Abstract: A microcontroller has a programmable timebase, wherein the timebase has a trigger input to start a timer or counter of the timebase and wherein the timebase can be configured to operate upon receiving a trigger signal in a first mode to generate a plurality of timer/counter event signals until a reset bit in a control register is set and in a second mode to generate a single timer/counter event signal and wherein the timebase can be configured to operate in a third mode to generate a predefined number of timer/counter event signals, wherein the predefined number is defined by a plurality of bits of a register.

Abstract: A processor device with debug capabilities has a central processing unit, debug circuitry including a trace module and an external interface, wherein the trace module generates a trace stream including information about executed instructions, wherein the trace stream is output through the external interface, and wherein the trace module is further operable to detect a trigger signal and upon detection to insert a trace packet into the generated trace stream.

Abstract: A pulse width modulator has a first clock source providing a clock signal to a set input of an output controller configured to set a pulse width output signal and having a reset input to reset the pulse width output signal. A duty cycle control unit is coupled with the reset input of the output controller, wherein the duty cycle control unit has a numerical controlled oscillator (NCO) being coupled with a register and configured to provide for a direct digital synthesis to produce a specified frequency according to a value set in the register. Furthermore, logic is provided for receiving a signal from a second clock source and the pulse width output signal to trigger the numerical controlled oscillator.

Abstract: A microcontroller includes on-chip key storage slots stored in a non-volatile memory, wherein selecting which key is to be used is restricted to software, wherein a predetermined key storage slot stores a Key Encrypt Key (KEK), and a register flag is provided for determining whether the predetermined key storage slot stores a key for encrypting/decrypting data or the KEK for encrypting/decrypting a key

Abstract: Detection of an increase in a mismatch of an antenna of a radio frequency (RF) device and/or a change in a capacitance value of the antenna indicates proximity of a body to the antenna. Upon detection of proximity of a body to the antenna, reduction of transmit power of the RF device may be done to meet Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) level regulations.

Abstract: A microcontroller has a timebase driven by a clock signal, wherein the timebase has a reset input and an output coupled with a comparator. The comparator is further coupled with a register and is operable to generate a synchronization output signal if the timebase matches the register value. The microcontroller further has a first multiplexer receiving the synchronization output signal from the comparator and further receiving at least one event signal generated by a unit other than the timebase, wherein the first multiplexer is operable to select either the synchronization output signal or the at least one event signal as a timebase synchronization output signal.

Abstract: A microcontroller has a plurality of peripherals, and at least one control bit, wherein the control bit controls a reset of at least one peripheral such that in a first mode any type of reset resets the at least one peripheral of said plurality of peripherals and in a second mode only a power supply reset resets the at least one peripheral.

Abstract: A circuit that supports multiple monitors, docking functions, and protected content via one cable. The circuit includes a receiver that receives multiple video streams, each including respective video data, a mux/demux, coupled to the receiver, that determines which video stream to display on a monitor, a display interface coupled to the first mux/demux, wherein the display interface is configured to generate output signals based on the video data of the determined video stream to be displayed on the first monitor, a transmitter coupled to the mux/demux, and a transmit physical interface (TPI) coupled to the transmitter. The mux/demux sends at least a remainder of the video streams to the transmitter, which sends them to the TPI, which transmits them as output, useable as input to further instances of the circuit.

Abstract: External conditions, e.g., smoke, temperature, humidity, humidity, pressure, flow rate, etc., affects a sensor's characteristics, wherein the sensor provides a current output representative of its characteristics as affected by the external conditions. The current output of the sensor is coupled to a sample and hold capacitor for a precision time period thereby charging the sample and hold capacitor to a voltage proportional to current provided by the sensor over the precision time period. The voltage on the sample and hold capacitor is converted to a digital representation and a determination is made whether the external condition represents an alarm situation, e.g., smoke detected from a fire.

Abstract: A smoke detection sensor ion chamber has a leakage current that is dependent upon the permittivity of the ionized gas (air) in the chamber. Smoke from typical fires is mainly composed of unburned carbon that has diffused in the surrounding air and rises with the heat of the fire. The permittivity of the carbon particles is about 10 to 15 times the permittivity of clean air. The addition of the carbon particles into the air in the ion chamber changes the permittivity thereof that is large enough to detect by measuring a change in the leakage current of the ion chamber.

