Abstract: A transformer driver circuit couples to a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a transformer tap that is connected to a first voltage source. The primary winding electrically connects at its ends to respective unipolar controllable current sinks that form part of an integrated circuit. The transformer driver circuit operates by each current sink selectively sinking current from the end of the primary winding to which it is connected so as to cause current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion. The transformer driver circuit further includes a load electrically connected to the secondary winding and protection circuitry operative to protect the integrated circuit from input levels greater than it can withstand.

Abstract: A transformer driver circuit couples to a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a transformer tap that is connected to a first voltage source. The primary winding electrically connects at its ends to respective unipolar controllable current sinks that form part of an integrated circuit. The transformer driver circuit operates by each current sink selectively sinking current from the end of the primary winding to which it is connected so as to cause current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion. The transformer driver circuit further includes a load electrically connected to the secondary winding and protection circuitry operative to protect the integrated circuit from input levels greater than it can withstand.

Abstract: A powerline communication (PLC) transmission module transmits a signal over a three-line electrical mains supply. The PLC transmission module includes at least two coupling transformers, each transformer coupling the signal to first and second line-pairs of a three-line electrical mains supply, the first and second line-pairs different from one another. Driving circuitry drives a first version of the signal over the first line-pair and a second version of the signal over the second line-pair. Inversion circuitry selectively inverts one version of the signal relative to the other version of the signal, dependent upon an enacted transmission mode. The inversion circuitry may invert neither/both of the versions of the signal so that the signal is transmitted as a differential-mode signal on the line-pairs or invert one of the first and second versions of the signal relative to the other so that the signal is a common-mode signal.

Abstract: A transformer driver circuit couples to a transformer having a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a transformer tap that is connected to a first voltage source. The primary winding electrically connects at its ends to respective unipolar controllable current sinks that form part of an integrated circuit. The transformer driver circuit operates by each current sink selectively sinking current from the end of the primary winding to which it is connected so as to cause current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion. The transformer driver circuit further includes a load electrically connected to the secondary winding and protection circuitry operative to protect the integrated circuit from input levels greater than it can withstand.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter with increased sub-range resolution. The device includes an analog front end that produces an analog communication signal, a digital front end that receives a digital communication signal, and an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) that samples the analog communication signal across a full-range. The ADC includes a full-range ADC having a first quantization accuracy configured to sample the analog communication signal across the full-range and a central sub-range ADC having a second quantization accuracy greater than the first quantization accuracy and configured to sample the analog communication signal across a central sub-range of the full-range. The ADC also includes signal combining circuitry configured to process outputs of the full-range ADC and the central sub-range ADC to create the digital communication signal.

Abstract: A method for operating a Power Line Communications (PLC) device includes identifying at least one proximately located load device using the wireless interface, determining device characteristics of the at least one proximately located load device using the wireless interface, communicating with a remote PLC device via the PLC interface, and transmitting to the remote PLC device via the PLC interface the device characteristics of the at least one proximately located load device. Operation may further include establishing wireless communications with the at least one proximately located device, querying the at least one proximately located device wirelessly, and receiving the device characteristics wirelessly. Other operations include creating a diagrammatic representation of a premises representing a plurality of areas and passages between the plurality of areas and including wireless reception quality for each of the plurality of spaces.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a plurality of single slope ADCs, a ramp generator, and digital output circuitry. Each single slope ADC includes an analog input operable to receive an analog input signal, a ramp input operable to receive an analog ramp signal, a comparator operable to compare the analog input signal to the analog ramp signal, and an output operable to produce a digital representation of the analog input signal based upon the comparison, wherein the plurality of single slope ADCs are operable to receive analog ramp signals that are out of phase with each other. The ramp generator that is operable to generate analog ramp signals for each of the plurality of single slope ADCs. The digital output circuitry is operable to receive outputs from each of the plurality of single slope ADCs and to produce a digital representation of the analog input signal based thereupon.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter with increased sub-range resolution and method for using the analog to digital converter is described herein. The device includes an analog front end that produces an analog communication signal, a digital front end that receives a digital communication signal, and an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) that samples the analog communication signal across a full-range. The ADC includes a plurality of sub-range ADCs, each sub-range ADC measuring the analog communication signal across at least one respective sub-range of the full-range, the plurality of sub-ranges extending across the full-range, a central sub-range ADC having greater quantization accuracy than at least one other sub-range ADC. The ADC also includes signal combining circuitry operable to process outputs of the plurality of sub-range ADCs to create the digital communication signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transformer driver circuit, which in one aspect comprises a transformer comprising a primary winding and a secondary winding and a transformer tap, the latter electrically connected to a first voltage source. The primary winding is electrically connected at both ends to respective unipolar controllable current sinks that form part of an integrated circuit. The circuit operates by each current sink selectively sinking current from the end of the primary winding to which it is connected so as to cause current to flow in the secondary winding in a push-pull fashion. The circuit further comprises a load electrically connected to the secondary winding; and protection circuitry operative to protect the integrated circuit from input levels greater than it can handle. In another aspect there is a similar transformer drive circuitry which may or may not be partly on an integrated circuit and have protection circuitry.

Abstract: A wireline transmission circuit includes a first circuit that produces a first variable current, a second circuit that produces a first static current, a trans-impedance amplifier that outputs a first analog signal at a first output node in response to the first variable current and the first static current received at a first input node, and a first feedback resistor connected to the first input node and the first output node.

Abstract: A wireline transmission circuit includes a first circuit that produces a first variable current, a second circuit that produces a first static current, a trans-impedance amplifier that outputs a first analog signal at a first output node in response to the first variable current and the first static current received at a first input node, and a first feedback resistor connected to the first input node and the first output node.

Abstract: A wireline transmission circuit includes a first circuit that produces a first variable current, a second circuit that produces a first static current, a trans-impedance amplifier that outputs a first analog signal at a first output node in response to the first variable current and the first static current received at a first input node, and a first feedback resistor connected to the first input node and the first output node.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) includes a digital ramp generator, an analog voltage comparator, a digital to analog converter (DAC) and a data storage device. The digital ramp generator includes first and second counters. The counter outputs an incremental code to a second counter so that the output code of the second counter varies by the incremental code. The second counter outputs a digital ramp code to respective inputs of the DAC and the data storage device. The DAC outputs an analog voltage to an input of the analog voltage comparator which switches logic states when the output analog voltage of the DAC equals an input voltage received at the analog voltage comparator. The data storage device stores a code of the digital ramp code received at the data storage device at the switching of the logic state of the analog voltage comparator. The first counter varies the incremental code by an incremental step in response to a clock signal.

Abstract: A wireline transmission circuit includes a first circuit that produces a first variable current, a second circuit that produces a first static current, a trans-impedance amplifier that outputs a first analog signal at a first output node in response to the first variable current and the first static current received at a first input node, and a first feedback resistor connected to the first input node and the first output node.

Abstract: A wireline transmission circuit includes a first circuit that produces a first variable current, a second circuit that produces a first static current, a trans-impedance amplifier that outputs a first analog signal at a first output node in response to the first variable current and the first static current received at a first input node, and a first feedback resistor connected to the first input node and the first output node.