Abstract: Apparatus for determining a location of a peak in correlation output samples, the apparatus being arranged to receive samples from at least one correlator over a plurality of symbol time periods; combine samples from a period that is longer than the symbol time period into combined samples; and determine the position of a peak in the combined samples.

Abstract: An electric circuit for a transponder (110) for communication with a base station (120), the electric circuit comprising a memory unit (111) adapted for storing communication related information, and a processor unit (112) adapted for altering an authentification code necessary for the base station (120) to get access to the memory (111) in accordance with a pseudo-random authentification code altering scheme.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is provided for discharging current between input and output nodes. In accordance with various embodiments, an ESD protection device includes an open-base transistor having an emitter connected to the input node and a collector connected to pass current to the output node via a resistor in response to a voltage at the input node exceeding a threshold that causes the transistor to break down. The resistor is coupled across emitter and collector regions of a second open-base transistor that is configured to turn on for passing current in response to the current across the resistor exceeding a threshold that applies a threshold breakdown voltage across the second transistor. In some implementations, an emitter and/or base of the second transistor are connected to, or are respectively the same region as, a base and a collector of the first transistor.

Abstract: Synchronization tracking in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver by obtaining a DFT output vector; determining a sample timing offset indication using reference symbols extracted from the DFT output vector; and adapting the OFDM symbol timing using said determined indication. To provide an improved post-DFT algorithm for estimating time tracking error in OFDM receivers the determining includes (a) estimating the channel transfer function at equidistant frequency positions using said reference symbols, for a first OFDM symbol; determining plural frequency correlations for said equidistant frequency positions for said OFDM symbol; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for subsequent OFDM symbols; (d) linearly combining said plural frequency correlations for said plural OFDM symbols obtained in steps (a) through (c), for obtaining said sampling clock offset indication wherein the linear combining uses nonzero weights only. An OFDM receiver circuit arrangement performing this method.

Abstract: According to an example embodiment, a controller for a Switched Mode Power Supply having opto-coupler-based feedback from secondary to primary side, is disclosed, in which the optocoupler current varies inversely with the output voltage over a voltage control range. The converter is thereby enabled to consume less power than do conventional converters, when in lower-power standby mode. Also disclosed are low-voltage startup and over-voltage protection arrangements combined with such a controller. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wake-up unit for waking up an electronic device is provided. The wake-up unit comprises a resonating unit (C) for resonating at least one specific frequency, at least one first electrode (TE), at least one piezoelectric material (PM) and at least one second electrode (BE). The piezoelectric material (PM) is sandwiched between the at least one first and the at least one second electrode (TE, BE) such that an electronic current is provided to the at least one first and at least one second electrode (TE, BE) when the resonating unit (C) resonates at the at least one specific frequency.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protected device includes a device (6) to be protected and an ESD protection circuit (4). It is determined that if an ESD pulse is applied to pad (2) a leakage current flows on path (14) through the device (6). This leakage current of the device to be protected (6) is used as a precursor trigger signal to trigger the ESD device (4).

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of a Power Factor Convertor (PFC) first stage to a AC-DC converter the switching cell is split into two smaller ones (each comprising a switched inductor with an output diode). Below a certain load only one cell is active. The second cell only becomes active, out of phase with the first, but not generally in antiphase, after a predefined load level is surpassed in such a way that above that level the first cell has a fixed on time and the second cell a variable one.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, a circuit comprises a power factor correction stage having a DC input, a ground input, a DC output and a ground output. The circuit further includes a capacitor; a diode; and a discharge circuit. A first terminal of the diode is connected to an input of the power factor correction stage, a second terminal of the diode is connected to the first plate of the capacitor; and the second plate of the capacitor is connected to the other input of the PFC stage. The discharge circuit is connected to the capacitor and is configured to discharge the capacitor such that it contributes to the output of the PFC stage when the level of a signal at the input of the PFC stage falls below a threshold value.

Abstract: Wireless communications between a vehicle base station and transponder is authenticated. Two or more antennas including at least one within a vehicle are respectively driven using driving currents multiplied by different superposition factors for at least two iterative cycles. Separate vector components of the respective fields emitted by the antennas are used for calculating superposition factors. For each cycle, each antenna is concurrently driven using the same phase respectively using the driving currents multiplied by the superposition factors, and superposed vector components are detected for a superposed signal including signals from both antennas. Communications are authenticated via the detected superposed vector components for each for the superposed signal of each cycle being within a system error-based range of the sum of the vector components for each of the antennas as multiplied respectively by the superposition factors for the antenna from which the vector components are received.

