Abstract: Various aspects relate to a startup circuit for a bandgap reference circuit, wherein a target voltage value is associated with the bandgap reference circuit, the target voltage value being indicative of a startup condition of the bandgap reference circuit that triggers a stable on-state of the bandgap reference circuit, wherein the startup circuit is configured to: provide a startup voltage at the bandgap reference circuit to trigger a start of an operation of the bandgap reference circuit; receive a feedback voltage, wherein the feedback voltage is representative of a startup condition of the bandgap reference circuit; and either increase the startup voltage at the bandgap reference circuit in the case that a voltage value of the feedback voltage is less than the target voltage value, or stop providing the startup voltage at the bandgap reference circuit in the case that the voltage value of the feedback voltage is equal to or greater than the target voltage value.

Abstract: Various aspects relate to a startup circuit for a bandgap reference circuit, wherein a target voltage value is associated with the bandgap reference circuit, the target voltage value being indicative of a startup condition of the bandgap reference circuit that triggers a stable on-state of the bandgap reference circuit, wherein the startup circuit is configured to: provide a startup voltage at the bandgap reference circuit to trigger a start of an operation of the bandgap reference circuit; receive a feedback voltage, wherein the feedback voltage is representative of a startup condition of the bandgap reference circuit; and either increase the startup voltage at the bandgap reference circuit in the case that a voltage value of the feedback voltage is less than the target voltage value, or stop providing the startup voltage at the bandgap reference circuit in the case that the voltage value of the feedback voltage is equal to or greater than the target voltage value.

Abstract: An electronic circuit may be operated based on two or more supply voltages ramped in accordance with a digital control scheme, the digital control scheme may include ramping a voltage value of a first output voltage generated via a first digitally controlled voltage converter from a first target voltage value to a third target voltage value such that the voltage value of the first output voltage matches a second target voltage value during a first ramp interval and the third target voltage value during a second ramp interval; and ramping a voltage value of a second output voltage generated via a second digitally controlled voltage converter from the first target voltage value to the second target voltage value such that the voltage value of the second output voltage matches the second target voltage value during the first ramp interval, and the second target voltage value during the second ramp interval.

Abstract: Various aspects relate to a memory cell including: a field-effect transistor memory structure, wherein a source/drain current through the field-effect transistor memory structure is a function of a gate voltage supplied to a gate of the field-effect transistor memory structure and a memory state in which the field-effect transistor memory structure is residing in; and an access device coupled to the gate of the field-effect transistor memory structure, wherein the access device is configured to control a voltage present at the gate of the field-effect transistor memory structure.

Abstract: According to various aspects, a latch-type charge pump may include: an input node and an output node; a first charge storage and a second charge storage coupled in parallel to each other, a first switch coupled to the input node and a second switch coupled to the output node, wherein the first charge storage couples the first switch with the second switch; and a control circuit configured to control the first switch based on a state of the second charge storage, and to control the second switch based on a state of the first charge storage.

Abstract: A voltage converter circuit may include: a first input node; a second input node; a first output node; a second output node; one or more charge pumps that convert a first input voltage supplied to the first input node up to a first output voltage and convert a second input voltage supplied to the second input node down to a second output voltage; and a control circuit to control the one or more charge pumps according to two operational modes. In the first operation mode, the control circuit supplies the first input voltage to the first input node, leaves the second input node floating, and outputs the first output voltage at the first output node. In the second operation mode, the control circuit supplies the second input voltage to the second input node, leaves the first input node floating, and outputs the second output voltage at the second output node.

Abstract: According to various aspects, a latch-type charge pump may include: an input node and an output node; a first charge storage and a second charge storage coupled in parallel to each other, a first switch coupled to the input node and a second switch coupled to the output node, wherein the first charge storage couples the first switch with the second switch; and a control circuit configured to control the first switch based on a state of the second charge storage, and to control the second switch based on a state of the first charge storage.

Abstract: A voltage converter circuit may include: a first input node; a second input node; a first output node; a second output node; one or more charge pumps that convert a first input voltage supplied to the first input node up to a first output voltage and convert a second input voltage supplied to the second input node down to a second output voltage; and a control circuit to control the one or more charge pumps according to two operational modes. In the first operation mode, the control circuit supplies the first input voltage to the first input node, leaves the second input node floating, and outputs the first output voltage at the first output node. In the second operation mode, the control circuit supplies the second input voltage to the second input node, leaves the first input node floating, and outputs the second output voltage at the second output node.

