Patents by Inventor Nikolaos Moschopoulos
Nikolaos Moschopoulos has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11880314Abstract: A method is provided for using a microcontroller for driving an external device, where the microcontroller comprises a processor coupled to a controller, and the controller comprises a state machine coupled to a storage medium configured to store at least one command executable by the state machine. A drive signal is generated using the controller to drive the external device. The storage medium may be configured by the processor with various commands and waveforms for operating different types of external devices. The proposed microprocessor permits reducing power consumption while at the same time allowing for a broad flexibility of use.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Konstantinos Kottikas, Simon de Groot
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Patent number: 10948970Abstract: A low power microcontroller that includes a low power node controller adapted to retrieve data from peripheral devices is presented. The microcontroller contains a state machine coupled to a storage medium, which is adapted to store a set of instructions executable by the state machine. The microcontroller also contains a power domain controller, which is adapted to enable the state machine upon receipt of a notification signal. As an option, the microcontroller contains a plurality of communication controllers for communicating with a plurality of external devices, wherein the power domain controller includes a register which may be read by the state machine to identify a communication controller among the plurality controllers. Also, a method of operating a microcontroller for use with an external device is presented. The method provides a state machine which executes a set of instructions.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Konstantinos Georgios Kottikas, Dimitrios Bekiaris
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Patent number: 10921999Abstract: A computer system, especially but not exclusively an embedded system, is provided with a CPU and an external FLASH or other memory which is used for storing code to be executed by the CPU in operation of the system. The system can be initialized without requiring a secondary boot sequence which means it can be used in preference to embedded or serial FLASH solutions. There is provided a computer system comprising: a processor; an external memory, being external to the processor; a memory controller for the external memory; and a power management unit which is arranged to receive a wake up signal, then to first wake up the memory controller; and secondly at a later time to wake up the processor.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Dimitrios Papadopoulos, Jakko Verhallen
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Publication number: 20190302871Abstract: A low power microcontroller that includes a low power node controller adapted to retrieve data from peripheral devices is presented. The microcontroller contains a state machine coupled to a storage medium, which is adapted to store a set of instructions executable by the state machine. The microcontroller also contains a power domain controller, which is adapted to enable the state machine upon receipt of a notification signal. As an option, the microcontroller contains a plurality of communication controllers for communicating with a plurality of external devices, wherein the power domain controller includes a register which may be read by the state machine to identify a communication controller among the plurality controllers. Also, a method of operating a microcontroller for use with an external device is presented. The method provides a state machine which executes a set of instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Konstantinos Georgios Kottikas, Dimitrios Bekiaris
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Patent number: 9747078Abstract: A device for true random number generation is disclosed. The device comprises an antenna and an analog processing unit for analog processing of a signal received from the antenna. An analog to digital (AD) converter is used for converting an analog signal generated by the analog processing unit into a digital signal. An isolation means is applied for temporarily isolating the antenna from the analog processing unit and the AD converter to generate a noise signal. A sampling means is used for sampling output values generated by the AD converter when the antenna is isolated from the analog processing unit and the AD converter. A digital processing unit is used for processing the sampled output values generated by the AD converter. The digital processing unit is configured to generate a random number based on one or more of the output values generated by the AD converter.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Jan Geert Prummel, Michail Papamichail
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Patent number: 9711043Abstract: An infrared signal generator with an interface for receiving an encoded infrared command; and protocol generation circuitry for generating a bitstream that comprises one or more data words that comprise data to be transmitted and one or more protocol words that describe symbols of an infrared protocol is presented. Optionally, the protocol generation circuitry comprises a first circuit for generating a data word and a second circuit for generating a protocol word. Optionally, the infrared signal generator comprises a carrier frequency generator which is selectively combined with the output of either the first circuit or the second circuit to provide a drive signal for an infrared transmitter.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Ioannis Sifnaios, Konstantinos Ninos
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Publication number: 20170199696Abstract: A computer system, especially but not exclusively an embedded system, is provided with a CPU and an external FLASH or other memory which is used for storing code to be executed by the CPU in operation of the system. The system can be initialized without requiring a secondary boot sequence which means it can be used in preference to embedded or serial FLASH solutions. There is provided a computer system comprising: a processor; an external memory, being external to the processor; a memory controller for the external memory; and a power management unit which is arranged to receive a wake up signal, then to first wake up the memory controller; and secondly at a later time to wake up the processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2016Publication date: July 13, 2017Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Dimitrios Papadopoulos, Jakko Verhallen
