Abstract: A power transfer system for transferring power from a first circuit to a second circuit by a differential signal generated in the first circuit includes a first isolation element for transmitting a first component of the differential signal between the first and second circuits. The system also includes a second isolation element for transmitting a second component of the differential signal between the first and second circuits. A digital rectifier is coupled to the first and second isolation elements for generating a rectified voltage in response to the first and second components of the differential signal. The system includes circuitry for monitoring the rectified voltage and generating a signal representative of the rectified voltage. The system also includes a controller for changing the rectified voltage in response to the signal representative of the rectified voltage.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor substrate, including a primary portion of the substrate. An active component of the semiconductor device is disposed in the primary portion of the substrate. An interconnect region is formed on a top surface of the substrate. Semiconductor material is removed from the substrate in an isolation region, which is separate from the primary portion of the substrate; the isolation region extends from the top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate. A dielectric replacement material is formed in the isolation region. The semiconductor device further includes an isolated component which is not disposed in the primary portion of the substrate. The dielectric replacement material in the isolation region separates the isolated component from the primary portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is formed on a semiconductor substrate, including a primary portion of the substrate. An active component of the semiconductor device is disposed in the primary portion of the substrate. An interconnect region is formed on a top surface of the substrate. Semiconductor material is removed from the substrate in an isolation region, which is separate from the primary portion of the substrate; the isolation region extends from the top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate. A dielectric replacement material is formed in the isolation region. The semiconductor device further includes an isolated component which is not disposed in the primary portion of the substrate. The dielectric replacement material in the isolation region separates the isolated component from the primary portion of the substrate.

Abstract: An amplifier receives a differential signal and, in response, generates a first negative input current and a first positive input current. In a first operating mode, the amplifier receives a second differential signal, and, in response, generates a second negative input current and a second positive input current. In a second operating mode, the amplifier receives the second differential signal, and, in response, generates a third negative input current and a third positive input current. When the device is operating in the first operating mode, the first negative input current is summed with the second negative input current and the first positive input current is summed with the second positive input current. When the device is operating in the second operating mode, the first negative input current is summed with the third negative input current and the first positive input current is summed with the third positive input current.

Abstract: A system for transferring information from a first circuit to a second circuit includes first and second isolation elements coupled between the first circuit and the second circuit. A first transient filter is located on the second circuit and coupled to the first isolation element. A second transient filter is located on the second circuit and coupled to the second isolation element. A first ground is located on the first circuit, and a second ground is located on the second circuit. The first ground electrically floats relative to the second ground.

Abstract: A level shifter is provided. This level shifter includes a first driver, a second driver, a capacitor, and a common mode circuit. The first driver has a first signal path that is coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal, and the first driver operates in a first voltage domain. The second operates in a second voltage domain and includes a second signal path and latch. The second signal path is coupled between an input terminal and an output terminal of the second driver, and the latch that is coupled to the input terminal of the second signal path. The capacitor that is coupled between the output terminal of the first signal path and the input terminal of the second signal path, and the bias circuit is coupled to the input terminal of the second signal path and operates in the second voltage domain.

Abstract: A resonant line driver for driving capacitive-loads includes a driver series-coupled to an energy transfer inductor L1, driving signal energy at a signal frequency through L1. A switch array is controlled to switch L1 between multiple electrodes according to a switching sequence, each electrode characterized by a load capacitance CL. L1 and CL form a resonator circuit in which signal energy cycles between L1 and CL at the signal frequency. The switch array switches L1 between a current electrode and a next electrode at a zero_crossing when signal energy in the energy transfer inductor is at a maximum and signal energy in the load capacitance of the current electrode is at a minimum. An amplitude control loop controls signal energy delivered to the L1CL resonator circuit, and a frequency control loop controls signal frequency/phase. In an example application, the resonant driver provides line drive for a mutual capacitance touch screen.

Abstract: Amplifier circuits and methods of cancelling the Miller effects in amplifiers are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an amplifier circuit includes an input and an output. An amplifier is connected between the input and the output of the circuit. A voltage source is connected to the output, wherein the voltage source output is one hundred eighty degrees out of phase with the voltage output by the amplifier, and wherein the voltage source cancels gain due to the Miller effect of a Miller capacitance between the input and output.

Abstract: A power transfer system for transferring power from a first circuit to a second circuit by a differential signal generated in the first circuit includes a first isolation element for transmitting a first component of the differential signal between the first and second circuits. The system also includes a second isolation element for transmitting a second component of the differential signal between the first and second circuits. A digital rectifier is coupled to the first and second isolation elements for generating a rectified voltage in response to the first and second components of the differential signal. The system includes circuitry for monitoring the rectified voltage and generating a signal representative of the rectified voltage. The system also includes a controller for changing the rectified voltage in response to the signal representative of the rectified voltage.

