37th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 20 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110221408 | POWER SUPPLY AND CONTROLLER CIRCUITS - A power supply system includes multiple power converter phases. A controller (e.g., a processor device) monitors energy delivery for each of multiple power converter phases that supply energy to a load. The controller analyzes the energy delivery associated with each of the multiple power converter phases to identify an imbalance of energy delivered by the multiple power converter phases to the load. Based on the analyzing and detection of an imbalance condition, the controller modifies a future order of activating the multiple power converter phases for powering the load. Accordingly, a single phase of a multiphase switching power converter may be prevented from becoming overloaded while delivering energy to power the load. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221409 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes: a voltage-control-type clock generation circuit having a plurality of stages of first delay elements and whose oscillation frequency is controlled according to a control voltage applied to the first delay elements; a delay circuit having a plurality of stages of second delay elements connected serially; and a selection circuit selecting one from pulse signals output by the plurality of stages of respective second delay elements. The first delay elements and the second delay elements have a same structure formed on a same semiconductor substrate, and a delay amount of the second delay elements is adjusted according to the control voltage. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221410 | CURRENT INJECTOR CIRCUIT FOR SUPPLYING A LOAD TRANSIENT IN AN INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A current injector circuit comprises a clock modulating circuit, a first current injector, a feedback circuit, a first input modulating circuit and a second current injector. The clock modulating circuit receives a clock, a control signal, and an output. The first current injector has an input coupled to the clock modulating circuit, and an output coupled to a power supply terminal for providing a first current. The feedback circuit is coupled between the power supply terminal and another input of the clock modulating circuit. The feedback circuit is for providing the control signal for controlling the clock modulating circuit. The first current injector provides the first current in response to the clock modulating circuit. The first input modulating circuit receives an input signal, the control signal, and an output. The second current injector has an input coupled to the first input modulating circuit, and an output for providing a second current. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221411 | SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A semiconductor memory device includes a voltage detector configured to detect a level of an external power supply voltage and an internal voltage generator configured to generate an internal voltage in response to an active signal and drive an internal voltage terminal with a driving ability corresponding to an output signal of the voltage detector. A method for operating the semiconductor memory device includes detecting a level of an external power supply voltage, based on a first target level, to output a detection signal; and generating an internal voltage in response to an active signal, and driving an internal voltage terminal with a driving ability corresponding to the detection signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221412 | VOLTAGE CONVERTER AND LED DRIVER CIRCUITS - A voltage converter circuit can include a boost converter having a switching transistor and configured to receive an input voltage, produce an output voltage and selectively operate in one of a boost mode, a skip mode and a linear mode. In the boost and skip modes, the boost converter can switch on and off the switching transistor at a switching frequency to produce an output voltage at magnitudes greater than input voltage magnitudes. In the linear mode, the boost converter can turn off the switching transistor at all times to pass the input voltage unboosted to produce an output voltage at magnitudes less than input voltage magnitudes. The boost converter can be configured to operate in the boost mode for input voltage magnitudes less than a first predetermined input voltage magnitude, in the skip mode for input voltage magnitudes between the first predetermined magnitude and a second predetermined input voltage magnitude greater than the first predetermined input voltage magnitude, and in the linear mode for input voltage magnitudes greater than the second predetermined input voltage magnitude. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221413 | DC TO DC CONVERTER HAVING SWITCH CONTROL AND METHOD OF OPERATION - In a D.C. to D.C. converter, an input voltage is received via an inductor at an input terminal and stored onto a capacitor of an integrator. A first switch is coupled between the input terminal and a reference terminal such as ground and thereby fluxes the inductor. The input voltage stored on the capacitor falls at a rate determined by the integrator circuit and an initial value of the input voltage. After a time duration, the first switch becomes nonconductive. Current flows from the inductor through a diode to an output terminal until a second switch across the diode is made conductive. Stored voltage on the capacitor of the integrator increases in response to the second switch being conductive. The stored voltage on the capacitor is continuously compared with a reference voltage. The second switch is made nonconductive when the stored voltage on the capacitor exceeds the reference voltage. