Abstract: It is described a voltage regulator device (100), comprising: i) a power device (150), configured to receive an input signal (151) and to produce a corresponding output signal (152); ii) a comparator device (110), coupled via a feedback path (140) to the power device (150), and configured to receive the output signal (152) as a feedback signal (141), and to produce a compared feedback signal (112); and iii) a digital modulation device (120), arranged between the comparator device (110) and the power device (150), and configured to digitally modulate the compared feedback signal (112), and to provide the digitally modulated signal (121) to the power device (150), wherein the digital modulation device (120) comprises: iiia) a delta-sigma (122), iiib) a quantizer (124), and iiic) a feedforward path (128), configured to feedforward the compared feedback signal (112) beyond the delta-sigma (122).

Abstract: There is described a method of controlling a single inductor multiple output, SIMO, switching converter, the method comprising (a) counting, for each output of the multiple outputs of the SIMO switching converter, a period of time during which an output voltage at the respective output is below a corresponding individual threshold value, (b) identifying that output among the multiple outputs of the SIMO switching converter for which the counted period of time is longest, and (c) connecting the identified output to the single inductor of the SIMO switching converter to supply current from the single inductor of the SIMO switching converter to the identified output. Furthermore, a corresponding controller is described.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a power supply circuit is provided, comprising: a first output node and a second output node; an inductor detection unit configured to detect whether an inductor is present at the first output node and to output a corresponding detection signal; a mode control unit configured to control an operating mode of the power supply circuit in dependence on said detection signal; wherein the inductor detection unit is configured to detect whether said inductor is present by pulling down the first output node, deriving a reference voltage from the second output node, and comparing a voltage level of the first output node with said reference voltage. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a power supply circuit is conceived.

Abstract: It is described a voltage regulator device (100), comprising: i) a power device (150), configured to receive an input signal (151) and to produce a corresponding output signal (152); ii) a comparator device (110), coupled via a feedback path (140) to the power device (150), and configured to receive the output signal (152) as a feedback signal (141), and to produce a compared feedback signal (112); and iii) a digital modulation device (120), arranged between the comparator device (110) and the power device (150), and configured to digitally modulate the compared feedback signal (112), and to provide the digitally modulated signal (121) to the power device (150), wherein the digital modulation device (120) comprises: iiia) a delta-sigma (122), iiib) a quantizer (124), and iiic) a feedforward path (128), configured to feedforward the compared feedback signal (112) beyond the delta-sigma (122).

Abstract: A method is provided for soft starting a single inductor multiple output (SIMO) power supply. The method includes selecting operation in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode. A first pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode is enabled to supply a first load with a first voltage and the power supply begins to ramp up the output voltage. After the output voltage has reached a desired value in the PFM mode, the PFM mode is disabled. Then, operation is enabled in the PWM mode. The SIMO power supply then supplies a current to one or more loads in the PWM mode.

Abstract: There is described a method of controlling a single inductor multiple output, SIMO, switching converter, the method comprising (a) counting, for each output of the multiple outputs of the SIMO switching converter, a period of time during which an output voltage at the respective output is below a corresponding individual threshold value, (b) identifying that output among the multiple outputs of the SIMO switching converter for which the counted period of time is longest, and (c) connecting the identified output to the single inductor of the SIMO switching converter to supply current from the single inductor of the SIMO switching converter to the identified output. Furthermore, a corresponding controller is described.

Abstract: A power management circuit includes an electrical power input for receiving electrical power, a controller, a finite state machine circuit in communication with the controller and a first voltage regulator in communication with the controller and the electrical power input and having a first output connected to a first capacitor for storing electrical power and to first electrical circuitry. The controller is configured to cyclically enable the first voltage regulator to supply current to charge the first capacitor. The finite state machine circuit is configured to interact with the controller to control the duration of a first time period of a cycle over which the first voltage regulator supplies current to charge the first capacitor and to control the duration of a second time period of the cycle over which the first voltage regulator does not supply current to charge the first capacitor and during which electrical current is receivable by said first electrical circuitry from said first capacitor.

