Abstract: An upper surface of a plug (PL1) is formed so as to be higher than an upper surface of an interlayer insulating film (PIL) by forming the interlayer insulating film (PIL) on a semiconductor substrate (1S), completing a CMP method for forming the plug (PL1) inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), and then, making the upper surface of the interlayer insulating film (PIL) to recede. In this manner, reliability of connection between the plug (PL1) and a wiring (W1) in a vertical direction can be ensured. Also, the wiring (W1) can be formed so as not to be embedded inside the interlayer insulating film (PIL), or a formed amount by the embedding can be reduced.

Abstract: A first P-type transistor and a second P-type transistor are connected in series between a power supply terminal and an output terminal. A first N-type transistor and a second N-type transistor are connected between a ground terminal and a power supply terminal. The second N-type transistor and the second P-type transistor are complementarily turned on and off in accordance with an input signal. A gate voltage control circuit changes at least one of the gate voltage of the P-type transistor whose drain is electrically connected to the output terminal and the gate voltage of the N-type transistor by following the output voltage VOUT of the output terminal while keeping the P-type transistor or the N-type transistor on-states.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a power stage having a plurality of phases is presented. The controller generates a control signal; sends the control signal to the plurality of phases via a first link; receives from each phase a feedback signal via a second link; sums the plurality of feedback signals and derives an average current per phase.

Abstract: A method of increasing a transient response of a current mode controller and a current mode controller with an improved transient response are provided. The current mode controller is configured to control a high side switch and a low side switch. The current mode controller includes a pulse width modulation generator.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first power supply voltage line to which a power supply voltage is supplied, a second power supply voltage line, a first impedance element provided between the first power supply voltage line and the second power supply voltage line, a first reference voltage line to which a reference voltage is supplied, a second reference voltage line, a second impedance element provided between the first reference voltage line and the second reference voltage line, an electronic circuit provided between the second power supply voltage line and the second reference voltage line and performing a predetermined processing on an input signal, and provided in series between the second power supply voltage line and the second reference voltage line, and having gates connected to drains, a first transistor which is a P-channel MOS transistor, and a second transistor which is an N-channel MOS transistor.

Abstract: Gate drivers, systems and methods are described. A gate driver can generate a gate current for driving a power switch in a system. A circuit can define a waveform shape of the gate current. The defined waveform shape of the gate current can cause a current of the power switch to have a constant slew rate.

Abstract: A communications controller is disclosed. The communications controller includes a data transfer unit and a protocol engine. The communications controller further includes a circuit configured to control transfer of data from the data transfer unit to the protocol engine in dependence upon a process identifier which identifies a process entity requiring the protocol engine to transmit data for the process entity.

Abstract: A current sense circuit is provided. The circuit includes a current mirror circuit QN1, QN2, and diode-connected QP1, QP2, QP3, and QP4 with their bases connected together, stacking such that the diode-connected side (QN1, QP1, QP3) aligns and connecting the emitter of QP2 to the collector of QP4. Furthermore, the gates of MP1 and MP2 are connected to the collector of QN2 and QP2, respectively. Additionally, the source of MP1 is connected to the drain of MP3 via the source of MP2 and also connected to the source of a Sense MOS. Moreover, the emitter of QP4 is connected to the source of MP4 via R1, and the drain of MP4 is connected to the source (OUT terminal) of a Main MOS. Furthermore, the gates of MP3 and MP4 are connected to the emitters of QN1 and QN2.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a phase interpolation circuit including an N-bit current digital-analog conversion circuit, a switch circuit, a capacitive element, an inverter, and a control logic circuit. The control logic circuit detects an end of a phase interpolation operation by using an output result of the inverter and outputs a first control signal for turning off the current digital-analog conversion circuit. Also, the control logic circuit detects the end of the phase interpolation operation by using the output result of the inverter and outputs a second control signal for turning off the inverter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a set of bounding boxes in a blended image are described. A system can include an integrated circuit configured to obtain expected bounding box data. The expected bounding box data can be based on coordinates data of an image. The integrated circuit can determine target coordinates based on the expected bounding box data. The integrated circuit can receive a blended image including a set of objects and a set of bounding boxes. The integrated circuit can extract pixel values located at the target coordinates in the blended image. The integrated circuit can identify an error relating to the set of bounding boxes based on the extracted pixel values and the expected bounding box data.