Abstract: A signal processing module with a timing comparator such as a time to digital converter is provided. The timing comparator comprises an error cancellation stage to remove a predicted effect of the imparted jitter from the timing comparator output signal. A jitter detector is used to detect the jitter from the comparator output signal, preferably residual jitter after the predicted effect of the jitter has been removed. Synchronous detection, such as correlation with the predicted jitter may be used to detect the jitter. The jitter detector adjusts a calibration factor of the timing comparator dependent on the detected jitter.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method are provided for using a PCB component as an antenna to allow for RFID communication in the UHF band. The present invention enables supply chain management of a PCB and products containing the PCB by enabling tracking of a PCB at the assembly level such that at each production stage of the board production it is known exactly where the product is and what is its present state of test. One embodiment uses an existing ground plane of a PCB, splitting the ground plane of all the layers of the PCB, allowing for a dipole structure that provides an adequate received energy level to power the circuit to the “on” state thereby allowing RFID/Electronic Product Code transactions. In alternative embodiments, existing or added traces are used in place of the split ground plane as an antenna for the RFID IC.

Abstract: A proximity check ensures that a card is physically close to the reader device in order to inhibit relay attacks. The proximity check makes relay attacks more difficult because an additional channel must be intercepted and/or spoofed or relayed. This solution can be used for any kind of short-range communication, including Near Field Communications (NFC).

Abstract: A single-segment drive scheme for an electronic paper display (EPD) is replaced by a multiplexed drive scheme that reduces the number of driver pins to the number of display segments per digit or alphanumeric character plus one input/output (I/O) line per digit or alphanumeric character. In accordance with the invention, a passive digit selection mechanism enables a multiplex display drive scheme when the EPD material used typically has a stable threshold combined with a small hysteresis. Typically, display operation is better the smaller the hysteresis and the more stable the threshold of the EPD material that is used.

Abstract: A method of controlling a ballast in a circuit for a lighting application and connected to a mains power supply is disclosed. The method comprises determining whether a dimmer is present in the circuit; in response to detecting that a dimmer is present, determining a zero-crossing of the power supply and setting a bleeder current through the ballast in dependence on the phase of the power supply within a mains half-cycle; and in response to determining that a dimmer is not present, disabling the bleeder current. A ballast which is controlled by such a method is also disclosed. Additionally, a controller, which may include a digital signal processor, for a ballast and operable according to the above method is disclosed.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate a system and method for supplying power. The system may include an input/output port, a regulator, and a clamp. The regulator may supply power to the input/output port in a first mode, sink current from the input/output port in a second mode, and be disabled in a third mode. The clamp may be disabled in the first and second modes, and may limit the voltage at the input/output port below a first value in the third mode.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate a system for supplying power. The system may include a power source outputting a source voltage, a regulator connected to the power source, and an extension module connected to the power source. The regulator may output a first voltage when the source voltage is above a minimum threshold, and the extension module may output a second voltage when the source voltage falls below the minimum threshold.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a light emitting diode protection circuit, including: a plurality of diodes connected in series; an input connected to a first diode of the plurality of diodes; an output; a first resistor connected between the plurality of diodes and the output; a transistor with a gate connected to a junction between the first resistor and the plurality of diodes and a source connected to the output; a second resistor connected between the input and drain of the transistor; and a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) with an anode connected to the input, a base connected to the drain of the transistor, and a cathode connected to the output.

Abstract: Power consumption of near-field communication devices is regulated by waking the device for communications when a potential external near-field device is detected, and by adjusting the resonant antenna circuit to account for the detected change in antenna environment. Such near-field communication devices, which may be used to detect and read external RFID tags, include a resonant loop antenna circuit having an antenna and a variable component, the antenna circuit being tunable by adjusting the variable component. The antenna has a target range of operation for near-field communication, and an inductance that is susceptible to interference that can alter the target range.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a memory device in a turbo decoder and a related method for allocating data into the memory device. Different communications standards use data blocks of varying sizes when enacting block decoding of concatenated convolutional codes. The memory device efficiently minimizes space while enabling a higher throughput of the turbo decoder by enabling a plurality of memory banks of equal size. The number of memory banks may be limited by the amount of unused space in the memory banks, which may be a waste of area on an IC chip. Using the address associated with the maximum value of the data block, the memory may be split into a plurality of memory blocks according to the most-significant bits of the maximum address, with a number of parallel SISO decoders matching the number of memory banks. This may enable higher throughput while minimizing area on the IC chip.