Intermediate Conversion To Time Interval Patents (Class 341/166)
  • Patent number: 12113541
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital convertor of an integration type, includes: a charging circuit having a capacitor configured to store electric charges based on an input current; a discharging circuit configured to discharge the electric charges stored in the capacitor; and a counting circuit configured to count a charge-discharge count of the capacitor in a first conversion period and in a second conversion period, in order to convert a current value of the input current into a digital value, wherein the first conversion period includes a first pre-charging period and a first counting period, the second conversion period includes a second pre-charging period and a second counting period, and the analog-to-digital convertor further comprises a phase changing circuit configured to change a first phase of an output signal of the charging circuit in the first counting period to a second phase in the second counting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Sharp Semiconductor Innovation Corporation
    Inventors: Kohji Hamaguchi, Takahiro Inoue, Takayuki Shimizu, Isamu Kawabe, Tetsuro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 12079709
    Abstract: A neuromorphic system for switching between a multitude of functional operations includes a controlling unit and a neuron unit. The controlling unit provides a first input and a second input and regulates a multitude of bias currents. The neuron unit receives the bias currents. An input neuron group receives the first input and the second input. An excitatory neuron group is stimulated by the input neuron group. An inhibitory neuron group is electrically connected to the excitatory neuron group, and the inhibitory neuron group and the excitatory neuron group stimulate each other. An output neuron is electrically connected to the excitatory neuron group and stimulated by the excitatory neuron group to generate an output. The bias currents control the excitatory neuron group, the inhibitory neuron group and the output neuron to be in one of a high-activity state, a middle-activity state and a low-activity state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chung-Chuan Lo, Alexander James White, Pei-Hsien Liu
  • Patent number: 12040811
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes a first converter stage comprising a successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the SAR ADC being configured for voltage domain quantization, a second converter stage coupled to the first converter stage to quantize residual voltages of the voltage domain quantization, the second converter stage including a ring time-to-digital converter (TDC), and a third converter stage comprising an interpolation TDC, the interpolation TDC being coupled to the second converter stage to provide further time domain quantization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Digital Analog Integration, Inc.
    Inventors: Haoyi Zhao, Fa Dai, John David Irwin
  • Patent number: 12032340
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter (TDC) circuitry for converting a phase difference between an input reference signal and an input clock signal to a digitally represented output signal. The TDC circuitry comprises multiple constituent TDCs, a reference signal provider, and a digital signal combiner. Each TDC is configured to convert a phase difference between a constituent reference signal and a constituent clock signal to a digitally represented constituent output signal. The reference signal provider is configured to provide the respective constituent reference signals to each of the TDCs. In at least a parallel operation mode of the TDC circuitry, each respective constituent reference signal comprises a respectively delayed version of the input reference signal with different respective delays for at least two of the respective constituent reference signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Mohammed Abdulaziz, Henrik Sjöland, Tony Påhlsson
  • Patent number: 12019406
    Abstract: A system delays input clock signals using time-to-digital converters (TDCs) to convert edges or the clock signals to digital values and storing the digital values in a memory. The digital values are retrieved from the memory based on a desired delay. A time counter used by the TDCs to determine the edges is also used determine the delay. The accuracy and range of the delay depends on the time counter and size of the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishnan Balakrishnan, James David Barnette
  • Patent number: 11962277
    Abstract: A switched-capacitor amplifier comprises a comparator, sample and amplification capacitors and a controller to control charge and discharge current sources in dependence on an output signal of the comparator. A closed loop control circuit is configured to determine the delay of the comparator and control an offset of the comparator in response to the determined delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Fridolin Michel
  • Patent number: 11944443
    Abstract: Fast recovery electrocardiogram (ECG) signal method and apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an ECG apparatus includes an input for receiving a biometric cardiogram signal, such as a Wilson Central Terminal (WCT) signal, and a combiner, such as an adder, for producing a compensated signal. Processing circuitry produces an ECG reflective of the compensated signal and also outputs a signal corresponding to high frequency response of the compensated signal to compensate for low response of the biometric cardiogram signal to high frequency spikes. A resultant ECG is produced by the processing circuitry having pacing signal contribution within the biometric cardiogram signal cancelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BIOSENSE WEBSTER (ISRAEL) LTD.
