Abstract: Incidents involving confidentiality and vigilance against user privacy invasions raise doubts as to current third-party data collection procedures. Personally identifiable information (PII) is being abused for medical data breaches, identity theft, spam, phishing, cyber spying, etc. A great amount of data is flowing from users to companies for prediction and analysis of data-centric markets. It is thus difficult to track PII flow and genuineness. Blockchain technology, which is an “immutable” distributed ledger, can efficiently track PII exchange, storing, and distribution. In contrast, the EU general data protection regulation (GDPR) in progress claims “a right to forget” and a right “to delete”. However, the present specification proposes an off-chain blockchain architecture using both a local database and a distributed ledger to guarantee a trustable PII life cycle.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a precision reference circuit, which contains a bandgap reference circuit and an offset-correction circuit. The bandgap reference circuit has an output that is coupled to provide a bandgap reference voltage and an intermediate node that is separated from the output by a transimpedance resistor. The offset-correction circuit is coupled to the bandgap reference circuit and includes a DAC. The DAC is coupled to the intermediate node and is also coupled to receive an external digital value. The external digital value determines a fraction of a correction current that will be passed by the DAC.

Abstract: An AFE chip for a smoke detector includes a DC/DC boost converter having a boost input, a boost output, and a boost upper power supply input. The boost input is coupled to a first pin that is adapted for coupling to a battery through an inductor and the boost output is coupled to a second pin. The DC/DC boost converter is configured to not switch when a voltage on the second pin is greater than a programmed boost voltage. A set of power regulator circuits have a power input, which is coupled to a third pin, and a power output. The third pin is adapted for receiving an input voltage, the power output is coupled to provide an internal voltage, and the set of power regulator circuits are further coupled to the boost upper power supply input.

Abstract: Incidents involving confidentiality and vigilance against user privacy invasions raise doubts as to current third-party data collection procedures. Personally identifiable information (PII) is being abused for medical data breaches, identity theft, spam, phishing, cyber spying, etc. A great amount of data is flowing from users to companies for prediction and analysis of data-centric markets. It is thus difficult to track PII flow and genuineness. Blockchain technology, which is an “immutable” distributed ledger, can efficiently track PII exchange, storing, and distribution. In contrast, the EU general data protection regulation (GDPR) in progress claims “a right to forget” and a right “to delete”. However, the present specification proposes an off-chain blockchain architecture using both a local database and a distributed ledger to guarantee a trustable PII life cycle.

Abstract: A system on a chip (SoC) for smoke detection includes power regulator circuits coupled to respective pins and analog sensor amplifier circuits that are each coupled to a respective pin of the pins coupled to the power regulator circuits. A first analog sensor amplifier circuit of the analog sensor amplifier circuits has a photoelectric amplifier circuit, a first LED driver and a second LED driver. The SoC also has a digital core that includes a digital logic circuit, register bits, and an MCU communication circuit. The MCU communication circuit is coupled to a data pin, the register bits are coupled to control or modify operation of the power regulator circuits and the analog sensor amplifier circuits, and the register bits are operable to be written to by an MCU.

Abstract: Big data analytics is being used by many market participants. PII (Personally Identifiable Information) (e.g., age, race, social security number, address, etc.) plays a vital role in providing user-centric services. Many IT companies collect, store and process PII of their customers by means of various mobile applications. The example embodiments may explain how collective permission gathering through multiple Android applications by same publishers can disclose user's PII by using two new PII risk factors, and determine total risk factor for PII.

Abstract: A system on a chip (SoC) for smoke detection includes power regulator circuits coupled to respective pins and analog sensor amplifier circuits that are each coupled to a respective pin of the pins coupled to the power regulator circuits. A first analog sensor amplifier circuit of the analog sensor amplifier circuits has a photoelectric amplifier circuit, a first LED driver and a second LED driver. The SoC also has a digital core that includes a digital logic circuit, register bits, and an MCU communication circuit. The MCU communication circuit is coupled to a data pin, the register bits are coupled to control or modify operation of the power regulator circuits and the analog sensor amplifier circuits, and the register bits are operable to be written to by an MCU.

Abstract: An AFE chip for a smoke detector includes a DC/DC boost converter having a boost input, a boost output, and a boost upper power supply input. The boost input is coupled to a first pin that is adapted for coupling to a battery through an inductor and the boost output is coupled to a second pin. The DC/DC boost converter is configured to not switch when a voltage on the second pin is greater than a programmed boost voltage. A set of power regulator circuits have a power input, which is coupled to a third pin, and a power output. The third pin is adapted for receiving an input voltage, the power output is coupled to provide an internal voltage, and the set of power regulator circuits are further coupled to the boost upper power supply input.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a precision reference circuit, which contains a bandgap reference circuit and an offset-correction circuit. The bandgap reference circuit has an output that is coupled to provide a bandgap reference voltage and an intermediate node that is separated from the output by a transimpedance resistor. The offset-correction circuit is coupled to the bandgap reference circuit and includes a DAC. The DAC is coupled to the intermediate node and is also coupled to receive an external digital value. The external digital value determines a fraction of a correction current that will be passed by the DAC.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a voltage regulator circuit having a power NFET coupled between an upper supply voltage and a pre-regulator output node and a current source coupled in series with a diode element between the upper supply voltage and a lower supply voltage. A gate of the power NFET is coupled to a first node between the current source and a diode element. A bypass circuit includes a power PFET coupled between the upper supply voltage and the pre-regulator output node. A comparison circuit is coupled to turn the bypass circuit off when the upper supply voltage is greater than a regulation threshold voltage.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a voltage regulator circuit having a power NFET coupled between an upper supply voltage and a pre-regulator output node and a current source coupled in series with a diode element between the upper supply voltage and a lower supply voltage. A gate of the power NFET is coupled to a first node between the current source and a diode element. A bypass circuit includes a power PFET coupled between the upper supply voltage and the pre-regulator output node. A comparison circuit is coupled to turn the bypass circuit off when the upper supply voltage is greater than a regulation threshold voltage.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a voltage regulator circuit having a power NFET coupled between an upper supply voltage and a pre-regulator output node and a current source coupled in series with a diode element between the upper supply voltage and a lower supply voltage. A gate of the power NFET is coupled to a first node between the current source and a diode element. A bypass circuit includes a power PFET coupled between the upper supply voltage and the pre-regulator output node. A comparison circuit is coupled to turn the bypass circuit off when the upper supply voltage is greater than a regulation threshold voltage.

