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: A tag store system and method for making contactless tags available to end users of tag-related software applications is described. The system and method employs an identifier for a tag ordering interface, which is generated using tag framework data for a contactless tag associated with a tag-related software application. The tag ordering interface allows the contactless tag to be ordered using the tag ordering interface. The identifier is included in the tag-related software application and is used to request for the tag ordering interface from an end user device running the tag-related software application.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a semiconductor device comprised of a combination of device die. The semiconductor device comprises a package substrate having groups of pad landings. A first device die is anchored to the package substrate, the first device die having been wire-bonded to a first group of pad landings. At least one subsequent device die is anchored to the first device die. The at least one subsequent device die has an underside profile with recesses defined therein, the recesses of a size are defined to accommodate wires bonded to the first device die; the at least one subsequent device is wire bonded to a second group of pad landings.

Abstract: A device including a Doherty amplifier, the Doherty amplifier having an amplifier input and output. At least one main amplifier is coupled to the input via a main input impedance and to the output via a main output impedance and additional amplifiers, each amplifier being coupled to the input via respective additional input impedances. Each additional amplifier has a respective additional amplifier output coupled to a respective pair of additional impedances connected in series and having a respective connection node between them. The device also has a first additional amplifier having their respective additional impedances coupled between its respective output and the amplifier output, the pair of additional impedances having first and second impedances, the first impedance being connected to the respective additional amplifier output and to the connection node, the second impedance being coupled between their respective connection node and the connection node of the previous additional amplifier.

Abstract: A semiconductor uses an isolation trench, and one or more additional trenches to those required for isolation are provided. These additional trenches can be connected between a transistor gate and the drain to provide additional gate-drain capacitance, or else they can be used to form series impedance coupled to the transistor gate. These measures can be used separately or in combination to reduce the switching speed and thereby reduce current spikes.

Abstract: A trench-gate device with lateral RESURF pillars has an additional implant beneath the gate trench. The additional implant reduces the effective width of the semiconductor drift region between the RESURF pillars, and this provides additional gate shielding which improves the electrical characteristics of the device.

Abstract: A piezoresistive MEMS oscillator comprises a resonator body, first and second drive electrodes located adjacent the resonator body for providing an actuation signal; and at least a first sense electrode connected to a respective anchor point. The voltages at the electrodes are controlled and/or processed such that the feedthrough AC current from one drive electrode to the sense electrode is at least partially offset by the feedthrough AC current from the other drive electrode to the sense electrode.

Abstract: A method for driving a sigma delta modulator, a sigma delta modulator comprising at least one integrator device and one quantizer device, and a readable medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the method are described. The method comprises setting a sigma delta modulator to an irrational operation mode. The method comprises monitoring at least one output signal of the sigma delta modulator. The method comprises resetting the sigma delta modulator to the irrational operation mode depending on the monitored output signal.

Abstract: In a receiver, a synchronization circuit (MIX2, C1, R1, VCO) provides a set of oscillator signals (OSI, OSQ, OSX, OSY) that are synchronized with a carrier of an amplitude-modulated signal. The set of oscillator signals (OSI, OSQ, OSX, OSY) comprises a first amplitude-demodulation oscillator signal (OSX) and a second amplitude-demodulation oscillator signal (OSY) that differ in phase. A first amplitude-demodulation mixer (MIX3) mixes the first amplitude-demodulation oscillator signal (OSX) with the amplitude-modulated signal so as to obtain a first amplitude-demodulated signal (MO3). A second amplitude-demodulation mixer (MIX4) mixes the second amplitude-demodulation oscillator signal (OSY) with the amplitude-modulated signal so as to obtain a second amplitude-demodulated signal (MO4). A magnitude comparator (MDT1, MDT2, DDT) compares respective magnitudes (M+, M?) of the first amplitude-demodulated signal (MO3) and the second amplitude-demodulated signal.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a method is implemented for transmitting data between a Media Access Control Layer (MAC) (100) and a Physical Layer (PHY) (150) using an internal data bus for transmitting a set of internal symbols between the MAC (100) and PHY (150). A subset of internal symbols does not have a corresponding PHY symbol. An external data bus carries data symbols. An external interface (102, 118) provides command information on one or more dedicated command lines and provides the data symbols. An encoder (108, 110) encodes the provided command information into one or more of the subset of internal symbols. An internal interface (106, 107, 109, 111) transmits the one or more of the subset of internal symbols and the data symbols between the MAC (100) and PHY (150) using the internal data bus.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention a localization method for localizing a host device (100) in a control system, in particular a building control system, is provided, the localization method comprising determining geographical location information of the host device (100) by means of a localization device (102) and associating the geographical location information with a unique identifier of the host device (100). According to another aspect of the invention a computer program product is provided that comprises program instructions which, when being executed by one or more processing units, cause said processing units to carry out or control the steps of the inventive localization method. According to another aspect of the invention, a localization device (102), in particular a portable localization device is provided for use in the inventive localization method.