Abstract: According to an aspect, a transceiver comprises a transmitter section having a first PLL (phased locked loop) providing a first reference signal to the transmitter section, a receiver section having a second PLL providing a second reference signal to the receiver section, a coupler coupling the second PLL to the transmitter section when the transceiver is operative in a test mode measuring a first noise component introduced by the first PLL. The first reference signal is coupled to the receiver section internally within the transceiver as a local reference signal to the receiver section both in the test mode and a functional mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing and processing biosignals are described. An example system can include a first device configured to sense at least one biosignal and a second device. The second device can receive the at least one biosignal from the first device. The second device can receive power via a first wireless interface. The second device can charge a rechargeable battery using the received power. The second device can receive a signal via the first wireless interface, wherein the signal encodes credentials of a user. The second device can demodulate the signal to decode the user credentials. The second device can authenticate the user credentials. The second device can, in response to authentication of the user credentials, communicate the at least one biosignal to a user device via a second wireless interface.

Abstract: A filter circuit for use with a system configured to be coupled with an electrical load, the filter circuit comprising a first filter, wherein the first filter is configured to receive a first voltage and provide an output voltage, the output voltage being the first voltage after filtering by the first filter, and the filter circuit is configured to adjust the bandwidth of the first filter in response to a load transient.

Abstract: A communications controller is disclosed. The communications controller includes a data transfer unit and a protocol engine. The communications controller further includes a circuit configured to control transfer of data from the data transfer unit to the protocol engine in dependence upon a process identifier which identifies a process entity requiring the protocol engine to transmit data for the process entity.

Abstract: A controller for controlling a power stage having one or more phases is presented. The controller includes a reference circuit that generates a reference signal; a ramp generator generating a feedback ramp signal based on a feedback signal of the power stage; and a modulator generating a control signal for controlling at least one phase of the power stage. The control signal may include a series of pulses in which each pulse is associated with a corresponding phase of the power stage.

Abstract: A power converter controller is presented. The controller includes a ramp generator for generating a ramp signal and a ramp adjuster. The ramp adjuster compares a feedback signal of the converter with a threshold signal to obtain a comparison signal, and to adjust an amplitude of the ramp signal based on the comparison signal. Also presented is a constant on time COT power converter including the above controller.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device is capable of operating accurately by suppressing errors caused by dielectric relaxation phenomena. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitive element, a signal cancellation circuit, a sampling circuit, a negative feedback circuit, an AD converter, and an addition-and-subtraction circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device is capable of operating accurately by suppressing errors caused by dielectric relaxation phenomena. The semiconductor device includes a first capacitive element, a first switch circuit, a first inversion signal generating circuit, a second capacitive element, and a negative feedback circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: a constant current generating circuit unit; a first current mirror circuit unit having a constant current as an input current and generating a first mirror current as a mirror current; a level shift circuit unit including a clamp transistor between whose drain and source a first mirror current flows and to whose base a power supply voltage of the constant current generating circuit unit is applied, and a transistor that is connected in series to the clamp transistor and through which the first mirror current flows; a second current mirror circuit unit having as an input stage a transistor and having as an output stage a transistor through which a second mirror current replicating the first mirror current flows; and an error absorption circuit unit connected to a terminal for outputting the second mirror current of the output-stage transistor in the second current mirror circuit unit.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes an input/output cell, a core logic circuit, a first power supply cell, a second power supply cell, a third power supply cell and a fourth power supply cell. Each of the power supply cells includes a protection circuit and a bidirectional diode.