Abstract: A method to manufacture a vertical capacitor region that comprises a plurality of trenches, wherein the portions of the semiconductor region in between the trenches comprise an impurity. This allows for the trenches to be placed in closer vicinity to each other, thus improving the capacitance per unit area ratio. The total capacitance of the device is defined by two series components, that is, the capacitance across the dielectric liner, and the depletion capacitance of the silicon next to the trench. An increase of the voltage on the capacitor increases the depletion in the silicon and the depletion capacitance as a result, such that the overall capacitance is reduced. This effect may be countered by minimizing the depletion region which may be achieved by ensuring that the silicon adjacent to the capacitor is as highly doped as possible.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for determining impedance of a battery cell is provided. A first circuit is configured to generate sine and cosine waveforms having N sample values per period. A second circuit is coupled to an output of the first circuit and is configured to input a current into the cell in response to the sample values of the cosine waveform. The current has an amplitude proportional to the sample values of the cosine waveform. A third circuit is coupled to the cell and configured to sample voltage levels across the cell resulting from the current being input into the cell. A fourth circuit is coupled to an output of the third circuit and is configured to separate each voltage level sampled by the third circuit into real and imaginary components.

Abstract: A voltage selector circuit is described. The voltage selector circuit includes a first voltage input, a second voltage input, and a voltage comparison input. The voltage selector circuit also includes a first voltage selector connected to an output. The first voltage selector is configured to compare the first voltage input and the second voltage input to the voltage comparison input. The voltage selector circuit also includes a second voltage selector connected to the output. The second voltage selector is configured to compare the first voltage input to the second voltage input using an early trigger, such that the second voltage selector is configured to switch on before the first voltage selector switches off.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the end of a communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes an interface circuit for receiving an encoded signal and a carrier signal recovery circuit coupled to an output of the interface circuit. The carrier signal recovery circuit is configured to output a carrier signal of the encoded signal and a second signal that is out of phase with the carrier signal. The apparatus also includes a decoding circuit configured to decode the encoded signal as a function of both the encoded signal and the carrier signal output by the carrier signal recovery circuit. The apparatus also includes a detection circuit configured to detect an indication of an end of a communication in the encoded signal as a function of both the encoded signal and the second signal.

Abstract: A method for obtaining tickets for journeys in a passenger transportation system which comprises stations for entering and/or leaving transport means of the system for journeys between the stations, wherein at least one station of the system is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier and/or at least one transport means of the system is assigned at least one contactlessly readable data carrier, wherein the contactlessly readable data carriers contain ticket information items, and one of the contactlessly readable data carriers is read by a mobile reader in at least one station and/or in at least one transport means, and the corresponding ticket information item or items is/are stored in the mobile reader.

Abstract: A radar data processing system is disclosed. The system includes a microcontroller and a data receiver-transmitter integrated circuit coupled to the microcontroller. The data receiver-transmitter integrated circuit includes a sensor and a dedicated error indicator pin. The data receiver-transmitter integrated circuit includes an inner safety monitor and the microcontroller includes an outer safety monitor. The inner safety monitor configured to receive and collate sensor data from the plurality of sensors and send, through the dedicated error indicator pin, a function warning signal to the outer safety monitor when the sensor data from the sensor is indicative of a functional irregularity.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for sensing a target substance is disclosed. In one example, the sensor discloses an electrolyte matrix, wherein the matrix reposits an electrolyte; a working electrode coupled to the electrolyte matrix at a first location; a counter electrode coupled to the electrolyte matrix at a second location; an electrical circuit, coupled to the working electrode and the counter electrode, and capable of generating an output signal in response to an electrical current which flows between the working electrode and the counter electrode in response to a presence of the target substance.

Abstract: An amplifier circuit comprising a driver (204, 304) configured to provide a switched mode input signal, a switching mode power amplifier (206, 306) configured to receive the switched mode input signal and provide an output signal for an external load (210, 310); and a sensor (208, 308) configured to sense the impedance of the external load (210, 310) The driver is configured to set the duty cycle of the switched mode input signal in accordance with the sensed impedance of the external load (210, 310).

Abstract: A computer architecture (100) and a method for adapting and executing (200) a computer program therefore, is provided. A value is computed by processing the instructions comprised in a basic block of the program in accordance with a first mathematical function (208). An instruction comprising an original address is modified, using a second mathematical function (214) taking the value as input, to comprise a modified address. In this manner, a fault attack during execution of the computer program will cause a disturbance of the control flow, thereby making such an attack unlikely to succeed.

