Abstract: An electronic device includes a voltage divider producing different reference voltages. Dummy pixels each are formed by a transfer gate transistor having a first conduction terminal coupled to a floating diffusion node, a second conduction terminal, and a control node coupled to a first gate signal line, a transmission gate coupled between one of the plurality of taps and the second conduction terminal of the transfer gate transistor, a floating diffusion capacitor coupled between the floating diffusion node and ground, a transistor having a first conduction terminal coupled to the floating diffusion node, a second conduction terminal, and a control terminal coupled to a second gate signal line, and a reset transistor having a first conduction terminal coupled to the upper reference voltage, a second conduction terminal coupled to the second conduction terminal of the transistor, and a control terminal coupled to a reset signal line.

Abstract: A glitch detector includes an input flip-flop clocked by a clock signal and having a non-inverting data output, an inverting data output, and a data input receiving input from the inverting data output, the input flip-flop generating a divided version of the clock signal at the non-inverting data output. A configurable delay chain receives the divided version of the clock signal and generates a delayed version of the divided version of the clock signal as a delay output. An intermediate flip-flop clocked by the clock signal has a data input receiving the delay output, the intermediate flip-flop generating an intermediate output as a function of the delay output. A logic circuit receives the divided version of the clock signal and the intermediate output, and generates a glitch detect signal by performing a logical operation on the divided version of the clock signal and the intermediate output.

Abstract: A touch screen controller includes an input stage configured to receive and condition a touch output from a touch matrix to produce a touch signal. An accumulation stage is configured to receive the touch signal and accumulate the touch signal to produce an accumulated output. The accumulated output is digitized by an analog to digital converter to produce a touch strength value. A given amount of charge is subtracted from or added to accumulated output during a next accumulation if the touch strength value is greater than an upper threshold or less than a lower threshold. This avoids saturation of components in the touch screen controller and therefore increases the signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: A microfluidic-based sensor, comprising: a semiconductor body, having a first and a second side opposite to one another in a direction; a buried channel, extending within the semiconductor body; a structural layer, of dielectric or insulating material, formed over the first side of the semiconductor body at least partially suspended above the buried channel; and a first thermocouple element, including a first strip, of a first electrical conductive material, and a second strip, of a second electrical conductive material different from the first electrical conductive material, electrically coupled to the first strip. The first thermocouple element is buried in the structural layer and partially extends over the buried channel at a first location. A corresponding manufacturing method is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a circuit including a driver circuit applying a received drive signal to a capacitive sensing line of a capacitive touch panel as a boosted drive signal, the driver circuit powered by a boosted supply voltage. A charge pump circuit receives an input supply voltage and output the boosted supply voltage, the charge pump circuit including a voltage sensing circuit to sense the boosted supply voltage and a comparison circuit to compare the sensed boosted supply voltage to a threshold and produce a comparison signal. A control circuit determines a ratio of a pulse width of the comparison signal to the drive signal, and tunes operation of the charge pump circuit to drive the ratio to match a performance threshold.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a first current generator circuit that generates a current complementary to absolute temperature and a second current generator that generates a current proportional to absolute temperature. A temperature slope control circuit adjusts slopes of the current complementary to absolute temperature and the current proportional to absolute temperature in a complementary fashion and adds the current complementary to absolute temperature to the current proportional to absolute temperature after slope control to produce a temperature independent current. A current control circuit adjusts magnitude of the temperature independent current to produce a magnitude adjusted temperature independent current. A current controlled oscillator generates an output signal as a function of the magnitude adjusted temperature independent current.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch screen controller including a driver circuit applying a drive signal to a drive line of a capacitive touch sensing panel. The driver circuit is powered by an accurate supply voltage. A driver supply circuit receives an input supply voltage and outputs the accurate supply voltage. The driver supply circuit includes a clocked comparator comparing a divided version of the accurate supply voltage to a reference voltage and outputting a comparison signal based thereupon. A voltage control circuit (e.g. a charge pump circuit) generates the accurate supply voltage in response to the comparison signal. The clocked comparator and voltage control circuit are both clocked by a driver supply circuit clock.

Abstract: A method includes upon sensing a touch to a first location on a touch display, reporting first coordinates of the touch. After sensing movement of the touch along a first path from the first location to a second location more than a tolerance distance away, intermediate coordinates of the touch along the first path that are not more than a cutoff distance away are reported such that there is a first gap between a last reported intermediate coordinate and the second location. After sensing movement of the touch along a second path from the second location to a third location more, second coordinates of the touch are reported, the second reported coordinates of the touch being a point along the first path that is calculated by subtracting the first gap from a distance between the first location and the third location, and then adding a first compensation difference thereto.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of image pixels, with the array of image pixels having inputs coupled to control lines and outputs coupled to output lines, and at least one array of dummy pixels, with the at least one array of dummy pixels having inputs coupled to the control lines. Each dummy pixel of the at least one array of dummy pixels is configured to provide a certain output signal in an absence of a fault with at least one of the control lines or of a fault with at least one of the output lines, such that a lack of output of the certain output signal by one or more of the dummy pixels of the at least one array of dummy pixels indicates the fault.

Abstract: The amount of power being output to the load is sensed by sampling the frequency of the pulse width modulation signal that is controlling the switch that is providing the power to the load. If the pulse width modulation signal has a high frequency, then it will be providing higher power to the load. As the power drawn by the load decreases, the frequency of the pulse width modulation power supply signal will decrease. By sensing and periodically sampling the frequency of the pulse width modulation signal that is providing power, the demand of the load can be quickly and accurately determined. As the power demand of the load decreases, the peak current that the power supply switch can provide also decreases. The permitted peak current dynamically changes to adapt to the power drawn by the load.

