Abstract: An electronic device has a power rail that is driven by voltage regulators and provides a rail voltage. Each voltage regulator has an output interface electrically coupled to the power rail to deliver up to a predefined regulator current to the power rail. In each voltage regulator, a voltage regulator controller has an input coupled to the output interface by a feedback path and controls a drive path coupled to the output interface. A bypass unit is coupled to the drive path and voltage regulator controller and operates in a standby mode or an operational mode. In the standby mode, the bypass unit bypasses the feedback path and the respective voltage regulator does not deliver current to the power rail, while in the operational mode, the bypass unit does not bypass the feedback path and the respective voltage regulator delivers up to the predefined regulator current to the power rail.

Abstract: An electronic device has a power rail that is driven by voltage regulators and provides a rail voltage. Each voltage regulator has an output interface electrically coupled to the power rail to deliver up to a predefined regulator current to the power rail. In each voltage regulator, a voltage regulator controller has an input coupled to the output interface by a feedback path and controls a drive path coupled to the output interface. A bypass unit is coupled to the drive path and voltage regulator controller and operates in a standby mode or an operational mode. In the standby mode, the bypass unit bypasses the feedback path and the respective voltage regulator does not deliver current to the power rail, while in the operational mode, the bypass unit does not bypass the feedback path and the respective voltage regulator delivers up to the predefined regulator current to the power rail.

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor includes a driver, light detector and offset signal generator. The driver selectively drives a light source. The light detector produces an analog detection signal indicative of an intensity of light detected by the light detector. The detected light can include light transmitted by the light source that reflected off an object within the sense region of the optical sensor, interference light and ambient light. The interference light includes light transmitted by the light source, and detected by the light detector, that was not reflected off an object within the sense region of the optical sensor. The offset signal generator selectively produces an analog offset signal that is combined with the analog detection signal produced by the photodetector to produce an analog compensated detection signal. The analog offset signal compensates for at least a portion of the interference light included in the light detected by the photodetector.

Abstract: Photodetectors, methods for use in manufacturing photodetectors, and systems including photodetectors, are described herein. In an embodiment, a photodetector includes a plurality of photodiode regions, at least some of which are covered by an optical filter. A plurality of metal layers are located between the photodiode regions and the optical filter. The metal layers include an uppermost metal layer that is closest to the optical filter and a lowermost metal layer that is closest to the photodiode regions. One or more inter-level dielectric layers separate the metal layers from one another. Each of the metal layers includes one or more metal portions and one or more dielectric portions. The uppermost metal layer is devoid of any metal portions underlying the optical filter.

Abstract: Photodetectors, methods for use in manufacturing photodetectors, and systems including photodetectors, are described herein. In an embodiment, a photodetector includes a plurality of photodiode regions, at least some of which are covered by an optical filter. A plurality of metal layers are located between the photodiode regions and the optical filter. The metal layers include an uppermost metal layer that is closest to the optical filter and a lowermost metal layer that is closest to the photodiode regions. One or more inter-level dielectric layers separate the metal layers from one another. Each of the metal layers includes one or more metal portions and one or more dielectric portions. The uppermost metal layer is devoid of any metal portions underlying the optical filter.

Abstract: A photodetector includes one or more first photodiode regions that are covered by an optical filter configured to reject infrared (IR) light and that produce a first current (I1). The photodetector also includes one or more second photodiode regions that are covered by a light blocking material configured to reject visible and infrared light and that produce a second current (I2). The photodetector also includes one or more third photodiode regions that are not covered by the optical filter and are not covered by the light blocking material and that produce a third current (I3). Additionally, the photodetector includes circuitry configured to produce an output indicative of the first current (I1) or a scaled version of the first current (I1), minus the second current (I2) or a scaled version of the second current (I2), minus the third current (I3) or a scaled version of the third current (I3). The optical filter configured to reject IR light can be, e.g.

Abstract: Described herein are light sensors that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Also described herein are systems the incorporate such light sensors. Such a system can include a display, a light source to backlight the display and a controller to control the brightness of the light source based on feedback received from such light sensors. Described herein are also methods for controlling backlighting.

