding having two secondary terminals at a second side of the transformer, the first and second sides located at different sides of the transformer; and a reference bar located in a reference bar layer, the reference bar having a primary reference bar terminal at the first side of the transformer, and having a secondary reference bar terminal at the second side of the transformer. The reference bar is configured to provide a direct electrical connection between the first reference bar terminal and the second reference bar terminal.

Abstract: Wireless data communication is implemented using respective carrier frequencies. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments and apparatuses herein, wireless communications are effected using a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency susceptible to detuning. Radio frequency power is transmitted to a remote transponder circuit, and wireless communications are effected with the remote transponder circuit via at least one of first and second different carrier frequencies, using the resonant circuit and the radio frequency power. The first and second carrier frequencies are respectively sufficiently proximate to the resonant frequency, such that signals communicated based on the resonant frequency can be acquired by demodulating based on the resonant frequency. One of the first and second carrier frequencies is selected based upon a signal sent from the transponder circuit.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to communications between devices. As consistent with one or more embodiments, a local device has a first clock, a low-frequency (LF) transmitter and a high-frequency (HF) transceiver. A remote device includes a second clock, a LF receiver and a HF transceiver. An LF signal is transmitted from the local device to the remote device and used to synchronize the second clock. The first clock is synchronized based on an HF signal transmitted to the local device using the synchronized second clock and a first predetermined time delay relative to receipt of the LF signal. The second clock is re-synchronized based on a second HF signal transmitted to the remote device using the first clock and a second predetermined time delay relative to receipt of the first HF signal, while accounting for a trip time for communicating one or both of the HF signals.

Abstract: A Class D power amplifier is for driving a load between first and second output nodes defined between two bridges. A controller is adapted to derive an amplifier hold signal when an overcurrent state is detected in an output bridge, and to prevent switching of the other output bridge between the two main output states.

Abstract: A microphone circuit has a clip detection circuit which detects when an analogue to digital converter output has reached a threshold. A variable attenuator 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. An overrule function is also provided so that the clip detection AGC control can be inhibited or controlled differently.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting an LED failure in a series-connected string of LEDs using a parameter indicative of a voltage difference between a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively high current and a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively low current. The disclosure extends to controllers configured to detect an LED failure in a string of LEDs, to LED lighting units comprising such controllers, and to lighting subsystems, for instance automobile lighting subsystems.

Abstract: A Lange coupler comprises an unbroken peripheral ground conductor surrounding input, through, coupled and isolated conductor strips coupled to input, through, coupled and isolated ports of the Lange coupler respectively, wherein the peripheral ground conductor and input and through conductor strips are arranged on a first metal layer.

Abstract: A multiprocessor arrangement is disclosed, in which a plurality of processors are able to communicate with each other by means of a plurality of time-sliced memory blocks. At least one, and up to all, of the processors may be able to access more than one time-sliced memories. A mesh arrangement of such processors and memories is disclosed, which may be a partial or complete mesh. The mesh may to two-dimensional, or higher dimensional. A method of communication between processors in a multiprocessor arrangement is also disclosed, in which one or more processors are able to each access a plurality of memories, in each case by time-slicing.

Abstract: In a method for transmitting an NFC application, a secure channel is established by way of a proxy between a Trusted Service Manager and an NFC device via a computing device (10) including the proxy and via an RFID reader being a part of the computing device. The NFC application received at the computing device from the Trusted Service Manager is channeled through the secure channel to the NFC device utilizing the proxy.

Abstract: Various methods, apparatuses and systems are directed to battery-charging applications. As may be consistent with one or more embodiments discussed herein, a charging current for charging a battery is modulated, and the frequency of the modulated charging current is set based upon an impedance of the battery. Temperature of the battery is estimated based upon the impedance exhibited by the battery, while the battery is charged with the modulated charging current. In various implementations, the battery charging rate is controlled based on the estimated temperature.

Abstract: In one example, a thermal conductivity gas sensor is disclosed. The sensor includes a sensing element and an amplification material coupled to the sensing element. The amplification material has a target gas dependent thermal diffusivity. The sensing element measures the thermal diffusivity of the amplification material to determine a target gas concentration.

Abstract: A true ground amplifier circuit in which a voltage sensor senses the output voltage and generates a binary output which indicates whether the output is above or below a threshold. A variable gain feedback system generates a feedback signal for combination with the digital input, thereby to provide offset cancellation. The variable gain is reduced over time to provide offset cancellation during an initial period of time of operation of the amplifier circuit. This provides offset cancellation during a start-up period, for example.

Abstract: Data communications are effected over one or more network branches to ensure appropriate receipt of data at different devices on the network. In accordance with an example embodiment, time-based communications are effected for a plurality of different network devices, at least two of which are connected to a common wired network link, with each network device being assigned to communicate during different time slots within a communication cycle. Each communication received on the common wired network link is assessed as being error-indicative or not error-indicative. In response to a received communication on the common wired network link being assessed as being error-indicative, the common wired network link is operated to corrupt data received on the branch, such as by driving the branch during a time slot in which the error-indicative communication is received, therein ensuring that other network devices disregard the data received during that time slot.