Abstract: Transient overvoltage suppression is provided by discharging through a Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) and Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR) which are connected in series between power supply lines. The SCR has a gate that receives a trigger signal generated by a triggering circuit coupled to the power supply lines. A trigger voltage of the triggering circuit is set by a Transil™ avalanche diode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch screen controller including input circuitry operating a touch screen, and processing circuitry cooperating with the input circuitry to acquire mutual touch data and self touch data from the touch screen, sum values of the mutual touch data to produce mutual sums, normalize the mutual sums and the self touch data, and calculate differences between the normalized self touch data and the normalized mutual sums. The touch screen controller enters into a floating mode if a largest difference that is positive is greater than a positive difference threshold and if a smallest difference value that is negative is less than a negative difference threshold, but enters a non-floating mode if the largest difference that is positive is less than the positive difference threshold or if the smallest difference value that is negative is less than the negative difference threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method to remove common mode noise projected onto a touch sensor array from a display. The system is configured to activate two rows of electrodes at the same time, while coupling remaining rows of electrodes to ground. A first one of the two activated rows is used for detection of a touch and a second one of the two activated rows is used to detect common mode noise from the display. The common mode noise detected by the second row is removed from signals received from a plurality of columns of the touch sensor array.

Abstract: A glitch detector includes an input flip-flop clocked by a clock signal and having a non-inverting data output, an inverting data output, and a data input receiving input from the inverting data output, the input flip-flop generating a divided version of the clock signal at the non-inverting data output. A configurable delay chain receives the divided version of the clock signal and generates a delayed version of the divided version of the clock signal as a delay output. An intermediate flip-flop clocked by the clock signal has a data input receiving the delay output, the intermediate flip-flop generating an intermediate output as a function of the delay output. A logic circuit receives the divided version of the clock signal and the intermediate output, and generates a glitch detect signal by performing a logical operation on the divided version of the clock signal and the intermediate output.

Abstract: A method of differential self-capacitance measurement is used to enhance a signal-to-noise ratio of sense lines in a touch panel display, thereby improving touch sensor accuracy. The differential self-capacitance measurement is implemented for a touch panel using charge sharing between adjacent sense lines of the touch panel matrix. Sequential differential self-capacitance measurements can be compared with one another by computing the difference |CS1?CS2|?|CS2?CS1| to sense a change caused by an intervening event. By scanning the entire touch panel matrix, events can be tracked across the touch panel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch screen controller for controlling touch sensing in a touch screen display, the touch screen display having a display layer controlled as a function of horizontal sync and vertical sync signals and a capacitive touch array comprised of drive lines and sense lines. The touch screen controller includes a driver and control circuitry. The control circuitry is configured to cause the driver to generate a driving signal on the drive lines during assertion of the horizontal sync signal, and cause the driver to generate the driving signal on the drive lines during assertion of the vertical sync signal. Analog touch sensing circuitry is configured to generate analog touch data as a function of signals on the sense lines resulting from generation of the drive signal on the drive lines.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a test voltage generation circuit to generate a test voltage as a function of a regulator voltage, and a switching circuit to receive the test voltage and an image pixel output signal, and to pass the test voltage as output when in a test mode. A comparison circuit receives the output from the switching circuit and an analog to digital conversion signal, and asserts a counter reset signal when the output from the switching circuit and the analog to digital conversion signal are equal in voltage. A counter begins counting at a beginning of each test cycle within the test mode, stops counting upon assertion of the counter rest signal, and outputs its count upon stopping counting. The count is proportional to the test voltage when in the test mode.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of charge-to-current converters each including a first NMOS transistor having a source coupled to a sense line, a first capacitor between a gate and source of the first NMOS transistor so that a transient component of noise from the sense line is applied to both, a first PMOS transistor having a source coupled to the sense line, a second capacitor between a gate and source of the first PMOS transistor so the transient component of the noise is applied to both, a first current mirror having an input coupled to a drain of the first NMOS transistor and an output coupled to an output for that charge to current converter, and a second current mirror having an input coupled to a drain of the first PMOS transistor and an output coupled to the output for that charge to current converter.

Abstract: Dual power supply and energy recovery techniques are used in a capacitive touch panel that employs a concurrent drive scheme. A dual supply output buffer boosts a capacitor from an intermediate voltage level to a high voltage level. Energy recovery exchanges stored energy between a capacitor and an inductor. When both techniques are used together, power consumption of a capacitive touch panel drive circuit can be reduced dramatically, by as much as about 80%. Such high efficiency touch panels have wide application to ultra-thin touch screens, including those suitable for use in mobile devices and flexible displays.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a touch screen controller including input circuitry operating a touch screen, and processing circuitry cooperating with the input circuitry to acquire mutual touch data and self touch data from the touch screen, sum values of the mutual touch data to produce mutual sums, normalize the mutual sums and the self touch data, and calculate differences between the normalized self touch data and the normalized mutual sums. The touch screen controller enters into a floating mode if a largest difference that is positive is greater than a positive difference threshold and if a smallest difference value that is negative is less than a negative difference threshold, but enters a non-floating mode if the largest difference that is positive is less than the positive difference threshold or if the smallest difference value that is negative is less than the negative difference threshold.