Abstract: A sensor device, for a controlled mechanical device, such as a rotary device, is disclosed. A logic module of the device is configured to process sensor input and pass Manchester encoded data, determined by processing the sensor input, to a communication module. The communication module, configured for wired communication of binary data, is also configured for: transmitting differential Manchester encoded data onto a wired interface, the differential Manchester encoded data being based on the Manchester encoded data from the logic module; and receiving differential signals from the wired interface.

Abstract: One example discloses a degradation circuit, including: a first structure configured to be coupled to an integrated circuit (IC); a second structure, coupled to the first structure, and configured to be coupled to the IC; wherein together the first and second structures form a degradation detection element; and a controller, coupled to the degradation detection element, and configured to set an operational state of the IC based on the degradation detection element.

Abstract: A task performance system and method including multiple transmitters and multiple task devices distributed in a local area. Each task device includes communication circuitry, a memory, a controller, and output circuitry. The communication circuitry receives timing information and position information from the transmitters. The transmitters may also transmit task information including task location parameters that define the task area. The task area is divided into subblocks each having a corresponding task value. The controller uses the received information to determine its location and accesses the memory when located within the task area to retrieve a corresponding task value based on subblock location. The task information includes task values which may define a different task for each subblock. The controller activates output circuitry in accordance with the task value to perform a corresponding task. The output circuitry may include one or more light sources, a speaker, a vibration device, etc.

Abstract: One example discloses a degradation circuit, including: a first structure configured to be coupled to an integrated circuit (IC); a second structure, coupled to the first structure, and configured to be coupled to the IC; wherein together the first and second structures form a degradation detection element; and a controller, coupled to the degradation detection element, and configured to set an operational state of the IC based on the degradation detection element.

Abstract: One example discloses a security device, including: a bulk security capacitance, including a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and having, a first layer including a first set of conductive elements, the first endpoint, and the second endpoint; and a second layer including a second set of conductive elements; wherein the first set of conductive elements and the second set of conductive elements together form at least two bulk capacitors in series; wherein the first and second layers are separated by a distance; and wherein the first and second endpoints are configured to be coupled to a tamper detection circuit configured to detect a change in the bulk security capacitance.

Abstract: One example discloses a power on reset (POR) circuit, wherein a first circuit is configured to un-couple a power supply input from a resistor divider when the voltage on a second end of the capacitor is above a first circuit threshold; a second circuit configured to couple the second end of the capacitor to the power supply input when a voltage on at least one tap point of the resistor divider is above a second circuit threshold; wherein the comparator is coupled to at least one of the tap points, the reference potential, and a POR output; and wherein the comparator is configured to ramp-up a POR signal on the POR output when a voltage on the at least one of the tap points is greater than the comparator threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring energy cell impedance. Time sequences representing each of a repetitive signal, an orthogonal-phase-repetitive signal at the characterizing frequency, and at least one term of a power series polynomial are generated. One of a current or voltage corresponding to the repetitive signal is applied to an energy cell. Contemporaneously with the applying, measured values of a current or voltage are measured. A set of correlation values between the measured values and the generated time sequences are determined. The set of correlation values are transformed into a set of fitted coefficients of a repetitive signal component and an orthogonal-phase-repetitive signal component at a characterizing frequency. An impedance of the energy cell at the characterizing frequency is determined based on a ratio of the fitted coefficients for the orthogonal-phase-repetitive component to the repetitive signal component.

Abstract: One example discloses a power on reset (POR) circuit, wherein a first circuit is configured to un-couple a power supply input from a resistor divider when the voltage on a second end of the capacitor is above a first circuit threshold; a second circuit configured to couple the second end of the capacitor to the power supply input when a voltage on at least one tap point of the resistor divider is above a second circuit threshold; wherein the comparator is coupled to at least one of the tap points, the reference potential, and a POR output; and wherein the comparator is configured to ramp-up a POR signal on the POR output when a voltage on the at least one of the tap points is greater than the comparator threshold.

Abstract: A controller for a DC-DC converter that includes an inductor. The DC-DC converter has three phases of operation: a first phase, in which an input voltage charges the inductor; a second phase, in which the inductor discharges to a load; and a third phase, in which the inductor is disconnected from the load and in which the input voltage does not charge the inductor. The controller is configured to set a control-factor based on the input voltage of the DC-DC converter, and set the duration of the third phase based on the control-factor and the sum of the duration of the first phase and the second phase.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring energy cell impedance. Time sequences representing each of a repetitive signal, an orthogonal-phase-repetitive signal at the characterizing frequency, and at least one term of a power series polynomial are generated. One of a current or voltage corresponding to the repetitive signal is applied to an energy cell. Contemporaneously with the applying, measured values of a current or voltage are measured. A set of correlation values between the measured values and the generated time sequences are determined. The set of correlation values are transformed into a set of fitted coefficients of a repetitive signal component and an orthogonal-phase-repetitive signal component at a characterizing frequency. An impedance of the energy cell at the characterizing frequency is determined based on a ratio of the fitted coefficients for the orthogonal-phase-repetitive component to the repetitive signal component.

Abstract: A task performance system and method including multiple transmitters and multiple task devices distributed in a local area. Each task device includes communication circuitry, a memory, a controller, and output circuitry. The communication circuitry receives timing information and position information from the transmitters. The transmitters may also transmit task information including task location parameters that define the task area. The task area is divided into subblocks each having a corresponding task value. The controller uses the received information to determine its location and accesses the memory when located within the task area to retrieve a corresponding task value based on subblock location. The task information includes task values which may define a different task for each subblock. The controller activates output circuitry in accordance with the task value to perform a corresponding task. The output circuitry may include one or more light sources, a speaker, a vibration device, etc.