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221414 | DC to DC CONVERTER HAVING ABILITY OF SWITCHING BETWEEN CONTINUOUS AND DISCONTINUOUS MODES AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A DC to DC converter has first and second transistor coupled at a first node and coupled between first and second power supply terminals. An inductor has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to an output terminal for receiving a variable load. Transistor drive circuitry controls conduction of the first and second transistor in a non-overlapping conduction operation. A duty cycle controller controls a duty cycle for the first transistor and the second transistor. Control circuitry determines a mode of operation by monitoring cycles of operation and detecting a predetermined pattern of cycles in which inductor current becomes negative. A first mode of operation permits both the first transistor and the second transistor to alternately conduct and a second mode of operation does not permit the second transistor to conduct during each cycle when the inductor current is reduced to substantially zero. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221415 | DC/DC CONVERTER - According to one embodiment, a switching transistor changes, based on ON/OFF operations, the direction of an electric current flowing to an inductor. A gate driving unit applies a driving voltage to a gate of the switching transistor. A power-supply switching unit switches, based on a result of comparison of the input voltage and the output voltage, the voltage of a power supply that generates the driving voltage. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221416 | Battery charger and method for collecting maximum power from energy harvester circuit - An energy harvesting system for transferring energy from an energy harvester ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221417 | POWER SUPPLY APPARATUS AND POWER SUPPLY CONTROL METHOD - A power supply apparatus includes a detector configured to detect a peak of a transmission signal, a determination unit configured to determine a timing when a change of a variable voltage which is output from the apparatus and which corresponds to the detected peak of the transmission signal is started in accordance with a voltage value corresponding to the peak and a change rate of the variable voltage, a generation unit configured to generate a variable voltage control signal used to start the change of the voltage at the determined timing, and an output unit configured to output a voltage in accordance with the generated variable voltage control signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221418 | POWER TRACKING DEVICE AND POWER TRACKING METHOD THEREOF - A power tracking device for a power generation apparatus is provided. A multiplier generates a power level signal according to a current signal and a voltage signal both sensed from the output of the power generation apparatus. A sample-and-hold circuit samples the power level signal according to a sampling clock and generates a current level signal, a peak level signal, and a threshold level signal according to an update signal. A compare circuit compares the current, peak and threshold level signals to generate the update signal and a change signal. A converter performs pulse width modulation (PWM) to generate a PWM signal according to a control signal corresponding to the change signal and converts the output of the power generation apparatus to a load according to the PWM signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221419 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICE - The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes load circuits and internal voltage generators for generating internal source voltages for driving the load circuits. Each of the internal voltage generators includes a reference voltage generating circuit for generating reference voltages, and regulator circuits for generating the internal source voltages with reference to the reference voltages. The regulator circuit is formed over an SOI substrate and includes a preamplifier circuit for detecting and amplifying a difference between each of the internal source voltages and each of the reference voltages, a main amplifier circuit for amplifying the output of the preamplifier circuit and generating a control signal, and a driver circuit for generating the internal source voltage in response to the control signal. An input stage of the main amplifier circuit is configured by MOS transistors coupling the gates and bodies of the MOS transistors. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221420 | CONTROL METHOD FOR SINGLE-PHASE GRID-CONNECTED LCL INVERTER - A method of controlling the grid-side current of a single-phase grid-connected converter having an LCL filter connected between the output of the converter and the grid. The method includes measuring a grid voltage (v | 2011-09-15 |
