Abstract: A carrier tape has at least two conductive rails affixed at opposite edges of the carrier tape. The purpose of the conductive rails is to provide power to smart labels mounted to the carrier tape for charging the batteries of each of the smart labels or transferring data to or from the smart labels. Holes are pierced into the conductive rails and the carrier tape to make a jagged edge at the backside of each hole in the carrier tape. The jagged edge of each of the holes of the conductive rail and the carrier tape on one layer connects with the conductive rail of the layer immediately adjacent. The smart labels are mounted to the carrier tape with an adhesive. A transport package holds a carrier tape that retains the smart labels and the conductive rails and is configured to transfer charging current or data to the smart labels.

Abstract: A carrier tape has at least two conductive rails affixed at opposite edges of the carrier tape. The purpose of the conductive rails is to provide power to smart labels mounted to the carrier tape for charging the batteries of each of the smart labels or transferring data to or from the smart labels. Holes are pierced into the conductive rails and the carrier tape to make a jagged edge at the backside of each hole in the carrier tape. The jagged edge of each of the holes of the conductive rail and the carrier tape on one layer connects with the conductive rail of the layer immediately adjacent. The smart labels are mounted to the carrier tape with an adhesive. A transport package holds a carrier tape which retains the smart labels and the conductive rails and is configured to transfer charging current or data to the smart labels.

Abstract: A bidirectional voltage translator shifts a voltage level of a first voltage signal to generate a second voltage signal, and vice-versa. The voltage translator includes first and second I/O terminals for receiving and outputting the first and second voltage signals, respectively, and first and second one-shot circuits connected to first and second output transistors, respectively. The outputs of the transistors are connected to the first and second I/O terminals, respectively, and also are fed back to the respective one-shot circuits. When the output of the voltage translator has a high slew-rate, the one of the first and second one-shot circuits that corresponds to the output modulates the gate voltage of the corresponding output transistor based on the feedback signal to control the slew-rate of the output.

Abstract: A system for producing a mechanical haptic pattern based on linear resonance actuator (LRA) signal is disclosed. The system includes an actuator displacement sensor, the actuator displacement sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to an actuator motor. The actuator displacement sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the actuator motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of the actuator motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function. The system also includes a controller configured to accept the LRA signal and the estimated displacement, wherein the controller is configured to alter the input LRA signal according to the estimated displacement to limit excursion of a moving part of the actuator motor.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods, apparatuses and systems involving voltage control using rectifying circuitry. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna, a capacitor, and voltage control circuitry. The voltage control circuitry includes a first rectifying circuit to rectify a wireless signal and provide the rectified signal to an output load, a second rectifying circuit to rectify the wireless signal and provide the rectified signal to the capacitor, and a control logic circuit to regulate an output voltage provided to the output load relative to a threshold value. For each rectifying cycle, the control logic circuit determines whether the output voltage is above the threshold value, enables, in response to determining that the output voltage is below the threshold value, the first rectifying circuit, and enables, in response to determining that the output voltage is above the threshold value, the second rectifying circuit.

Abstract: A system for producing a mechanical haptic pattern based on linear resonance actuator (LRA) signal is disclosed. The system includes an actuator displacement sensor, the actuator displacement sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to an actuator motor. The actuator displacement sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the actuator motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of the actuator motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function. The system also includes a controller configured to accept the LRA signal and the estimated displacement, wherein the controller is configured to alter the input LRA signal according to the estimated displacement to limit excursion of a moving part of the actuator motor.

Abstract: A voice coil motor displacement sensor and a voice coil motor controller that uses said sensor. The sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to a voice coil motor, the sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the voice coil motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of said voice coil motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure involve communications, and more specifically wireless communications with modulation. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a rectifier having a plurality of active circuits operates in first and second modes to modulate signals communicated via an antenna as follows. The first mode is at least a half-active mode in which at least one of the active circuits passes the signal, and the second mode consumes less power than the first mode. A modulator modulates a waveform of the signal by selectively operating at least one of the plurality of active circuits, therein setting an impedance of the rectifier and modulating an amplitude of the signal.

