Abstract: The invention provides a method for regulating a LED current (ILED) flowing through a LED circuit arrangement at a mean LED current level. The method includes establishing an oscillating converter current (IL), establishing a first and a second current control indicator representative of a flow of a converter current (IL); regulating a peak and valley current level of the converter current in dependence on the first current control indicator; controlling a converter current period (T) of an oscillation of the converter current in dependence on the second current control indicator to be within a period control range (Tref) and feeding at least part of the converter current to the LED circuit arrangement. The invention also provides a circuit arrangement for regulating a LED current using the method, a LED driver IC using the circuit arrangement, a circuit composition with at least one LED and the circuit arrangement, and a lighting system with the circuit composition.

Abstract: A MEMS pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in a sealed cavity of a MEMS device, comprises a resonant MEMS device having a pressure sensor resonator element which comprises an array of openings. The resonant frequency of the resonant MEMS device is a function of the pressure in the cavity, with resonant frequency increasing with pressure. Over the pressure range 0 to 0.1 kPa, the average change in frequency is at least 10?6/Pa. The invention is based on the recognition that for fast oscillation, the elastic force causes the resonance frequency to shift. Therefore, it is possible to sense the pressure by a device with resonance frequency that is sensitive to the pressure.

Abstract: A leadframe structure for an electronic package is provided, wherein the leadframe structure comprises a die-pad, a barrier area, and a bonding area, wherein the barrier area is arranged between the die-pad and the bonding area, and wherein the barrier area is adapted to electrically connect the die-pad and the bonding area, and is further constructed in such a way that delamination growth between the leadframe structure and a moulding compound fixable to the leadframe structure is reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for data communication between a transmitter and receiver over a plurality of serial links, which cause the transmitter to send serialized groups of bits down each lane, in such a way that the first bit of each group (each lane) is guaranteed to arrive in the correct order at the receiving end. Various embodiments of the present invention include declaring a budget for the maximum skew between lanes. In such embodiments, subsequent to determining the skew budget between lanes, the data to be transmitted is divided into groups of N bits, where N is any convenient number larger than M times S, with M being the number of lanes and S being the budgeted skew, in bit times.

Abstract: An optocoupler device facilitates on-chip galvanic isolation. In accordance with various example embodiments, an optocoupler circuit includes a silicon-on-insulator substrate having a silicon layer on a buried insulator layer, a silicon-based light-emitting diode (LED) having a silicon p-n junction in the silicon layer, and a silicon-based photodetector in the silicon layer. The LED and photodetector are respectively connected to galvanically isolated circuits in the silicon layer. A local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) isolation material and the buried insulator layer galvanically isolate the first circuit from the second circuit to prevent charge carriers from moving between the first and second circuits. The LED and photodetector communicate optically to pass signals between the galvanically isolated circuits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of photolithography comprising the steps of: providing a substrate and forming a layer of a photoresist on the substrate, performing a first exposure in which a predetermined part of the layer of photoresist is irradiated through a mask having a pattern for forming a latent image of said pattern in the layer of the photoresist, performing a pretreatment on the layer of the photoresist to remove a predetermined part of the latent image before performing the fixation. The method provides an improved process window. The invention further relates to a photoresist for use within the method of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to the field of integrated circuits, and more specifically to a meander resistor. Basically, a meander resistor can be considered as a bar resistor with the exception of the corner squares (right-angle bends). The Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) sensitivities of on-chip resistors can be a problem for both electronic manufactures and electronic component users. As others components, passive devices are known to be susceptible to ESD events. The context of this invention is to improve the reliability of the resistors during an ESD event. An ESD stress means that high current and high voltage levels are applied to the device. The device has to be able to dissipate this energy without failure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixer circuit and method of frequency transformation, wherein an input signal is switched in accordance with a first local oscillator signal and in accordance with at least one second local oscillator signal having a smaller duty cycle than said first local oscillator signal, or having a respective predetermined phase shift with respect to said first local oscillator signal. Output signals obtained by the switching in accordance with the first and at least one second local oscillator signals are summed and the polarity of one of said first local oscillator signal and said at least one second local oscillator signal is switched in response to a control input, to thereby switch between a harmonic-rejection mode and a sub-harmonic mixing mode.

Abstract: The present application relates in general to a method for processing an application in general. The method comprises processing an application which uses at least one resource (24a-24d). The method comprises creating at least one proxy depending on the application. The method comprises claiming at least one resource (24a-24d) by the proxy after at least a partial configuration is determined, wherein the actually used resource for processing the application is determined depending on at least one predefined criterion.

Abstract: Circuits and methods for driving electrical loads, where each is driven according to a desired current. A circuit comprising a switch mode converter comprising a transformer with primary and secondary windings, the primary connected to a voltage supply via one or more input control switches; output circuits, each comprising a switch connecting a load to an output of the secondary, each load series connected with a respective switch and in parallel with a capacitor; and a switching control circuit for control of each of the output circuit switches and for sensing a current through the loads. The switching control circuit operates the output circuit switches to maintain set current through the loads, the switching control circuit configured in successive output cycles of the switch mode converter to operate each output circuit switch in an order dependent on a forward voltage of each of the respective loads.