Abstract: A method is provided for soft starting a single inductor multiple output (SIMO) power supply. The method includes selecting operation in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode. A first pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode is enabled to supply a first load with a first voltage and the power supply begins to ramp up the output voltage. After the output voltage has reached a desired value in the PFM mode, the PFM mode is disabled. Then, operation is enabled in the PWM mode. The SIMO power supply then supplies a current to one or more loads in the PWM mode.

Abstract: A power management circuit includes an electrical power input for receiving electrical power, a controller, a finite state machine circuit in communication with the controller and a first voltage regulator in communication with the controller and the electrical power input and having a first output connected to a first capacitor for storing electrical power and to first electrical circuitry. The controller is configured to cyclically enable the first voltage regulator to supply current to charge the first capacitor. The finite state machine circuit is configured to interact with the controller to control the duration of a first time period of a cycle over which the first voltage regulator supplies current to charge the first capacitor and to control the duration of a second time period of the cycle over which the first voltage regulator does not supply current to charge the first capacitor and during which electrical current is receivable by said first electrical circuitry from said first capacitor.

Abstract: A power controller, including power stages configured to receive input power and charge an inductor, the power stages including output power stages configured to output a first voltage and a second voltage, and feedback circuits to determine error signals of the first voltage and second voltage, a first loop configured to determine an amount of energy to be stored in the inductor using the error signals, and a second loop configured to determine a discharge of the inductor between the first voltage and the second voltage, wherein the second loop determines a moving average of at least one transition point between powering the first voltage and the second voltage.

Abstract: In a method for providing location-based information over a network, a plurality of GPS reference data sets, corresponding to a plurality of respective local areas, are acquired at intervals such that each GPS reference data set is updated on a continuous basis. A plurality of aiding data sets are generated at intervals based on the respective GPS data sets, whereby each aiding data set is updated on a continuous basis. The generated aiding data sets are stored at intervals on a data-storing network server, whereby updated aiding data sets are available on a continuous basis for access by a requesting entity via communication with the data-storing network server.

Abstract: An Aided Location Communication System (“ALCS”) is described that may include a geolocation server and a wireless communication device having a GPS section where the GPS receiver section is capable of being selectively switched between a standalone mode and at least one other mode for determining a geolocation of the wireless communications device. An Aided Location Communication Device (“ALCD”) is also described. The ALCD includes a position-determination section having a GPS receiver and a communication section where the position-determination section is selectively switchable between a GPS-standalone mode and at least one other mode for determining a geolocation of the ALCD.

Abstract: An Aided Location Communication System (“ALCS”) is described that may include a geolocation server and a wireless communication device having a GPS section where the GPS receiver section is capable of being selectively switched between a standalone mode and at least one other mode for determining a geolocation of the wireless communications device. An Aided Location Communication Device (“ALCD”) is also described. The ALCD includes a position-determination section having a GPS receiver and a communication section where the position-determination section is selectively switchable between a GPS-standalone mode and at least one other mode for determining a geolocation of the ALCD.

Abstract: A frequency phase correction system and method are described that provides a receiver with a greater ability to lock onto relatively weak radio frequency signals by determining and estimating an amount of frequency error in a local frequency reference of the receiver, and using the error estimate to maintain frequency coherence with a received signal, thereby allowing tracking over a longer period of time, enabling longer integration times to capture weaker signals without losing frequency coherence.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aided Global Positioning System (GPS) subsystem within a wireless device. The wireless device includes a wireless processing section capable of receiving signals from a wireless network and a GPS subsystem having a radio frequency (RF) front-end capable of receiving a GPS satellite signal. The wireless processing section of the wireless device receives an external clock and determines the offset between the clock in the wireless processing section and that of the external clock. The GPS subsystem then receives the offset information from the wireless processing section, information related to the nominal frequency of the wireless processing section clock and the wireless processing section clock. Using this information and the GPS clock in the GPS subsystem, the GPS subsystem determines an acquiring signal, which is related to a frequency offset between the GPS clock and the network clock.

Abstract: A Search Domain Reducing Frequency Transfer in A Multi-Mode Global Positioning System Used With Wireless Networks is disclosed.