Abstract: Disclosed examples include sensor apparatus and integrated circuits having a package structure with an internal cavity and an opening that connects of the cavity with an ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure, and an electronic sensor structure mechanically supported by wires in the cavity and including a sensing surface exposed to the cavity to sense the ambient condition of an exterior of the package structure.

Abstract: A method of forming, and a resulting, an integrated circuit wave device. The method (i) affixes an integrated circuit die relative to a substrate; (ii) creates a form relative to the integrated circuit die and the substrate; and (iii) forms a wave shaping member having a shape conforming at least in part to a shape of the form.

Abstract: Integrated circuits with a molded package including a cavity and a semiconductor die spaced from an interior surface of the molded package within the cavity. The semiconductor die includes one or more electrical components, a thermal control component to control the temperature of the electrical component, and a driver to provide a current or voltage signal to the thermal control component at least partially according to a setpoint signal.

Abstract: A trimmed thermal sensing system can include a temperature sensitive circuit configured to provide an output that varies as a function of temperature and in response to a trimmed bandgap reference signal. A trim network is coupled to the temperature sensitive circuit. The trim network trims the temperature sensitive circuit in an opposite direction of trimming implemented to provide the trimmed bandgap reference signal, such that temperature tolerance of the temperature sensitive circuit is reduced.

Abstract: A circuit has a first sense resistor circuit having components including a first-circuit active element to provide a sense resistance to sense a current in a load in series therewith, the sense resistance being established by an input command voltage. A second sense resistor circuit has components replicating the components of the first sense resistor circuit including a replicated active element, a resistance of the replicated active element also being established by the input command voltage. A precision resistor is coupled to the replicated active element to provide a load thereto. When the input command voltage establishes a voltage across the replicated active element, a voltage is established across the first-circuit active element in proportion thereto to command a desired current in the load.

Abstract: A circuit has a first sense resistor circuit having components including a first-circuit active element to provide a sense resistance to sense a current in a load in series therewith, the sense resistance being established by an input command voltage. A second sense resistor circuit has components replicating the components of the first sense resistor circuit including a replicated active element, a resistance of the replicated active element also being established by the input command voltage. A precision resistor is coupled to the replicated active element to provide a load thereto. When the input command voltage establishes a voltage across the replicated active element, a voltage is established across the first-circuit active element in proportion thereto to command a desired current in the load.

Abstract: A circuit for producing a quotient of two input voltages, Vy and Vx has a resistor across which said two input voltages are selectively successively applied. An operational amplifier has a reference potential (Vref) applied to one input, and a tap selectively connectable at one side to various points of the resistor is connected at its other side to the other input of the operational amplifier. The tap also provides a voltage output node of the circuit. After the tap has been configured with input voltage Vy applied across the resistor so that a voltage on the output node is substantially equal to the reference potential (Vref), when the input voltage Vx is applied across the resistor, a voltage on the output node represents a quotient of the input voltages Vy and Vx.

Abstract: A trimmed thermal sensing system can include a temperature sensitive circuit configured to provide an output that varies as a function of temperature and in response to a trimmed bandgap reference signal. A trim network is coupled to the temperature sensitive circuit. The trim network trims the temperature sensitive circuit in an opposite direction of trimming implemented to provide the trimmed bandgap reference signal, such that temperature tolerance of the temperature sensitive circuit is reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for power conversion synchronizes multiple phases at a desired phase angle difference. The power conversion involves variable frequency switching, fixed on-time and provides power factor correction. A relative measure of a phase angle difference between two phases permits each phase to be controlled to obtain the desired phase angle difference. The power conversion involves transition mode switching to help reduce switching losses. A phase angle difference detector may be provided for each phase. The various phases may have different inherent frequencies that vary with switching frequency, and are synchronized to an average frequency. Current measures can be taken with a single component, such as a resistor. A maximum frequency control limits period width to avoid high frequency switching. An added switch on time improves input voltage crossover distortion. One or more phases can be deactivated in light load conditions.

Abstract: An oscillator for synchronizing and controlling a multi-phase, interleaved power supply system that has a plurality of power sources. The oscillator includes a first oscillator, having a pulse generator and a timing capacitor, and a second oscillator, having a pulse generator and timing capacitor, that are electrically coupled to one or more first power supplies and one or more second power supplies, respectively. The pulse generator of the first oscillator is electrically coupled to the second timing capacitor and the pulse generator of the second oscillator is electrically coupled to the first timing capacitor. Each of the pulse generators is structured and arranged to provide a synchronizing pulse to the other oscillator's timing capacitor when the voltage on its own timing capacitor is midway between a pre-determined maximum voltage threshold and a pre-determined minimum voltage threshold.

