Abstract: An electronic control system provides selectable path operation, such as linear and pulse-width modulated (PWM) operation and provides path transition management to improve operation. The system supplies a current or a voltage to a load in response to an input signal or value and includes an output driver, and multiple selectable control paths. The system includes a control circuit that selects between the first control path and the second control path in response to a path selection indication to drive the output driver. The system may include an evaluator that determines the path selection indication in conformity with an amplitude and a slew rate of the input. One or all of the control paths may have a response time to changes in the input signal or value, and the control circuit may delay switching from the second control path to the first control path to compensate for the response time.

Abstract: A therapy system includes a patient support apparatus and a pneumatic therapy device that is coupleable to the patient support apparatus. The therapy device may receive power and air flow from the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses that are each configured to align with a respective one of a user's eyes. The adjustable lenses may each include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells, each having a phase profile that is adjusted using patterned electrodes. Analog voltages may be provided to the patterned electrodes through variable-resistance conductive paths that are each coupled to a subset of the patterned electrodes. Digital voltage selection circuitry may be used to select which analog voltage to apply to each of the variable-resistance conductive paths from a predetermined set of analog voltages that are generated off of the lens. The digital voltage selection circuitry may include an array of multiplexers, each of which selects a desired voltage based on control signals received from digital control circuitry such a shift register and/or a decoder.

Abstract: A pair of eyeglasses may include one or more adjustable lenses. An adjustable lens may include electrically modulated optical material such as one or more liquid crystal cells having a phase profile that is adjusted using patterned electrodes. Digital-to-analog converter circuits may provide voltages to the electrodes. To save space on the lens, a smaller number of digital-to-analog converter circuits may provide voltages to a greater number of electrodes by sequentially coupling and decoupling the digital-to-analog converter circuits to different groups of electrodes, advancing from group-to-group with each clock cycle by a number of electrodes that is less than the number of digital-to-analog converter circuits. At least one of the electrodes in each group may be driven at the same voltage for two consecutive clock cycles to avoid erroneous voltages resulting from the parasitic capacitance between adjacent fingers.

Abstract: Eyeglasses may include one or more lenses and control circuitry that adjusts an optical power of the lenses. The control circuitry may be configured to determine a user's prescription and accommodation range during a vision characterization process. The vision characterization process may include adjusting the optical power of the lens until the user indicates that an object viewed through the lens is in focus. A distance sensor may measure the distance to the in-focus object. The control circuitry may calculate the user's prescription based on the optical power of the lens and the distance to the in-focus object. The control circuitry may adjust the optical power automatically or in response to user input. The object viewed through the lens may be an electronic device. The user may control the optical power of the lens and/or indicate when objects are in focus by providing input to the electronic device.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a storage network begins by receiving a write request for a data object, determining a plurality of data regions for the data object, determining storage identification information for each data region of the plurality of data regions and generating a storage table for the data object that includes information sufficient to identify each data region of the plurality of data regions. For a first data region of the plurality of data regions the method continues by dividing the first data region into a plurality of data segments, and dispersed error encoding the plurality of data segments to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a battery, a battery charger configured to receive power from an external power source and supply at least one of a charging current or a charging voltage to the battery, and a battery charger controller coupled to charger and configured to control the battery charger. More specifically, the battery charger controller may be configured to control the charger to supply a first AC signal as at least a part of the charging current or charging voltage supplied to the battery, measure a second AC signal associated with the first AC signal, and determine an impedance of the battery at a frequency of interest from the first and second AC signals. The electronic device can also or alternatively include a variable load that may be controlled to supply a first AC signal as at least part of the discharging current or discharging voltage of the battery.

Abstract: An electronic device can include a battery, a battery charger configured to receive power from an external power source and supply at least one of a charging current or a charging voltage to the battery, and a battery charger controller coupled to charger and configured to control the battery charger. More specifically, the battery charger controller may be configured to control the charger to supply a first AC signal as at least a part of the charging current or charging voltage supplied to the battery, measure a second AC signal associated with the first AC signal, and determine an impedance of the battery at a frequency of interest from the first and second AC signals. The electronic device can also or alternatively include a variable load that may be controlled to supply a first AC signal as at least part of the discharging current or discharging voltage of the battery.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by identifying a data object to access within a DSN. The method continues by identifying a vault ID based on the data object. The method continues by obtaining an object ID based on the data object. The method continues by selecting at least one generation ID based on generation status. The method continues, for each generation ID, by generating at least one set of slice names using the vault ID, the generation ID, and the object ID. The method continues, for each set of slice names, by generating a set of slice access requests that includes the set of slice names and accessing the DSN utilizing the set of slice access requests.

