Abstract: A low-noise voltage reference generator that utilizes internal gain and feedback to generate an output signal having reduced sensitivity to power supply variations and loading conditions is described. A method includes generating a current based on a voltage drop across a resistor. The voltage drop is based on a second voltage drop across a gate terminal of a transistor and a source terminal of the transistor. The method includes the current using a reference voltage to generate a mirrored current through a node coupled to the drain terminal of the transistor. The method includes generating a level-shifted voltage using a voltage on the node. The method includes buffering the level-shifted voltage using a power supply voltage to generate the reference voltage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to adaptively control advertising and/or scanning operations on multiple advertising channels in a wireless network environment. In one example, a wireless device may monitor for wireless activity from other protocols (e.g., such as Wi-Fi or Zigbee) on the frequency of one or more of the multiple advertising channels of a first wireless network protocol, such as a BLE wireless network protocol. The wireless device may respond in real time to the detected presence of wireless activity from other protocols on one or more of the advertising channels of the first protocol by dynamically varying the identity of which advertising channels are employed at any given time for advertising and/or scanning.

Abstract: A system and method of minimizing interference and retries in an environment where two or more network protocols utilize the same frequency spectrum is disclosed. A lower-power network controller is co-located with a WIFI controller. The lower-power network controller parses incoming packets as they are received and generates a request signal once it is determined that the incoming packet is destined for this device. This maximizes the likelihood that no WIFI traffic will occur while the incoming packet is being received.

Abstract: Networks with a plurality of independent nodes are useful when the nodes can communicate with one another and with nodes and resources outside the network. The present disclosure addresses ways to encapsulate packets as they move from a sender to a receiver, and also addresses ways for speeding up messages between nodes by orderly queuing and processing of messages. The present disclosure also includes techniques for mapping nodes in a home area network to IP addresses in a local area network.

Abstract: The charge drawn from a battery during each switching event (pulse) of a pulse frequency modulated DC-DC converter is determined during a calibration period. based on differences in pulse rate with different current loading. Another approach calibration approach determines charge drawn from the battery by measuring voltage across a sense resistor while measuring the total pulse rate and while adding sufficient load current to ensure that the voltage is much larger than the residual offset of the measurement system. During operation, the system counts number of pulses are counted and the total charge drawn from the battery is determined based, at least in part, on the charge transferred per pulse during calibration, the operational mode, the battery voltage during calibration and operationally and the output voltage. Based on the total charge drawn and temperature (for temperature dependent battery types), the battery state of charge is estimated.

Abstract: An interpolative divider includes a look ahead sigma delta modulator circuit to generate divide values according to a divide ratio. A plurality of M storage elements are coupled to the sigma delta modulator to store the divide values, M being at least 2. A selector circuit selects the respective divide values and supplies the divide values to a portion of an interpolative divider circuit, the portion including a divider and a phase interpolator. The interpolative divider generates an output clock signal having a first clock period that may be determined by the first and second divide values. The M storage elements are loaded by a clock signal that is slower than the output clock signal by at least half.

Abstract: A DC-DC converter with a programmable pulse time limit. A charge pulse begins when the output voltage reaches a minimum threshold and terminates in response to a discharge indication, in which charge current flows through an inductive element while the charge pulse is provided. The discharge indication is provided to initiate a discharge pulse when the charge current reaches a peak threshold, which terminates in response to a reset indication. Current is discharged from the inductive element during the discharge pulse. A zero crossing detector provides the reset indication when the discharge current reaches a minimum level. A programmable timing circuit limits a duration of either one or both of the charge pulse and the discharge pulse to prevent hangup or excessive output voltage ripple. The DC-DC converter may include a memory that stores a digital value used to program the programmed time duration of the programmable timing circuit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes: a first radio receiver to receive and downconvert a first radio frequency (RF) signal to a first digital signal; a second radio receiver to receive and downconvert a second RF signal to a second digital signal; a correlation circuit to receive the first and second digital signals and determine a correlation between the first and second digital signals; a weight calculation circuit to determine a first weight value and a second weight value based at least in part on the correlation; and a combiner circuit to combine the first and second digital signals according to the first and second weight values.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus includes: a transmit circuit to upconvert a baseband signal to a first differential radio frequency (RF) signal, the transmit circuit to convert the first differential RF signal to a first single-ended RF signal; a duty cycle correction circuit coupled to the transmit circuit to receive the first single-ended RF signal and compensate for a duty cycle variation in the first single-ended RF signal to output a duty cycle-corrected RF signal; a conversion circuit to convert the duty cycle-corrected RF signal to a second differential RF signal; and an interface circuit to transfer the second differential RF signal from a first ground domain to a second ground domain.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a thermistor having a variable resistance with a first dependence on absolute temperature. The apparatus includes a reference resistor having a resistance with a second dependence on absolute temperature, the second dependence being less than or having opposite polarity to the first dependence. The reference resistor includes a switched-capacitor circuit. The apparatus includes a node coupled between the thermistor and the reference resistor. The node is configured to provide a signal indicative of absolute temperature based on the variable resistance and the reference resistance. The signal may be strain-invariant, proportional to a reference voltage, and indicative of a ratio of the variable resistance to the reference resistance. The apparatus may include a feedback circuit configured to maintain the node at a predetermined voltage level.