    Inventor: Assaf Govari
  • Patent number: 11915116
    Abstract: An arithmetic apparatus used for a neural network includes a plurality of digital-time conversion circuits connected in series and a time-digital conversion circuit connected to a last digital-time conversion circuit in the series. Each of the digital-time conversion circuits is configured to delay a first input time signal by a variable amount, delay a second input time signal by a fixed amount, and output the delayed first and second input time signals respectively as either first and second output time signals or second and first output time signals, in accordance with the input data. The time-digital conversion circuit is configured to generate a digital output signal by comparing first and second output time signals from the last digital-time conversion circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Miyashita, Shouhei Kousai
  • Patent number: 11913788
    Abstract: A round robin sensor device for processing sensor data is provided herein. The sensor device includes a multiplexer stage configured to sequentially select sensor outputs from one or more sensors continuously. Continuously and sequentially selecting sensor outputs results in a stream of selected sensor outputs. The sensor device also includes a charge-to-voltage converter operatively coupled to the multiplexer stage and configured to convert a charge from a first sensor of the one or more sensors to a voltage. Further, the sensor device includes a resettable integrator operatively coupled to the charge-to-voltage converter and configured to demodulate and integrate the voltage, resulting in an integrated voltage. Also included in the sensor device is an analog-to-digital converter operatively coupled to the resettable integrator and configured to digitize the integrated voltage to a digital code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: INVENSENSE, INC.
    Inventors: Vadim Tsinker, Frederico Mazzarella, Ali Shirvani
  • Patent number: 11897539
    Abstract: The circuit device includes an integration period signal generation circuit, a polarity switching signal generation circuit, and first and second integration circuits. The integration period signal generation circuit generates a first integration period signal kept in an active state in the first integration period. The polarity switching signal generation circuit generates a first integration polarity switching signal making a transition at a timing synchronized with the reference clock signal in the first integration period, and a second integration polarity switching signal making a transition a predetermined clock count of the reference clock signal after the transition timing of the first integration polarity switching signal in the first integration period. The first integration circuit performs an integrating process in which an integration polarity is switched at the transition timing of the first integration polarity switching signal in the first integration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventor: Hideo Haneda
  • Patent number: 11888499
    Abstract: A transition-state output device includes: a ring oscillator circuit; a state machine changing in state according to a change in state of the ring oscillator circuit; a transition-state acquisition section acquiring and holding state information including a signal output from the ring oscillator circuit and a signal output from the state machine, synchronously with a reference signal; and an internal-state calculation section calculating an internal state corresponding to a number of changes in state of the ring oscillator circuit, based on the state information held by the transition-state acquisition section. A time until the internal state, after transitioning from a first internal state to a second internal state, transitions to the first internal state again is longer than a time interval of updating the state information held by the transition-state acquisition section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Masayoshi Todorokihara
  • Patent number: 11853139
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a clock terminal to and from which a clock is allowed to be input and output, and a data terminal to and from which data is allowed to be input and output. In the semiconductor device, the data synchronized with the clock that is input to the clock terminal or is output from the clock terminal is output from the data terminal, and when the clock is output from the clock terminal, the clock is output irrespective of whether or not data transfer of the data is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ROHM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiminobu Sato
  • Patent number: 11777512
    Abstract: The present application discloses an analog-to-digital converter capable of cancelling sampling noise, which comprises: a sampling circuit configured to acquire an analog input signal; a sampling noise cancelling circuit has an input end connected with an output end of the sampling circuit, and is configured to cancel noise generated by the sampling circuit; a comparator has an input end connected with an output end of the sampling noise cancelling circuit, and an output end connected with an input end of a logic circuit, and is configured to compare magnitudes of output signals of the sampling noise cancelling circuit and output a comparison result to the logic circuit; and the logic circuit has an output end connected with the sampling circuit, and is configured to output a digital output signal, and process the comparison result to obtain a control signal by which an output voltage of the sampling circuit is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Nan Sun, Jiaxin Liu
