Abstract: An AC-to-DC converter for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage includes a first converter, a second converter, a sense circuit, a controller, and an enabling circuit. The first converter converts an AC voltage to a first DC voltage. The second converter converts the first DC voltage to a second DC voltage. The sense circuit coupled to the first and second converters provides a first sense signal indicative of the first DC voltage and a second sense signal indicative of the AC voltage. The controller coupled to the first and second converters controls the first and second DC voltages. The enabling circuit coupled to the sense circuit generates a control signal to the controller to disable both the first converter and the second converter by comparing the first sense signal to a first threshold voltage and comparing the second sense signal to a second threshold voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical signaling. In one embodiment, a laser driver converts a digital voltage sequence to a current signal having a bias mode adjustable by a bias control and a modulation mode adjustable by a modulation control. A laser generates an optical signal responsive to the current signal of the laser driver. In one embodiment, a photo-detector receives an optical signal and generates a single ended current signal. A transimpedance amplifier circuit converts the single ended current signal to a differential voltage signal. A clock recovery circuit generates an aligned clock signal and a sampler circuit uses the aligned clock signal to retrieve a digital voltage sequence.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optical signaling. In one embodiment, a laser driver converts a digital voltage sequence to a current signal having a bias mode adjustable by a bias control and a modulation mode adjustable by a modulation control. A laser generates an optical signal responsive to the current signal of the laser driver. In one embodiment, a photo-detector receives an optical signal and generates a single ended current signal. A transimpedance amplifier circuit converts the single ended current signal to a differential voltage signal. A clock recovery circuit generates an aligned clock signal and a sampler circuit uses the aligned clock signal to retrieve a digital voltage sequence.

Abstract: A power supply system can include a primary power supply coupled to an output, and a secondary power supply coupled to the output. The primary power supply provides power to the output when a voltage level of the secondary power supply is less than a first predetermined level. The secondary power supply provides power to the output when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than the first predetermined level. The secondary power supply not only provides power to the output, but also charges the primary power supply when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than a second predetermined level that is greater than the first predetermined level.

Abstract: Transgenic plants are provided comprising a plurality of transgenes comprised in a single locus. In certain aspects, 7 or more transgenes may be expressed from a first locus. Methods are provided for transformation of plant cells with a plurality of transgenes. Also provided are methods for expressing and enhancing the expression of one or more transgenes in a plant.

Abstract: A digital signature collection and authentication system includes an ink pen having an ultrasonic transmitter that transmits ultrasonic energy to a plurality of ultrasonic receivers. A computer triangulates the location of the pen versus time to generate the signature shape, and to generate velocity and acceleration data. The pen also includes a pressure sensitive tip to record pressure applied to the pen tip. The pen also includes a higher frequency burst transmitter useful to generate a time reference, and to transmit the pressure information. The computer packetizes the shape, velocity, acceleration, and pressure data with a time stamp and an IP address or phone number, encrypts the packet and sends it to a host computer for authentication.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery management system includes a charger controller for controlling a charging current of a battery according to a status of a load which is powered by the battery, and a counter coupled to the charger controller for determining a charging time according to such status. Advantageously, a first charging current is selected when the load is off. A second charging current that is less than the first charging current is selected when the load is on. Furthermore, a frequency of the counter is set to a first frequency when the load is off. The frequency is set to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the load is on.

Abstract: A power system for managing charging, discharging and protection of rechargeable batteries is disclosed. The power system mainly includes a power system. The power system includes a switching circuit coupled to the rechargeable batteries to charge and discharge the rechargeable batteries. The power system includes a power management unit to control the switching circuit. The power system includes a temperature sensing circuit to monitor a temperature of the batteries, voltage detectors to monitor voltages of the batteries, and current detectors to monitor a current of the batteries. If an abnormal condition is sensed by the power management unit when the power system is in an operating mode, the power management unit will terminate the operating mode by switching off the switching circuit to protect the batteries and the power system.

Abstract: Methods and compositions which can be used to increase the strength and/or probability of forming a binding complex comprising a target molecule and a substrate are disclosed. In one aspect, linking molecules are disclosed which can be used to increase the number of intra-complex binding interactions. Covalent bonds can be introduced to further increase the strength of these binding interactions. Inter-complex cross-linking can be utilized in connection with these methods to further strengthen and stabilize the disclosed binding complexes.

Abstract: A rotary pawl latch has a lock bar that engages with the pawl when the pawl is latched and that moves toward the center of the pawl to release the pawl for unlatching. This lock bar never completely becomes disengaged from the envelope of the pawl. There are cutouts in the pawl which allow the pawl to rotate as the lock bar is actuated.