Abstract: Big data analytics is being used by many market participants. PII (Personally Identifiable Information) (e.g., age, race, social security number, address, etc.) plays a vital role in providing user-centric services. Many IT companies collect, store and process PII of their customers by means of various mobile applications. The example embodiments may explain how collective permission gathering through multiple Android applications by same publishers can disclose user's PII by using two new PII risk factors, and determine total risk factor for PII.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for retracting a read/write head (13) to a landing position of a disk (11) in a disk drive system (10) which includes an actuator (33) coupled with the head (13) for retracting in a first direction toward an outside diameter of the disk (11) and a second direction toward an inside diameter of the disk (11) in response to corresponding signals. A control device (32) coupled with the actuator (33) which is adapted for determining a retract direction for the read/write head (13), wherein a first signal indicative of a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second direction is provided to the actuator (33), the control device (32) further providing the first signal following a loss of power which energizes the disk drive motor (38) of the disk drive system and providing the second signal subsequent to providing the first signal for retracting the read/write head (13) to the landing position.

Abstract: A hard disk drive energy recovery circuit, a method of recovering energy from a motor of a hard disk drive and a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, the hard disk drive energy recovery circuit includes (1) a spindle resolver that generates transition signals as a spindle motor of the hard disk drive rotates among angular regions, (2) a spindle region state machine, coupled to the spindle resolver, that receives the transition signals and generates rectifier drive signals based thereon and (3) a synchronous rectifier, coupled to the spindle region state machine, that employs the rectifier drive signals to recover electrical energy from the motor.

Abstract: A hard disk drive energy recovery circuit, a method of recovering energy from a motor of a hard disk drive and a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, the hard disk drive energy recovery circuit includes (1) a spindle resolver that generates transition signals as a spindle motor of the hard disk drive rotates among angular regions, (2) a spindle region state machine, coupled to the spindle resolver, that receives the transition signals and generates rectifier drive signals based thereon and (3) a synchronous rectifier, coupled to the spindle region state machine, that employs the rectifier drive signals to recover electrical energy from the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for retracting a read/write head (13) to a landing position of a disk (11) in a disk drive system (10) which includes an actuator (33) coupled with the head (13) for retracting in a first direction toward an outside diameter of the disk (11) and a second direction toward an inside diameter of the disk (11) in response to corresponding signals. A control device (32) coupled with the actuator (33) which is adapted for determining a retract direction for the read/write head (13), wherein a first signal indicative of a first direction and a second signal indicative of a second direction is provided to the actuator (33), the control device (32) further providing the first signal following a loss of power which energizes the disk drive motor (38) of the disk drive system and providing the second signal subsequent to providing the first signal for retracting the read/write head (13) to the landing position.

Abstract: A circuit (16,86) provides digital signals indicative of slew rates of phase signals (220) of H-bridge power drive transistors (60,62,64) of motor windings (66) of a mass data storage device (10). The circuit uses up and down phase control signals (UP,DN) to initiate up and down voltage changes in the motor phase signals. A portion of the circuit (180) produces a state change in a phase status output signal (196) when the phase signal (220) is less than a supply voltage (186). A digital comparison circuit (210) compares the phase status output signal (196) and the up and down control signals (UP,DN), and produces respective rise and fall digital outputs (216,217) when the up and down phase control signals and the phase status output signal are the same. The respective rise and fall digital outputs (222,224) have state change timings that indicate rise and fall times of said motor phase signals (220).

Abstract: A protection system for an integrated circuit is disclosed. A detection system detects an overvoltage condition and provides an overvoltage condition signal to indicate a condition in which overvoltage protection may be desired. In response to the overvoltage condition signal, one or more variable resistance devices in the system, such as power devices of associated driver circuitry, are controlled to limit the voltage across such devices.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling operation of an actuator for retracting a read/write head of a hard disk drive system. One aspect of the system and method relates to controlling the actuator in response to a retract request command by first decelerating the actuator for a time period and then braking of the actuator for another time period. Another aspect of the system and method relates to controlling operation of the actuator during retract based on a sensed back EMF relative to a target back EMF, which may be selected by a user.