  • Patent number: 11770127
    Abstract: A self-calibration-function-equipped AD converter that does not require a measurement device for calibration includes: a control unit including a calibration control unit configured to control an operation of calibrating the self-calibration-function-equipped AD converter, and a conversion control unit configured to control an operation of converting an input voltage to be subjected to conversion into a digital signal; a reference voltage unit configured to output a reference voltage; and an integration/conversion unit including an integrating unit configured to generate an integration voltage obtained by integrating two or more types of unit voltages, a comparator that has two inputs and is configured to compare the integration voltage and the input voltage or the reference voltage, and a crossbar switch configured to switch a connection depending on whether the integration voltage is to be input to one input of the comparator and the input voltage or the reference voltage is to be input to another input, or
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi Minotani, Kenichi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 11728799
    Abstract: A delay measurement circuit includes a first skew circuit disposed proximate to a first bonding pad configured to receive a first clock signal having a first frequency. The delay measurement circuit includes a second skew circuit disposed proximate to a second bonding pad configured to receive a second clock signal having a second frequency. The first and second skew circuits each have a first mode of operation as zero-delay-return path and a second mode of operation as a synchronized pass path. The delay measurement circuit includes a pair of conductive traces coupled to the first skew circuit, another pair of conductive traces coupled to the second skew circuit, a time-to-digital converter circuit, and a switch circuit configured to selectively couple the time-to-digital converter circuit to the first skew circuit via the pair of conductive traces and the second skew circuit via the other pair of conductive traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Weyer, Raghunandan Kolar Ranganathan
  • Patent number: 11646190
    Abstract: A device of detecting a current from a sensor is disclosed. The device includes an integrating circuit including a network of capacitors for providing a gain setting and configured to convert the current to a voltage ramp over a length of integration time, the integrating circuit further including a reset switch configured to connect an input and an output of the network of capacitors; an ADC configured to digitize the voltage ramp into a plurality of voltage samples; and a set of modules including an analyzing module configured to analyze the plurality of voltage samples to determine a slope of the voltage ramp; an outputting module configured to determine a magnitude of the current based on the slope of the voltage ramp and the gain setting; and a reconfiguring module that is configured to reconfigure the network of capacitors and reset the voltage ramp via the reset switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: ATONARP INC.
    Inventors: Anand Pandurangan, Siva Selvaraj, Anoop Hegde, Prakash Sreedhar Murthy
  • Patent number: 11555842
    Abstract: A system, a method and a built-in phase noise measurement apparatus are introduced. The built-in phase noise measurement apparatus includes a first DLL and a TDC, in which the first DLL circuit controls a delay of a first signal to generate a second signal based on a control code, tune the control code until a phase of the second signal is aligned to a phase of a reference clock signal, and record a value of the control code when the phase of the second signal is aligned to the phase of the reference clock signal. The DLL circuit controls the delay of the first signal based on the value of the control code after the phase of the second signal is aligned to the phase of the reference clock signal. The TDC determines the phase noise of the first signal based on the reference clock signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mao-Hsuan Chou, Chih-Hsien Chang, Ruey-Bin Sheen, Ya-Tin Chang
  • Patent number: 11526135
    Abstract: A system delays input clock signals using time-to-digital converters (TDCs) to convert edges or the clock signals to digital values and storing the digital values in a memory. The digital values are retrieved from the memory based on a desired delay. A time counter used by the TDCs to determine the edges is also used determine the delay. The accuracy and range of the delay depends on the time counter and size of the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Skyworks Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishnan Balakrishnan, James D. Barnette
  • Patent number: 11513135
    Abstract: A method adapts a resonant frequency of a first filter of a closed control loop to a given frequency. The method includes feeding an output signal of a delta sigma modulator of the closed control loop into a frequency adaptation circuit and determining a first noise spectrum of the output signal in a first frequency band and a second noise spectrum of the output signal in a second frequency band. The first frequency band and the second frequency band are arranged symmetrically with respect to the given frequency. The method includes comparing the first noise spectrum with the second noise spectrum, generating an adaptation signal that causes a frequency adaptation of the resonant frequency if the first noise spectrum differs from the second noise spectrum, and outputting the adaptation signal from the frequency adaptation circuit to a control input of the first filter for adapting the resonant frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