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor includes a driver, light detector and offset signal generator. The driver selectively drives a light source. The light detector produces an analog detection signal indicative of an intensity of light detected by the light detector. The detected light can include light transmitted by the light source that reflected off an object within the sense region of the optical sensor, interference light and ambient light. The interference light includes light transmitted by the light source, and detected by the light detector, that was not reflected off an object within the sense region of the optical sensor. The offset signal generator selectively produces an analog offset signal that is combined with the analog detection signal produced by the photodetector to produce an analog compensated detection signal. The analog offset signal compensates for at least a portion of the interference light included in the light detected by the photodetector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a proximity sensor includes a driver, a photodiode (PD), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with analog-to-digital-to-analog (ADA) feedback, and a controller. The driver is adapted to selectively drive a light source. The photodiode (PD) is adapted to produce a photodiode current signal (Idiode) indicative of an intensity of light detected by the PD, where the light detected by the PD can include ambient light and/or light transmitted by the light source that was reflected off an object proximate the PD. The controller is adapted to control the driver and the ADC with ADA feedback. A digital output of the ADC with ADA feedback is indicative of a proximity of an object to the PD with at least a majority of the ambient light detected by the PD rejected.

Abstract: Methods and systems for producing a digital temperature reading are provided. In an embodiment, one or more current sources and one or more switches are used to selectively provide a first amount of current (I1) and a second amount of current (I2) to the emitter of a transistor (Q1), during different time slots of a time period, to thereby produce a first base-emitter voltage (Vbe1) and a second base-emitter voltage (Vbe2), where I1=I2*M, and M is a known constant. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) digitizes analog signals representative of the magnitudes Vbe1 and Vbe2. A difference is determined between the magnitudes of Vbe1 and Vbe2. A digital calculator produces a digital temperature reading (DTR) based on the difference between the magnitudes of Vbe1 and Vbe2.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

Abstract: A CMOS light detector configured to detect specific wavelengths of light includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor includes CMOS photocells that are covered by a colored filter layer of a first color that has a first transmittance that allows both light of the specific wavelengths and light of other wavelengths to pass. The second sensor including further CMOS photocells, at least some of which are covered by both a colored filter layer of the first color and a colored filter layer of a second color, stacked one above the other in either order, where the colored filter layer of the second color has a second transmittance that allows light of the other wavelengths to pass. The first sensor produces a first photocurrent, and the second sensor produces a second photocurrent, when light including both the specific and other wavelengths is incident upon the detector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors, that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

Abstract: A photodetector includes one or more first photodiode regions that are covered by an optical filter configured to reject infrared (IR) light and that produce a first current (I1). The photodetector also includes one or more second photodiode regions that are covered by a light blocking material configured to reject visible and infrared light and that produce a second current (I2). The photodetector also includes one or more third photodiode regions that are not covered by the optical filter and are not covered by the light blocking material and that produce a third current (I3). Additionally, the photodetector includes circuitry configured to produce an output indicative of the first current (I1) or a scaled version of the first current (I1), minus the second current (I2) or a scaled version of the second current (I2), minus the third current (I3) or a scaled version of the third current (I3). The optical filter configured to reject IR light can be, e.g.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a proximity sensor includes a driver, a photo-diode (PD) and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The proximity sensor can also include a controller to control the driver. The driver selectively drives a light source, e.g., an infrared (IR) light emitting diode (LED). The PD, which produces a current signal indicative of the intensity of light detected by the PD, is capable of detecting both ambient light and light produced by the light source that is reflected off an object. The ADC receives one or more portion of the current signal produced by the PD. The ADC produces one or more digital output that can be used to estimate the proximity of an object to the PD in a manner that compensates for ambient light detected by the PD and transient changes to the detected ambient light.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a proximity sensor includes a driver, a photodiode (PD), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with analog-to-digital-to-analog (ADA) feedback, and a controller. The driver is adapted to selectively drive a light source. The photodiode (PD) is adapted to produce a photodiode current signal (Idiode) indicative of an intensity of light detected by the PD, where the light detected by the PD can include ambient light and/or light transmitted by the light source that was reflected off an object proximate the PD. The controller is adapted to control the driver and the ADC with ADA feedback. A digital output of the ADC with ADA feedback is indicative of a proximity of an object to the PD with at least a majority of the ambient light detected by the PD rejected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors, that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to light sensors, that primarily respond to visible light while suppressing infrared light. Such sensors are especially useful as ambient light sensors because such sensors can be used to provide a spectral response similar to that of a human eye. Embodiments of the present invention are also directed to methods of providing such light sensors, and methods for using such light sensors.

Abstract: Photodetectors, methods for use in manufacturing photodetectors, and systems including photodetectors, are described herein. In an embodiment, a photodetector includes a plurality of photodiode regions, at least some of which are covered by an optical filter. A plurality of metal layers are located between the photodiode regions and the optical filter. The metal layers include an uppermost metal layer that is closest to the optical filter and a lowermost metal layer that is closest to the photodiode regions. One or more inter-level dielectric layers separate the metal layers from one another. Each of the metal layers includes one or more metal portions and one or more dielectric portions. The uppermost metal layer is devoid of any metal portions underlying the optical filter.