20110221421 | Method Of Sensing Magnitude Of Current Through Semiconductor Power Device - A cascode current sensor includes a main MOSFET and a sense MOSFET. The drain terminal of the main MOSFET is connected to a power device whose current is to be monitored, and the source and gate terminals of the main MOSFET are connected to the source and gate terminals, respectively, of the sense MOSFET. The drain voltages of the main and sense MOSFETs are equalized, in one embodiment by using a variable current source and negative feedback. The gate width of the main MOSFET is typically larger than the gate width of the sense MOSFET. Using the size ratio of the gate widths, the current in the main MOSFET is measured by sensing the magnitude of the current in the sense MOSFET. Inserting the relatively large MOSFET in the power circuit minimizes power loss. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221422 | Method and measurement device for determining a condition of an electric igniter of a gas turbine burner and an ignition device for a gas turbine burner - A method for determining a condition of an electric igniter of a gas turbine burner and a measurement device for a gas turbine burner are provided. By means of the method and the measurement device it is possible to prevent false starts of gas turbines as a result of a nonfunctional igniter. The method provides for a time-dependent signal characterizing the ignition current of an igniter to be compared to an upper threshold value and a lower threshold value and at the same time to compare the characterizing signal to a mean target current value, by which the ignition current should fluctuate randomly when the igniter is functioning properly. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221423 | MULTIMETER HAVING COMMUNICATIONS VIA MEASUREMENT TERMINALS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR SAME - A multimeter having measurement terminals and configured to receive measurement signals applied to the measurement terminals and a measurement value and also configured to receive communication signals applied to the measurement terminals and extract encoded information from the communication signals. The multimeter can be included in a multimeter communication system having a device coupled to the measurement terminals of the multimeter. The device is configured to generate communication signals having encoded information and provide the communication signals to the measurement terminals of the multimeter. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221424 | Wide Range Current Sensing - A current sense circuit, including a voltage regulator, for detecting current conducted by a device under test (DUT) for a wide range of currents, while still providing fine granularity for detecting low/small currents. Two current branches/paths may be established to the supply terminal of the DUT. A switching device, e.g. a transistor device, may be operated to enable a first current branch of the two current branches, or both current branches to conduct current, responsive to the size of the current flowing in the first current branch. The total current conducted by the DUT may be equivalent to a sum of the respective currents flowing in the two current branches. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221425 | APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - An analyte sensor apparatus and a corresponding fluid medium,
| 2011-09-15 |
20110221426 | Medium Process Apparatus and Financial Device - A medium process apparatus is provided. The medium process apparatus comprises a state detection unit configured to detect a state of a transferring medium and a support unit configured to support the transferring medium. The support unit comprises a plurality of support parts successively disposed in a transfer direction of the medium. The plurality of support parts comprise a second support part facing the state detection unit and a first support part disposed at a front or rear side of the second support part in the transfer direction of the medium. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221427 | BIOSENSOR SYSTEM FOR ACTUATING MAGNETIC PARTICLES - The application discloses a biosensor system ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221428 | Magnetostrictive Sensors for Surface Wave Testing of Thick Walled Structures - An ultrasonic probe that uses the magnetostrictive effect to generate and detect a surface-coupled guided wave for the purpose of inspecting a thick-walled structure for surface defects. A transmitter probe and a receiver probe are especially designed to generate and detect short wavelengths that will couple to only one surface of the plate. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221429 | CURRENT SENSOR - Disclosed is a current sensor including magnetic sensors disposed on a conductor having at least two separated current-carrying areas with different current magnitudes and detecting a magnetic field generated according to currents flowing through the conductor and a controller controlling outputs of the magnetic sensors, wherein the magnetic sensors are disposed in at least two respective areas having different current magnitudes and the controller switches outputs of the magnetic sensors. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221430 | CURRENT DETECTION DEVICE - A current detection device that detects a current flowing through a target bus bar based on a magnetic flux in the periphery of the target bus bar, the target bus bar being at least one of a plurality of bus bars arranged in parallel. An adjacent bus bar is configured by including a first extending section that is arranged on a first direction side on one side of an orthogonal direction with respect to a magnetic flux detection plane, and extends in a first extending direction parallel to a magnetic flux detection plane, and a second extending section that is bent at one end portion of the first extending section in the first extending direction toward the first direction side, and extends in a second extending direction that crosses the magnetic flux detection plane. A detection portion of the target bus bar overlaps with the first extending section. