Abstract: Power and thermal management that uses trigger circuits to activate power telemetry. A power consumption level of a subsystem is monitored using a trigger circuit while power telemetry mode for the subsystem is inactive. When the monitored power consumption level exceeds a threshold, the trigger circuit activates the power telemetry mode of operation in which telemetry information of the subsystem is provided to a controller. Power consumption of the subsystem is then managed by the controller based on telemetry information obtained under the power telemetry mode. The controller can determine whether a power consumption level of the subsystem has dropped below a threshold, based on telemetry information obtained under the power telemetry mode. The controller may terminate the power telemetry mode when the power consumption level has dropped below the threshold. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A power conversion circuit has multiple phases wherein each of the phases has an inductor coupled to a power switch circuit and is coupled to an output node. A power conversion controller controls the switching of one or more of the phases to yield a regulated voltage on the output node. The controller uses a variable inductor current limit for one or more designated phases, and temporarily increases the variable inductor current limit during a transient condition. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A power gate is coupled to a power supply circuit to selectively provide power to a processing core. A switch has a local state and a remote state to alternately route (i) a local sense point on a supply side of the power gate and (ii) and a remote sense point on a load side of the power gate, to a load voltage feedback input of the power supply circuit. Timing logic and driver circuitry control the power gate and the switch in response to a processing core enable signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In some implementations, a mobile device can be configured with virtual motion fences that delineate domains of motion detectable by the mobile device. In some implementations, the mobile device can be configured to invoke an application or function when the mobile device enters or exits a motion domain (by crossing a motion fence). In some implementations, entering or exiting a motion domain can cause components of the mobile device to power on or off (or awaken or sleep) in an incremental manner.

Abstract: The switching frequency of a switch mode PFM power converter is compared with a predetermined frequency range that contains the operating frequency of a nearby clocked sub-system. In response to the switching frequency coming into the range, a parameter of the power converter is changed from an original value, so as to cause the switching frequency to go out of the range.

Abstract: An on-chip digital communication interface circuit is to be directly coupled to a counterpart interface circuit of a separate battery-side gas gauge circuit. An on-chip battery charging control circuit controls battery charging voltage and current that is supplied from a separate power source interface circuit to a battery cell terminal, according to charging voltage and current limits. The charging limits are read from the gas gauge circuit and in effect carry out a selected one of several different battery charging profiles. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A parameter related to the Earth's magnetic field can be used to determine accuracy of a magnetometer of a mobile device. In one aspect, a first instance of a parameter related to Earth's magnetic field is determined using data generated by the magnetometer. The magnetometer data can be based in part on a position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. A second instance of the parameter can be determined using data generated by a model of Earth's magnetic field. The model data can also be based in part on the position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. The first instance of the parameter can be compared with the second instance of the parameter. An accuracy metric for the magnetometer can be determined based on a result of the comparison. An indication of the accuracy metric can be presented by the mobile device.

Abstract: A device to capture an image includes a camera oriented to capture a first image of a subject and a display oriented to display a second image that is viewable by the subject. A backlight is coupled to the display to provide light that passes through the display toward the subject. An image processor is coupled to the camera and the backlight to adjust an amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to a quality of the first image. The light provided by the backlight may illuminate the subject and thereby improve the quality of the first image. The image processor may further adjust the amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to an ambient light level sensed by an ambient light sensor. The image processor may further adjust the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display.

Abstract: A device to capture an image includes a camera oriented to capture a first image of a subject and a display oriented to display a second image that is viewable by the subject. A backlight is coupled to the display to provide light that passes through the display toward the subject. An image processor is coupled to the camera and the backlight to adjust an amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to a quality of the first image. The light provided by the backlight may illuminate the subject and thereby improve the quality of the first image. The image processor may further adjust the amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to an ambient light level sensed by an ambient light sensor. The image processor may further adjust the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display.

Abstract: A compass output in a first portable electronic device is monitored as the first device and a second electronic device come closer to each other. It is determined, by a process running in the first device, whether a magnetic field signature that is based on the monitored compass output is associated with a previously defined type of electronic device with which a network device discovery process is to be conducted. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A parameter related to the Earth's magnetic field can be used to determine accuracy of a magnetometer of a mobile device. In one aspect, a first instance of a parameter related to Earth's magnetic field is determined using data generated by the magnetometer. The magnetometer data can be based in part on a position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. A second instance of the parameter can be determined using data generated by a model of Earth's magnetic field. The model data can also be based in part on the position of the mobile device with respect to the Earth. The first instance of the parameter can be compared with the second instance of the parameter. An accuracy metric for the magnetometer can be determined based on a result of the comparison. An indication of the accuracy metric can be presented by the mobile device.

