Patents Assigned to Texas Instruments
  • Patent number: 7548097
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a power driver system. The power driver system comprises a power transistor that is activated to provide power to a load and a switching circuit configured to control the power transistor based on a control signal. The power driver system further comprises a control circuit configured to detect a flyback current from the load upon deactivation of the power transistor and to cause the switching circuit to steer the flyback current from a first flyback current path to a second flyback current path in response to detecting the flyback current path. The second flyback current path can have an impedance that is greater than the first flyback current path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Luthuli E. Dake, Bernard Wicht, Michael Herbert Wendt
  • Publication number: 20090147947
    Abstract: An electronic device for encrypting and decrypting data blocks of a message having n data blocks in accordance with the data encryption standard (DES) is provided. The electronic device has a first data processing channel having a first processing stage for performing encryption and decryption of data blocks of a predefined length, and a first input data buffer coupled to a data input and to the first processing stage, and a second data processing channel having a second processing stage for performing encryption and decryption of data blocks, a second data input buffer coupled to an output of the first processing stage and to the second processing stage. The electronic device also has a control stage (FSM) for controlling the first processing stage and the second processing stage, so as to perform an encryption or decryption step with the second processing stage on an encrypted/decrypted data block output from the first processing stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Arni Ingimundarson, Adolf Baumann
  • Publication number: 20090147603
    Abstract: The present invention describes circuitry and a method of providing a low power WRITE mode of operation for an integrated circuit comprising an SRAM memory to provide a reduced IDDQ relative to the IDDQ of a full active mode. In one aspect, the circuitry includes an SRAM memory array, mode control circuitry coupled to the array and configured to alter a supply voltage level to the SRAM array based on a mode of operation. The circuitry also includes control inputs coupled to the mode control circuitry for selecting one of the low power write mode, the full active mode, and optionally a retention mode of operation. The mode control circuitry is configured to receive the control inputs to select one of the three modes of operation, and to alter one or more supply voltage levels to the array, for example, the Vss supply voltage using a Vss supply circuit and the Vdd supply voltage using a Vdd supply circuit, based on the selected mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Theodore Warren Houston, Michael Patrick Clinton, Bryan David Sheffield
  • Patent number: 7545658
    Abstract: A DC-DC boost converter comprises a charge pump selectively operating in a voltage doubler or in a voltage tripler mode. A switching arrangement connects the charge pump to an input voltage terminal in a charge phase and to an output voltage terminal in a discharge phase. A controllable current source is connected in series with the charge pump in the discharge phase and an error amplifier has a first input connected to a reference voltage, a second input connected to the output voltage terminal and an output connected to a control input of the controllable current source. The converter further comprises a mode changeover circuit with a first comparator having a first input connected to the output of the error amplifier and a second input connected to a first threshold voltage source. A second comparator has a first input connected to the output of the error amplifier and a second input connected to a second threshold voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Thiele, Erich Bayer
  • Patent number: 7546502
    Abstract: IEEE 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAPs) may be utilized at both IC and intellectual property core design levels. TAPs serve as serial communication ports for accessing a variety of embedded circuitry within ICs and cores including; IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan circuitry, built in test circuitry, internal scan circuitry, IEEE 1149.4 mixed signal test circuitry, IEEE P5001 in-circuit emulation circuitry, and IEEE P1532 in-system programming circuitry. Selectable access to TAPs within ICs is desirable since in many instances being able to access only the desired TAP(s) leads to improvements in the way testing, emulation, and programming may be performed within an IC. A TAP linking module is described that allows TAPs embedded within an IC to be selectively accessed using 1149.1 instruction scan operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Lee D. Whetsel, Baher S. Haroun, Brian J. Lasher, Anjali Kinra
  • Patent number: 7546501
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for using a device's power and ground terminals as a test and/or debug interface for the device. According to the present disclosure, messages are modulated over DC voltages applied to the power terminals of a device to input test/debug messages to the device and output test/debug messages from the device. The present disclosure advantageously allows a device to be tested and/or debugged without the device having any shared or dedicated test or debug interface terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7546392
    Abstract: A data transfer control apparatus includes a channel controller and plural transfer controllers. The channel controller receives, prioritizes and queues data transfer requests. An event to transfer controller table enables recall of a transfer controller number corresponding to the data transfer request. The plural transfer controllers are independent and can operate simultaneously in parallel. Each transfer controller includes a read bus interface and a write bus interface which arbitrate with other bus masters in the case of blocking accesses directed to interfering devices or address ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger K. Castille, Natarajan Kurian Seshan, Henry Duc C. Nguyen, Marco Lazar, Jason A. T. Jones
  • Patent number: 7546391
    Abstract: A data transfer control apparatus includes a channel controller and a transfer controller. The channel controller receives, prioritizes and queues event signals and predetermined memory writes which trigger data transfer requests controlling the transfer controller. The event queue stores event numbers mapped to parameter memory locations storing data transfer parameters. The mapping table and the parameter memory are writeable via a memory mapped write operation. Memory protection registers store data indicative of permitted data accesses to the memory map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger K. Castille, Natarajan Kurian Seshan, Marco Lazar, Joseph R. Zbiciak
  • Patent number: 7546636
    Abstract: An authorization control circuit (10) comprises a digital signal processor (12) operable to provide digital data output, determine an authorization state, and generate a disable signal. A digital to analog converter (28,60) is coupled to the digital signal processor (12) and is operable to receive the digital data output. The digital to analog converter (28,60) generates analog data in response to the digital data output and is operable to output the analog data and mute the output of analog data. The digital to analog converter (28,60) includes an input (23,25,27,59) operable to receive the disable signal. The digital to analog converter (28,60) mutes the output of analog data in response to the disable signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Jason D. Kridner
