Abstract: A method is for detecting one or more objects in a detection zone using a time-of-flight sensor. The method includes emitting optical radiation via the emission circuitry of the sensor and subsequently capturing the reflected optical radiation using the reception circuitry. This captured radiation is quantified in terms of photons, and measurement circuitry determines both the amount of these photons and the distance from the sensor to the object(s). An analysis of the photon count, combined with the calculated distance, is used to determine the presence or absence of objects within the detection zone.

Abstract: A method implemented by a wireless charging receiver (RX) includes detecting, by the wireless charging RX, that a voltage potential of an output of a rectifier of the wireless charging RX has met a boost mode threshold; placing, by the wireless charging RX, the rectifier into a boost mode; and detecting, by the wireless charging RX, that the voltage potential of the output of the rectifier of the wireless charging RX has met a specified threshold, and based thereon, negotiating, by the wireless charging RX with a wireless charging transmitter (TX), to initiate a power transfer.

Abstract: A processing system includes a transmission terminal configured to provide a transmission signal, a reception terminal configured to receive a reception signal, a microprocessor programmable via software instructions, a memory controller configured to be connected to a memory, a serial communication interface, and a communication system. Specifically, the serial communication interface supports a CAN FD Light mode of operation and a UART mode of operation. For this purpose, the serial communication interface comprises a control register, a clock management circuit, a transmission shift register, a transmission control circuit, a reception shift register and a reception control circuit. Accordingly, the microprocessor can transmit and/or receive CAN FD Light or UART frames via the same serial communication interface.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless charging a wireless earbud. The wireless earbud having a body that includes a passive magnetic shield and a coil. The coil is wound around a portion of the body comprising the passive magnetic shielding. The wireless earbud receiving wireless energy in response to the placement of the body within an electromagnetic field, which results in the charging of a battery of the wireless earbud.

Abstract: In an embodiment a method for operating a processing system includes programming, by a microprocessor during a CAN FD Light data transmission phase, a control register of a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) communication interface of the processing system in order to activate a master mode; generating, by the microprocessor during the CAN FD Light data transmission phase, a transmission CAN FD Light frame; storing, by the microprocessor during the CAN FD Light data transmission phase, the transmission CAN FD Light frame to a memory; and activating, by the microprocessor during the CAN FD Light data transmission phase a first DMA channel so that the first DMA channel sequentially transfers the transmission CAN FD Light frame from the memory to a transmission shift register in the SPI communication interface.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier driver circuit is configured to drive a synchronous rectifier FET and includes a first terminal configured to be connected to a source terminal of the synchronous rectifier FET. A second terminal is configured to be connected to a drain terminal of the synchronous rectifier FET, and a third terminal is configured to be connected to a gate terminal of the synchronous rectifier FET. The synchronous rectifier driver circuit is configured to measure the voltage between the second terminal and the first terminal, and detect a switch-on instant in which the measured voltage reaches a first threshold value and a switch-off instant in which the measured voltage reaches a second threshold value. The synchronous rectifier driver circuit generates a drive signal between the third terminal and the first terminal as a function of the measured voltage.

Abstract: An embodiment processing system comprises a queued SPI circuit, which comprises a hardware SPI communication interface, an arbiter and a plurality of interface circuits. Each interface circuit comprises a transmission FIFO memory, a reception FIFO memory and an interface control circuit. The interface control circuit is configured to receive first data packets and store them to the transmission FIFO memory. The interface control circuit sequentially reads the first data packets from the transmission FIFO memory, extracts at least one transmission data word, and provides the extracted word to the arbiter. The interface control circuit receives from the arbiter a reception data word and stores second data packets comprising the received reception data word to the reception FIFO memory. The interface control circuit sequentially reads the second data packets from the reception FIFO memory and transmits them to the digital processing circuit.

Abstract: A device includes a master device, a set of slave devices and a bus. The master device is configured to transmit first messages carrying a set of operation data message portions indicative of operations for implementation by slave devices of the set of slave devices, and second messages addressed to slave devices in the set of slave devices. The second messages convey identifiers identifying respective ones of the slave devices to which the second messages are addressed requesting respective reactions towards the master device within respective expected reaction intervals. The slave devices are configured to receive the first messages transmitted from the master device, read respective operation data message portions in the set of operation data message portions, implement respective operations as a function of the respective operation data message portions read, and receive the second messages transmitted from the master device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a device that includes a headphone speaker housing that includes a coil having a first terminal and a second terminal that is configured to operate in a sound generation mode and a battery charging mode. A class D amplifier circuit is configured to rectify in a battery charging mode and amplify in a sound generation mode, the class D amplifier is coupled to the first terminal and the second terminal of the coil. The class D amplifier including a first, second, third, and fourth switch, the first terminal coupled between the first and second switch, the second terminal coupled between the third and fourth switch. An audio generation circuit having a third terminal and a fourth terminal, the third terminal coupled between the first and third switch of the class D amplifier and the fourth terminal coupled between the second and fourth switch of the class D amplifier. A battery charging circuit coupled to the third terminal and the fourth terminal.

Abstract: A MOSFET has a current conduction path between source and drain terminals. A gate terminal of the MOSFET receives an input signal to facilitate current conduction in the current conduction path as a result of a gate-to-source voltage reaching a threshold voltage. A body terminal of the MOSFET is coupled to body voltage control circuitry that is sensitive to the voltage at the gate terminal of the MOSFET. The body voltage control circuitry responds to a reduction in the voltage at the gate terminal of the MOSFET by increasing the body voltage of the MOSFET at the body terminal of the MOSFET. As a result, there is reduction in the threshold voltage. The circuit configuration is applicable to amplifier circuits, comparator circuits and current mirror circuits.

