Patents by Inventor Aaron Brennan
Aaron Brennan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20180316340Abstract: A circuit may include first circuitry within a lower voltage domain, second circuitry within a higher voltage domain, a pass gate switch coupled between the first circuitry and the second circuitry for selectively coupling the first circuitry to the second circuitry, and control circuitry configured to control and vary a control voltage of the pass gate switch based on a threshold voltage of the pass gate switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Anuradha PARSI, Michael A. KOST, Aaron BRENNAN
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Patent number: 9941848Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a transconductance with capacitances feedback compensation amplifier may include a capacitor in parallel with an inner feedback loop of the amplifier for providing cascade compensation to the amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Aaron Brennan, Johann Gaboriau, Prashanth Drakshapalli, Vamsikrishna Parupalli
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Patent number: 9799349Abstract: The dynamic range and power efficiency of a voice-activated system may be improved by dynamically adjusting the configuration of the voice-activated system's input path. In one embodiment, a first portion of audio may be received through an input path of the voice-activated system having a first configuration. A characteristic of the first portion of audio may be determined and the input path may be adjusted to a second configuration based on the determined characteristic. A second portion of audio may then be received through the input path having the second configuration, and speech analysis may be performed on the second portion of audio.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2015Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Yousof Mortazavi, Ramin Zanbaghi, Aaron Brennan, John L. Melanson
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Patent number: 9762257Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may include capability to sense and/or compensate for undesired effects when receiving input from a microphone. For example, a sense node may be provided between differential inputs, and that sense node separated from the differential inputs by two or more switches. The sense node may allow for a measurement of an average voltage of the differential inputs. The average voltage may be obtained activating the switches to sample the sampling capacitors coupled to the differential inputs. That average voltage may be used as common mode (CM) data. A controller may receive the CM data, along with differential mode (DM) data, and use the CM and DM data to determine undesired effects, such as DC or AC mismatch at the microphone interface. The controller may then generate a signal for applying compensation to the differential inputs to reduce or eliminate the undesired effects.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Aaron Brennan, Daniel J. Allen, John L. Melanson
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Patent number: 9729164Abstract: One method of processing microphone input in an ADC to determine microphone configuration is to process the microphone input signals in two processing paths, in which one processing path processes a difference between differential input signals and another processing path processes an average value of the differential input signals. The outputs of these processing paths may be combined to generate a digital signal representative of the analog signal from the microphone. The digital signal contains a digital version of the audio in the environment around the microphone, but may also be used to detect microphone topology and configure aspects of the processing paths to match the detected microphone topology. An apparatus for an ADC may implement the two processing paths as two delta-sigma modulator loops.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Yousof Mortazavi, Aaron Brennan, John L. Melanson
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Patent number: 9722620Abstract: The overall performance of a dual-path ADC system may be improved by using a VCO-based ADC for small-amplitude signals and employing non-linear cancelation to remove nonlinearities in signals output by the VCO-based ADC. In particular, VCO-based dual-path ADC systems of this disclosure may be configured to receive a first digital signal from a first ADC and a second digital signal from a second ADC, wherein the second digital signal is more non-linear than the first digital signal. The dual-path systems may also be configured to determine one or more non-linear coefficients of the second digital signal based, at least in part, on processing of the first and second digital signals. The dual-path systems may be further configured to modify the second digital signal based, at least in part, on the determined one or more non-linear coefficients to generate a more linear second digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Yousof Mortazavi, John L. Melanson, Aaron Brennan
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Patent number: 9609416Abstract: An optical sensor may be integrated into headphones and feedback from the sensor used to adjust an audio output from the headphones. For example, an emergency vehicle traffic preemption signal may be detected by the optical sensor. Optical signals may be processed in a pattern discriminator, which may be integrated with an audio controller integrated circuit (IC). When the signal is detected, the playback of music through the headphones may be muted and/or a noise cancellation function turned off. The optical sensor may be integrated in a music player, a smart phone, a tablet, a cord-mounted module, or the earpieces of the headphones.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Roy Scott Kaller, Aaron Brennan