Abstract: A multi-output DC to DC converter can have complex control requirements in CCM mode because of the differing load requirements of the outputs. A multi-output DC to DC converter having a single coil or inductor and a freewheel switch is described. A controller measures the duration of the freewheel phase. The controller increases the current supplied to the DC to DC converter in the following duty-cycle if the duration is less than a first value, and decreases the current supplied to the inductor in the following duty-cycle if the duration is greater than a second value.

Abstract: The invention provides a cascode transistor circuit with a depletion mode transistor and a switching device. A gate bias circuit is connected between the gate of the depletion mode transistor and the low power line. The gate bias circuit is adapted to compensate the forward voltage of a diode function of the switching device. The depletion mode transistor and the gate bias circuit are formed as part of an integrated circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of controlling operation of a resonant power converter and to controllers configured to operate according to such methods. Embodiments disclosed include a method of controlling a power output of a resonant power converter comprising first and second switches (S1, S2) connected in series between a pair of supply voltage lines, a resonant circuit connected to a node between the first and second switches and to an output connectable to an output electrical load, the resonant circuit comprising an inductor and a capacitor, the method comprising: closing the first switch (S1) to start a first conduction interval; setting a first voltage level (902); setting a first time period; and opening the first switch (S1) to end the first conduction interval when a voltage (901) across the capacitor crosses the first voltage level (902) and when a time period from closing the first switch exceeds the first time period (904).

Abstract: Parasitic thyristor action may be mitigated in semiconductor devices by placement of minority carrier traps, illustratively in the base(s) of bipolar transistors or the well of a CMOS transistor pair. The minority carrier traps include adjacent n and p regions which may be connected by a conductor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of making the same. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having an AlGaN layer on a GaN layer. The device also includes first contact and a second contact. The average thickness of the AlGaN layer varies between the first contact and the second contact, for modulating the density of an electron gas in the GaN layer between the first contact and the second contact.

Abstract: This invention relates to improved methods of preventing MOSFET damage in a resonant switched mode power converter (1) by preventing or limiting capacitive mode operation. A combination of response actions (respectively delaying MOSFET switch-on, adjusting switching phase, forcing a switch-on, and increasing frequency) is utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the voltage slope at the half-bridge node (5) is monitored, and in alternative embodiments the same or similar set of response actions is triggered by monitoring different signals, including: the resonant current polarity at switch-off or after the non-overlap time; the voltage of the to-be-switched-on” switch; and the voltage of the “just-switched-off” switch.

Abstract: The invention relates to an RFID transponder device configured for responding to a request of an RFID reader device, by sending a response (UID) comprising information for encoding a feature set of the RFID transponder device. The invention further relates to an RFID reader device and to an RFID system comprising such RFID transponder device and such RFID reader device. The invention also relates to various methods. The invention provides an RFID system, which is more flexible towards introducing new RFID transponder devices that are newly introduced to the market. The invention enables the introduction of such new devices using a sub-set of a prior defined feature set without requiring updating of the look-up tables of the RFID reader devices that are already on the market. This is achieved by directly encoding the feature set of the RFID transponder device in the response, such as in a unique identifier of the device.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, a bipolar transistor comprises an emitter region vertically separated from a collector region in a substrate by a base region. The bipolar transistor further comprises a field plate electrically connected to the emitter region; the field plate extends from the emitter region along the base region into the collector region and the field plate is laterally electrically insulated from the base region and the collector region by a spacer. The spacer comprises an electrically isolating material that includes a silicon nitride layer and is vertically electrically isolated from the substrate by a further electrically isolating material.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing a signal, wherein the device (100) comprises a processing unit (101) comprising an input terminal and two output terminals, wherein the processing unit is adapted for receiving a signal (104) at the input terminal, and wherein the processing unit is adapted for generating a reduction, signal based on the signal, wherein the reduction signal is adapted for reducing the signal. The device comprises further a first reproduction unit (102) coupled to the first output terminal of the processing unit, wherein the first reproduction unit is adapted for receiving and reproducing the signal, and a second reproduction unit (103) coupled to the second output terminal of the processing unit, wherein the second reproduction unit is adapted for receiving and reproducing the reduction signal.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a current driver for controlling a current source controlled by an alternating current (AC) signal, including: a current sensor configured to measure an output current from the current source; a threshold detector configured to detect when the measured current is below a threshold value; and a controller configured to control the current source using a duty cycle of the AC signal when the measured current is below the threshold.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatus useful for processing communications between different signaling voltage levels. Different signaling voltage levels are accomplished by creating true and complement signals from at least one input signal, each of which are subject to different delays, and level shifting the true and complement signals to a new signaling voltage level. The true or complement signal subject to a smaller timing delay is selected, and used to provide an output signal.