Abstract: A system for transferring information from a first circuit to a second circuit includes first and second isolation elements coupled between the first circuit and the second circuit. A first transient filter is located on the second circuit and coupled to the first isolation element. A second transient filter is located on the second circuit and coupled to the second isolation element. A first ground is located on the first circuit, and a second ground is located on the second circuit. The first ground electrically floats relative to the second ground.

Abstract: Amplifier circuits and methods of cancelling the Miller effects in amplifiers are disclosed herein. An embodiment of an amplifier circuit includes an input and an output. An amplifier is connected between the input and the output of the circuit. A voltage source is connected to the output, wherein the voltage source output is one hundred eighty degrees out of phase with the voltage output by the amplifier, and wherein the voltage source cancels gain due to the Miller effect of a Miller capacitance between the input and output.

Abstract: Method and circuits for cancelling reflected waves from a load are disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes transmitting a signal to the bad from a current source, wherein a transistor is connected in parallel with the current source at a node. The transistor is biased so that a reflected wave at the node will cause the drain to source voltage of the transistor to increase. The drain current of the first transistor increases by way of channel length modulation when the drain to source voltage increases, the increased drain current cancels the reflected wave.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor has at least first and second conductive areas so that a first capacitance is formed between the first conductive area and a surface, and a second capacitance is formed between the second conductive area and the surface, and the ratio of the first capacitance to the second capacitance has a predetermined value only when the sensor is at a predetermined distance from the surface.

Abstract: A driver circuit includes a first current source configured to sink part of the current from a power supply through a load and a second current source configured to sink part of the current from the power supply to a return path, bypassing the load, so that the current through the load is the difference between the current from the power supply and the current through the second current source.

Abstract: Receiver circuits and methods of processing received signals are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a receiver circuit includes a differential input having a first input and a second input and a differential output having a first output and a second output. A first feedback loop is connected to the input and the output, wherein the first feedback loop centers a differential output voltage around a common mode output voltage so that the differential sum is zero centered on the common mode output voltage. The circuit also includes a second feedback loop, wherein the second feedback loop centers the voltage at the first input and the voltage at the second input to a reference voltage.

Abstract: A method is provided. A first CMOS switch is deactivated while activating a second CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from a first direct current (DC) voltage to a first peak voltage. After a first interval, the second CMOS switch is deactivated while activating a third CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from the first peak voltage to a second DC voltage. After a second interval, the third CMOS switch is deactivated while activating a fourth CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from the second DC voltage to a second peak voltage After a third interval, the fourth CMOS switch is deactivated while activating the first CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from the second peak voltage to the first DC voltage.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a reflection compensator is provided. A delay is initially set to a predetermined minimum, and an input pulse is transmitted across a transmission line. A compensation current is then applied after the delay. The reflection from the transmission line is digitized to generate a measurement, and a determination is made as to whether the compensation current substantially compensates for the reflection. If the compensation current does not substantially compensate for the reflection, then the delay is adjusted, and the process is repeated until the compensation current substantially compensates for the reflection.

Abstract: A method is provided. A first CMOS switch is deactivated while activating a second CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from a first direct current (DC) voltage to a first peak voltage. After a first interval, the second CMOS switch is deactivated while activating a third CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from the first peak voltage to a second DC voltage. After a second interval, the third CMOS switch is deactivated while activating a fourth CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from the second DC voltage to a second peak voltage After a third interval, the fourth CMOS switch is deactivated while activating the first CMOS switch to cause the portion of the write signal to transition from the second peak voltage to the first DC voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. A first switch is coupled between first and third nodes in an H-bridge. A second switch is coupled between first and fourth nodes in the H-bridge. A third switch is coupled between the second and third nodes. A fourth switch is coupled between second and fourth nodes in the H-bridge. A first source-follower is coupled to the first node of the H-bridge and the first supply rail, and the first source-follower is configured to receive a first reference signal. A second source-follower is coupled to the second node of the H-bridge and the second supply rail, and the second source-follower is configured to receive a second reference signal.

Abstract: A data storage system for detecting a location of a head relative to a magnetic media is described. This system comprises arms, a preamplifier circuit coupled to the arms for controlling the arms, a proximity sensing system positioned within the preamplifier circuit, the proximity sensing system comprising: an input stage for transmitting an input sense signal; a programmable gain stage coupled to receive the input sense signal and operative for transmitting a gain signal in response to receiving the input sense signal; a multiplexer coupled to receive the gain signal and at least one control signal, the multiplexer operative for transmitting a multiplexed signal; a detector coupled to receive the multiplexed signal and a second control signal, the detector operative for transmitting an output signal; wherein an amplitude associated with the output signal enables detecting the location of the head.