Patents Examined by Brian Young
  • Patent number: 9219499
    Abstract: A method for run time zero byte compression of data on a communication bus of a vehicle includes determining a number of zero byt.es provided in a data frame. When there are enough zero bytes, an encoding byte is generated that maps the locations of the zero bytes in the data frame. A data length code related to the number of non-zero data bytes and the encoding byte is provided in a device header. The data length code has a value less than an uncompressed data frame. The compressed data frame is transmitted with the encoding byte and the uncompressed non-zero data bytes. To decompress the compressed data frame, the encoding byte maps the locations of the zero bytes for a data frame. The non-zero data bytes are then provided at the proper locations to recreate the data frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ahmad Nasser
  • Patent number: 9213316
    Abstract: A circuit for detecting and correcting timing errors. A timing circuit includes an interpolator. The interpolator includes a fine counter, a coarse counter, and stop correction logic. The coarse counter is incremented by a rollover output of the fine counter to generate a coarse count value. The stop correction logic is coupled to the fine counter and the coarse counter. The stop correction logic divides each cycle of the rollover output into first, second, and third time intervals, and selects a coarse counter output value to represent a time interval measured by the coarse counter based on a one of the first, second, and third intervals in which a time measurement stop signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Vikas Suma Vinay, Rajani Manchukonda
  • Patent number: 9214951
    Abstract: A circuit includes an input dispatch unit for receiving an input signal and a calibration signal and outputting N dispatched signals in accordance with a selection signal. The circuit also includes N analog-to-digital converter (ADC) units for receiving the N dispatched signals, N control signals, and N mapping tables and outputting N raw data, and N refined data, respectively. An output dispatch unit receives the N refined data and outputting an output data in accordance with the selection signal, and a calibration controller receives the N raw data and outputting the selection signal, the N control signals, the N mapping tables, and a digital code. A DAC (digital-to-analog converter) receives the digital code and outputting the calibration signal, wherein one of the dispatched signals, as specified by the selection signal is from the calibration signal while the other dispatched signals are from the input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.
    Inventor: Chia-Liang (Leon) Lin
  • Patent number: 9209828
    Abstract: An electronic system includes a configurable processing device. The configurable processing device includes a processor that performs digital processing, a first input that receives digital signal, a first output that sends digital signal and a converter that converts between analog and digital signals. The converter includes a delta-sigma modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Missing Link Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nils Endric Schubert, Johannes Brock, Christian Grumbein
  • Patent number: 9209822
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an A/D converter includes a first delay cell column in which a plurality of delay cells, to which a first bias current corresponding to a difference voltage between an input voltage and a reference voltage is supplied, is connected in series. The converter includes a second delay cell column in which a plurality of delay cells, to which a second bias current corresponding to a negative-phase difference voltage of the difference voltage is supplied, is connected in series. The converter includes an encoder unit configured to encode a difference value, in delay time of signal propagation, between the first delay cell column and the second delay cell column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Chen Kong Teh, Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9203150
    Abstract: An antenna system for global navigation satellite systems includes a ground plane, an active antenna disposed above the ground plane, and a passive antenna disposed below the ground plane. The active antenna includes a conducting ring substantially parallel to the ground plane. A radiating conductor passes through substantially the center of the conducting ring; the ends of the radiating conductor are electrically connected to the conducting ring. An excitation pin is electrically connected to the radiating conductor. A set of reactive impedance elements is electrically connected between the conducting ring and the ground plane. The set of reactive impedance elements is disposed substantially orthogonal to the ground plane. The passive antenna is similar to the active antenna, except the passive antenna does not have an excitation pin. The antenna system effectively suppresses multipath reception, and its compact size and light weight make it suitable for integration with a surveying pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Vitalievich Tatarnikov, Andrey Vitalievich Astakhov, Pavel Petrovich Shamatulskiy
  • Patent number: 9203384
    Abstract: A clock adjustment circuit and a digital to analog converting device are provided. The clock adjustment circuit includes a selection circuit and a frequency decreasing circuit. The selection circuit is configured to generate a first selection signal in response to a frequency of an output clock signal. The frequency decreasing circuit is coupled to the selection circuit, and configured to generate the output clock signal by reducing a frequency of an input clock signal by a first ratio in response to a first level of the first selection signal, and configured to generate the output clock signal by reducing the frequency of the input clock signal by a second ratio in response to a second level of the first selection signal, wherein the first ratio is different from the second ratio. Accordingly, complexity of a circuit is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Phisontech Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
