Abstract: A power supply is disclosed. The power supply includes a switching converter for providing an output voltage comprising a power switch coupled to a driver for driving the power switch with an on-off switching cycle; and a voltage threshold indicator. The voltage threshold indicator includes an input for receiving an output of the converter, and an output coupled to the driver. The voltage threshold indicator is adapted to provide a temperature compensated voltage threshold, and a control signal to control the on-off switching cycle. The control signal is adapted such that when the output voltage exceeds the temperature compensated voltage threshold, a value of the control signal changes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an oscillating device is presented. In particular, a controller for adjusting the frequency of a drive signal driving a haptic actuator is presented. The controller contains a calculator adapted to receive a first and a second measurement of the electrical parameter and to calculate a difference between the first measurement and the second measurement. The first measurement is obtained at a first sampling time and the second measurement is obtained at a second sampling time. The controller is adapted to provide a control signal to adjust a frequency of the drive signal based on the difference.

Abstract: A haptic system with a haptic actuator and a voltage sensor coupled to the haptic actuator, to sense a voltage across the haptic actuator. The voltage across the haptic actuator has a back electromotive force component. There is a current regulator coupled to the haptic actuator and to the voltage sensor. The current regulator is adapted to provide a current signal to drive the haptic actuator and to adjust the current signal based on the back electromotive force component. For example, the voltage across the haptic actuator may be a direct voltage or a representation of the voltage such as a filtered value of the voltage.

Abstract: An amplifier comprising a differential amplifier configured to be provide a comparator function, and a gain trimming circuit is electrically configured to provide gain trimming using a T-network comprising a varistor element. In addition, a method of trimming the gain of a differential amplifier, comprising the steps of a first step, (a) providing the differential amplifier comprising resistors in both of its paths, a second step, (b) providing a varistor in a T-network between both said paths; and lastly, a third step, (c) trimming the gain of the differential amplifier by adjusting the varistor's resistance.

Abstract: A haptic system with a haptic actuator and a voltage sensor coupled to the haptic actuator, to sense a voltage across the haptic actuator. The voltage across the haptic actuator has a back electromotive force component. There is a current regulator coupled to the haptic actuator and to the voltage sensor. The current regulator is adapted to provide a current signal to drive the haptic actuator and to adjust the current signal based on the back electromotive force component. For example, the voltage across the haptic actuator may be a direct voltage or a representation of the voltage such as a filtered value of the voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling an oscillating device is presented. In particular, a controller for adjusting the frequency of a drive signal driving a haptic actuator is presented. The controller contains a calculator adapted to receive a first and a second measurement of the electrical parameter and to calculate a difference between the first measurement and the second measurement. The first measurement is obtained at a first sampling time and the second measurement is obtained at a second sampling time. The controller is adapted to provide a control signal to adjust a frequency of the drive signal based on the difference.

Abstract: A power supply is disclosed. The power supply includes a switching converter for providing an output voltage comprising a power switch coupled to a driver for driving the power switch with an on-off switching cycle; and a voltage threshold indicator. The voltage threshold indicator includes an input for receiving an output of the converter, and an output coupled to the driver. The voltage threshold indicator is adapted to provide a temperature compensated voltage threshold, and a control signal to control the on-off switching cycle. The control signal is adapted such that when the output voltage exceeds the temperature compensated voltage threshold, a value of the control signal changes.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which allows for canceling high frequency rail to rail common mode swing at pulse-width modulation (PWM) frequency for a Class-D, H and G audio amplifier or a Linear Resonance Actuator (LRA) driver. This allows wide bandwidth current sensing without the need of external components, or large on-chip resistor-capacitor (RC) networks, facilitating integration of the sense resistor. In addition, the sense amplifier DC input common mode and audio band common mode swing is reduced, allowing a sense resistor high frequency common mode swing of a least twice the MOSFET gate break down voltages.

Abstract: An amplifier comprising a differential amplifier configured to be provide a comparator function, and a gain trimming circuit is electrically configured to provide gain trimming using a T-network comprising a varistor element. In addition, a method of trimming the gain of a differential amplifier, comprising the steps of a first step, (a) providing the differential amplifier comprising resistors in both of its paths, a second step, (b) providing a varistor in a T-network between both said paths; and lastly, a third step, (c) trimming the gain of the differential amplifier by adjusting the varistor's resistance.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which allows for canceling high frequency rail to rail common mode swing at pulse-width modulation (PWM) frequency for a Class-D, H and G audio amplifier or a Linear Resonance Actuator (LRA) driver. This allows wide bandwidth current sensing without the need of external components, or large on-chip resistor-capacitor (RC) networks, facilitating integration of the sense resistor. In addition, the sense amplifier DC input common mode and audio band common mode swing is reduced, allowing a sense resistor high frequency common mode swing of a least twice the MOSFET gate break down voltages.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a workpiece-surface-influencing device preferentially contacts the top surface of the workpiece, to chemically modify the surface at desired field areas of the workpiece without affecting the surfaces of cavities or recesses in the field areas. The device includes a substance which is chemically reactive with material forming the workpiece surface. The substance can be in the form of a thin film or coating which contacts the surface of the workpiece to chemically modify that surface. The workpiece-surface-influencing device can be in the form of a solid state applicator such as a roller or a semi-permeable membrane. In some other embodiments, the cavities are filled with material that prevents surface modification of the cavity surfaces while allowing modification of the field areas, or which encourages surface modification of the cavity surfaces while preventing modification of the field areas. The modified surface facilitates selective deposition of materials on the workpiece.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a workpiece-surface-influencing device preferentially contacts the top surface of the workpiece, to chemically modify the surface at desired field areas of the workpiece without affecting the surfaces of cavities or recesses in the field areas. The device includes a substance which is chemically reactive with material forming the workpiece surface. The substance can be in the form of a thin film or coating which contacts the surface of the workpiece to chemically modify that surface. The workpiece-surface-influencing device can be in the form of a solid state applicator such as a roller or a semi-permeable membrane. In some other embodiments, the cavities are filled with material that prevents surface modification of the cavity surfaces while allowing modification of the field areas, or which encourages surface modification of the cavity surfaces while preventing modification of the field areas. The modified surface facilitates selective deposition of materials on the workpiece.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a workpiece-surface-influencing device preferentially contacts the top surface of the workpiece, to chemically modify the surface at desired field areas of the workpiece without affecting the surfaces of cavities or recesses in the field areas. The device includes a substance which is chemically reactive with material forming the workpiece surface. The substance can be in the form of a thin film or coating which contacts the surface of the workpiece to chemically modify that surface. The workpiece-surface-influencing device can be in the form of a solid state applicator such as a roller or a semi-permeable membrane. In some other embodiments, the cavities are filled with material that prevents surface modification of the cavity surfaces while allowing modification of the field areas, or which encourages surface modification of the cavity surfaces while preventing modification of the field areas. The modified surface facilitates selective deposition of materials on the workpiece.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for selective modification of the surface of a workpiece. In some embodiments, using a workpiece-surface-influencing device that preferentially contacts the top surface of the workpiece, chemical modification of the top surface is achieved on desired field areas of the workpiece without affecting the surfaces of cavities or recesses in the field areas. The workpiece-surface-influencing device includes a substance which is chemically reactive with material forming the surface of the workpiece. The chemically active material can be in the form of a thin film or coating which contacts the surface of the workpiece to chemically modify that surface. In some embodiments, the workpiece-surface-influencing device can be in the form of a solid state applicator such as a roller or a semi-permeable membrane.