Abstract: A drive signal for a motor-driven mechanical system has zero (or near zero) energy at an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. The drive signal may be provided in a series of steps according to a selected row of Pascal's triangle, wherein the number of steps equals the number of entries from the selected row of Pascal's triangle, each step has a step size corresponding to a respective entry of the selected row of Pascal's triangle, and the steps are spaced from each other according to a time constant determined by an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated circuit system including a first active layer fabricated on a front side of a semiconductor die and a second pre-fabricated layer on a back side of the semiconductor die and having electrical components embodied therein, wherein the electrical components include at least one discrete passive component. The integrated circuit system also includes at least one electrical path coupling the first active layer and the second pre-fabricated layer.

Abstract: A method and system that may include a pair of amplifier transistors and an output coupled to a load device. The precharge buffer may be controlled by an activation signal. The precharge buffer may also include a pair of level shifters. Each level shifter may be provided in association with a respective one of the transistors, and each may provide a respective level shift to an input signal at a common signal source based on a reference voltage. Outputs of the level shifters may be coupled to the respective transistors. The precharge buffer may also include a bypass signal path extending from the common signal source to the load device. A signal path may be controlled by another activation signal, and the precharge buffer and the bypass signal may be enabled during mutually exclusive states of the activation signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, device, and system for a microelectromechanical (MEM) device control system that can control the operation of a MEM device. The system can include a microelectromechanical device and a control circuit. The micromechanical device can include a moveable member coupled to an electrical terminal, a sensor, responsive to a movement of the moveable member, can output a sensor signal based on the movement of the moveable member, and an actuating electrode for receiving a control signal. The control circuit can be responsive to the signals output by the sensor and outputs the control signal to the actuating electrode.

Abstract: A pipeline analog to digital converter comprising: a first analog to digital converter for determining a first part of an analog to digital conversion result, and for forming a residue signal; an amplifier for amplifying the residue signal, the amplifier including at least one offset sampling capacitor for sampling an offset of the amplifier, wherein at least one resistance is associated with the at least one capacitor so as to form a filter, and the at least one resistor is variable such that an amplifier bandwidth can be switched between a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth less than the first bandwidth during sampling of the offset.

Abstract: A pipeline analog to digital converter comprising: a first analog to digital converter for determining a first part of an analog to digital conversion result, and for forming a residue signal; an amplifier for amplifying the residue signal, the amplifier including at least one offset sampling capacitor for sampling an offset of the amplifier, wherein at least one resistance is associated with the at least one capacitor so as to form a filter, and the at least one resistor is variable such that an amplifier bandwidth can be switched between a first bandwidth and a second bandwidth less than the first bandwidth during sampling of the offset.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method, device, and system for a microelectromechanical (MEM) device control system that can control the operation of a MEM device. The system can include a microelectromechanical device and a control circuit. The micromechanical device can include a moveable member coupled to an electrical terminal, a sensor, responsive to a movement of the moveable member, can output a sensor signal based on the movement of the moveable member, and an actuating electrode for receiving a control signal. The control circuit can be responsive to the signals output by the sensor and outputs the control signal to the actuating electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a drive signal for a motor-driven mechanical system whose frequency distribution has zero (or near zero) energy at the expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. The drive signal may be provided as a pair of steps sufficient to activate movement of the mechanical system and then park the mechanical system at a destination position. The steps are spaced in time so as to have substantially zero energy at an expected resonant frequency fR of the mechanical system. The drive signal may be filtered to broaden a zero-energy notch at the expected resonant frequency fR.

Abstract: A drive signal for a motor-driven mechanical system has zero (or near zero) energy at an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. The drive signal may be provided in a series of steps according to a selected row of Pascal's triangle, wherein the number of steps equals the number of entries from the selected row of Pascal's triangle, each step has a step size corresponding to a respective entry of the selected row of Pascal's triangle, and the steps are spaced from each other according to a time constant determined by an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor-driven mechanical system with a detection system to measure properties of a back channel and derive oscillatory characteristics of the mechanical system. Uses of the detection system may include calculating the resonant frequency of the mechanical system and a threshold drive DTH required to move the mechanical system from the starting mechanical stop position. System manufacturers often do not know the resonant frequency and DTH of their mechanical systems precisely. Therefore, the calculation of the specific mechanical system's resonant frequency and DTH rather than depending on the manufacturer's expected values improves precision in the mechanical system use. The backchannel calculations may be used either to replace or to improve corresponding pre-programmed values.