Abstract: An antenna control circuit including: an H-bridge circuit including three half-bridge circuits; and a controller configured to control the H-bridge circuit; wherein a first half-bridge circuit and a second half-bridge circuit of the three half-bridge circuits are configured to electrically connect across a resonant antenna with a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency; wherein a third half-bridge circuit is configured to electrically connect to a first capacitance connected to the resonant antenna, wherein the controller is configured to control the third half-bridge circuit to switch the connection of the first capacitance to the resonant antenna to a first position that changes the resonant frequency of the resonant antenna to the first resonant frequency.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods, apparatuses and systems involving voltage control using rectifying circuitry. According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes an antenna, a capacitor, and voltage control circuitry. The voltage control circuitry includes a first rectifying circuit to rectify a wireless signal and provide the rectified signal to an output load, a second rectifying circuit to rectify the wireless signal and provide the rectified signal to the capacitor, and a control logic circuit to regulate an output voltage provided to the output load relative to a threshold value. For each rectifying cycle, the control logic circuit determines whether the output voltage is above the threshold value, enables, in response to determining that the output voltage is below the threshold value, the first rectifying circuit, and enables, in response to determining that the output voltage is above the threshold value, the second rectifying circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods for charging/discharging a battery and DC/DC converter devices for charging/discharging a battery are described. In one embodiment, a method for charging/discharging a battery involves conveying energy from a direct current (DC) power source to the battery through a DC/DC converter device and conveying energy from the battery to the DC power source through the DC/DC converter device. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A front-end circuit is disclosed for a resonant wireless power receiver, the circuit comprising: input terminals for connection to an antenna; a rectifier configured to rectify an AC signal having a peak input voltage received at the input terminals and to provide an output having an output voltage; an over-voltage detector configured to at least one of detect the output voltage exceeding a threshold voltage an overvoltage and detect the peak input voltage exceeding the threshold voltage; and an over-voltage controller configured to provide an electrical short-circuit across the input terminals in response to the respective output voltage or peak input voltage exceeding the threshold voltage. Integrated circuits, NFC devices and mobile device comprising such a front-end circuit are also disclosed, as is a method for controlling wireless charging.

Abstract: Various aspects of the present disclosure involve communications, and more specifically wireless communications with modulation. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, a rectifier having a plurality of active circuits operates in first and second modes to modulate signals communicated via an antenna as follows. The first mode is at least a half-active mode in which at least one of the active circuits passes the signal, and the second mode consumes less power than the first mode. A modulator modulates a waveform of the signal by selectively operating at least one of the plurality of active circuits, therein setting an impedance of the rectifier and modulating an amplitude of the signal.

Abstract: A voice coil motor displacement sensor and a voice coil motor controller that uses said sensor. The sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to a voice coil motor, the sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the voice coil motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of said voice coil motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function.

Abstract: Wireless power and data transfer can be implemented for powering and communicating with a variety of devices, in a manner that facilitates device access under such wireless power conditions. As consistent with one or more embodiments, wireless power and data are communicated in an apparatus such as a mobile device having a power circuit (e.g., a battery) that powers a processor under normal operating conditions, and that also operates in a low-power state (e.g., in which the processor is not operating and/or not operating using the power circuit). Power is generated using wireless power signals and used to power the power circuit and to both extract and store data from wireless data signals. With this approach, data can be transferred in a low-power state, and the processor can use the stored data upon transitioning to an on state in which the processor is active and powered by the power circuit/battery.

Abstract: Wireless power and data transfer can be implemented for powering and communicating with a variety of devices, in a manner that facilitates device access under such wireless power conditions. As consistent with one or more embodiments, wireless power and data are communicated in an apparatus such as a mobile device having a power circuit (e.g., a battery) that powers a processor under normal operating conditions, and that also operates in a low-power state (e.g., in which the processor is not operating and/or not operating using the power circuit). Power is generated using wireless power signals and used to power the power circuit and to both extract and store data from wireless data signals. With this approach, data can be transferred in a low-power state, and the processor can use the stored data upon transitioning to an on state in which the processor is active and powered by the power circuit/battery.

Abstract: An antenna control circuit including: an H-bridge circuit including three half-bridge circuits; and a controller configured to control the H-bridge circuit; wherein a first half-bridge circuit and a second half-bridge circuit of the three half-bridge circuits are configured to electrically connect across a resonant antenna with a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency; wherein a third half-bridge circuit is configured to electrically connect to a first capacitance connected to the resonant antenna, wherein the controller is configured to control the third half-bridge circuit to switch the connection of the first capacitance to the resonant antenna to a first position that changes the resonant frequency of the resonant antenna to the first resonant frequency.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric component comprising at least one first MIM capacitor having a ferroelectric insulator with a dielectric constant of at least 100 between a first capacitor electrode of a first electrode material and a second capacitor electrode of a second electrode material. The first and second electrode materials are selected such that the first MIM capacitor exhibits, as a function of a DC voltage applicable between the first and second electrodes, an asymmetric capacitance hysteresis that lets the first MIM capacitor, in absence of the DC voltage, assume one of at least two possible distinct capacitance values, in dependence on a polarity of a switching voltage last applied to the capacitor, the switching voltage having an amount larger than a threshold-voltage amount. The invention is applicable for ESD sensors, memories and high-frequency devices.

Abstract: A switching circuit employs switches operating at low on resistance and high off capacitance. In connection with various example embodiments, a switching circuit selectively couples a communication port to one of two or more internal circuits based upon a type of input at the communication port. A sensor circuit senses the type of the input and, based upon the sensed input type, actuates one or more switches in the switching circuit.

Abstract: A switching circuit employs MEMS devices. In connection with various example embodiments, signal switching circuit couples primary and secondary data link connectors having at least two channels and an electrode for each channel. A MEMS switch is coupled to each channel in of the secondary data link connectors, and includes a suspended membrane, first and second contact electrodes (one being in the membrane) and a biasing circuit that biases the membrane for moving the membrane between open and closed positions to contact the electrodes. A switch controller circuit selectively controls the application of an actuation voltage to each of the biasing circuits, thereby selectively actuating the membranes between the open and closed positions for routing signals between the primary and secondary data link connectors.