Abstract: A method of reading data (DAT1 . . . DAT4) from transponders (T1 . . . T4) by means of a reader device (RD) during a number (N) of time slots (TS) is disclosed, wherein the seizure of said time slots (TS) by the transponders (T1 . . . T4) is observed in both the reader device (RD) and the transponders (T1 . . . T4). A reorganization (REORG) is performed in dependence on said seizure, wherein both the reader device (RD) and the transponders (T1 . . . T4) choose a new number (N) of time slots (TS). In addition, the transponders (T1 . . . T4) select one of the new time slots (TS) in which to send data (DAT1 . . . DAT4) back to the reader device (RD) so as to adapt the system's capacity to the real demands. Preferably, said reorganization (REORG) takes place without communication between the reader device (RD) and the transponders (T1 . . . T4). The invention further relates to a transponder (T1 . . . T4) and to a reader device (RD) for implementing the inventive method.

Abstract: A combination amplifier (1,1a) is provided which comprises a carrier amplifier (7,7a) and a series connection of a first peak amplifier (9,9a) and a second peak amplifier (11,11a) which are provided with a phase-shifted input signal relative to the input signal supplied to the carrier amplifier, wherein a transfer characteristics of the combination amplifier may be optimized by independently adjusting transfer characteristics of the carrier amplifier, the first peak amplifier and the second peak amplifier. Thereby, a linearity and/or an efficiency of the combination amplifier may be improved compared to a conventional Doherty amplifier.

Abstract: A method of operating a mobile device comprises operating the mobile device in a low power mode, switching the mobile device to a high power mode in response to an event, identifying the event as specific type of event, selecting a time period according to the identified type of event, preventing an algorithm for switching the mobile device to the low power mode from executing, for the time period, and (ultimately) executing the algorithm.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated circuit comprising a substrate (10) carrying a plurality of circuit elements; a metallization stack (12, 14, 16) interconnecting said circuit elements, said metallization stack comprising a patterned upper metallization layer comprising a first metal portion (20); a passivation stack (24, 26, 28) covering the metallization stack; and a sensor including a sensing material (40) on the passivation stack, said sensor being coupled to the first metal portion by a via (34) extending through the passivation stack. A method of manufacturing such an IC is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed that comprises a circuit portion (100) having a plurality of inputs (102) and a plurality of outputs (106), the plurality of inputs being arranged to receive a test pattern in a test mode of the integrated circuit, the test pattern comprising a plurality of test vectors for feeding to the plurality of inputs in successive clock cycles. The IC also comprises a test arrangement for testing the circuit portion (100), comprising a test pattern generator (110) for generating the test pattern, masking logic (150) for masking selected outputs of the plurality of outputs (106) and a signal generator (130) coupled to the masking logic (150) for generating a masking signal triggering the masking of all of said circuit portion outputs during selected cycles of the successive clock cycles, the signal generator (130) being responsive to clock cycle selection data (s1-st).

Abstract: A thermally-compensated oscillator has a current reference with an output current which relates to an ambient temperature with a first relationship, a ring oscillator having an operating frequency which relates to the ambient temperature with a second relationship, and which receives the output current of the current reference and outputs an oscillator signal, and a level shifter which receives the oscillator signal from the ring oscillator and outputs a corresponding voltage-regulated clock signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a receiver and a timing circuit for synchronization between a transmitter clock of an MPEG stream and the local system clock of a receiver. The timing circuit may implement a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit with a PID controller to produce a control signal based on the difference between the transmitter reference clock and the local system clock. Various embodiments may use clock differential signals and an accumulated error signal to produce proportional, integral, and derivative output components for a control signal. The control signal may control a signal generator that adjusts the frequency and/or phase of the local signal clock to lock with the transmitter reference clock. Various embodiments may also include an outlier filter to remove error signals outside a defined range and/or a programmable system clock to add precision to the generated local system clock.

Abstract: A radio receiver comprises an input (14) for a modulated radio frequency signal, a frequency down converter (16) coupled to the input, the frequency down converter including quadrature mixers (32,34) for demodulating a received modulated radio frequency signal using a local oscillator signal. An analogue-to-digital converter (54, 56) is coupled to receive demodulated signals from the mixing means. The analogue-to-digital converter, which may comprise a continuous time sigma delta converter, has an input for a sampling clock frequency (f s). A voltage controlled oscillator (38) provides the local oscillator signal and supplies a frequency divider (60, 94) used to provide the sampling clock frequency.

Abstract: A communication partner appliance is implemented within a near field communication system. The communication partner appliance includes a receiver, a detector, and a processor. The receiver receives a NFC command signal from another communication partner appliance. The detector detects whether a carrier signal from the other communication partner appliance is present at the receiver and generates a corresponding status signal. The processor receives the command signal from the receiver, recognizes an end of the command signal, receives the status signal from the detector after the end of the command signal, and controls a power supply element based on the status signal after the end of the command signal. The power supply element is configured to establish a connection to either a first power supply or a second power supply. The first power supply is dependent on the carrier signal, and the second power supply is independent of the carrier signal.

Abstract: A loudspeaker drive circuit comprises an input for receiving an audio signal and a signal processor for processing the audio signal before application to the loudspeaker. The signal processor processes the audio signal to derive a loudspeaker drive signal which results in the loudspeaker membrane reaching its maximum displacement in both directions of diaphragm displacement.