Abstract: One example discloses a security device, including: a bulk security capacitance, including a first endpoint and a second endpoint, and having, a first layer including a first set of conductive elements, the first endpoint, and the second endpoint; and a second layer including a second set of conductive elements; wherein the first set of conductive elements and the second set of conductive elements together form at least two bulk capacitors in series; wherein the first and second layers are separated by a distance; and wherein the first and second endpoints are configured to be coupled to a tamper detection circuit configured to detect a change in the bulk security capacitance.

Abstract: A method for digital-to-analog signal conversion with distributed reconstructive filtering includes receiving a digital code synchronous to a clock signal having a first frequency, determining next states of a plurality of digital-to-analog current elements based on the digital code, combining a plurality of currents to generate an output current, and generating the plurality of currents. Each of the plurality of currents is based on a corresponding control signal of a plurality of control signals. The method includes generating the plurality of control signals based on the next states of the plurality of digital-to-analog current elements. Each of the plurality of control signals selects a first voltage level, a second voltage level, or a transitioning voltage level for use by a corresponding digital-to-analog current element. The transitioning voltage level linearly transitions from the first voltage level to the second voltage level over a predetermined number of periods of the clock signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes an input/output (I/O) circuitry with a first circuitry section including I/O pins and a second circuitry section including I/O pins. The first and second circuitry sections are mutually exclusive sections of the I/O ring. The first circuitry section includes a first I/O pin configured to receive an input voltage from a first energy source and a second I/O pin connectable to an external startup capacitor. A startup circuit is coupled to the first I/O pin and the second I/O pin. Upon receiving the input voltage from the first energy source, the startup circuit enters a during the startup phase and isolates the first circuitry section from the second circuitry section, and provides charge to the external startup capacitor. In response to achieving a predetermined minimum charge on the external startup capacitor, the first circuitry section is connected to the second circuitry section, and the startup phase ends and the IC transitions to a functional mode of operation.

Abstract: A controller for a DC-DC converter that includes an inductor. The DC-DC converter has three phases of operation: a first phase, in which an input voltage charges the inductor; a second phase, in which the inductor discharges to a load; and a third phase, in which the inductor is disconnected from the load and in which the input voltage does not charge the inductor. The controller is configured to set a control-factor based on the input voltage of the DC-DC converter, and set the duration of the third phase based on the control-factor and the sum of the duration of the first phase and the second phase.

Abstract: A resistive sensor system includes resistive sensor pairs formed of first and second sensors of opposite sensitivity directions to a measured property. Each resistive sensor pair includes one of the first sensors having a first terminal and a second terminal, and one of the second sensors having a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The fourth terminal is coupled to the second terminal of the first sensor. The system further includes multiple noninverting switch elements, each having a noninverting output coupled to the first terminal of one the first sensors, and multiple inverting switch elements, each having an inverting output coupled to the third terminal of one of the second sensors. For each resistive sensor pair, the noninverting and inverting switch elements receive a switch signal for controlling the noninverting and inverting switch elements such that the first and second sensors are biased in opposition to one another.

Abstract: A resistive sensor system includes resistive sensor pairs formed of first and second sensors of opposite sensitivity directions to a measured property. Each resistive sensor pair includes one of the first sensors having a first terminal and a second terminal, and one of the second sensors having a third terminal and a fourth terminal. The fourth terminal is coupled to the second terminal of the first sensor. The system further includes multiple noninverting switch elements, each having a noninverting output coupled to the first terminal of one the first sensors, and multiple inverting switch elements, each having an inverting output coupled to the third terminal of one of the second sensors. For each resistive sensor pair, the noninverting and inverting switch elements receive a switch signal for controlling the noninverting and inverting switch elements such that the first and second sensors are biased in opposition to one another.

Abstract: A system includes a magnet configured to produce a magnetic field, the magnet having an asymmetric magnetization configuration that produces a distinct feature in the magnetic field. The asymmetric magnetization configuration can be produced via an asymmetric physical characteristic, nonuniform magnetization strengths, nonuniform magnetization distributions, off-centered magnet, and so forth. Magnetic field sensors are configured to produce output signals in response to the magnetic field, the output signals being indicative of the distinct feature in the magnetic field. A processing circuit receives the output signals and determines a rotation angle for the magnet using the output signals, the rotation angle having a range of 0-360°.

Abstract: A system includes a magnet having an axis of rotation, the magnet being configured to produce a magnetic field. The system further includes a plurality of magnetoresistive sensor elements, each of the magnetoresistive sensor elements having a magnetic free layer configured to generate a vortex magnetization pattern in the magnetic free layer, and the magnetoresistive sensor elements being configured to produce output signals in response to the magnetic field. A rotation angle of a rotating element to which the magnet is coupled may be determined using the plurality of output signals.

Abstract: A system for determining angular position includes a magnet having at least four poles and an axis of rotation, wherein the magnet produces a magnetic field. A first magnetic field sensor produces a first output signal and a second magnetic field sensor produces a second output signal in response to the magnetic field. The magnetic field sensors are operated in a saturation mode in which the magnetic field sensors are largely insensitive to the field strength of the magnetic field. Thus, the first output signal is indicative of a first direction of the magnetic field and the second output signal is indicative of a second direction of the magnetic field. Methodology performed by a processing circuit entails combining the first and second output signals to obtain a rotation angle value of the magnet in which angular error from a stray magnetic field is at least partially canceled.