    Inventors: Maximilian Marx, Daniel De Dorigo, Yiannos Manoli, Xavier Cuignet
  • Patent number: 11438006
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a result register. During a precharge phase the result register is set to a starting value. During an integration phase a current is sampled through the photodiode to update the result register in response to down charges applied to an input of the integration amplifier. During a residue phase the result register is updated in dependence on the charge remaining on the integration capacitor. Measuring the residual charge increases resolution and accuracy of the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Louis Albert Williams, III, Yong Han
  • Patent number: 11211942
    Abstract: A variable output data rate converter circuit preferably meets performance requirements while keeping the circuit complexity low. In some embodiments, the converter circuit may include an oversampling sigma delta modulator circuit to quantize an analog input signal at an oversampled rate, and output an sigma delta modulated signal, a transposed polynomial decimator circuit to decimate the sigma delta modulated signal, and output a first decimated signal, and an integer decimator circuit to decimate the first decimated signal by an integer factor and output a second decimated signal having a desired output data rate. The transposed polynomial decimator circuit has a transposed polynomial filter circuit and a digital phase locked loop circuit, which tracks a ratio between a sampling rate of the first decimated signal and the oversampled rate, and outputs an intersample position parameter to the transposed polynomial filter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES INTERNATIONAL UNLIMITED COMPANY
    Inventors: David Lamb, Mayur Anvekar, Robert Adams
  • Patent number: 11187792
    Abstract: The device executes a method for determining the delay time of a first wavelet in a transmission path (I1). For this purpose, the first wavelet is transmitted into the transmission path (I1) at a time after a reference time. After passing through the transmission path (I1), the delayed and typically deformed transmission wavelet is scalar-multiplied with a second (analysis) wavelet. The result is compared to a reference value. The scalar product value adopts the reference value at a time (ts). The delay of the first and/or second wavelet in relation to the reference time is adjusted according to said time (ts) in relation to the reference time. An amplitude adjustment is not carried out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ELMOS SEMICONDUCTOR SE
    Inventors: Marco Liem, André Srowig
  • Patent number: 11042126
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter (TDC) is disclosed, which comprises a ring oscillator module and a digital error correction module. The ring oscillator module is configured to receive a sampling signal, an addressing signal, and a preset signal, and includes: a ring oscillator arranged with a plurality of inverters; a phase sampler configured to sample phase signals generated by the inverters for generating a first output signal; a counter clock generator configured to generate first and second clock signals; first and second counters configured to respectively generate first and second counter output signals; and a data sampler configured to sample the first and second counter output signals to respectively generate second and third output signals. The digital error correction module is arranged to process the first, second and third output signals for generating a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei International Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Yuan, Rui Yu, Xuesong Chen, Supeng Liu, Theng Tee Yeo
  • Patent number: 11029197
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement has an integrator, a photodiode for providing a current corresponding to a first polarity, a comparator coupled to the integrator for comparing a voltage with a threshold voltage to provide a comparison output, a reference charge circuit and a control unit. The reference charge circuit is coupled to the integrator for selectively providing first charge packages of a first size or second charge packages of a second size. The control unit is configured to control operation in a calibration phase, in an integration phase and in a residual measurement phase. During the calibration phase, the reference charge circuit provides one of the first charge packages and one or more of the second charge packages to the integrator until the comparison output changes. A reference number is determined corresponding to a number of the second charge packages provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel-Längauer, Peter Bliem
  • Patent number: 10979679