    Inventors: Nyuk-How Thian, Chih-Jen Hsu
  • Patent number: 9203421
    Abstract: To enable processing of a signal at an appropriate level. An analog section in which an acquired signal is processed in an analog fashion and a digital section in which the signal processed in the analog section is digitally processed are included, wherein the analog section includes an adjustment unit that adjusts a gain discretely and the digital section includes a digital step compensation unit that compensates for discrete gain adjustments in the analog section. The digital step compensation unit responds to a transient step in which a gain steeply converts in the analog section and compensates with inverse characteristics of a transient response. The present technology can be applied to an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Takaike, Hideki Yokoshima, Gerd Spalink
  • Patent number: 9202430
    Abstract: Provided first and second reference voltage set wherein the first reference voltage set includes a part or all of reference voltages of the second reference voltage set, and a decoder including first and second sub-decoder sections that select Q reference voltages from first and second reference voltage sets according to upper bits of the input digital signal and transfer the so selected reference voltages to the first to Qth nodes, and third and fourth sub-decoder sections that select first and second voltages from the Q reference voltages transferred to the first to Qth nodes according to lower bits of the input digital signal and transfer the so selected voltages to the first to Pth nodes. The first and third sub-decoder sections are made up of first conductivity type transistors, while the second and fourth sub-decoder sections are made up of second conductivity type transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsuchi
  • Patent number: 9203429
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for encoding information using a code specified by a target Markov distribution. The systems and methods include selecting a set of parameters comprising a block length, a plurality of weight metrics, and a threshold, and estimating a Markov distribution associated with the selected set of parameters from a plurality of data blocks defined by the selected parameters. The systems and methods further include modifying the set of parameters based on the estimated Markov distribution, and encoding the information using the modified set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: MARVELL INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Panu Chaichanavong, Nedeljko Varnica, Nitin Nangare
  • Patent number: 9197245
    Abstract: A digital serial-to-parallel converter capable of minimizing a malfunction of a circuit by more stably performing an operation of a D flip flop in implementing a GaAs MMIC digital serial-to-parallel converter and a GaAs MMIC using the same are disclosed. The digital serial-to-parallel converter includes: a converter configured to convert a received clock signal, serial data, and load signal of TTL into a DCFL signal; a plurality of D flip flops configured to transmit the serial data received through the converter to a D flip flop of a next stage by the clock signal received through the converter and output the serial data of the D flip flop of the next stage by the load signal received through the converter; and a plurality of buffers configured to receive the serial data from the plurality of D flip flops to generate and output complementary signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Reearch Institute
    Inventors: Jin-Cheol Jeong, Dong-Hwan Shin, In-Kwon Ju, In-Bok Yom
  • Patent number: 9197231
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electronically converting an analog signal to a digital signal are disclosed. The systems and methods may include, for a first bit value, setting a first conversion value to include a first offset; using the output of a first comparison, setting a second conversion value; and if the first bit value has a predetermined relationship to the first offset bit value, removing the first offset from the second conversion value, and, using the output of a second comparison, setting a third conversion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Feddeler, Michael T. Berens
  • Patent number: 9191021
    Abstract: A pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts an analog input voltage signal Vin into a digital output value Dout. The ADC has a sequence of stages including a first calibrated stage having: (1) an ADC sub-module that receives Vin and provides an ADC sub-module digital output value based on Vin, (2) a DAC sub-module that receives the ADC sub-module digital output value and outputs a corresponding analog voltage signal VDAC, (3) a first difference module that generates an analog residual-voltage signal based on a difference between Vin and VDAC, and (4) an artificial-noise-insertion module that inserts an analog artificial-noise voltage signal into the residual voltage signal to generate an analog combined voltage signal. The analog combined voltage signal is used to calibrate the first calibrated stage. The artificial-noise-insertion module generates the polarity of the artificial-noise voltage signal based on the polarity of the corresponding residual voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Zhiling Sui, Zhijun Chen, Zhihong Cheng, Yanping Zhang