Abstract: A drive signal for a motor-driven mechanical system has zero (or near zero) energy at an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system. The drive signal may be provided in a series of steps according to a selected row of Pascal's triangle, wherein the number of steps equals the number of entries from the selected row of Pascal's triangle, each step has a step size corresponding to a respective entry of the selected row of Pascal's triangle, and the steps are spaced from each other according to a time constant determined by an expected resonant frequency of the mechanical system.

Abstract: A gain matching method for a single bit gain ranging analog to digital converter including selecting, in response to a gain setting, a number of gain elements to be enabled in a multi-element gain controlled array interconnected between an analog input and an analog to digital converter, and patterning the enablement of the selected number of gain elements among the gain elements for matching the gain of the analog to digital converter for a range of gain settings of the converter to reduce in-band gain error due to gain element mismatch.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for a high accuracy digital temperature sensor (DTS). The system includes a differential analog temperature sensor based on bipolar junctions, providing an output signal obtained as the difference between the VBE of two bipolar junctions. This signal is converted into the digital domain and compared to N?1 threshold digital values for providing piece-wise linear error correction for the variations with temperature of the different error sources within the DTS. This system and method advantageously improve the accuracy of a DTS over an extended temperature range.

Abstract: A gain matching method for a single bit gain ranging analog to digital converter including selecting, in response to a gain setting, a number of gain elements to be enabled in a multi-element gain controlled array interconnected between an analog input and an analog to digital converter, and patterning the enablement of the selected number of gain elements among the gain elements for matching the gain of the analog to digital converter for a range of gain settings of the converter to reduce in-band gain error due to gain element mismatch.

Abstract: A phase lock loop RF modulator system including a phase lock loop circuit having a phase detector circuit responsive to an input reference signal and a feedback signal, an oscillator circuit responsive to the phase detector circuit for providing an output signal, a forward path from the phase detector circuit to the oscillator circuit, and a feedback path from the oscillator circuit to the phase detector circuit. The system also includes a first modulation port coupled to the feedback path, a second modulation port coupled to the forward path, and a gain mismatch detection circuit responsive to modulation data and a phase error between the reference signal and the feedback signal for providing an indicator output signal that represents the gain mismatch between the first modulation port and the second modulation port.

Abstract: A method for one-way coupling an input signal to an integrated circuit on a semiconductor chip with the integrated circuit electrically isolated from the input signal comprises forming a MOS isolation coupler on the semiconductor chip by a CMOS process. The MOS isolation coupler comprises an inductor coil for generating a magnetic field in response to an input signal applied to terminals thereof. A MAGFET having a split drain formed by respective drain portions is formed on the semiconductor chip below the inductor coil, so that a current difference is induced between the drain currents in the drain portions which is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field generated by the inductor coil resulting from the input signal. The MAGFET is formed prior to the inductor coil. An oxide isolating layer is provided over the MAGFET, and the inductor coil is formed on the oxide layer.

Abstract: A no-missing-code output from a SAR, pipeline, folding, flash analog to digital conversion can be obtained by providing an analog input to an analog to digital converter having a predetermined m bit resolution output and a predetermined missing code capability and generating in a digital filter from the m bit output and the dither of the random noise components of the m bit output n bit output and greater than the predetermined missing code capability of the analog to digital converter.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal sensor having a first and second temperature sensing elements each being formed on a thermally isolated table in a first substrate.

Abstract: A phase lock loop RF modulator system including a phase lock loop circuit having a phase detector circuit responsive to an input reference signal and a feedback signal, an oscillator circuit responsive to the phase detector circuit for providing an output signal, a forward path from the phase detector circuit to the oscillator circuit, and a feedback path from the oscillator circuit to the phase detector circuit. The system also includes a first modulation port coupled to the feedback path, a second modulation port coupled to the forward path, and a gain mismatch detection circuit responsive to modulation data and a phase error between the reference signal and the feedback signal for providing an indicator output signal that represents the gain mismatch between the first modulation port and the second modulation port.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter is provided comprising an array of capacitors for sampling an input, each capacitor having at least one associated switch for controllably connecting a terminal of the capacitor to a first reference voltage or to a second reference voltage; and a sequence generator for generating a sequence of bits, wherein during sampling of the input onto the array of capacitors an output of the sequence generator is supplied to the switches of a first group of capacitors to control whether a given capacitor within the first group is connected by its associated switch to the first reference voltage or to the second reference voltage.