    Abstract: The vehicle accident recording system is configured for use with a vehicle. The vehicle further comprises a vehicle electric power source. The vehicle accident recording system comprises an acceleration sensor, a plurality of cameras, a control circuit, and a commercially provided and publically available cellular wireless network. The acceleration sensor detects the deceleration event. The plurality of cameras continuously captures video images of the area around the vehicle. The control circuit controls the operation of the vehicle accident recording system. The commercially provided and publically available cellular wireless network provides a communication link between the vehicle accident recording system and the appropriate authority. The vehicle accident recording system is isolated from the vehicle electric power source such that the vehicle accident recording system continues to operate in the event that the vehicle electric power source fails during the unfortunate incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Jarvis Williams
  • Patent number: 10972118
    Abstract: A successive-approximation ADC includes an input capacitance coupled to a first node and configured to store a sampled input charge based on an input analog signal during a first phase of an analog-to-digital conversion. A gain tuning capacitance configured to store a first portion of the sampled input charge during a second phase of the analog-to-digital conversion. A charge-redistribution DAC includes a conversion capacitance configured to store a second portion of the sampled input charge during the second phase and configured to use the second portion, a remaining portion of the sampled input charge, and a reference voltage to provide an analog signal on the first node corresponding to a digital output code approximating the input analog signal at an end of the third phase. The gain tuning capacitance sequesters the first portion of the sampled input charge from the charge-redistribution DAC during the third phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Obaida Mohammed Khaled Abu Hilal
  • Patent number: 10924129
    Abstract: The present invention provides a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter device, wherein the time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter device includes a random number generator, a plurality of ADCs and an output circuit. The random number generator is configured to generate a random number sequence. The plurality of ADCs are configured to receive an analog input signal to generate a plurality of digital signals, respectively, and each ADC is further configured to generate a selection signal according to the random number sequence. The output circuit is configured to select one of the digital signals according to the selection signals generated by the ADCs, to generate a digital output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Su-Hao Wu, Chan-Hsiang Weng
  • Patent number: 10886847
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a device having a voltage regulator that uses a modulator to adjust an output voltage. The device may include a time-to-digital converter that measures a timing delay of a logic chain, compares the timing delay to a reference delay to determine a timing delay error, and provides the timing delay error to the modulator for adjusting the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Arm Limited
    Inventors: Benoit Labbe, Graham Peter Knight, Philex Ming-Yan Fan
  • Patent number: 10788794
    Abstract: A digital to time converter (DTC) system is disclosed. The DTC system comprises a DTC circuit configured to generate a DTC output clock signal at a DTC output frequency, based on a DTC code. In some embodiments, the DTC system further comprises a calibration circuit comprising a period error determination circuit configured to determine a plurality of period errors respectively associated with a plurality consecutive edges of the DTC output clock signal. In some embodiments, each period error of the plurality of period errors comprises a difference in a measured time period between two consecutive edges of the DTC output clock signal from a predefined time period. In some embodiments, the calibration circuit further comprises an integral non-linearity (INL) correction circuit configured to determine a correction to be applied to the DTC code based on a subset of the determined period errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ofir Degani, Elan Banin, Eran Ben Ami
  • Patent number: 10715754
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a TDC includes: a clock input configured to receive a reference clock that is synchronized with a first event; a clock generation circuit configured to generate a first clock at a first output of the clock generation circuit based on the reference clock, the first clock having a second frequency lower than the reference clock; a data input configured to receive an input stream of pulses, where the input stream of pulses is based on the first event; a sampling circuit having an input register, the sampling circuit coupled to the data input, the sampling circuit configured to continuously sample the input stream of pulses into the input register based on the reference clock; and output terminals configured to stream time stamps based on the input stream of pulses at the second frequency, where the stream of time stamps is synchronized with the first clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: John Kevin Moore, Neale Dutton
  • Patent number: 10671025
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter arrangement has a ring oscillator with a plurality of inverting elements and a first and a second counter coupled to the ring oscillator. The first counter is configured to increment a first counter value if a positive edge transition is present at one of the inverting elements. The second counter is configured to increment a second counter value if a negative edge transition is present at the one of the inverting elements. A storage element stores the first and the second counter value and logical states of the plurality of inverting elements. A decoder coupled to the storage element selects one of the first and the second counter value as a valid value based on an evaluation of the stored logical states, and outputs a total counter value based on the valid value and the stored logical states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ams AG
