Abstract: A method to adjust the load transient regulation of a low drop-out (LDO)/load switch linear voltage regulator (LVR) with an n-type pass element having an open loop transfer function, including determining during a load transient event if the gate of the pass—element goes lower than a scaled value of the output voltage or a constant voltage level, generating a control signal that controls a current sink block if the gate voltage of the pass element is lower than the output voltage, and enabling a current sink block that is controlled by the control signal and connecting the output of the current sink block to the output of the LVR.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage comparator circuit includes a first comparator circuit to compare a first voltage and a second voltage and a second comparator circuit to compare the first voltage and the second voltage. The voltage comparator circuit may include charge storage circuitry and positive feedback circuitry. Such circuitry may boost current within the first and second comparator circuits to enable the voltage comparator circuit to output a comparison decision within a delay threshold in response to input transitions within a slew rate threshold.

Abstract: A novel low power enable circuit is less sensitive to power supply variations while consuming less than 50 nA of supply current. The enable circuit includes a voltage clamp circuit which limits the supply level for a first inverter. The clamp circuit having a first input connected to a supply, a second input connected to chip enable, and a first output.

Abstract: A method for synthesis of MgH2/Ni nanocomposites includes balancing magnesium (Mg) powder in a ball milling container with helium (He) gas atmosphere; adding a plurality of nickel (Ni) milling balls to the container; introducing hydrogen (H2) gas to the container to form a MgH2 powder; milling the MgH2 powder using the Ni-balls as milling media to provide MgH2/Ni nanocomposites. The milling can be high-energy ball milling, e.g., under 50 bar of hydrogen gas atmosphere. The high-energy ball milling can be reactive ball milling (RBM). The method can be used to attach Ni to MgH2 powders to enhance the kinetics of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of MgH2.

Abstract: A low drop-out (LDO)/load switch linear voltage regulator (LVR) circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, includes: a passive network with a second input terminal connected to the first input terminal and a second output terminal; a feedback network with a third input terminal connected to the first output terminal and a third output terminal; a pass element having a fourth input terminal connected to the first input terminal, a fourth output terminal connected to the first output terminal and first control terminal; a combiner having a fifth input connected to the second input, a sixth input connected to the third output and a fifth output connected to the first control terminal.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for initiating playback of audio scripts that correspond to content such as books or songs. Verbal content can be captured via a microphone. The text of the verbal content can be assessed to determine whether an audio script specifies a sound effect that should be played at particular cue words within the content. The verbal content is assessed to determine whether a user reading aloud or singing a song has reached a cue word. When a cue word is reached, the sound effect can be played.

Abstract: An architecture and method to maintain stability of a low drop-out (LDO)/load switch linear voltage regulator (LVR). The architecture method support optionally determining during a power-up phase and by using a load detection circuit, the estimated load parameters that represents at least one selected from a group consisting of: the load time constant and the load resistor at an output node of the LDO/load switch LVR, and adjusting, based on the estimated output load parameters, an adaptive RC network in the LDO/load switch LVR, wherein the adaptive RC network produces an adaptive zero in a feedback network transfer function of the LDO/load switch LVR, wherein the adaptive zero reduces an effect of a non-dominant pole in the open loop transfer function of the LDO/load switch LVR, and wherein a frequency of the adaptive zero is adjusted based on the estimated load parameters.

Abstract: A technique includes switching a supply rail from receiving a first voltage to receiving a second voltage; and regulating a slew rate associated with the switching.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus may include an amplifier circuit including a first input to receive a signal, a second input to receive a feedback signal, and an output. The apparatus may further include a buffer circuit including an input coupled to the output of the amplifier and including an output coupled to an output node. The apparatus may also include a feedback circuit coupled between the output node and the second input of the amplifier circuit. The feedback circuit may include at least one non-linear resistor configured to define a feedback ratio that changes in response to a voltage at the output node.

Abstract: The metallic glassy alloy powders for antibacterial coating are mechanically alloyed mixtures of copper, titanium, and nickel nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are alloyed by ball-milling to form glassy, metallic powders. The alloy preferably has a copper:titanium:nickel atomic percentage ratio of about 50:20:30, referred to herein as Cu50Ti20Ni30. The powdered alloy is applied to a suitable substrate, such as stainless steel medical instruments, by cold spray powder coating. The coated substrate exhibits antibacterial properties compared to an uncoated substrate.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a voltage comparator circuit includes a first comparator circuit to compare a first voltage and a second voltage and a second comparator circuit to compare the first voltage and the second voltage. The voltage comparator circuit may include charge storage circuitry and positive feedback circuitry. Such circuitry may boost current within the first and second comparator circuits to enable the voltage comparator circuit to output a comparison decision within a delay threshold in response to input transitions within a slew rate threshold.