Abstract: An oscillator for synchronizing and controlling a multi-phase, interleaved power supply system that has a plurality of power sources. The oscillator includes a first oscillator, having a pulse generator and a timing capacitor, and a second oscillator, having a pulse generator and timing capacitor, that are electrically coupled to one or more first power supplies and one or more second power supplies, respectively. The pulse generator of the first oscillator is electrically coupled to the second timing capacitor and the pulse generator of the second oscillator is electrically coupled to the first timing capacitor. Each of the pulse generators is structured and arranged to provide a synchronizing pulse to the other oscillator's timing capacitor when the voltage on its own timing capacitor is midway between a pre-determined maximum voltage threshold and a pre-determined minimum voltage threshold.

Abstract: A system and method for power conversion synchronizes multiple phases at a desired phase angle difference. The power conversion involves variable frequency switching, fixed on-time and provides power factor correction. A relative measure of a phase angle difference between two phases permits each phase to be controlled to obtain the desired phase angle difference. The power conversion involves transition mode switching to help reduce switching losses. A phase angle difference detector may be provided for each phase. The various phases may have different inherent frequencies that vary with switching frequency, and are synchronized to an average frequency. Current measures can be taken with a single component, such as a resistor. A maximum frequency control limits period width to avoid high frequency switching. An added switch on time improves input voltage crossover distortion. One or more phases can be deactivated in light load conditions.

Abstract: An improved charge pump circuit that is capable of producing a constant output current. The charge pump circuit includes a controllable current source, at least one switching element coupled between the controllable current source and an output node, and a load capacitor coupled between the output node and ground potential. The switching element switches in response to an input signal to allow current pulses to flow from the controllable current source through the output node. The load capacitor operates as an integrator to convert the output current pulses into a voltage level. The controllable current source provides increased current levels as the output voltage level of the charge pump increases, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the charge pump circuit.

Abstract: An improved charge pump circuit that is capable of producing a constant output current. The charge pump circuit includes a controllable current source, at least one switching element coupled between the controllable current source and an output node, and a load capacitor coupled between the output node and ground potential. The switching element switches in response to an input signal to allow current pulses to flow from the controllable current source through the output node. The load capacitor operates as an integrator to convert the output current pulses into a voltage level. The controllable current source provides increased current levels as the output voltage level of the charge pump increases, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the charge pump circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus (205) and system (200) for selecting between power supplies in a redundant system which can be integrated in silicon in which transistors (320, 321) are used to provide a conduction path between the power supplies and the load, and in which a comparator (305) is used to compare the voltage magnitudes of the power supplies for indicating the largest magnitude and activating the appropriate transistor (320, 321). Trip points occur when one magnitude becomes larger than the other magnitude by values determined by a programmable hysteresis of the comparator (305). The hysteresis is programmable via an external programming device which can include resistive elements (R1, R2, R3) coupled in a voltage divider arrangement. Each of the transistor switches (320, 321) can include a pair of series coupled transistor switches for use with larger hysteresis requirements.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit (300) disclosed herein includes an improved capacitor discharge circuit. The oscillator includes at least one capacitor coupled to a charging circuit portion (202, 210) and a discharging circuit portion (208) through a switching network (204, 216, 218, 220 and 222). In the alternative, an oscillator including more than one capacitor includes respective charging and discharging circuit portions connected to respective switching networks. Each charging circuit portion (202, 210) provides sufficient charge to charge the coupled capacitor (206) to a high threshold voltage (VtH). Each discharging circuit portion (208) discharges each coupled capacitor (206) to a low threshold voltage (VtL). The switching network alternately connects each coupled capacitor (206) to the charging circuit portion (202, 210) and the discharging circuit portion (208) to thereby alternately charge and discharge for each coupled capacitor (206) alternately.

Abstract: A multi-stage digital to analog converter with increased speed and enhanced accuracy. Multiple resistor ladders are interconnected through switches with the first resistor ladder converting the most significant bits and successive ladders converting lesser significant bits. The resistance values of the resistors of each ladder are greater than those of the preceding ladders in order to minimize inaccuracies due to loading. In one embodiment, the last resistor ladder, processing the least significant bits of the digital word to be converted, is a binary weighted resistor divider. A monolithic fabrication technique includes a common resistor biasing scheme to switch the voltage across parasitic capacitances associated with the resistors in each ladder in common mode, thereby increasing the converter speed.