    Inventors: Christian Mautner, Friedrich Bahnmueller, Friedrich Laengauer, Robert Kappel
  • Patent number: 10651868
    Abstract: This application relates to modulators for providing time-encoded signals and in particular PWM signals. A modulator (200) has a first controlled oscillator (201P) configured to receive a first oscillator driving signal and output a first oscillation signal (S1). An accumulator (204) is configured to provide an accumulator value (VAL) based on a number of pulses of the first oscillation signal and a hysteretic comparator (205) alternates between first and second output states based on a hysteretic comparison of the accumulator value with a defined reference (REF). The first oscillator driving signal is based on a combination of an input signal and a feedback signal derived from an output of the hysteretic comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Cirrus Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Sri Ram Gupta
  • Patent number: 10388223
    Abstract: An electronic device includes display circuitry with a source amplifier and a data line that drives signals provided by the source amplifier. Additionally, the display circuitry includes pixels, where each pixel includes a diode, and a scan thin-film-transistor (TFT) that selectively couples the pixels with the data line, based upon a scan control signal. Sensing circuitry of the electronic device includes a capacitor that is electrically coupled to the data line, wherein the capacitor is pre-charged by the source amplifier when the scan TFT is OFF and a sensing amplifier electrically coupled to the data line, providing a sensing output of both a diode voltage of the one or more pixels and a driving current of the one or more pixels, depending on the current operation of the sensing circuitry. Further, conversion circuitry converts the sensing output from an analog domain to a digital domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Kingsuk Brahma, Mohammad B. Vahid Far
  • Patent number: 10269417
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus which comprises: a memory; a first power supply node to receive a first power supply; a second power supply node coupled to the memory to provide the memory with second power supply; a circuit coupled to the first and second power supply nodes, the circuit operable to dynamically modulate droop in the second power supply by adaptively adjusting signal characteristics of a write assist pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gururaj K. Shamanna, Stefan Rusu, Eric A. Karl, Zheng Guo
  • Patent number: 10097200
    Abstract: A device having a sample-rate converter that may be programmed to generate samples at different rates is synchronized to an external synchronization pulse by temporarily changing the sample rate to a temporary sample rate and then changing the sample rate back to the original sample rate. Synchronization in a reduced amount of time is achieved by determining the interval between the synchronization pulse and one of the output samples and determining a processing time of the device for generating the output samples at a new rate. The system calculates a temporary sample rate based on these calculations that tends to reduce an amount of time to achieve synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Analog Devices Global
    Inventors: Miguel Usach Merino, Michael Hennessy, Anthony Evan O'Shaughnessy, Claire Croke
  • Patent number: 10097187
    Abstract: A digital synthesizer is described that comprises: a ramp generator configured to generate a signal of frequency control words (FCW), that describes a desired frequency modulated continuous wave; a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) configured to receive the FCW signal and generate a DCO output signal; a feedback loop comprising a time-to-digital converter (TDC), wherein the feedback loop is configured to feed back the DCO output signal; a phase comparator coupled to the ramp generator and configured to compare a phase of the FCW signal output from the ramp generator with the DCO output signal fed back from the DCO via the feedback loop and output a N-bit oscillator control signal in response thereto. The TDC receives a representation of the DCO output signal and a reference frequency signal to sample the DCO output signal and outputs multiple selectable delays of the DCO output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Vincent Doare, Didier Salle, Birama Goumballa, Cristian Pavao Moreira
  • Patent number: 10084983
    Abstract: A large area, gapless, detection system comprises at least one sensor; an interposer operably connected to the at least one sensor; and at least one application specific integrated circuit operably connected to the sensor via the interposer wherein the detection system provides high dynamic range while maintaining small pixel area and low power dissipation. Thereby the invention provides methods and systems for a wafer-scale gapless and seamless detector systems with small pixels, which have both high dynamic range and low power dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Farah Fahim, Grzegorz Deptuch, Tom Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 10044264
