Abstract: A method and system for detecting a charging current supplied to a portable device through a USB charger. The method includes the steps of connecting a charging circuit to a portable device, allowing the portable device to draw charging current from the charging circuit, measuring the current drawn from the charging circuit, comparing the measured current with a threshold value, making one or more system level decisions regarding charging of the portable device if the detected charging current is below the threshold current.

Abstract: A charging method and system for rationing charge or energy supplied by a host to a portable device. The system includes a power switch connected to a current sensing module that detects instantaneous current drawn by the portable device. A current register connected to the current sensing module stores the instantaneous current value. A timing module generates timing information. A cumulative charge value obtained by multiplying the instantaneous current value with the timing information is stored in a charge register. Further, a cumulative energy value may be obtained by multiplying the cumulative charge value with a detected voltage value. A threshold database stores a threshold value, and a rationing module connected to the host and the charge register continuously compares the cumulative charge value and/or the cumulative energy value with the threshold charge value. A control signal is generated when the threshold charge value is exceeded.

Abstract: A method for transferring data between a host device and an external device is described. The external device has FAT32 file system. The method accepts parameters for an incoming data file from the host device. Further, the method allocates memory blocks for the incoming file data on the external device based on the parameters and indexes the allocated memory blocks on a memory index table to create a file footprint. The method reads the memory index table to identify the file footprint and receives the incoming file data from the host device.

Abstract: A system and method for efficient input/output (I/O) port overvoltage protection of a high-speed port. An interfacing system for connecting peripheral devices to a computing system comprises ports for conveying serial communications bi-directional signals and an overvoltage protection circuit. The protection circuit prevents an overvoltage condition on one port in response to an overvoltage event on a corresponding second port. In one embodiment, the interfacing system connects USB peripheral devices to an automotive infotainment system comprising an automotive battery potiential greater than a USB power supply. In addition, the overvoltage protection circuit is able to transmit signals between the two ports without signal attenuation defined by an industry standard specification such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) Implementers Forum (IF) eye pattern diagram test.

Abstract: An emulation system for charging any arbitrary portable device through a communication port on the portable device. The system includes a receptacle port for communicating with the portable device and a profile database for storing multiple charging profiles. Each charging profile including a set of parameters and at least one exit condition. Further, an emulation module applies a first charging profile to the portable device and monitors the set of parameters associated with the charging profile to identify an associated exit condition. Upon a determination that the exit condition for the first charging profile is met, the emulation module applies a next charging profile to the portable device.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. The energy needed for alignment of the rotor is used to generate the first movement in forced commutation and may be combined with the initial energy to start the motor. The logic is configured to align the rotor by energizing the three coils of the motor. PWM is applied to the first coil to control current on the coils; when a maximum PWM duty cycle is reached, the coil not required to rotate the correct direction are released, thereby initiating motion in a rotor. A rotation period is determined. One or more pairs of electromagnets are excited at a first excitation level which may be increased, over a second period, to a second level. The second level may be a higher level than the first level. The rotation period may be decreased over the first and second periods.

Abstract: Updating firmware of a display device. The display device may include a display screen and a video interface for receiving video signals from a host system and providing the video signals for display on the display screen. The display device may include a memory that stores program instructions for controlling operation of the display device. The display device may include a serial bus interface (e.g., a USB interface), which may receive signals from a host computer for updating the program instructions in the memory. A serial bus to first protocol bridge may receive the serial bus signals from the serial bus interface and convert the serial bus signals to signals of the first protocol. A display controller may update the program instructions in the memory of the display in response to the signals of the first protocol.

Abstract: The invention is related to a method and system for temperature regulation of a power switch during charging of a portable device. The method includes the steps of establishing a connection between the portable device and a charging circuit, monitoring a charging current supplied from the charging circuit to the portable device, monitoring a temperature of the power switch, while the portable device is being charged, comparing the monitored temperature with a predefined threshold temperature, and restricting the charging current, based on the comparison.

Abstract: An audio-visual content delivery system includes an interface to communicate with a local area network (LAN). A packet processing circuit in the system may filter and route Ethernet packet data received from the LAN, to specific ports and/or queues without host processor intervention. The packet processing circuit may utilize a set of filter and routing mechanisms configurable in hardware to interpret various Internet Engineering Task Force networking transport protocols, and may transfer the packet data in a format recognized by a variety of consumer subsystems, each of which may be coupled to the packet processing circuit. The packet processing circuit may be implemented as a semiconductor device, and may allow encapsulated application data to be routed to a plurality of different types of application sinks or processors, forming a point-to-point or multi-point serial or parallel data stream over a standard transport covering numerous levels of the ISO data communications stack.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for indicating an attachment and removal for a portable device. The method includes the steps of attaching the portable device to a charging system, delivering current to the portable device from the charging system, the delivered current is limited based on the portable device, replicating the current flowing through the first switch at a second switch, generating a voltage based on the current flowing through the second switch, comparing the voltage with a pre-defined threshold voltage, and indicating at least one of attachment or removal for the portable device based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and system for securing access to a storage device including one or more locked logical sections. The method includes providing an interface device including a first port connected to a computing system and a second port connected to the storage device. Further, the method includes receiving a unique identifier from a wireless device, and deriving a key from the unique identifier. Based on the derived key, the method unlocks a logical section in the storage device. The method may further store access permission rights for the locked logical sections in the interface device and unlock the logical section based on the access permission rights. Moreover, the method may further authenticate the identity of a user of the wireless device for unlocking the storage device.

