Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system comprising a tire pressure monitoring device for mounting on an internal surface of a tire and including a pressure sensor for monitoring the fluid pressure in the tire. The system has an RFID tag located on the tire separately from the tire pressure monitoring device. In response to detecting a tire pressure event from monitoring the fluid pressure of said fluid, the tire pressure monitoring device causes the RFID to transmit data, which is received by the tire pressure monitoring device.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a tire mounted device with respect to a wheel rim using an acceleration sensor. With the wheel in a designated orientation and not rotating, a polarity of acceleration along a vertical axis is determined. Then it is determined which of a first absolute orientation or a second absolute orientation the tire mounted device is in depending on the determined polarity. The determined absolute orientation is correlated with the designated orientation to determine which of a first or second orientation with respect to the wheel rim the tire mounted device is in.

Abstract: A method of locating a wheel-mounted electronic device, such as a tire pressure monitoring device. A wireless signal is transmitted from an interrogation device from each of a plurality of interrogation locations. The signals are received by the wheel-mounted device and received signal strength is measured for each interrogation location. The wheel-mounted device then transmits, in respect of each interrogation location, a wireless signal indicating the measured signal strength. These signals are received by the interrogation device which determines from them a location of the wheel-mounted device with respect to a wheel.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a tire mounted device with respect to a wheel rim using an acceleration sensor, With the wheel in a designated orientation and not rotating, a polarity of acceleration along a vertical axis is determined. Then it is determined which of a first absolute orientation or a second absolute orientation the tire mounted device is in depending on the determined polarity. The determined absolute orientation is correlated with the designated orientation to determine which of a first or second orientation with respect to the wheel rim the tire mounted device is in.

Abstract: A method of locating a wheel-mounted electronic device, such as a tire pressure monitoring device. A wireless signal is transmitted from an interrogation device from each of a plurality of interrogation locations. The signals are received by the wheel-mounted device and received signal strength is measured for each interrogation location. The wheel-mounted device then transmits, in respect of each interrogation location, a wireless signal indicating the measured signal strength. These signals are received by the interrogation device which determines from them a location of the wheel-mounted device with respect to a wheel.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system comprising a tire pressure monitoring device for mounting on an internal surface of a tire and including a pressure sensor for monitoring the fluid pressure in the tire. The system has an RFID tag located on the tire separately from the tire pressure monitoring device. In response to detecting a tire pressure event from monitoring the fluid pressure of said fluid, the tire pressure monitoring device causes the RFID to transmit data, which is received by the tire pressure monitoring device.

Abstract: A V-panel filter apparatus and method of construction are provided. The method includes flowing curable potting material into a recess portion of an end cap, positioning first end edge surfaces of first and second filter panels into the contained potting material, and curing the potting material with the first and second filter panels positioned to diverge away from the end cap to define a V-shaped configuration. The method may include flowing curable potting material into a recess portion of a first side plate, positioning edge surfaces of the first and second filter panels into the contained potting material, and curing the potting material. Such steps may be repeated in relation to a second side plate and a header member. By utilizing a pot-and-place sealing methodology, improved seal interfaces are realized. Stability and construction advantages may be provided by snap-fit features of the header member and first and second side plates.

Abstract: A V-panel filter apparatus and method of construction are provided. The method includes flowing curable potting material into a recess portion of an end cap, positioning first end edge surfaces of first and second filter panels into the contained potting material, and curing the potting material with the first and second filter panels positioned to diverge away from the end cap to define a V-shaped configuration. The method may include flowing curable potting material into a recess portion of a first side plate, positioning edge surfaces of the first and second filter panels into the contained potting material, and curing the potting material. Such steps may be repeated in relation to a second side plate and a header member. By utilizing a pot-and-place sealing methodology, improved seal interfaces are realized. Stability and construction advantages may be provided by snap-fit features of the header member and first and second side plates.

Abstract: An inexpensive, practical hygienic finger protector is provided, which includes a tubular sheath having a proximal open end and a distal closed end. The open end is adapted to receive a human finger to approximately the first joint with the tip of the finger, when inserted, abutting the closed end. The finger protector further includes a knob-like protuberance imbedded into the closed end of the sheath, disposed below the downward-facing fingertip of the inserted finger. The finger protector guards against contamination by dirt or microorganisms, while allowing the wearer to input data or signatures into public data input devices such as keypads or s keypads, card readers, and signature recorders. Optionally aspects, including a keychain attachment, embedded data storage, and aesthetic cut-outs are presented.

