Abstract: A switched mode power supply (SMPS) is disclosed. The SMPS includes a mechanism for discharging charge stored in an input capacitor, upon the SMPS becoming disconnection from the mains, for instance by being unplugged. The SMPS includes a detector for detecting the disconnection of the mains, and a discharge circuit. The discharge circuit comprises a discharge element. The discharge element may be a part of the SMPS which is used otherwise, for instance, a high-voltage current source, or a bus capacitor or it may be an additional element, for instance a resistance load. The discharge circuit is adapted for, in response to the detector detecting a disconnection of the mains, discharging the input capacitor along a path. The detector controls a switch which engages the discharge circuit upon the detection. The switch forms a part of the discharge path.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit die comprising an active substrate including a plurality of components laterally separated from each other by respective isolation structures, at least some of the isolation structures carrying a further component, wherein the respective portions of the active substrate underneath the isolation structures carrying said further components are electrically insulated from said components. A method of manufacturing such an IC die is also disclosed.

Abstract: Low voltage circuits are protected from high voltage/current conditions, as may be implemented in accordance with one or more example embodiments. An additional/secondary shunt circuit/switch is implemented to shunt additional current as supply voltage steps or otherwise increases. In some implementations, the secondary shunt circuit includes a transistor having its drain coupled to its gate via a large capacitance that operates to maintain the gate voltage at about a constant level. This operates to facilitate the draining of additional current, and maintaining a low bandgap voltage supply level.

Abstract: A thermal interface material facilitates heat transfer between an integrated circuit device and a thermally conductive device. According to an example embodiment, a thermal interface material includes carbon nanotube material that enhances the thermal conductivity thereof The interface material flows between an integrated circuit device and a thermally conductive device. The carbon nanotube material conducts heat from the integrated circuit device to the thermally conductive device.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) circuit is configured for impedance matching, such as for mitigating noise. In connection with an example embodiment, an RF circuit includes a transceiver in a substrate, and a conductive ring-type of material in the substrate and around at least a portion of the transceiver circuit. An upper conductive ring material is over the substrate and separated from the conductive ring-type material by an insulating layer. The upper conductive ring material is configured to generate an inductance that matches input impedance characteristics of the transceiver circuit. In some implementations, the upper conductive ring material connects a gate input pin of the circuit with the gate of an input transistor of an amplifier in the transceiver, and exhibits an impedance that matches the impedance of the input transistor.

Abstract: In a data carrier (1) which includes receiving means (5) for receiving a modulated carrier signal (MTS) which contains a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with an encoding method (MA, PW, MI, RTZ, FSK, PSK), demodulation means (9) for demodulating the received modulated carrier signal (MTS) and for outputting the encoded data signal (DS1) contained therein, decoding means (10, 20) for decoding the encoded data signal (DS1) and for outputting data (D1, D2), and data processing means (11) for processing the data (D1, D2) output by the decoding means (10, 20), the decoding means (10, 20) are provided with at least a first decoding stage (12) and a second decoding stage (13), the first decoding stage (12) being arranged to decode a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with a first method (RTZ) whereas the second decoding stage (13) is arranged to decode a data signal (DS1) encoded in conformity with a second method (MI).

Abstract: A cascoded power semiconductor circuit is provided for power switches based on depletion-mode (normally on) devices. The control circuit makes use of a bootstrap arrangement that allows an active control of both power switches of a cascode circuit using a single gate driver.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate (10) including semiconductor devices and a metallization stack (20) over said substrate for interconnecting said devices, the metallization stack comprising a cavity (36), and a thermal conductivity sensor comprising at least one conductive portion (16, 18) of said metallization stack suspended in said cavity. A method of manufacturing such an IC is also disclosed.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a smartcard is conceived that comprises at least two pre-installed applications and an application user interface selector, wherein said application user interface selector is arranged to select and configure a specific authentication user interface corresponding to a specific one of the pre-installed applications in dependence on encoded information received from a host application.

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 position data corresponding to a sequence of positions of a finger engaging with said tactile sensing user interface and representing a stream of input data for a data processing device, said security token being adapted to transmit said stream of position data to a host system for further processing.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a process for verifying a computer program on a smart card is conceived, the process comprising: identifying, within said computer program, one or more instruction sequences that have a single start point and one or more end points in the program flow; identifying, in each instruction sequence, one or more basic blocks that have a single start point and a single end point in the program flow; and verifying the instruction sequences by verifying each basic block identified in said instruction sequences.