Abstract: In some embodiments, provided is an integrated circuit with a first die coupled to a second die. The second die has through-silicon vias disposed through it to provide power references to the first die. The through-silicon vias are laterally re-positionable without inhibiting circuit sections in the second die.

Abstract: A laser driver for high speed interconnections may convert a digital signal to a current train of a bias mode to represent logical zero and of a modulation mode to represent logical one. An optical signal thus produced may include an optical offset. An optical receiver may include a photo-detector to receive the optical signal and generate a current signal, which includes a corresponding current offset. A first amplifier stage converts the current signal to a voltage signal and a second amplifier stage generates a digital output from the voltage signal. One or more low-pass filters may be used to filter the digital output and generate a filtered offset signal for a differential amplifier to generate an offset cancellation signal. The offset cancellation signal may be provided to offset cancellation circuitry to remove the current offset from the current signal generated by the photo-detector.

Abstract: A voltage droop detector captures the very high-frequency noise on the power grid of a load, such as a microprocessor. The droop detector includes twin circuits, one of which receives the voltage from the power grid of the load, the other of which receives a filtered voltage. A 0th droop, as well as 1st droops, 2nd droops, and so on, are captured and stored for subsequent analysis. The circuits sample the voltages frequently enough to ensure that all droop events are captured. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: One embodiment of a laser driver for high speed interconnections includes a buffered level shifter to shift the input voltage level to an appropriate level. In some embodiments the buffered level shifter may be tuned to provide a desired level shift with impedance matched to the driving load. Another embodiment converts a digital signal to a current train of a bias mode to represent logical zero and of a modulation mode to represent logical one, wherein one or both of the bias mode and modulation mode may be adjusted, for example by a programmable control circuit or by an adaptive control circuit. Some embodiments also provide circuitry for reducing overshoot of the output signal.

Abstract: A power management device for enabling multiply power sources to supply power to a load. The power management device includes a plurality of switches and a control logic. The plurality of switches are coupled to a plurality of power sources respectively and each switch coupled to each power source. The control logic is capable of selecting a set of switches among the plurality of switches to cooperate in a time-divided fashion to allow the power sources to provide power to the load. The set of switches is selected based on an electrical requirement of the load and an electrical condition of each switch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery management system includes a charger controller for controlling a charging current of a battery according to a status of a load which is powered by the battery, and a counter coupled to the charger controller for determining a charging time according to such status. Advantageously, a first charging current is selected when the load is off. A second charging current that is less than the first charging current is selected when the load is on. Furthermore, a frequency of the counter is set to a first frequency when the load is off. The frequency is set to a second frequency that is less than the first frequency when the load is on.

Abstract: A power supply system can include a primary power supply coupled to an output, and a secondary power supply coupled to the output. The primary power supply provides power to the output when a voltage level of the secondary power supply is less than a first predetermined level. The secondary power supply provides power to the output when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than the first predetermined level. The secondary power supply not only provides power to the output, but also charges the primary power supply when the voltage level of the secondary power supply is greater than a second predetermined level that is greater than the first predetermined level.

Abstract: A power system for managing charging, discharging and protection of rechargeable batteries is disclosed. The power system mainly includes a power system. The power system includes a switching circuit coupled to the rechargeable batteries to charge and discharge the rechargeable batteries. The power system includes a power management unit to control the switching circuit. The power system includes a temperature sensing circuit to monitor a temperature of the batteries, voltage detectors to monitor voltages of the batteries, and current detectors to monitor a current of the batteries. If an abnormal condition is sensed by the power management unit when the power system is in an operating mode, the power management unit will terminate the operating mode by switching off the switching circuit to protect the batteries and the power system.

Abstract: A system and method for sampling a data stream generates a number of clock signals having equally spaced phases and then samples a data stream using the clock signals. The clock phases are preferably based on a predetermined fraction of a data rate frequency of the data stream, and sampling is performed based on predetermined combinations of the clock signals. While the system and method is suitable for sampling data transmitted for a wide variety of data rates, the system and method is especially well-suited to sampling at data transmitted at high rates, for example, equal to or greater than 20 Gb/s.

Abstract: A device includes a first circuit having rows and columns of delay cells to generate delayed signals based on an input signal. The delayed signals are selectable and have a different delay from one another with respect to the input signal. The device is programmable based on a delay code. Different values of the delay code allow the device to select different delayed signals. The device may select one of the delayed signals from the first circuit for use as a timing signal in a second circuit of the device. The device may also use the delayed signals from the first circuit to evaluate a clock and data recovery circuit. In an embodiment, the circuits may be located on a single die.