Patents Assigned to SigmaTel, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7301492
    Abstract: A controlled sampling module samples an input signal from an input device and a reference signal. The controlled sampling module includes a plurality of sample capacitors, a switching network, and a switch control module for controlling the switching network. The switching network couples a first capacitor of the plurality of capacitors to the reference signal during a first phase, and to the input signal during a second phase, such that a charge on the first capacitor remaining at an end of the first phase is cancelled during the second phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Felder, Michael R. May
  • Patent number: 7302560
    Abstract: A memory device has a plurality of memory blocks utilized to store data. One of the blocks is used as a hidden memory block to store an operating system program, instead of data. The hidden memory block is designated as a bad block so that data will not be written into the hidden memory block, but a tag associated with the hidden memory block identifies that the hidden memory block contains the operating system program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Kevin Jordan, Antonio Torrini, Jean Charles Pina
  • Publication number: 20070268905
    Abstract: A non-volatile memory has a first payload data region and a first redundant memory area associated with the first payload data region. The first redundant memory area has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion includes first payload error correction code (ECC) data associated with the first payload data region. The second portion includes first metadata associated with the first payload data region. The third portion includes first metadata ECC data associated with the first metadata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Applicant: SIGMATEL, INC.
    Inventors: David Cureton Baker, Richard Sanders
  • Patent number: 7284080
    Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for memory bus assignment for a plurality of functional devices. According to a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a system comprising a plurality of functional devices accessing a memory bus wherein the memory bus allows access by one of the functional devices for one cycle of period of time, a plurality of request agents corresponding to the functional devices, a control register respectively storing access priority grades for the request agents, a plurality of counter timers respectively loading the access priority grades; and a bus elector coupled with the counter timers wherein the bus elector respectively compares the loaded access priority grades and elects one out of the request agents according to the compared access priority grades. The memory bus accordingly allows access by one of the functional devices corresponding to the elected request agent for one cycle of period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Long Lin, Ren-Yuh Wang
  • Patent number: 7280154
    Abstract: A video processing system is presented that interleaves video data. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, data from a first field is placed in a frame and is augmented with pixel values in adjacent alternate rows of the frame with pixel values determined from the pixel values in the first field data and pixel values from the second field data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Chung Yi-Chen
  • Patent number: 7278119
    Abstract: A battery-optimized system-on-a-chip includes multimedia module, a high-speed interface, a processing module, on-chip memory, and an on-chip DC-to-DC converter. The multimedia module operably coupled to produce rendered output data from input data received via the high-speed interface and/or from data stored in the on-chip memory. The high-speed interface is operably coupled to provide data to and from an external source. The on-chip memory is operably coupled to store at least a portion of a multimedia application, wherein the processing module processes input multimedia data in accordance with the multimedia application to produce output multimedia data. The on-chip DC-to-DC converter is operably coupled to convert a battery voltage into a supply voltage that is provided to the multimedia module, the high-speed interface, the processing module, and/or the on-chip memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Brady Henson, Matthew D. Felder, Marcus W. May, Daniel Mulligan
  • Publication number: 20070223640
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a clock rate of a digital phase lock loop is disclosed. The system includes a first input to receive a first clock signal, an output to provide a second clock signal, and a dividerless initial clock rate determination module to calculate an initial clock rate value based on an reciprocal of a pulse length of the first clock signal. In a particular embodiment, the dividerless initial clock rate determination module performs a piecewise linear operation to calculate the initial clock rate value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Tinker
  • Publication number: 20070205669
    Abstract: An optimized battery usage circuit for a comprehensive system-on-a-chip includes a first DC-to-DC converter operable to convert a battery voltage into a supply voltage when an alternate power source is not coupled to the comprehensive system-on-a-chip. A second DC-to-DC converter is operable to convert an alternate power source voltage into the supply voltage when the alternate power source is coupled to the comprehensive system-on-a-chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus May
  • Publication number: 20070200642
    Abstract: A system and method for using one or more clock signals is disclosed. The system includes a clock translator that has a first input to receive a first reference clock signal and a second input to receive a second reference clock signal. The clock translator also includes an output to provide a bit rate clock signal having a clock frequency in a first ratio with respect to the frequency of the first reference clock but having a resolution based on at least a portion of the second reference clock signal. The second reference clock has a faster rate than the first reference clock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Tinker
  • Patent number: 7262585
    Abstract: A power supply system having a transistor, a linear regulator, a DC-DC converter, and a control circuit. The transistor has an input, a substrate, a first node, and a second node. The first node is operably coupled to a non-battery power source. A linear regulator is operably coupled to the second node to produce a regulated output voltage based on the non-battery power source, when enabled. A DC-DC converter is operably coupled to produce the regulated output voltage based on a battery power source, when enabled. A control circuit is operably coupled to the input node and the substrate of the transistor wherein when the DC-DC converter is enabled, the control circuit controls a reverse leakage current of the transistor, and when the linear regulator is enabled in a zero load-state, the control circuit controls a forward leakage current of the transistor, and when the linear regulator is enabled in a non-zero load-state, the control circuit provides a current limit for the linear regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus W. May
  • Publication number: 20070198806
    Abstract: A system and method for managing memory is disclosed. The system includes a computer memory array and a memory management unit accessible to the memory array. The memory management unit includes a plurality of parallel comparators. The comparators receive a virtual memory address and perform a comparison of the virtual memory address to a plurality of predetermined addresses. The memory management unit also includes logic responsive to outputs of each of the comparators to determine a physical memory address of an element within the memory array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Schultz
  • Publication number: 20070195113
    Abstract: A method of rotating a digital image includes performing a first pass to process a selected image tile of a source image. The first pass includes copying a set of pixels of the selected image tile from a first memory to a processor memory, where the set of pixels comprises a portion of the selected image tile. The first pass further includes grouping the set of pixels into blocks of pixels and writing each of the blocks of pixels to a memory location. The method further includes repeating the first pass until each of the pixels of the selected image tile is processed, performing a second pass to process the blocks of pixels, and repeating the second pass until each of the blocks of pixels is processed. The second pass includes copying blocks of pixels, regrouping the blocks of pixels, and writing the regrouped pixels to a destination image location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: SIGMATEL, INC.