Abstract: It is described a method for accessing a secure storage of a mobile device, the method comprising: providing a generic interface for accessing the secure storage; accessing the secure storage using the generic interface by a first application of the mobile device; accessing the secure storage using the generic interface by a second application of the mobile device. Further, a corresponding secure electronic storage and a system is described.

Abstract: An audio comparison method and apparatus compares audio streams by measuring the times of volume peaks in the audio streams and identifying correlations between the peaks in the audio streams, subject to possible delay between the streams. The audio comparison allows the identification of audio streams including the same audio content even in the presence of delay and distortion and using low processing power. The audio comparison has particular application in car radios to allow automatic retuning.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprises an input stage and a driver stage. The input stage comprises first, second, third and fourth inputs, and is configured to generate a first intermediate signal which is the sum or the weighted sum of the first and third input signals, and a second intermediate signal which is the sum or the weighted sum of the second and fourth input signals. The driver stage comprises an output, is configured to generate an output signal present at the output, and is configured to directly compare the first and second intermediate signals such that the output signal indicates which of the two intermediate signals is larger.

Abstract: A baseband signal generator (102a) provides a polar signal (A, I p) to a processing sub-unit (704p). The processing sub-unit (704p) receives furthermore feedback signals from a down converting unit (704c) which feedback signals are used to determine the magnitude (B) of the amplified output signal and the actual error phase. The magnitude (A) of the polar signal and the determined magnitude (B) are applied to a comparator (710) having its output connected to the input of a predistortion unit (214, 216). The output of the predistortion unit (214, 216) is connected to the input of a pulse width modulating unit (210, 212) which comprises a mapping unit (210) outputting two constant magnitude signals. The actual error phase and the phase component of the polar signal are used to generate a corrected phase component which is applied to a further mapping unit (202) forming part of a phase modulating unit (202, 204).

Abstract: Devices, apparatus, methods, circuits and processors are implemented for control of audio signals. Consistent with one such apparatus, a processor circuit is configured and arranged to determine, for a perceived loudness algorithm that outputs audio signal levels, a common point corresponding to a particular background noise level at which the levels of the audio signal levels are independent of a volume setting that corresponds to desired perceived loudness, and to determine an audio signal level from the perceived loudness algorithm in response to a background noise signal, a volume setting signal, and the common point. An audio signal level output circuit is configured and arranged to provide an audio signal at the determined audio signal level.

Abstract: In a method for processing a signal received by a receiver, at a first wireless receiver (20, 62) a first signal (x(t), x1(t)) comprising first and second signal components is received. The first signal component is intended for the first wireless receiver (20, 62) and the second signal component is related to at least one of a sending signal (s(t)) generated by a transmitter (29, 69) or to a second signal (x2(t)) intended for a second wireless receiver (61). To the first wireless receiver (20, 62) a reference signal (r(t), r1(t), r2(t)) which is proportional to the sending signal (s(t)) or to the second signal (x2(t)). At the first wireless receiver (20, 62) and from the reference signal (r(t), r1(t), r2(t)) an estimation signal which estimates the second signal component is generated. A filtered signal (y(t), y1(t)) is generated by subtracting the estimation signal from the first signal (x(t), x1(t)).

Abstract: A MEMS switch comprises a substrate, first and second signal lines over the substrate, which each terminate at a connection region, a lower actuation electrode over the substrate and movable contact electrode suspended over the connection regions of the first and second signal lines. An upper actuation electrode is provided over the lower actuation electrode. The connection regions of the first and second signal lines are at a first height from the substrate, wherein signal line portions extending from the connection regions are at a lower height from the substrate, and the lower actuation electrode is provided over the lower height signal line portions, so that the lower height signal line portions are buried. The area available for the actuation electrodes becomes larger and undesired forces and interference are reduced.

Abstract: Methods and systems directed toward a PLL circuit including a local lock detector receiving an error signal and providing a lock signal, and a charge pump for receiving the error signal and providing a charge signal. A loop filter provides a first loop filter bandwidth and a second loop filter bandwidth. The loop filter includes a first low-pass filter configured to receive the charge and lock signals, alter a filter characteristic in response to the lock signal, and provide a first filter signal. The loop filter includes a second low-pass filter configured to receive the first filter and lock signals, alter a filter characteristic in response to the lock signal, and provide a loop filter signal. The PLL circuit includes a VCO for receiving the loop filter signal and providing an output signal, and a divider for receiving the output signal and dividing it to provide the reference signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for radio identification with an additional close-range check, which prevent misuse of a radio identification system and increase the security of radio identification. In particular, so-called relay attacks are to be largely prevented in passive entry systems. The method according to the invention firstly provides for activation of a transponder (S1) for reading of its data. After this step, an additional close-range status signal is provided (S2) which indicates the close range of a reader. Once the close-range status signal has been detected by a transponder (S3), data transmission for reading of the data stored in the transponder by the reader is possibly enabled in reaction to the detection of the close-range status signal (S4) and the data can be read by the reader for identification of the transponder (S5).