Abstract: An inexpensive, practical hygienic finger protector is provided, which includes a tubular sheath having a proximal open end and a distal closed end. The open end is adapted to receive a human finger to approximately the first joint with the tip of the finger, when inserted, abutting the closed end. The finger protector further includes a knob like protuberance imbedded into the closed end of the sheath, disposed below the downward-facing fingertip of the inserted finger. The finger protector guards against contamination by dirt or microorganisms, while allowing the wearer to input data or signatures into public data input devices such as keypads or s keypads, card readers, and signature recorders. Optionally aspects, including a keychain attachment, embedded data storage, and aesthetic cut-outs are presented.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a protection device is used to protect a circuit. The protection device has a maximum rated power dissipation that is less than a maximum rated power dissipation of the circuit that is being protected.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an LED control circuit is configured control a current through an LED responsively to a value that is proportional to a control signal for values of the control signal that are less than a threshold value of the control signal and to control the current to a value that is proportional to the threshold value for values of the control signal that are greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transistor is formed to have a first current flow path to selectively conduct current in both directions through the transistor and to have a second current flow path to selectively conduct current in one direction.

Abstract: A method and circuit for managing thermal performance of an integrated circuit. Temperature sensing circuits and a plurality of power FETs that are coupled together in parallel are manufactured from a semiconductor substrate. Each temperature sensing circuit monitors the temperature of the portion of the semiconductor substrate near or including a corresponding power FET. When the temperature of the semiconductor substrate near one or more of the power FETs reaches a predetermined value, the corresponding temperature sensing circuit reduces a voltage appearing on the gate of the power FET. The reduced voltage increases the on-resistance of the power FET and channels a portion of its current to others of the plurality of power FETs. The power FET continues operating but with a reduced current flow. When the temperature of the semiconductor substrate falls below the predetermined value, the gate voltage of the power FET is increased to its nominal value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an in-rush limiter is configured to control an output voltage to increase at a rate that is independent of the load that is powered by the in-rush limiter.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transistor is formed to conduct current in both directions through the transistor.

Abstract: An inrush current limiter circuit (20) includes a detection circuit (30) that produces a control signal (VDRIVE) from a sense current (ISENSE). A power transistor responds to the control signal and has a source (51) coupled to an input node (12) to receive a supply voltage (ground) and a drain (53) for routing a load current (ILOAD) to an output node (45) as a protection signal (VSW). A sense transistor responds to the control signal and has a source scaled to the source of the power transistor and coupled to the input node to route a portion of the load current to the output node as the sense current.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power switch device (33) includes a first MOSFET device 41 and a second MOSFET device (42). A split gate structure (84) including a first gate electrode (48,87) controls the first MOSFET device (41). A second gate electrode (49,92) controls the second MOSFET device (42). A current limit device (38) is coupled to the first gate electrode (48,97) to turn on the first MOSFET device during a current limit mode. A comparator device (36) is coupled to the second gate electrode (49,92) to turn on the second MOSFET device (42) when the power switch device (33) is no longer in current limit mode.

Abstract: A remote tire monitor system includes a control unit and a plurality of tire monitors mountable on respective wheels of a vehicle to transmit radio signals to the control unit. The tire monitors each include a pair of motion sensors such as shock sensors and a control circuit configured to determine position information for the respective tire monitor based on first and second shock sensor signals from the pair of shock sensors. The shock sensors produce an output voltage proportional to a change in applied force. Therefore, the offset created by centrifugal force in previously used accelerometers is absent, simplifying design of the tire monitors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a power switch device (33) includes a first MOSFET device 41 and a second MOSFET device (42). A split gate structure (84) including a first gate electrode (48,87) controls the first MOSFET device (41). A second gate electrode (49,92) controls the second MOSFET device (42). A current limit device (38) is coupled to the first gate electrode (48,97) to turn on the first MOSFET device during a current limit mode. A comparator device (36) is coupled to the second gate electrode (49,92) to turn on the second MOSFET device (42) when the power switch device (33) is no longer in current limit mode.