  • Patent number: 7545890
    Abstract: The present invention provides an encoding method and a class of decoding methods that provide methods for high throughput and high robustness digital communications over channels that are contaminated by impulse noise, as well as white and colored additive noise (noise that is characterized by heavy-tailed distribution), phase noise and signal fading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Ofir Shalvi, Itay Lusky, Ariel Yagil
  • Patent number: 7546503
    Abstract: A process of selecting alternative test circuitry within an integrated circuit enables a test access port. Scan test instruction data is loaded into an instruction register of a test access port TAP, the instruction data including information for selecting the alternative test circuitry. An Update-IR instruction update operation is performed at the end of the loading to output scan test control signals from the instruction register. A lockout signal is changed to an active state to disable the test access port and enable scan test circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Lee D. Whetsel
  • Patent number: 7546437
    Abstract: A processor adapted to couple to external memory. The processor comprises a controller and data storage (e.g., cache memory). The data storage is configurable to operate in either a cache policy mode in which a miss results in an access of the external memory or in a scratch pad policy mode in which a miss does not result in an access of the external memory. The data storage comprises a first portion and a second portion, and only one of the portions is active at a time. The non-active portion is unusable to store or retrieve data (e.g., Java local variables). When the active portion does not have sufficient capacity for additional data to be stored therein, the other portion becomes the active portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Lesot, Gilbert Cabillic
  • Patent number: 7545316
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to share time and frequency data between a host processor and a satellite position system (SPS) receiver in a satellite positioning system are disclosed. An example method disclosed herein generates a host processor local time based on a real-time clock associated with the host processor; adjusts the host processor local time to synchronize with a SPS time received from the SPS receiver and to correct a local frequency error of the real-time clock of the host processor; calculates an estimated SPS time based on the adjusted real-time clock signal of the host processor; and attempts to fix a SPS time and a position of the SPS receiver from SPS signals received from a plurality of SPS satellites based on the estimated SPS time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Alan Martin Gilkes
  • Publication number: 20090140708
    Abstract: Various apparatuses, methods and systems for a DC to DC converter with a pseudo constant switching frequency are disclosed herein. For example, some embodiments provide a DC to DC converter having a switch connected to a switching node to control a voltage of the switching node, and a switching controller that is adapted to turn on and off the switch at a substantially constant frequency based at least in part on the voltage of the switching node. The switching controller includes a modulator connected to a control electrode of the switch and that is adapted to actuate and deactuate the switch, and a first timer that is connected to the switching node and to the modulator. The first timer uses the voltage of the switching node to determine an on-time for the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Tetsuo Tateishi, Shinobu Aoki
  • Publication number: 20090142890
    Abstract: A method (10) of forming a transistor (100) includes treating (12) at least some of a semiconductor substrate (102) with carbon and then forming (18) a gate structure (114) over the semiconductor substrate. A channel region (122) is thereby being defined within the semiconductor substrate (102) below the gate structure (114). Source and drain regions (140, 142) are then formed (26) within the semiconductor substrate (102) on opposing sides of the channel (122) with a phosphorus dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Srinivasan Chakravarthi, P. R. Chidambaram
  • Publication number: 20090141200
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes transmitting one or more light beams by a first portion of a light modulator formed outwardly from a substrate. The one or more transmitted light beams are spatially integrated. A second portion of the light modulator is formed outwardly from the substrate. The second portion of the light modulator spatially integrates the transmitted light beams.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Ian Russell, Steven M. Penn, Jeffrey Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 7543285
    Abstract: A method and system of adaptive dynamic compiler resolution. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a computer-implemented method comprising compiling a source file containing an application program (the application program comprising a method, and wherein the compiling creates a destination file containing a compiled version of the application program), and inserting in the compiled version of the application program a series of commands that (when executed at run time of the application program) generate a first optimized version of the method using a first value available at run time, and generate a second optimized version of the method using a second value available at run time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gilbert Cabillic, Jean-Philippe Lesot
  • Patent number: 7543205
    Abstract: A system of control signal synchronization of a scannable storage circuit includes any number of storage circuits interconnected together with logic circuitry to form at least a portion of a functional circuit. Each of the storage circuits may include an input transmission gate to apply any one of a data input and a scan input to a storage element of the storage circuit based on an input circuitry that considers the state of the scan enable signal and a timing signal of a clock associated with the storage element. In addition, a control signal in a master latch of the storage element may synchronously close a hold loop in the master latch when the input transmission gate is opened upon the timing signal of the clock transitioning to a different state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Kumar Abhishek
  • Patent number: 7543014
    Abstract: In some embodiments a system comprises an overflow control bit, a programmable saturation control bit, a processing unit, and a saturation unit coupled to the processing unit. A selection unit may select the output of the processing unit or the output of the saturation unit based on the state of the saturation control bit. Further, the saturation control unit may output a saturated or unsaturated value based on the overflow control bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerard Chauvel, Dominique D'Inverno
  • Patent number: 7541884
    Abstract: In at least some disclosed embodiments, a method includes receiving a burst of data out of multiple bursts of data subject to long-term frequency drift and short-term frequency drift, determining an intercept of the long-term frequency drift based on, at most, the entire burst, and compensating for the long-term drift of a subsequent burst based on the intercept. The method further includes determining a slope of the short-term frequency drift, and compensating for the short-term frequency drift of a subsequent burst based on the slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mohammad A. Rahman, Umashankar S. Iyer