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Patent number: 9595971Abstract: A circuit for a divider or counter may include a frequency divider having multiple rings for dividing an input frequency to obtain an output frequency. The first and second rings may include an odd-numbered plurality of elements, such as inverters, wherein each inverter of a ring is coupled to another inverter of the ring in a circular chain. An input frequency may be input to a power supply input of inverters of the first ring. The second ring inverters may be coupled at a power supply input to output nodes of the first ring inverters, which results in the second ring operating at a divisional rate of the first frequency given by (N?1), where N is the number of inverters in the ring. The circuits may be used in frequency dividers and counters, such as in phase-locked loops (PLLs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs).Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Yousof Mortazavi, John L. Melanson, Aaron Brennan
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Publication number: 20170047939Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may include capability to sense and/or compensate for undesired effects when receiving input from a microphone. For example, a sense node may be provided between differential inputs, and that sense node separated from the differential inputs by two or more switches. The sense node may allow for a measurement of an average voltage of the differential inputs. The average voltage may be obtained activating the switches to sample the sampling capacitors coupled to the differential inputs. That average voltage may be used as common mode (CM) data. A controller may receive the CM data, along with differential mode (DM) data, and use the CM and DM data to determine undesired effects, such as DC or AC mismatch at the microphone interface. The controller may then generate a signal for applying compensation to the differential inputs to reduce or eliminate the undesired effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Aaron Brennan, Daniel J. Allen, John L. Melanson
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Publication number: 20170047938Abstract: One method of processing microphone input in an ADC to determine microphone configuration is to process the microphone input signals in two processing paths, in which one processing path processes a difference between differential input signals and another processing path processes an average value of the differential input signals. The outputs of these processing paths may be combined to generate a digital signal representative of the analog signal from the microphone. The digital signal contains a digital version of the audio in the environment around the microphone, but may also be used to detect microphone topology and configure aspects of the processing paths to match the detected microphone topology. An apparatus for an ADC may implement the two processing paths as two delta-sigma modulator loops.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Yousof Mortazavi, Aaron Brennan, John L. Melanson
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Publication number: 20160344392Abstract: A circuit for a divider or counter may include a frequency divider having multiple rings for dividing an input frequency to obtain an output frequency. The first and second rings may include an odd-numbered plurality of elements, such as inverters, wherein each inverter of a ring is coupled to another inverter of the ring in a circular chain. An input frequency may be input to a power supply input of inverters of the first ring. The second ring inverters may be coupled at a power supply input to output nodes of the first ring inverters, which results in the second ring operating at a divisional rate of the first frequency given by (N?1), where N is the number of inverters in the ring. The circuits may be used in frequency dividers and counters, such as in phase-locked loops (PLLs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Applicant: Cirrus Logic International Semiconductor Ltd.Inventors: John L. Melanson, Yousof Mortazavi, Aaron Brennan
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Patent number: 9503112Abstract: The overall performance of a dual-path ADC system may be improved by using a VCO-based ADC for small-amplitude signals and employing non-linear cancellation to remove nonlinearities in signals output by the VCO-based ADC. In particular, VCO-based dual-path ADC systems of this disclosure may be configured to receive a first digital signal from a first ADC and a second digital signal from a second ADC, wherein the second digital signal is more non-linear than the first digital signal. The dual-path systems may also be configured to determine one or more non-linear coefficients of the second digital signal based, at least in part, on processing of the first and second digital signals. The dual-path systems may be further configured to modify the second digital signal based, at least in part, on the determined one or more non-linear coefficients to generate a more linear second digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Yousof Mortazavi, Aaron Brennan, John L. Melanson
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Publication number: 20160314805Abstract: The dynamic range and power efficiency of a voice-activated system may be improved by dynamically adjusting the configuration of the voice-activated system's input path. In one embodiment, a first portion of audio may be received through an input path of the voice-activated system having a first configuration. A characteristic of the first portion of audio may be determined and the input path may be adjusted to a second configuration based on the determined characteristic. A second portion of audio may then be received through the input path having the second configuration, and speech analysis may be performed on the second portion of audio.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Yousof Mortazavi, Ramin Zanbaghi, Aaron Brennan, John L. Melanson