Abstract: A method includes providing supply voltages to a supply voltage switching circuit that controls routing of the supply voltages to power consuming circuitry associated with the supply voltage switching circuit. The method includes comparing the supply voltages, including using at least one relatively lower precision comparator to compare the supply voltages for a relatively large difference between the supply voltages; and using at least one relatively higher precision comparator to compare the supply voltages for a relatively smaller difference between the supply voltages.

Abstract: A context-driven publication option is received over a network at an adaptive publish subscribe broker from a publishing network device. The context driven publication options are presented over the network to a subscribing network device. A selection of a context-driven subscription is received over the network at the adaptive publish/subscribe broker from the subscribing network device. A publication configured for network management and operations is received at the adaptive publish/subscribe broker. Publications are filtered at the adaptive publish/subscribe broker for the subscribing network device according to the selection of the context-driven subscription.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing nanodiamonds includes high energy ball milling of graphite powder for a period of at least 52 hours at a rotation speed of about 400 rotations per minute to produce nanodiamonds. The ball milling can occur in an inert atmosphere at ambient pressure and room temperature. The nanodiamonds can have a spherical morphology and a particle size distribution ranging from about 1 nanometer to about 10 nanometers.

Abstract: The composition for hydrogen storage is a composite of MgH2 powder and a metallic glassy Zr70Ni20Pd10 powder. Preferably, the metallic glassy Zr70Ni20Pd10 powder forms about 5 wt % of the composition for hydrogen storage. The composition for hydrogen storage is prepared by mixing MgH2 powder and Zr70Ni20Pd10 powder to form a mixture, and then performing reactive ball milling on the mixture. Preferably, the reactive ball milling is performed under 50 bar of hydrogen gas atmosphere for a period of 50 hours.

Abstract: System for enabling a visually impaired or blind person to use an input device having at least one key, comprising: at least one tactile sensor array, in particular a pressure sensor array, attachable to a fingertip of a visually impaired or blind person for acquiring a pressure distribution image of a key slightly touched by a finger of said person when attached to said finger, a pressure distribution image processing and character recognition unit that is connected to said tactile sensor array for processing said pressure distribution image and for recognizing the key label of the touched key and an audio output device that is connected to said unit for outputting and acoustic reproduction of said key label.

Abstract: Inrush current is a critical, undesirable behavior that results from the uncontrolled start-up or shut-down of voltage regulators. Large inrush currents lead to voltage overshoot at the output node of voltage regulators and this can damage the regulator load, in addition to peak current that can damage the packaging or the regulator itself. Embodiments of the invention introduce methods of inrush current reduction based on voltage reference generation. For example, one method is based on multiple filtered steps of the voltage reference for the voltage regulator. For example, another method is based on creating a voltage reference signal that has a continuous slope starting from zero and ending at zero. Embodiments of the invention reduce or limit the inrush current for sensitive applications.

Abstract: A low drop-out (LDO)/load switch linear voltage regulator (LVR) circuit having a first input terminal and a first output terminal, includes: a passive network with a second input terminal connected to the first input terminal and a second output terminal; a feedback network with a third input terminal connected to the first output terminal and a third output terminal; a pass element having a fourth input terminal connected to the first input terminal, a fourth output terminal connected to the first output terminal and first control terminal; a combiner having a fifth input connected to the second input, a sixth input connected to the third output and a fifth output connected to the first control terminal.

Abstract: A method to adjust the load transient regulation of a low drop-out (LDO)/load switch linear voltage regulator (LVR) with an n-type pass element having an open loop transfer function, including determining during a load transient event if the gate of the pass—element goes lower than a scaled value of the output voltage or a constant voltage level, generating a control signal that controls a current sink block if the gate voltage of the pass element is lower than the output voltage, and enabling a current sink block that is controlled by the control signal and connecting the output of the current sink block to the output of the LVR.

Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus may include an amplifier circuit including a first input to receive a signal, a second input to receive a feedback signal, and an output. The apparatus may further include a buffer circuit including an input coupled to the output of the amplifier and including an output coupled to an output node. The apparatus may also include a feedback circuit coupled between the output node and the second input of the amplifier circuit. The feedback circuit may include at least one non-linear resistor configured to define a feedback ratio that changes in response to a voltage at the output node.