Abstract: A field effect transistor having a gate structure that comprises an interfacial layer positioned in between the transistor channel region and a high-K dielectric layer of the gate stack. The interfacial layer comprises AlxSiyOz, which has a higher relative dielectric constant value than SiO2. A method of forming the gate structure of a field effect transistor. The method includes forming a gate stack comprising, in order: a SiO2-based layer adjacent a channel region of the field effect transistor; a high-K dielectric layer on the SiO2-based layer; and a gate electrode on the high-K dielectric layer. The method also includes introducing Al into the SiO2-based layer to form an AlxSiyOz interfacial layer in between the high-K dielectric layer and the channel region. A heating step to allows Al introduced into channel region to diffuse out of the channel region into the interfacial layer.

Abstract: A resonator comprises a bottom electrode layer (12), a top electrode layer (10) which defines a resonator body; and a piezoelectric layer (14) sandwiched between the top and bottom electrode layers. An external region (152) is provided around the outside of the periphery of the resonator body. The cutoff frequency of a first resonance mode of the external region (152) is matched to the cutoff frequency of a second, different, resonance mode of the resonator body. The invention provides a deliberate change (typically increase) in the cutoff frequency the resonance modes in the external region, so that one of the modes has a cutoff frequency close to the cutoff frequency of the fundamental mode of the resonator body.

Abstract: A device (100) for processing audio data, wherein the device (100) comprises a first audio reproduction unit (102) adapted for reproducing a first part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a left ear (106) of a user (110), a second audio reproduction unit (104) adapted for reproducing a second part of the audio data and adapted to be attached to a right ear (108) of the user (110), a detection unit (112) adapted for detecting a left/right inversion of the first audio reproduction unit (102) and the second audio reproduction unit (104), and a control unit (114) adapted for controlling the first audio reproduction unit (102) for reproducing the second part of the audio data and for controlling the second audio reproduction unit (104) for reproducing the first part of the audio data upon detecting the left/right inversion.

Abstract: The invention describes a power amplifier comprising a first transistor (MHS) having a first control terminal and a first main current path coupled between a first supply terminal (Vdd) and a first node (VH), a second transistor (MLS) having a second control terminal and a second main current path coupled between a second supply terminal (Vss) and a second node (VL), a first controlled resistor (MHC) coupled between the first node and an output node (Vout) of the amplifier, a second controlled resistor (MLC) coupled between the second node and the output node (Vout) of the amplifier, the first transistor being controlled by a first driver comprising a level shifting circuit, and the second transistor being controlled by a second driver including a time delaying circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating a medium stream, having a chamber, which chamber comprises chamber walls lying opposite one another and at least one medium opening for the medium stream, which medium stream can be generated in the chamber by a diaphragm, which diaphragm, in an inactive operating state of the device, is arranged substantially untensioned in the chamber between the chamber walls lying opposite one another, and associated with which diaphragm is a drive device, responsive to electrical drive signals, for driving the diaphragm to deform the same, the drive device being designed to impose a deformation on the diaphragm in an active operating state of the device, during which deformation the diaphragm has an inner mechanical tension.

Abstract: The invention refers to a power amplifier comprising a first transistor (MH) having a first main channel coupled between a positive power supply terminal (Vdd) and an output terminal (Vout), said first transistor having a control terminal driven by a first gate signal (Vgatehigh) provided by a high driver circuit, which is biased from a first voltage terminal (Vboot). The power amplifier further comprises a second transistor (ML) having a second main channel coupled between the output terminal and a negative power supply terminal (Vss), said second transistor having a second control terminal driven by a second gate signal (Vgatelow) provided by a low driver circuit, which is biased from a second voltage terminal (Vreg), and a switch circuit (10) coupled between the first voltage terminal (Vboot) and the second voltage terminal (Vreg), said switch circuit being controlled by the second gate Signal (Vgatelow).

Abstract: A battery charger, or charge controller, for a photovoltaic system is disclosed, comprising a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) circuit, which may be bypassed by means of a bypass circuit. The bypass circuit may be a simple electrical wire or link. The battery charger is operable to track the maximum power of a photogenerator by means of the MPPT, or to bypass the MPPT and disable it, in dependence on whether the power loss which results from the MPPT would be greater than the power saving achieved by tracking the maximum power point of the photogenerator. Also disclosed is a control unit for use in such a battery charger, and a method for controlling such a battery charger.

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: In a first aspect, the invention provides to a device comprising a substrate and an electrical conductor arranged between two terminals (A, B) and shaped for forming an inductor comprising at least two loops (1, 2) and arranged such that, at least locally, the far field is reduced. This arrangement results in an inductor which radiates a smaller magnetic field, also referred to as reduced EMI, which results in less noise generated in other inductive parts of an electronic circuit or system. The invention further provides in an advantageous embodiment proper balancing of the parasitic resistance and capacitance. By doing so the physical mid-point of 8-shaped inductors becomes the electrical mid-point (MP) which is beneficial when the inductor is used in a circuit.