Abstract: To improve Wake-on-LAN (WOL) functionality of a device, a Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering function may be implemented in the device's Ethernet physical layer (ePHY) block. When the ePHY detects a WOL frame, the MAC filtering function in the ePHY may perform address comparison between the MAC address associated with the device, and the MAC address contained in the WOL frame. Performing the MAC address comparison within the ePHY allows the main system components, such as the main SOC and other components to remain in standby mode (or sleep mode) until a MAC address match has been determined. Therefore, the main system components do not need to be rebooted every time the device receives a WOL frame, only when there is a match between the MAC address of the system and the MAC address contained in the detected WOL packet.

Abstract: A USB-to-SDIO bridge (UTSB) to efficiently transmit SD/SDIO commands in USB packets. The UTSB may allow the majority of the device drivers for a given SD/SDIO device to remain intact, requiring changes only in the lowest hardware adaptation layer to put a USB wrapper around native SD commands. These commands may be sent over USB-to-SD card reader devices that may include various embodiments of a UTSB, where they may be unwrapped and transmitted to the SD port as if the port were native to the host controller. Additionally, the SD/SDIO commands may be packaged into groups of commands, or transactions, to optimize performance. The host driver may instruct the UTSB bridge device to repeatedly read data from the SDIO device until a communications FIFO on the device is empty (corresponding to a termination condition), and return the collected data to the host.

Abstract: A temperature sensor circuit and system providing accurate digital temperature readings using a local or remote temperature diode. In one set of embodiments a change in diode junction voltage (?VBE) proportional to the temperature of the diode is captured and provided to an analog to digital converter (ADC), which may perform required signal conditioning functions on ?VBE, and provide a digital output corresponding to the temperature of the diode. DC components of errors in the measured temperature that may result from EMI noise modulating the junction voltage (VBE) may be minimized through the use of a front-end sample-and-hold circuit coupled between the diode and the ADC, in combination with a shunt capacitor coupled across the diode junction. The sample-and-hold-circuit may sample VBE at a frequency that provides sufficient settling time for each VBE sample, and provide corresponding stable ?VBE samples to the ADC at the ADC operating frequency.

Abstract: A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. The stator coil in the electromagnets inside the motor may be used as the inductive element through which a voltage regulator can regulate the current as a means of regulating the output voltage. The value of the control signal provided to the drivers controlling power to the coils may be calculated based on at least the rail voltage, as measured in real time. This allows for a wide variation of input voltages, while maintaining a relatively constant output power to the motor. In general, by taking into account the value of the rail voltage when determining the final value of the control signal that is applied to the stator coils, the maximum current through the stator coils may be scaled to the same magnitude current that would be expected to flow through the coils if the rail voltage were the rated (nominal) fan/motor voltage, even when the actual rail voltage is different, e.g. higher than the rated fan/motor voltage.

Abstract: A method and system for optimizing the behavior of a charger connected to a portable device when the portable device current exceeds the charger current limit. The system includes a configuration module configured to set a maximum current limit and a register-based current limit values. The system further includes a port power switch configured to limit the portable device current, in the event that the portable device current exceeds the maximum current limit value. The port power switch is configures to modify the portable device current to a predetermined constant current value or reset the current to zero based on the relation between the maximum current limit and the register-based current limit value.

Abstract: A system may include a PWM generator and control logic. The PWM generator is configured to generate a PWM signal having a duty cycle dependent on a duty cycle value generated by the control logic. The control logic is configured to generate the duty cycle value to have a piecewise linear relationship with temperature such that at least two of a plurality of linear segments defined by the piecewise linear relationship have different slopes. In some embodiments, the piecewise linear relationship may be continuous.

Abstract: A method and system for high gain auto-zeroing arrangement for electronic circuits. An auto-zero electronic circuit eliminates an offset associated with a test electronic circuit. The test electronic circuit includes a pair of input terminals configured to receive an input voltage signal and a pair of output terminals. The auto-zero electronic circuit includes a pair of source followers, and a pair of capacitors coupled to the output terminals of the test electronic circuit for sampling the offset associated with the test electronic circuit. The auto-zero electronic circuit also includes a differential pair coupled to the pair of source followers. A pair of diode-connected transistors, coupled to the differential pair, is configured to generate biasing voltage signals. The biasing voltage signals modulate the control terminals of a pair of input source followers of the test electronic circuit and eliminate the offset associated with the test electronic circuit.

Abstract: A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. The effects of commutation on the motor may be minimized using a sinusoidal current drive on each electromagnet. The “off” times and/or the “on” times of the drive transistors controlling the electromagnets in a full “H-bridge” configuration drive scheme may be delayed. By overlapping the drive signals to the electromagnets with respect to a commutation command, the effects of switching between electromagnets may be minimized. In addition, the “on” and “off” times may also be adjusted during the overlapping to further ensure that the coils continuously conduct current, and that the current does not change direction during the switching. The delays, and hence the overlap times of the coil drive signals may be dynamically controlled, for example by using digital timers, making the response predictable and easily controlled.

Abstract: A driver circuit, that provides slew rate control of its output voltage, including a current generator, an output transistor, and optionally, a capacitor. The current generator has an input port, an output port and reference port. The output port couples to the gate of the output transistor. The capacitor couples between the gate and drain of the output transistor. The current generator controls a current IS flowing through the output port based on an input voltage at the input port. The current generator limits the absolute value of the current IS to be less than or equal to a maximum determined by a reference current Iref provided at the reference port. Modifications may be made to the driver circuit to limit the output current (e.g., as a function of the output voltage) and to make the slew rate limit independent of the gate-drain capacitance of the output transistor.