    Inventors: Derek Walton, Jim Duda
  • Patent number: 7259480
    Abstract: A method for conversing battery power for a battery-optimized system-on-a-chip begins by sensing for presence of an alternate power source. The processing continues, when the presence of the alternate power source is detected, a first control loop of a first DC-to-DC converter is disabled and a second control loop of a second DC-to-DC converter is enabled to produce a supply voltage for the system-on-a-chip. The first DC-to-DC converter, when enabled, converts a battery voltage into a supply voltage and the second DC-to-DC converter, when enabled, converts voltage from the alternate power source into the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcus W. May
  • Publication number: 20070183742
    Abstract: A device, method, and computer-readable medium for automated playlist generation are disclosed. In an embodiment, user input related to at least a first search criterion and a second search criterion is received at a portable playback device. A playlist is generated at the portable playback device. The playlist includes at least one media file selected based on the first search criterion and the second search criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventor: Clayton Cowgill
  • Patent number: 7254244
    Abstract: An audio amplifier generates an output to a load, in which a digital-to-analog converter drives the amplifier during powering up and powering down the amplifier. The digital-to-analog converter controls the amplifier to ramp the voltage at the output at a predetermined rate to reduce rapid voltage changes from being sent to the load during the powering up or powering down sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Brady Henson, Matthew D. Felder
  • Patent number: 7250787
    Abstract: A digital audio system on a chip includes a plurality of general purpose input/output (GPIO) modules operably coupled to the bus. Each of the plurality of GPIO modules includes a plurality of GPIO cells, wherein a GPIO cell of the plurality of GPIO cells is coupled to a pin of the digital audio SOC. A first GPIO module of the plurality of GPIO modules functions, in a first mode, as an input/output for system management and functions, in a second mode, as an output. A second GPIO module of the plurality of GPIO modules functions, in a first mode, as an I2C input/output, and functions, in a second mode, as an input/output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Mulligan
  • Publication number: 20070168062
    Abstract: A computer audio system and method is disclosed. The system includes an input to receive a digital audio input signal and a splitter to split the digital audio input signal into a plurality of digital audio signals. The system also includes a plurality of digital signal processing software modules corresponding to a detected number of hardware audio interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Torrini, Konstantin Shkolnyy, Andrew Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20070168196
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an audio source to an audio hardware device is disclosed. The system includes a detection module to detect a first audio input and a selection module to selectively provide the first audio input at an audio output to an audio device after the first audio input has been detected. The system also includes an emulation module to provide hardware emulation information corresponding to feedback data of the audio device after the first audio input has been detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Torrini, Konstantin Shkolnyy
  • Publication number: 20070168632
    Abstract: A method and system for accessing a non-volatile memory is disclosed. The method includes writing a first stream of data to a first block of a first region of a non-volatile memory and detecting a full condition of the first block of the first region. Further, the method includes identifying data to be copied from the first block of the first region and copying the identified data from the first block of the first region to a second block of the first region of the non-volatile memory. The method also includes writing a second stream of data to the second block of the first region and writing a third stream of data to a first block of a second region of the non-volatile memory. In addition, the method includes detecting a full condition of the first block of the second region, identifying data to be copied from the first block of the second region and copying the identified data from the first block of the second region to a second block of the second region of the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: SigmaTel, Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Zeevi, Grayson Abbott, Richard Sanders, Glenn Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 7246027
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for conserving power of a mixed-signal system-on-a-chip having analog circuitry, involving determination of an analog variation parameter that is representative of an integrated circuit fabrication process variance of the integrated circuit, and an operational temperature associated with the analog variation parameter. With the analog variation parameter and the operational temperature, an adjustment signal is determined for a power supply level of the integrated circuit, such that power consumption of the integrated circuit is optimized. Further, in mixed-signal integrated circuits with digital and analog circuitry, a digital variation parameter is determined, where the adjustment signal determination is based on the digital variation parameter and the analog variation parameter with respect to the operational temperature. With such a method and apparatus, power consumption is optimized on an IC-by-IC basis such that power consumption of each IC is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Sigmatel, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus W. May, Matthew D. Felder