Abstract: An under voltage detection circuit and method of operating an IC including the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes an under voltage protection circuit having first and second comparators configured to compare a supply voltage to first and second voltage thresholds, respectively, with the second voltage threshold being greater than the first. A logic circuit is coupled to receive signals from the first and second comparators. During operation in a high performance state by a corresponding functional circuit, the logic circuit is configured to cause assertion of a throttling signal responsive to an indication that the supply voltage has fallen below the first threshold. A clock signal provided to the functional circuit may be throttled responsive to the indication. If the supply voltage subsequently rises to a level above the second threshold, the throttling signal may be de-asserted.

Abstract: Embodiments of an adapter are disclosed that include a rectifier with an input and an output coupled to a step-down transformer with a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the primary coil is coupled to the output of the rectifier. A step-up converter is coupled to the secondary coil.

Abstract: A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method begins by identifying a data object to access within a DSN. The method continues by identifying a vault ID based on the data object. The method continues by obtaining an object ID based on the data object. The method continues by selecting at least one generation ID based on generation status. The method continues, for each generation ID, by generating at least one set of slice names using the vault ID, the generation ID, and the object ID. The method continues, for each set of slice names, by generating a set of slice access requests that includes the set of slice names and accessing the DSN utilizing the set of slice access requests.

Abstract: An under voltage detection circuit and method of operating an IC including the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IC includes an under voltage protection circuit having first and second comparators configured to compare a supply voltage to first and second voltage thresholds, respectively, with the second voltage threshold being greater than the first. A logic circuit is coupled to receive signals from the first and second comparators. During operation in a high performance state by a corresponding functional circuit, the logic circuit is configured to cause assertion of a throttling signal responsive to an indication that the supply voltage has fallen below the first threshold. A clock signal provided to the functional circuit may be throttled responsive to the indication. If the supply voltage subsequently rises to a level above the second threshold, the throttling signal may be de-asserted.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing a computer peripheral including one or more keys. Each key has several light emitting diodes disposed on a face of the key. Each of the light emitting diodes can switch on or off in response to a data signal received from an application specific integrated circuit dedicated to the key. A corresponding key and manufacturing method, as well as a computer system including one or more such keys are also described.

Abstract: An adapter for electrical power that includes a rectifier coupled to a transformer with a primary coil and a secondary coil. The secondary coil includes a first end tap, a second end tap, and a center tap. A first switch is coupled between the first end tap and a primary side ground. A second switch is coupled between the second end tap and the primary side ground. A controller is coupled to the first switch and to the second switch so that during one or more intervals, the first switch and the second switch are alternately open and closed a predetermined number of times, wherein the initial switch closed each interval alternates between the first switch and the second switch, and after the predetermined number of times, both the first switch and the second switch are opened for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: One embodiment of a display backlight driver integrated circuit can be configured for operation in at least two different ways. A first method transfers data from an EEPROM to hardware registers prior to regular operation. A second method also transfers data from an EEPROM to registers. However, hardware registers can be overwritten with data accepted from a control bus, prior to regular operation. A keyboard driver IC can detect the presence or absence of a cable to an LED. If the cable is absent, the driver IC will not supply power for the LED. One embodiment of a keyboard and display backlight control system can be configured to allow substantially independent operation.

Abstract: One embodiment of a display backlight driver integrated circuit can be configured for operation in at least two different ways. A first method transfers data from an EEPROM to hardware registers prior to regular operation. A second method also transfers data from an EEPROM to registers. However, hardware registers can be overwritten with data accepted from a control bus, prior to regular operation. A keyboard driver IC can detect the presence or absence of a cable to an LED. If the cable is absent, the driver IC will not supply power for the LED. One embodiment of a keyboard and display backlight control system can be configured to allow substantially independent operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of an adapter are disclosed that include a transformer with a primary coil coupled to an H-bridge. The H-bridge is controlled by a control circuit that controls a voltage across the primary coil using the H-bridge, and the control circuit is configured to control the H-bridge so that during each of one or more intervals, a first voltage pulse is applied across the primary coil in a start direction, wherein the start direction alternates between a first direction and a second direction each interval. Then, a direction of subsequent voltage pulses across the primary coil is alternated between the first direction and the second direction a predetermined number of times. After the predetermined number of times, a last voltage pulse is applied across the primary coil; then, voltage across the primary coil is reduced to zero for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A method and system are described for powering a display controller in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, the display controller includes a display controller power management circuit directly connected to a battery.

Abstract: Embodiments of an adapter are disclosed that include a rectifier with an input and an output coupled to a step-down transformer with a primary coil and a secondary coil, wherein the primary coil is coupled to the output of the rectifier. A step-up converter is coupled to the secondary coil.