    Abstract: The average of a complex waveform measured over a time period may be determined by first converting the complex waveform to a voltage, then converting this voltage to a current and using this current to charge a capacitor. At the end of the measurement time period the voltage charge (sample voltage) on the capacitor may be sampled by a sample and hold circuit associated with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Then the voltage charge on the sample capacitor may be removed, e.g., capacitor plates shorted by a dump switch in preparation for the next average of the complex waveform sample measurement cycle. The ADC then converts this sampled voltage charge to a digital representation thereof and a true average of the complex waveform may be determined, e.g., calculated therefrom in combination with the measurement time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Bryan Kris, James Bartling
  • Patent number: 10032555
    Abstract: A current regulator for regulating alternating current (AC) flow to a load device is provided. The current regulator can include an AC coupling device that can be electrically connected to the load device via an output electrical path, a current control device electrically connected in series with the AC coupling device, and an AC feedback circuit electrically connected to the output electrical path and the current control device. The current control device can modify a current flow through at least one component of the AC coupling device in response to receiving an error correction current. An output AC current provided to the load device can be controlled based on the current flow through the component of the AC coupling device. The AC feedback circuit can include voltage error compensation device that provides the error correction current in response to receiving a feedback voltage corresponding to the output AC current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Isaac Ng, Abdul Qadir Shabbir
  • Patent number: 9971312
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a pulse to digital converter. In accordance with one aspect, the pulse to digital converter includes an input to receive an input pulse signal; a fractional element, coupled to the input, wherein the fractional element generates a fractional pulse width measurement of the input pulse signal; and an integral element, coupled to the input, wherein the integral element generates an integral pulse width measurement of the input pulse signal, and wherein the fractional pulse width measurement and the integral pulse width measurement are concatenated as an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Eskinder Hailu, Bupesh Pandita
  • Patent number: 9893632
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for providing electrical power for use in powering electronic devices, such as monitors, televisions, white goods, data centers, and telecom circuit boards, is described herein. The electrical circuit includes a voltage reduction circuit cell that includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a switching circuit, and a hold capacitor. The switching circuit includes a plurality of switching devices that are coupled to the first and the second capacitors for delivering power from an input terminal to an output terminal. The plurality of switching devices includes at least two switching devices that are coupled to ground. The voltage reduction circuit cell also includes a controller for operating the switching circuit in a plurality of operational modes to deliver an output power signal at a desired voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Advanced Charging Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Freeman, W. J. “Jim” Weaver, Jr., Mitchael C. Freeman, Robert Dieter, Andrea Baschirotto, Piero Malcovati, Marco Grassi, Glenn Noufer, Randall L. Sandusky, Neaz E. Farooqi, Jim Devoy, Silvia Jaeckel, Madison Hayes Yarbro Freeman
  • Patent number: 9825754
    Abstract: A universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) module is disclosed. The UART module may include a receiver unit being clocked by a programmable receiver clock configured to sample an incoming data signal and comprising a counter clocked by said receiver clock, wherein the counter is reset to start counting with every falling edge of the data signal and to trigger a BRK detection signal if the counter reaches a programmable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Roshan Samuel
  • Patent number: 9791638
    Abstract: A method for creating on chip analog mathematical engines is provided utilizing a neural network with a switched capacitor structure to implement coefficients for weighted connections and error functions for the neural network. The neural networks are capable of any transfer function, learning, doing pattern recognition, clustering, control or many other functions. The switched capacitor charge controls allow for nodal control of charge transfer based switched capacitor circuits. The method reduces reliance on passive component programmable arrays to produce programmable switched capacitor circuit coefficients. The switched capacitor circuits are dynamically scaled without having to rely on switched in unit passives, such as unit capacitors, and the complexities of switching these capacitors into and out of circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: David Schie
  • Patent number: 9780674