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Patent number: 9606913Abstract: A method and apparatus for executing an application program stored in an one-time-programmable, OTP, memory in a system on chip (SoC) is described. The SoC has RAM, a CPU and an OTP controller. The OTP memory stores an application program. The method includes, by the processor unit at power-up, instructing the OTP controller to copy the application program from the OTP memory to RAM, executing the application program from RAM, and setting the system on chip (SoC) in sleep mode. By the OTP controller after a wake-up, copying the application program from the OTP memory to the RAM and after the copying, waking up the CPU and transferring control back to the CPU. By the CPU after being woken up by the OTP controller, executing the application program from RAM.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Jakobus Johannes Verhallen, Konstantinos Ninos, Tobias Mueller, Dimitrios Papadopoulos
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Patent number: 9600207Abstract: An integrated circuit with a patching function comprises a one-time programmable memory (OTP), a random access memory (RAM), and a control unit. The control unit copies data stored on the OTP into the RAM to obtain a copied image mirroring said data. It checks for presence of one or more patch instructions in the OTP, and, if a patch instruction is found in the OTP, modifies a portion of the copied image based on the patch instruction, to obtain a patched image stored in the RAM. The integrated circuit further comprises a processing unit configured to access the patched image in the RAM. The patch can be provided wirelessly.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Dimitris Chanos, Ioannis Sifnaios, Konstantinos Ninos, Dimitrios Papadopoulos
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Publication number: 20160371972Abstract: An infrared signal generator with an interface for receiving an encoded infrared command; and protocol generation circuitry for generating a bitstream that comprises one or more data words that comprise data to be transmitted and one or more protocol words that describe symbols of an infrared protocol is presented. Optionally, the protocol generation circuitry comprises a first circuit for generating a data word and a second circuit for generating a protocol word. Optionally, the infrared signal generator comprises a carrier frequency generator which is selectively combined with the output of either the first circuit or the second circuit to provide a drive signal for an infrared transmitter.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Ioannis Sifnaios, Konstantinos Ninos
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Publication number: 20160110166Abstract: A device for true random number generation is disclosed. The device comprises an antenna and an analog processing unit for analog processing of a signal received from the antenna. An analog to digital (AD) converter is used for converting an analog signal generated by the analog processing unit into a digital signal. An isolation means is applied for temporarily isolating the antenna from the analog processing unit and the AD converter to generate a noise signal. A sampling means is used for sampling output values generated by the AD converter when the antenna is isolated from the analog processing unit and the AD converter. A digital processing unit is used for processing the sampled output values generated by the AD converter. The digital processing unit is configured to generate a random number based on one or more of the output values generated by the AD converter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Jan Geert Prummel, Michail Papamichail
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Publication number: 20140297928Abstract: A method and apparatus for executing an application program stored in an one-time-programmable, OTP, memory in a system on chip (SoC) is described. The SoC has RAM, a CPU and an OTP controller. The OTP memory stores an application program. The method includes, by the processor unit at power-up, instructing the OTP controller to copy the application program from the OTP memory to RAM, executing the application program from RAM, and setting the system on chip (SoC) in sleep mode. By the OTP controller after a wake-up, copying the application program from the OTP memory to the RAM and after the copying, waking up the CPU and transferring control back to the CPU. By the CPU after being woken up by the OTP controller, executing the application program from RAM.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Jakobus Johannes Verhallen, Konstantinos Ninos, Tobias Mueller, Dimitrios Papadopoulos
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Publication number: 20140289455Abstract: A patching circuit for patching a memory 2 is disclosed. An address register 1 is configured to store a first memory address. A comparison unit 4 is configured to receive a second memory address from an address bus 5, and to receive the first memory address. The comparison unit is further configured to compare the first memory address with the second memory address. A selecting unit 7 is configured to receive a value from a data register 3 associated with the address register 1, and a value from an input data bus 8, wherein the second value corresponds to the value stored in a position of the memory 2 identified by the second memory address. The selecting unit 7 is further configured to select one of the values based on the comparison performed, and to send the value to an output data bus 10.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2013Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Jakobus Johannes Verhallen, Gerardus Antionius Maria Wolters, Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Konstantinos Ninos
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Publication number: 20140281165Abstract: An integrated circuit with a patching function comprises a one-time programmable memory (OTP), a random access memory (RAM), and a control unit. The control unit copies data stored on the OTP into the RAM to obtain a copied image mirroring said data. It checks for presence of one or more patch instructions in the OTP, and, if a patch instruction is found in the OTP, modifies a portion of the copied image based on the patch instruction, to obtain a patched image stored in the RAM. The integrated circuit further comprises a processing unit configured to access the patched image in the RAM. The patch can be provided wirelessly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Dialog Semiconductor B.V.Inventors: Nikolaos Moschopoulos, Dimitris Chanos, Ioannis Sifnaios, Konstantinos Ninos, Dimitrios Papadopoulos