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Patent number: 9397692Abstract: A delta-sigma modulation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may be constructed by combining a VCO used for a first order filter with a digital loop filter used for a second or higher order of the ADC. One such ADC would include an analog input node configured to receive an analog signal; a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) comprising a first input configured to receive the analog signal, wherein the voltage-controlled oscillator is configured to implement a first order noise-shaping function; a digital loop filter comprising a second input configured to receive an output of the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO); and a digital output node configured to output a digital signal based on an output of the digital loop filter. The digital loop filter may be configured to implement at least a first order noise-shaping function, but may also implement higher order noise-shaping functions.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC INTERNATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR LTD.Inventors: Ramin Zanbaghi, Aaron Brennan, John L. Melanson
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Patent number: 9293986Abstract: Kickback current from a charge pump to a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) may be reduced by dissipating charge from fly and hold capacitors during mode transitions. A switch may be placed in series between the charge pump and the PMIC to disconnect the charge pump and prevent kickback current from reaching the PMIC. Further, additional loads, as switches, may be coupled to the charge pump outputs to dissipate charge from the fly and hold capacitors. Additionally, a closed feedback loop may be used to monitor and discharge excess charge from the fly and hold capacitors during mode transitions. Furthermore, charge may be redistributed between the fly and hold capacitors during mode transitions to reduce the time period of the transition.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Bharath Kumar Thandri, Thuan L. Nguyen, Daniel John Allen, Lingli Zhang, Aniruddha Satoskar, Aaron Brennan, Dan Shen
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Publication number: 20150358718Abstract: An optical sensor may be integrated into headphones and feedback from the sensor used to adjust an audio output from the headphones. For example, an emergency vehicle traffic preemption signal may be detected by the optical sensor. Optical signals may be processed in a pattern discriminator, which may be integrated with an audio controller integrated circuit (IC). When the signal is detected, the playback of music through the headphones may be muted and/or a noise cancellation function turned off. The optical sensor may be integrated in a music player, a smart phone, a tablet, a cord-mounted module, or the earpieces of the headphones.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Roy Scott Kaller, Aaron Brennan
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Publication number: 20140340158Abstract: Kickback current from a charge pump to a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) may be reduced by dissipating charge from fly and hold capacitors during mode transitions. A switch may be placed in series between the charge pump and the PMIC to disconnect the charge pump and prevent kickback current from reaching the PMIC. Further, additional loads, as switches, may be coupled to the charge pump outputs to dissipate charge from the fly and hold capacitors. Additionally, a closed feedback loop may be used to monitor and discharge excess charge from the fly and hold capacitors during mode transitions. Furthermore, charge may be redistributed between the fly and hold capacitors during mode transitions to reduce the time period of the transition.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2013Publication date: November 20, 2014Applicant: CIRRUS LOGIC, INC.Inventors: Bharath Kumar Thandri, Thuan L. Nguyen, Daniel John Allen, Lingli Zhang, Aniruddha Satoskar, Aaron Brennan, Dan Shen
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Patent number: 8085100Abstract: A frequency synthesis/multiplication circuit and method for multiplying the frequency of a reference signal. In one embodiment, multiple versions of the reference signal are generated having different phases relative to one another, and these multiple versions are combined to form an output signal having a frequency that is a multiple of the frequency of the reference signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Aaron Brennan
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Patent number: 7902933Abstract: Described is a circuit comprising an oscillator, an amplifier unit and a control unit. The amplifier unit is coupled to the oscillator and to the control unit; and the control unit is arranged to regulate a load capacitance to the oscillator at startup.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventor: Aaron Brennan
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Patent number: 7859355Abstract: An oscillator circuit and system are provided having a peak detector that can determine a peak voltage value from the oscillator. The peak voltage value can then be compared against a predetermined voltage value by a controller coupled to the peak detector. The comparison value is then used to change a bias signal if the peak voltage value is dissimilar from the predetermined voltage value. A variable capacitor or varactor can be formed from a transistor and is coupled to the oscillator for receiving the bias signal upon a varactor bias node. The bias signal is used to regulate the capacitance within the varactor as applied to the oscillator nodes. Another controller can also be coupled to the peak detector to produce a second bias signal if the peak voltage is dissimilar from a second predetermined voltage value. The second bias signal can then be forwarded into an amplifier having a variable gain to regulate the gain applied to the oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Cypress Semiconductor CorporationInventors: Aaron Brennan, Mike McMenamy