Abstract: A smoke detection sensor ion chamber has a capacitance and a change in the permittivity of that capacitance dielectric (ionized air in the chamber) may be used to detect the presence of smoke therein. Smoke from typical fires is mainly composed of unburned carbon that has diffused in the surrounding air and rises with the heat of the fire. The permittivity of the carbon particles is about 10 to 15 times the permittivity of clean air. The addition of the carbon particles into the air in the ion chamber changes in the permittivity thereof that is large enough to measure by measuring a change in capacitance of the ion chamber.

Abstract: A combination of capacitive, mutual capacitive, and inductive proximity and touch sensing is used to detect the presence and nature of nearby objects to a wireless device. When the proximity of metal or a user is sensed the output power of a Wi-Fi module in the device is reduced so as to prevent harm to the user and/or the Wi-Fi transmitter amplifier circuits. Inductive sensors located at the four corners of the wireless device are used to detect metal, and capacitive sensors are used to detect a capacitance change or shift due to the presence of a user's hand, body or metal. In addition, the capacitive sensors may be located at the four corners of the device and can measure changes in the mutual capacitance coupling between these capacitive sensors.

Abstract: A field effect transistor has a substrate with an epitaxial layer, base regions extending from a top of the epitaxial layer into the epitaxial layer, an insulation region having side walls and extending between two base regions on top of the substrate; and a polysilicon gate structure covering the insulation region including the side walls, wherein effective gates are formed by a portion of the polysilicon covering side walls above the base region.

Abstract: A smoke detection sensor ion chamber has a capacitance and a change in the permittivity of that capacitance dielectric (ionized air in the chamber) may be used to detect the presence of smoke therein. Smoke from typical fires is mainly composed of unburned carbon that has diffused in the surrounding air and rises with the heat of the fire. The permittivity of the carbon particles is about 10 to 15 times the permittivity of clean air. The addition of the carbon particles into the air in the ion chamber changes in the permittivity thereof that is large enough to measure by measuring a change in capacitance of the ion chamber.

Abstract: A plurality of capacitive proximity sensors on a substantially horizontal plane and in combination with a microcontroller are used to detect user gestures for Page Up/Down, Zoom In/Out, Move Up/Down/Right/Left, Rotation, etc., commands to a video display. The microcontroller is adapted to interpret the capacitive changes of the plurality of capacitive proximity sensors caused by the user gestures, and generate control signals based upon these gestures to control the visual content of the video display.

Abstract: A physical force capacitive touch sensor comprises a capacitive sensor element on a substrate, a physically deformable electrically insulating spacer over the capacitive sensor element and a conductive deformable plane over the physically deformable electrically insulating spacer. A protective deformable fascia may be placed over the conductive deformable plane to provide an environmental seal for physical and weather protection, but is not essential to operation of the capacitive touch sensor. Back lighting is accomplished through a light transmissive layer(s) in the capacitive touch sensor. When the conductive deformable plane is displaced toward the capacitive touch sensor element, the capacitance value of the capacitive touch sensor element changes and that change may be detected and used as an actuation signal.

Abstract: Temperature is determined by measuring the time it takes to charge a capacitor with a resistive temperature sensor. A clock, time counter, a voltage comparator and voltage reference are used in determining a course time measurement. The time measurement resolution is enhanced with the addition of a constant current source charging another timing capacitor within a single clock pulse time to provide a fine time measurement.

Abstract: An analog front end (AFE) device has at least one programmable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a serial interface switchable to operate in a bidirectional serial interface mode and in a unidirectional two wire serial interface mode, wherein the unidirectional two wire serial interface mode only uses a clock input and a data output signal line, wherein the ADC operates in the unidirectional two wire serial interface mode synchronous with a clock supplied to the clock input.

Abstract: A switch mode power supply (SMPS) converter is periodically run backwards by using a synchronous switch instead of the normally used commutating diode. By running the SMPS converter backwards the SMPS output capacitor can be discharged very quickly to provide a fast turn off of (no current through) the LED's, thereby solving the color shift problem. This enables positioning the output voltage of the SMPS up or down by actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor. Having the capability of actively charging or discharging the bulk output capacitor allows generation of a current source comprising substantially square, e.g., substantially full current when on and substantially no current when off, current pulses that are preferable for driving LED lighting applications.

Abstract: A serial memory may have memory arranged in a plurality of memory blocks, a serial interface for receiving a read instruction and associated memory address; and a controller configured to only store a plurality of most significant bits from each memory block which are accessed in parallel before an entire address has been received through the serial interface. The controller is further configured to stream out one of the plurality of most significant bits upon full reception of the memory address while retrieving the remaining bits from memory using the entire address and stream out the remaining bits after the most significant bits have been streamed out.