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 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 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 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.

Abstract: A system for high-speed data transfer within a portable device, such as, cell phone or a set-top box, which includes a memory medium and a processor. The system includes a first port for coupling to the processor, and a second port for coupling to the memory medium. Further, the system includes an embedded Universal Serial Bus (USB) host configured for receiving data transfer commands from the processor, and transferring data at high speed between a USB device on the processor and the memory medium. Moreover, a data path is provided between the embedded USB host and the first port.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for an auto-ranging analog-to-digital converter (ADC) for dynamically scaling inputs to an ADC. The auto-ranging ADC includes a dynamically configurable transistor arrangement for delivering a load current and a replica device for replicating the load current. A current sense resistor generates a replicated load voltage based on the replicated current. The ADC generates a digital value based on the replicated load voltage. The auto-ranging ADC also includes an auto-ranging controller for dynamically configuring the transistor arrangement based on the digital value to scale the inputs to the ADC.

Abstract: A communication system, network, interface, and port architecture are provided for transporting different types of data across a network. The network can be arranged by connecting the ports in a daisy chain fashion to achieve a ring architecture or topology. The network forwards data according to a specific network protocol, and any incoming data that follows that protocol will be sent onto the network. If the incoming data protocol does not match the network protocol, then the incoming data is not sent immediately to the network, but instead is sent to an input pin of a device upon the network specifically designed to receive that incoming data. The network, therefore, has ports that support both compliant and non-compliant incoming data, and the devices that produce such data.

Abstract: Geometrically based system and method for receiving capacitive sensory input. User input may be received by a capacitive sensing pad. A signal may be generated by the capacitive sensing pad. The signal may indicate a size of an area in which the user input is received. The signal may be received by an input composed in processing circuitry and coupled to the capacitive sensing pad. A location of the user input may be determined by the processing circuitry based on the signal.

Abstract: System and method for configuring a portable device. The portable device includes a serial bus hub, one or more processors coupled to the serial bus hub via a serial bus, and a flash memory coupled to the serial bus hub via the serial bus. A degraded signal is received to a serial bus hub included in the portable device via a serial bus, where the degraded signal includes code to be written to the flash memory to initialize or update firmware for the portable device. The serial bus hub restores the degraded signal, thereby generating a restored signal, and sends the restored signal to at least one of the one or more processors to initialize or update the firmware in the flash memory for the portable device.

Abstract: A system and method are presented for aligning a rotor in a motor. The motor may include the rotor and a plurality of pairs of electromagnets. One or more pairs of electromagnets may be excited at a first excitation level. The one or more pairs of electromagnets may be less than all of the plurality of pairs of electromagnets. The excitation of the one or more pairs of electromagnets may be increased to a second excitation level over a first period of time. The excitation of the one or more pairs of electromagnets may be decreased to a third excitation level over a second period of time. Exciting the one or more pairs of electromagnets, increasing the excitation, and decreasing the excitation may cause the rotor to stop in a known position.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a computer system may include a computer controller to send and/or receive sideband signals to/from a USB device. In some embodiments, the USB device may include a USB controller to send/receive sideband signals to/from the computer controller. The computer controller and USB controller may allow communications between the computer system and the USB device when either of the computer system or USB device is in a low power state. The sideband signal sent between the computer system and the USB device may trigger the other of the computer system or USB device to enter a normal power state. In some embodiments, the computer controller and/or USB controller may be further coupled to a memory to buffer data to be sent to the computer system or USB device after the computer system or USB device returns to a normal power state.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a power transistor array designed to have a very low resistance. The power transistor array includes a bottom metal layer and a top metal layer. The bottom metal layer includes a plurality of strips, each corresponding to either drain or source strips, the drain and source strips being placed in parallel and alternating with each other. Further, the top metal layer, above the bottom metal layer, includes a plurality of strips. Each strip corresponds to either drain or source strips, the drain and the source strips being placed and alternating with each other. The strips of the top metal layer are oriented at angle with respect to the strips of the bottom metal layer. Moreover, the power transistor includes a plurality of bond pads on the top metal layer, and bond wires with one end attached to the corresponding bond pad.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for implementing extensible hardware configuration using memory. A memory containing an Info Block is provided. The Info Block contains a set of descriptors, which comprises an address part and a data part. The OTP Engine reads each valid descriptor stored in the Info Block, and writes the data in the data part into the memory location specified by the address part. The OTP Engine interacts with the Info Block by accessing the Info Block Controller registers via the central system bus.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses methods and systems for improving touch detection of a touch screen device. The method includes determining touch coordinates when the touch screen device is touched. Subsequently, a sampling time is adjusted, depending on the touch coordinates relative to initial coordinates of the touch screen device.

Abstract: A control method for a brushless, three-phase DC motor. The motor may include a plurality of electromagnets and a rotor. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at an expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values, may be calculated. A delta zero crossing error may be calculated. The delta zero crossing error may be calculated based on a difference between the first sampled voltage value and the calculated average. The plurality of electromagnets may be commutated. Commutation timing for the plurality of electromagnets may be determined based at least in part on the delta zero crossing error.

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.