Abstract: Hardware state machine is embedded with sensing element to generate movement context values and context information. Mobile device includes applications processor (AP), data storage, and sensor integrated circuit (IC) package. Data storage includes operating system (OS), and an application program to display a step count. Sensor IC package includes sensing element, analog-to-digital converter (ADC), embedded hardware state machine, and communications interface. Sensing element provides a sensor signal indicating the mobile device's movement. ADC samples the sensor signal. Hardware state machine filters the sampled sensor data, matches the filtered sensor data with one of several predetermined sensor data patterns (e.g. recognized pattern), and then generates a context value, e.g. walking, and a context information, e.g., step count, based on the recognized pattern. The context value and the context information are then provided via the communication interface to the OS (running on the AP.

Abstract: A personal mobile device housing contains a display screen, a wireless telephony communications transceiver, and a battery charger interface. A temperature sensor and a gyro sensor whose zero turn rate output contains an offset are also included. A lookup table has gyro zero turn rate offset correction values associated with different temperature values. A programmed processor accesses the lookup table to correct the output of the gyro sensor for zero turn rate offset. It is automatically determined, during in-the-field use, when the device is in a motionless state, and the output of the temperature and gyro sensors are read. The read gyro output is written to the lookup table as part of a pair of associated temperature and zero turn rate offset correction values. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An electronic device may have a gyroscopic sensor. The gyroscopic sensor may produce angular velocity data in response to movement of the electronic device. The gyroscopic sensor may have a first and second parallel branches of circuitry that are configured to produce angular velocity data from microelectromechanical systems output signals. When performing functions such as gaming or navigation functions, the electronic device may use the first branch of circuitry to produce angular velocity data with a large dynamic range. When performing functions such as image stabilization operations, the electronic device may use the second branch of circuitry to produce angular velocity data that is characterized by a relatively small amount of noise.

Abstract: The described embodiments include a power-management unit that receives and stores a representation of a temperature state of a battery pack from a battery-monitoring mechanism in a battery pack. For example, an interface circuit (such as a single-wire-interface or SWI circuit) may receive the information from the battery-monitoring mechanism via a signal line, and the information may be stored in a memory (such as a non-transitory computer-readable memory). This stored information is then used by a temperature-monitoring mechanism or circuit to determine the temperature state of the battery pack, which may be used to control or gate charging of a battery in the battery pack.

Abstract: A power-management unit is described. This power-management unit allows a common signal line to communicate data between an integrated circuit (which may be external to the power-management unit) and a battery-monitoring mechanism in a battery pack, and to convey a signal that represents a temperature state of the battery pack to a temperature-monitoring circuit or mechanism that monitors the temperature state of the battery pack. In particular, the power-management unit may include a single-wire interface or a multiplexer that, at a given time, selectively couples the signal line from the battery pack either to the integrated circuit or the temperature-monitoring circuit based on a control signal provided by the integrated circuit (for example, via an I2C bus or interface). In this way, the power-management unit may reduce the number of signal lines needed to communicate with the battery-monitoring mechanism and to convey the signal.

Abstract: The magnitude of a sensed, raw magnetic field in a portable device is monitored over a given time interval. The monitored magnitude is compared with predetermined criteria. Based on the comparison, recalibration of a compass function is signed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A power gate is coupled to a power supply circuit to selectively provide power to a processing core. A switch has a local state and a remote state to alternately route (i) a local sense point on a supply side of the power gate and (ii) and a remote sense point on a load side of the power gate, to a load voltage feedback input of the power supply circuit. Timing logic and driver circuitry control the power gate and the switch in response to a processing core enable signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Measurement data is collected from a magnetic sensor in a portable device, while the device is being carried by its end user and without requiring the end user to deliberately rotate or position the device while the output data is being collected. For example, the device may be held in the user's hand while walking or standing, or it may be fixed to the dashboard of an automobile or boat. Measurement data may also be collected from one or more positing, orientation or movement sensors. The collected measurement data from one or both of the magnetic sensor and the position, orientation or movement sensor is processed. In response, either a 2D compass calibration process or a 3D process is signaled to be performed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A controller detects the temperature of a portable electronic device as being below a battery charging threshold, and in response signals one or more of the electronic circuit components that make up the device to enter an increased power consumption state so as to generate more heat in the device for warming up the battery. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.