Abstract: LED driver arrangements are disclosed comprising: an input; a plurality of switched mode boost converters, each connected to the input; and a plurality of outputs, each output having a different voltage and being for driving at least one LED string; wherein each of the plurality of switched mode boost converters is configurable to output of any one of the plurality of outputs. Controllers for such arrangements are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) element in a plane of the integrated circuit, the MEMS element being suspended in a cavity over a substrate, said cavity including a first cavity region in said plane spatially separating an edge of the MEMS element from a wall section, said edge being arranged to be displaced relative to the wall section; and a second cavity region in said plane forming part of a fluid path further including the first cavity region, said fluid path defining a first volume; and a third cavity region in said plane defining a second volume in fluid connection with the second cavity region, wherein the maximum width of the second cavity region is larger than the maximum width of the third cavity region, the second and third cavity regions having maximum widths that are larger than the maximum width of the first cavity region.

Abstract: The data carriers (T I, T2, T3, T4) of those objects (1, 2, 3, 4) whose presence is to be checked, are allocated to a check group (ÜG), in a method of checking the presence of objects characterized by noncontact readable data carriers, wherein each noncontact readable data carrier can be identified uniquely or in groups. Data carriers (T1 to T6) are detected by data carrier reading means (5) and it is detected whether at least one of the detected data carriers (T1 to T6) is allocated to an activation group (AG). If at least one of the detected data carriers (T4, T5) is allocated to the activation group (AG), the presence check is activated, while it is checked during the presence check whether all the data carriers (T1 to T4) allocated to the check group (ÜG) are detected by the data carrier reading means (5) and, if not, an alarm signal (AL) is transmitted.

Abstract: A method is provided of charging a mobile device by a charger device, comprising transmitting and receiving a charging current via the Hot Plug Detect (HPD) pin of an HDMI cable connected between the mobile device and the charging device. The HDMI source device (the mobile device) and the HDMI sink device (the charger device) are also provided.

Abstract: The method comprises receiving an input stream of symbols (x(i)) representing a phase change and magnitude of an RF signal, the magnitudes of the symbols are constant, the phase changes of the symbols encode digital information, and adjust the input stream of symbols to reduce inter-symbol interference. The adjusting iteratively determines a next symbol of the equalized stream (x?(n)) after receiving a next symbol of the input stream (x(n)) by multiplying the next symbol of the input stream (x(n)) with a next adjusting real number (a(n)), multiplying a previous symbol of the input stream (x(n?1)) with a previous adjusting real number (a(n?1)), the previous symbol being received before the next symbol of the input stream, and the next symbol of the equalized stream is computed from the multiplied next symbol and the multiplied previous symbol of the input stream.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure include a controlled current path having a load that draws current from the controlled current path. In response to a modulating voltage signal, current is controlled through the load which causes a transistor circuit, including a transistor, to switch between two current modes. Switching will subject the transistor to voltage stresses due to current in the controlled current path spiking towards a breakdown threshold of the transistor. In response to a first aspect of the modulating voltage signal and in one of the current modes, the current in the controlled current path is directed through the first current branch. In response to a second aspect of the modulating voltage signal and in the other current mode, the current in the controlled current path is diverted from the first current branch to a second current branch.

Abstract: Cross-talk is mitigated in a switching circuit. In accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a multi-pin connector having signal-carrying electrodes that communicate with a device external to the apparatus, and respective field-effect switches that couple the signal-carrying electrodes to respective communication channels in the apparatus. The switches include a first field-effect semiconductor switch having a gate electrode adjacent a channel region that connects electrodes (e.g., source and drain regions) when a threshold switching voltage is applied to the gate, in which the electrodes are connected between one of the signal-carrying electrodes and a first channel coupled to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit. A bias circuit mitigates cross-talk between the communication channels by biasing the channel region of the first field-effect semiconductor switch (in an off state) to boost the threshold switching voltage over a threshold discharge voltage of the ESD circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for clock synchronization in a radio frequency identification (RFID) equipped device, an RFID equipped device, and a hand-held communications device are described. In one embodiment, a method for clock synchronization in an RFID equipped device involves measuring a difference between a field clock frequency generated from an external clock and an internal clock frequency generated from an internal clock and generating outgoing bits in the RFID equipped device in response to the measured difference. Generating the outgoing bits involves adjusting the bit length of at least one of the outgoing bits in response to the measured difference. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pH sensor comprising a carrier (10) comprising a plurality of conductive tracks and an exposed conductive area (40) defining a reference electrode connected to one of said conductive tracks; a sensing device (30) mounted on the carrier and connected at least one other of said conductive tracks; an encapsulation (20) covering the carrier, said encapsulation comprising a first cavity (22) exposing a surface (32) of the sensing device and a second cavity (24) exposing the exposed conductive area, said second cavity comprising a reference electrode material (42) and an ion reservoir material (44) sharing at least one ion type with said reference electrode material, the reference electrode material being sandwiched between the exposed conductive area and the ion reservoir material. A method of manufacturing such a pH sensor is also disclosed.