Abstract: A diode string for a semiconductor circuit configured with a guard ring silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. The diode string includes multiple NPN transistor diode structures formed in an N-well structure and electrically coupled in series between a reference voltage node and an I/O pad. Each diode structure may include a P-type retro-well structure including at least one N+ doped region and at least one P+ doped region. The P+ guard ring includes at least one P+ doped structure formed in the N-well structure disposed on either side of the first diode structure and electrically coupled to the reference voltage node. The P+ guard ring forms the SCR with the first diode structure. The diode string is triggered in response to an ESD event, which activates the SCR, and the SCR clamps the I/O pad to the reference voltage node and handles the ESD current.

Abstract: In one form, a non-volatile memory driver includes a function library defining a plurality of native function calls, and a hardware abstraction layer having an input coupled to and output of the function library for receiving the at least one instruction, and an output for providing a plurality of signals to cause a non-volatile memory to execute the at least one instruction. The non-volatile memory driver maintains the flash memory as a circular buffer using a bottom sector pointer and a next location pointer. In response to receiving a housekeeping command generated from corresponding command from an application layer as the selected native function call, the function library causes the hardware abstraction layer to selectively repack valid data of a bottom sector indicated by said bottom sector pointer using the next location pointer, and to selectively erase the bottom sector.

Abstract: In one example, a receiver includes: a low noise amplifier (LNA) to receive and amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal, the LNA having a first controllable gain; a mixer to downconvert the RF signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal; a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) coupled to the mixer to amplify the IF signal, the PGA having a second controllable gain; a digitizer to digitize the IF signal to a digitized signal; a digital signal processor (DSP) to process the digitized signal; a first detector to output a first detection signal having a first value in response to the IF signal exceeding a first threshold during a first detection period; and a controller to dynamically update a gain setting of one or more of the LNA and the PGA in response to the first detection signal.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for systems and methods that include pulsing a clock pin of retention cells included within a scan chain to shift a sequence of logic values into the scan chain, so that successive cells are loaded with opposite logic values. Embodiments also include pulsing a retain pin to retain the logic values, and pulsing the clock pin to shift the sequence of logic values through the chain, so that retained logic values are output from, and logic values opposite to the retained logic values are loaded into, the cells. Embodiments also include pulsing a restore pin to restore the retained logic values, pulsing the clock pin to shift the logic values out of the scan chain, comparing the logic values shifted out of the scan chain with the logic values shifted into the scan chain, and detecting a fault on the retain pin based on said comparison.

Abstract: A system and method of utilizing ECC memory to detect software errors and malicious activities is disclosed. In one embodiment, after a pool of memory is freed, every data word in that pool is modified to ensure that an ECC error will occur if any data word in that pool is read again. In another embodiment, the ECC memory controller is used to detect and prevent non-secure applications from accessing secure portions of memory.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an integrated circuit (IC) adapted to be powered by a positive supply voltage. The IC includes a charge pump that is adapted to convert the positive supply voltage of the IC to a negative bias voltage. The IC further includes a bidirectional interface circuit. The bidirectional interface circuit includes an amplifier coupled to the negative bias voltage to accommodate a bidirectional input voltage of the IC. The bidirectional interface circuit further includes a comparator coupled to the negative bias voltage to accommodate the bidirectional input voltage of the IC.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a communication system comprising a first device and a second device. The method comprises transferring a packet from a first device to a second device, which packet comprises an authentication request having a challenge; encrypting the challenge from the authentication request by the second device; including the determined challenge as a challenge-response to a response packet by the second device; sending the response packet from the second device to the first device; determining whether the challenge matches with the challenge-response, and if so, authenticating the second device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a loop cache coupled to the processor. The loop cache provides to the processor instructions corresponding to a loop in the instructions. The loop cache includes a persistence counter.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a radio-frequency (RF) receiver. The RF receiver includes a single-balanced passive mixer driven by the output of a low noise amplifier (LNA) and a passive filter driven by an output of the single-balanced passive mixer. The RF receiver further includes a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) having an input resistance that generates noise, where the PGA is driven by an output of the passive filter, and the noise generated by the input resistance of the PGA is suppressed.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an energy detection circuit, a switching circuit, and a tamper response circuit. The integrated circuit has an input for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, a first output for providing a demodulated signal, and a second output for selectively providing a detect signal. The detect signal is provided in response to detecting that an energy of an internal signal exceeds a first threshold when the integrated circuit is in a secure mode. The switching circuit is used to alternatively switch the input of the energy detection circuit to an RF input terminal in a normal mode and to an internal antenna in a secure mode. The tamper response circuit disables a function of the integrated circuit in response to an activation of the detect signal in the secure mode.