Abstract: An electronic circuit may be operated based on two or more supply voltages ramped in accordance with a digital control scheme, the digital control scheme may include ramping a voltage value of a first output voltage generated via a first digitally controlled voltage converter from a first target voltage value to a third target voltage value such that the voltage value of the first output voltage matches a second target voltage value during a first ramp interval and the third target voltage value during a second ramp interval; and ramping a voltage value of a second output voltage generated via a second digitally controlled voltage converter from the first target voltage value to the second target voltage value such that the voltage value of the second output voltage matches the second target voltage value during the first ramp interval, and the second target voltage value during the second ramp interval.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing anode grade coke are disclosed, which allow anode grade coke to be produced from crude oil having a high sulfur content. A fraction of the resid is hydrotreated while another fraction of the resid is treated in a solvent deasphalting unit. A synthetic stream is provided by blending hydrotreated resid with one or more streams from the deasphalting unit. The synthetic stream is fed to an anodic coker unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing anode grade coke are disclosed, which allow anode grade coke to be produced from crude oil having a high sulfur content. A fraction of the resid is hydrotreated while another fraction of the resid is treated in a solvent deasphalting unit. A synthetic stream is provided by blending hydrotreated resid with one or more streams from the deasphalting unit. The synthetic stream is fed to an anodic coker unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the upgrading and demetallizing of heavy oils and bitumens. A crude heavy oil and/or bitumen feed is supplied to a solvent extraction process 104 wherein DAO and asphaltenes are separated. The DAO is supplied to an FCC unit 106 having a low conversion activity catalyst for the removal of metals contained therein. The demetallized distillate fraction is supplied to a hydrotreater 110 for upgrading and collected as a synthetic crude product stream. The asphaltene fraction can be supplied to a gasifier 108 for the recovery of power, steam and hydrogen, which can be supplied to the hydrotreater 110 or otherwise within the process or exported. An optional coker unit 234 can be used to convert excess asphaltenes and/or decant oil to naphtha, distillate and gas oil, which can be supplied to the hydrotreater 220.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deasphalting a hydrocarbon are provided. A hydrocarbon can be heated to a first temperature and pressurized to a first pressure. The pressurized hydrocarbon can be depressurized to separate at least a portion of the hydrocarbon to provide a vaporized hydrocarbon mixture and a residual hydrocarbon that can include asphaltenes. The residual hydrocarbon can be mixed with a solvent to provide a first mixture. The first mixture can be heated to a second temperature. The asphaltenes can be separated from the first mixture to provide a first product and a second product. The first product can include a deasphalted oil and at least a portion of the solvent. The second product can include the asphaltenes and the remaining portion of the solvent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for deasphalting a hydrocarbon are provided. A hydrocarbon can be heated to a first temperature and pressurized to a first pressure. The pressurized hydrocarbon can be depressurized to separate at least a portion of the hydrocarbon to provide a vaporized hydrocarbon mixture and a residual hydrocarbon that can include asphaltenes. The residual hydrocarbon can be mixed with a solvent to provide a first mixture. The first mixture can be heated to a second temperature. The asphaltenes can be separated from the first mixture to provide a first product and a second product. The first product can include a deasphalted oil and at least a portion of the solvent. The second product can include the asphaltenes and the remaining portion of the solvent.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing hydrocarbons are provided. A first mixture including one or more hydrocarbons and water can be separated to provide a first waste water and a second mixture. The second mixture can be apportioned into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be separated to provide a second waste water and a third mixture. At least a portion of the third mixture and hydrocarbon containing solids can be combusted to provide a combustion gas. A portion of the hydrocarbon containing solids can be gasified to provide regenerated solids and gasified hydrocarbons. A portion of the second portion can be vaporized and cracked in the presence of the combustion gas and gasified hydrocarbons to provide vaporized hydrocarbons and cracked hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons can be deposited onto the regenerated solids to provide the hydrocarbon containing solids.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing hydrocarbons are provided. A hydrocarbon containing one or more asphaltenes and one or more non-asphaltenes can be mixed with a solvent. The ratio of the solvent to the hydrocarbon can be about 2:1 to about 10:1. The asphaltenes can be selectively separated from the non-asphaltenes. A portion of the asphaltenes can be vaporized in the presence of gasified hydrocarbons and combustion gas. A portion of the asphaltenes can be cracked at a temperature sufficient to provide a cracked gas. Liquid asphaltenes, solid asphaltenes, or both can be deposited onto one or more solids to provide one or more hydrocarbon containing solids. The cracked gas can be selectively separated from the hydrocarbon containing solids. A portion of the hydrocarbon containing solids can be combusted to provide the combustion gas. The hydrocarbon containing solids can be gasified to provide the gasified hydrocarbons and to regenerate the solids.

Abstract: Systems and methods for upgrading hydrocarbons are provided. A portion of a hydrocarbon can be vaporized in the presence of gasified hydrocarbons, combustion gas, and solids to provide a vaporized gas. A portion of the hydrocarbon can be cracked in the presence of the gasified hydrocarbons, the combustion gas, and the solids to provide a cracked gas. A portion of the hydrocarbon can be deposited onto the solids to provide hydrocarbon containing solids. At least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing solids can be selectively separated to provide separated hydrocarbon containing solids and a hot gas product. The hot gas product can be at a temperature of from about 400° C. to about 1,650° C. A portion of the hydrocarbon containing solids can be combusted in the presence of an oxidant to provide the combustion gas. A portion of the hydrocarbon containing solids can be gasified to provide the gasified hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the upgrading of heavy oils and bitumens, where the total feed to the process can include heavy oil or bitumen, water, and diluent. The process can include the steps of solvent deasphalting 110 the total feed 105 to recover an asphaltene fraction 116, a deasphalted oil fraction 118 essentially free of asphaltenes, a water fraction 112, and a solvent fraction 114. The process allows removal of salts from the heavy oils and bitumens either into the aqueous products or with the asphaltene product.

Abstract: Oil-contaminated clay dispersions in final tailings pond water from a bitumen extraction operation are used in downhole catalytic steam production for an in situ process such as SAGD to produce bitumen. The final tailings pond water is thus disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner and a suitable source of water is made available for steam generation and subterranean injection.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing hydrocarbons are provided. A first mixture including one or more hydrocarbons and water can be separated to provide a first waste water and a second mixture. The second mixture can be apportioned into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can be separated to provide a second waste water and a third mixture. At least a portion of the third mixture and hydrocarbon containing solids can be combusted to provide a combustion gas. A portion of the hydrocarbon containing solids can be gasified to provide regenerated solids and gasified hydrocarbons. A portion of the second portion can be vaporized and cracked in the presence of the combustion gas and gasified hydrocarbons to provide vaporized hydrocarbons and cracked hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons can be deposited onto the regenerated solids to provide the hydrocarbon containing solids.