Abstract: A system includes a control unit configured to be electrically connected to an input of a memory via a communication interface. The control unit includes a first power supply sector configured to be powered when the control unit is in an operating mode and a second power supply sector configured to be powered when the control unit is in the operating mode and in a low consumption mode. In the first power supply sector, the control unit includes a first configuration circuit operating to configure a polarization value of the input of the memory via the communication interface for the operating mode. In the second power supply sector, the control unit includes a second configuration circuit operating to configure a polarization value of the input of the memory via the communication interface for the low consumption mode.

Abstract: An embodiment method of operating a CAN bus comprises coupling a first device and second devices to the CAN bus via respective CAN transceiver circuits, and configuring the respective CAN transceiver circuits to set the CAN bus to a recessive level during transmission of messages via the CAN bus by the respective first device or second devices.

Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage source generates a reference signal for a voltage source, wherein the reference signal indicates a requested output voltage to be generated by the voltage source. A digital feed-forward control circuit computes a digital feed-forward regulation value indicative of a requested output voltage by determining a maximum voltage drop at strings of solid-state light sources. A digital feed-back control circuit determines a minimum voltage drop for current regulators/limiters for the strings and determines a digital feed-back correction value as a function of the minimum voltage drop. The control circuit then sets the reference signal after a start-up as a function of the digital feed-forward regulation value and corrects the reference signal as a function of the digital feed-back correction value.

Abstract: A wireless charging receiver includes a controller configured to determine that a first overvoltage threshold is met and based thereon enable a first switch to couple an output of a rectifier to electrical ground through a first resistor, to determine that a second overvoltage threshold is met and based thereon enable receive resonant circuit switches to short circuit a receive resonant circuit, to determine that a hysteresis threshold is met and based thereon disable the receive resonant circuit switches to open circuit the receive resonant circuit, and to determine that a hysteresis cycle threshold is met and that the receive resonant circuit switches are disabled and based thereon enable the second switch to couple the second resistor to the electrical ground and to communicate to wireless charging transmitter to decrease the power level on wireless charging receiver side.

Abstract: A system and method for wireless charging a wireless earbud. The wireless earbud having a body that includes a passive magnetic shield and a coil. The coil is wound around a portion of the body comprising the passive magnetic shielding. The wireless earbud receiving wireless energy in response to the placement of the body within an electromagnetic field, which results in the charging of a battery of the wireless earbud.

Abstract: A circuit includes a current controller oscillator generating a CCO output signal at a CCO output, a charge pump boosting a supply voltage based on the CCO output signal and producing a charge pump output voltage at an output, and a current sensing circuit sensing load current at the output and generating a feedback signal having a magnitude that varies with the sensed load current if a magnitude of the sensed load current is between lower and upper load current thresholds. A frequency of the CCO output signal is constant at a lower frequency threshold where the sensed load current is below the lower load current threshold, asymptomically rises to an upper frequency threshold where the sensed load current is above the upper load current threshold, and is proportional to the feedback signal where the sensed load current is between the lower and upper load current thresholds.

Abstract: A device includes a master device, a set of slave devices and a bus. The master device is configured to transmit first messages carrying a set of operation data message portions indicative of operations for implementation by slave devices of the set of slave devices, and second messages addressed to slave devices in the set of slave devices. The second messages convey identifiers identifying respective ones of the slave devices to which the second messages are addressed requesting respective reactions towards the master device within respective expected reaction intervals. The slave devices are configured to receive the first messages transmitted from the master device, read respective operation data message portions in the set of operation data message portions, implement respective operations as a function of the respective operation data message portions read, and receive the second messages transmitted from the master device.

Abstract: The disclosure describes methods and apparatus for quickly prototyping of a solution developed using one or more sensing devices (e.g., sensors), functional blocks, algorithm libraries, and customized logic. The methods produce firmware executable by a processor (e.g., a microcontroller) on an embedded device such as a development board, expansion board, or the like. By performing these methods on the apparatus described, a user is able to create a function prototype without having deep knowledge of the particular sensing device or any particular programming language. Prototypes developed as described herein enable the user to rapidly test ideas and develop sensing device proofs-of-concept. The solutions produced by the methods and apparatus improve the functioning of the sensor being prototyped and the operation of the embedded device where the sensor is integrated.

Abstract: A control circuit for a voltage source generates a reference signal for a voltage source, wherein the reference signal indicates a requested output voltage to be generated by the voltage source. A digital feed-forward control circuit computes a digital feed-forward regulation value indicative of a requested output voltage by determining a maximum voltage drop at strings of solid-state light sources. A digital feed-back control circuit determines a minimum voltage drop for current regulators/limiters for the strings and determines a digital feed-back correction value as a function of the minimum voltage drop. The control circuit then sets the reference signal after a start-up as a function of the digital feed-forward regulation value and corrects the reference signal as a function of the digital feed-back correction value.

Abstract: A synchronous rectifier driver circuit is configured to drive a synchronous rectifier FET and includes a first terminal configured to be connected to a source terminal of the synchronous rectifier FET. A second terminal is configured to be connected to a drain terminal of the synchronous rectifier FET, and a third terminal is configured to be connected to a gate terminal of the synchronous rectifier FET. The synchronous rectifier driver circuit is configured to measure the voltage between the second terminal and the first terminal, and detect a switch-on instant in which the measured voltage reaches a first threshold value and a switch-off instant in which the measured voltage reaches a second threshold value. The synchronous rectifier driver circuit generates a drive signal between the third terminal and the first terminal as a function of the measured voltage.