Abstract: A photovoltaic unit is disclosed comprising a plurality of sub-units connected in series, each sub-unit having a main input and a main output, which main output is connected to the respective main input of a neighbouring sub-unit, each sub-unit further comprising a segment comprising one or more series-connected solar cells, and a supplementary power unit, wherein the supplementary power unit is configured to at least one of receive power from or supply power to the neighbouring sub-unit. The supplementary power unit is preferably a DC-DC converter, and arranged to exchange energy between neighbouring segments, without requiring a high-voltage connection across the complete string (of more than 2 segments). The converter may be inductive or capacitive. A DC-DC converter configured for use in such a unit is also disclosed, as is a method of controlling such a photovoltaic unit.

Abstract: A radio receiver (100) comprises an analogue to digital converter (30) for generating a data word representative of received radio signal and a gain control stage (40) comprising a first register (42) for storing the data word. The gain control stage (40) is adapted to control the numerical value of the data word by controlling the position of the data word in the first register (42).

Abstract: A microfluidic pump comprises a plurality of metal electrodes (10) which oxidise in air, a liquid droplet (14) to be moved by the pump, which is in contact with a least one metal electrode, and means for controlling the oxidation state of the metal electrodes in order to vary the electrode wettability. This arrangement enables full integration with a semiconductor device, and with low drive voltages.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnet system (101, 201) for an electro-acoustic transducer (100, 200) comprising a magnet element (105, 205) and at least one pole plate (106, 107, 206, 207), is described, wherein the method comprises providing the magnet element (105, 205) having a first coating layer comprising a first corrosion resistant material, providing the at least one pole plate (106, 107, 206, 207) having a second coating layer comprising a second corrosion resistant material, and connecting said magnet element (105, 205) and said at least one pole plate (106, 107, 206, 207) by fusing the first coating layer and the second coating layer.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a power generator circuit, and a method for operation such a controller, is disclosed. The invention is particularly suited to LED current generators. The current generator may be switched off to conserve power when not required for any LED circuits. The method relates to determining the time at which the controller is required to provide power, current or voltage, and to adjust the timing of switching-on of the controller, in order to ensure that power, current or voltage is available for the load when required.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection structure (200) for an integrated circuit, the electrostatic discharge protection structure (200) comprising: a first silicon controlled rectifier structure (211) having a first triggering voltage, the first rectifier structure (211) being directly connected to an input (250) of the electrostatic discharge protection structure (200); a second silicon controlled rectifier structure (222) having a second triggering voltage lower than the first triggering voltage, the second rectifier structure (222) being connected to the input (250) via a resistor (221); and a secondary over-voltage protection unit (231) connected to the input (250) via the resistor (221).

Abstract: The optical pointing device of the present invention comprises a base and an actuator movable connected to the base, wherein the actuator comprises a reflective portion on a side facing the base, and wherein the base comprises a light source for emitting light towards the reflective portion of the actuator, a detector comprising one of more detection units for detecting at least a part of the light reflected by the reflective portion of the actuator, and a transparent element arranged between the actuator and at least one of the light source and the detection units, for providing a closed transparent housing for the light source and/or the detection units.

Abstract: A controllable light source (102) is controlled to emit modulated light, preferably using a uniquely recognizable modulation pattern. A plurality of camera units (10) captures images that contain the light source. Clock time values at a time corresponding to capture of the image are captured from respective clock circuits (120) associated with the camera units (10) that capture the images. The modulated light is detected in the captured images. Relative calibration of the clock circuits (120) with respect to each other is performed using the associated clock time values of the images wherein the modulated light is detected.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bipolar transistor is compatible with FinFET processing. A collector region (18) is formed and patterned, base contact regions (26) formed on either side, and a gap formed between the base contact region. A base (28), spacers (30) and an emitter (32) are formed in the gap.

Abstract: A method of estimating the junction temperature of a light emitting diode comprises driving a forward bias current through the diode, the current comprising a square wave which toggles between high and low current values (Ihigh, llow), the high current value (lhigh) comprising an LED operation current, and the low current value (IIOW) comprising a non-zero measurement current. The forward bias voltage drop (Vf) is sampled and the forward bias voltage drop (Vflow) is determined at the measurement current (IIOW)—The temperature is derived from the determined forward bias voltage drop.

Abstract: A wireless transmitter (100) comprises a signal generator (10) for generating a signal, an amplifier (50) for amplifying the signal, and a phase shifting circuit (20) coupled between the signal generator (10) and the amplifier (50) and arranged to shift the phase of the signal to cancel remodulation of the signal generator (10) by the amplified signal.