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for providing electrical power for use in powering electronic devices, such as monitors, televisions, white goods, data centers, and telecom circuit boards, is described herein. The electrical circuit includes a voltage reduction circuit cell that includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a switching circuit, and a hold capacitor. The switching circuit includes a plurality of switching devices that are coupled to the first and the second capacitors for delivering power from an input terminal to an output terminal. The plurality of switching devices includes at least two switching devices that are coupled to ground. The voltage reduction circuit cell also includes a controller for operating the switching circuit in a plurality of operational modes to deliver an output power signal at a desired voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Charging Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael H. Freeman, W. J. “Jim” Weaver, Jr., Mitchael C. Freeman, Robert Dieter, Andrea Baschirotto, Piero Malcovati, Marco Grassi, Glenn Noufer, Randall L. Sandusky, Neaz Farooqi, Jim Devoy, Silvia Jaeckel, Madison Hayes Yarbro Freeman
  • Patent number: 9405024
    Abstract: A radiation detector module for use in a time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) scanner generates a trigger signal indicative of a detected radiation event. A timing circuit including a first time-to-digital converter (TDC) and a second TDC is configured to output a corrected timestamp for the detected radiation event based on a first timestamp determined by the first TDC and a second timestamp determined by the second TDC. The first TDC is synchronized to a first reference clock signal and the second TDC is synchronized to a second reference clock signal, the first and second reference clock signals being asynchronous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Frach, Gordian Prescher
  • Patent number: 9294114
    Abstract: A reference signal generating circuit, an AD conversion circuit, and an imaging device are provided. A clock generating unit includes a delay section including delay units, each of which delays an input signal and outputs a delayed signal, and outputs a low-order phase signal based on a signal output from the delay section. A high-order current source cell unit includes high-order current source cells, each of which generates the same constant current. A low-order current source cell unit includes low-order current source cells weighted to generate constant currents having current values that differ by a predetermined proportion of a current value of the constant current generated by the high-order current source cell. Selection of the high-order current source cell is performed based on a clock obtained by dividing a clock based on the low-order phase signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshio Hagihara
  • Patent number: 9287837
    Abstract: A sensor device is provided with a voltage detection type sensor unit for converting a physical quantity into a voltage value and outputting a voltage signal indicating the voltage value; a chopper amplifier unit for generating a modulation signal by chopping the voltage signal output from the sensor unit with a predetermined chopping frequency, amplifying the modulation signal into an amplification signal, then demodulating the amplification signal and outputting it as an output signal; an integration unit including an operational amplifier, an input resistor connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and a capacitor connected between the inverting input terminal and an output terminal of the operational amplifier; and a digital conversion unit for converting the output signal integrated by the integration unit into a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Choon How Lau, Minoru Kumahara
  • Patent number: 9171189
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing saturation of analog integrator outputs are provided. Applications of the systems and methods in hybrid analog-digital integrators are also provided. Exemplary systems include two switches, one operational amplifier, one capacitor C, four gain blocks, three comparators, one XOR gate, one OR gate, one T flip-flop, and one digital counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventors: Yannis Tsividis, Ning Guo
  • Patent number: 9170564
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter (TDC) that has high resolution, excellent linearity, and a widerange. The TDC includes a first oscillator unit that generates and outputs a pair of first oscillation signals based on a pair of predetermined clock signals that have a predetermined phase difference, a second oscillator unit that generates and outputs a second oscillation signal that have a predetermined frequency based on the pair of first oscillation signals outputted from the first oscillator unit, and a quantizer that calculates a quantized value based on a number of edges of the second oscillation signal outputted from the second oscillator unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 9141088
    Abstract: A time-to-digital converter adopted to transform an enabled time of a time signal into an output data and an operation method thereof are provided. The operation method includes the following steps: providing a counter clock signal by a digital phase locked loop according to a reference clock signal; providing a counter result by a counter unit according to the counter clock signal and the time signal; comparing the enabled time of the time signal with a minimum time to provide a comparison result by a comparator unit; and outputting the counter result as the output data according to the comparison result when the enabled time of the time signal is longer than the minimum time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chen-Yi Lee