  • Patent number: 9191018
    Abstract: An analog-digital converter with successive approximation includes a capacitor array for being loaded by applying a given input signal potential and for providing a sampling potential, wherein capacitors of the capacitor array are serially coupled with switches. A decision latch is included for evaluating the sampling potential in a number of consecutive decision steps. The analog-digital converter also includes a logic unit for selectively changing the sampling potential by selectively switching switches associated to the capacitors of the capacitor array for each decision step based on an evaluation result of a previous decision step, wherein the switches are respectively coupled with a calibration switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lukas Kull, Thomas H. Toifl
  • Patent number: 9184754
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converting device includes: an integrator arranged to generate an integrating signal according to an analog input signal and a first analog feedback signal; a low-pass filter arranged to generate a first filtered signal according to the integrating signal; an analog-to-digital converter arranged to generate a digital output signal according to the first filtered signal; and a first digital-to-analog converter arranged to generate the first analog feedback signal according to the digital output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Yen-Chuan Huang, Chih-Hong Lou, Chi-Yun Wang, Li-Han Hung, Min-Hua Wu
  • Patent number: 9178522
    Abstract: A circuit contains a successive approximation register and an adjustable capacitor with a set input for adjusting a capacitance value of the adjustable capacitor. Moreover, it comprises a comparator having an input coupled to a terminal of the adjustable capacitor, and with an at least one output, wherein at least one of the outputs of the comparator is coupled to an input of the successive approximation register. The circuit also includes an analog input which is coupled to a terminal of the adjustable capacitor. The circuit may be set into a first operating state and a second operating state, wherein an output of the circuit is controlled in the first operating state by the successive approximation register and is not controlled in the second operating state by the successive approximation register, but by the comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventors: Emanuele Bodano, Peter Bogner, Joachim Pichler, Mark Schauer
  • Patent number: 9176479
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter (TDC) comprises a first delay line including a plurality of first delay cells connected in series, wherein each of the first delay cells include a plurality of first delay units connected in series, wherein each of the first delay units includes a tunable PMOS transistor, a first poly on oxide definition (OD) edge (PODE) transistor, and a pull-up PMOS transistor. The TDC further comprises a second delay line including a plurality of second delay cells connected in series, wherein each of the second delay cells include a plurality of second delay units connected in series, wherein each of the second delay units includes a tunable NMOS transistor, a second PODE transistor, and a pull-down NMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hsieh-Hung Hsieh, Yen-Jen Chen, Chewn-Pu Jou
  • Patent number: 9172394
    Abstract: A signal conversion system and method for converting an input signal to a pulse width modulated signal is disclosed. The signal conversion system includes a sample rate converter coupled with an associated pulse width modulation (PWM) module. A hardware and power efficient signal conversion system for resampling an audio input signal with an arbitrary sample rate to a pulse width modulated output audio signal for use in an audio processor and/or reproduction is disclosed. The signal conversion system may be particularly suitable for use in a battery operated consumer electronics device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Actiwave AB
    Inventors: Erik Lindahl, Pär Gunnars Risberg
  • Patent number: 9172387
    Abstract: An analog input stage has m differential input channels, wherein m>1. The analog input stage is configured to select one of the m differential input channels and provide an output signal. The analog input stage has n identical selection units each having m differential channel inputs and one differential output, wherein n is at least 2m?1. Each selection unit is operable to be coupled to any of the differential input channels through respective differential multiplexer units, wherein the multiplexor units are driven to select one of the differential input channels and couple the selected differential channel input through a butterfly switch unit with the differential output of the selection unit. The differential output signals of the n selection units are combined whereby unwanted crosstalk from channels other than a selected channel are removed by cancellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Daniel R. Meacham, Andrea Panigada, David Shih
  • Patent number: 9166612
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device capable of accurately controlling the cycle of an internal clock signal. This semiconductor device, by using signal that is output from a sequence register of an asynchronous successive approximation type ADC when N times of comparison are completed, detects whether or not the signal and its delay signal are output when the period transitions from a comparison period to a sampling period, and generates, on the basis of the detection result, a delay control signal for controlling the cycle of an internal clock signal by controlling the delay times of the delay circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Fujiwara, Yasuo Morimoto, Takashi Matsumoto