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221431 | FABRICATING METHOD OF MAGNETIC AXIS CONTROLLED STRUCTURE - Provided is a method of fabricating a magnetic axis-controlled structure. The method of fabricating a magnetic axis-controlled structure includes providing a composition including magnetic nanoparticles dispersed in a liquid medium, applying a magnetic field to the composition to align the magnetic nanoparticles along the magnetic field and form a magnetic axis, and solidifying the liquid medium to fix the magnetic axis. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221432 | SENSOR UNIT AND MAGNETIC FLUX CONCENTRATING MODULE - A sensor unit includes a printed circuit board, a Hall IC, a terminal member, and a capacitor. The printed circuit board has a conductive pattern. The Hall IC is disposed on the printed circuit board. The Hall IC includes an element part that detects magnetic flux. The element part is arranged in parallel with the printed circuit board and is away from the conductive pattern. The terminal member is disposed on an end portion of the printed circuit board and is configured to be electrically coupled with an external device. The capacitor is disposed on the printed circuit board. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221433 | MAGNETIC SENSOR - A magnetic sensor includes a spin valve-type magneto-resistive element, a voltage detection part, a coil, and a current control part, the coil being configured to apply a measuring magnetic field to the spin valve-type magneto-resistive element upon application of a current, the voltage detection part being configured to output a detection signal to the current control part upon detecting an output voltage of the spin valve-type magneto-resistive element reaching a predetermined voltage value, the current control part being configured to control the current to unidirectionally increase or unidirectionally decrease a strength of the measuring magnetic field from an initial value, but upon input of the detection signal, control the current to return the strength of the measuring magnetic field to the initial value, the initial value being a magnetic field strength where the spin valve-type magneto-resistive element reaches saturation magnetization. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221434 | CURRENT SENSOR INCLUDING MAGNETIC DETECTING ELEMENT - A current sensor includes a magnetic detecting element, a bridge circuit including a plurality of resistance elements, and a feedback coil placed adjacent to the magnetic detecting element and generating a cancelling magnetic field for cancelling the induced magnetic field based on the output from the bridge circuit. The wiring patterns forming the bridge circuit are routed so as not to intersect with each other when seen in a plan view. Only the resistance elements constituting each series circuit of the bridge circuit are connected to each other by the wiring pattern in an enclosed area which encloses each resistance element constituting the bridge circuit, and the wiring pattern branched from the wiring pattern is connected to the terminal which is installed in a quantity of only one, outside the enclosed area. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221435 | MAGNETIC SENSOR AND MAGNETIC BALANCE TYPE CURRENT SENSOR INCLUDING THE SAME - A magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistance effect element and a hard bias layer. The magnetoresistance effect element is configured to have a striped form which has a sensitivity axis in a predetermined direction, and configured to have a structure in which a free magnetic layer, in which magnetization varies with respect to an external magnetic field, a non-magnetic layer, and a fixed magnetic layer, in which the magnetization is fixed, are laminated. The hard bias layer is disposed in a longitudinal direction of the striped form, disposed outside of the magnetoresistance effect element to be separated from the magnetoresistance effect element. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221436 | CURRENT SENSOR - A current sensor including a magnetic detecting bridge circuit which is constituted of four magneto-resistance effect elements with a resistance value varied by application of an induced magnetic field from a current to be measured, and which has an output between two magneto-resistance effect elements. The four magneto-resistance effect elements have the same resistance change rate, and include a self-pinned type ferromagnetic fixed layer which is formed by anti-ferromagnetically coupling a first ferromagnetic film and a second ferromagnetic film via an antiparallel coupling film therebetween, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a soft magnetic free layer. Magnetization directions of the ferromagnetic fixed layers of the two magneto-resistance effect elements providing the output are different from each other by 180°. The magnetic detecting bridge circuit has wiring symmetrical to a power supply point. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221437 | WIDEBAND TRANSDUCER FOR MEASURING A BROAD RANGE OF CURRENTS IN HIGH VOLTAGE CONDUCTORS - A system and method for measuring electrical current by measuring magnetic flux density is presented. A magnetic flux density measuring device for measuring a magnetic field strength generated by a current in a conductor includes a ring, a pair of metal strips with high magnetic permeability and a magnetic field sensor. The ring is generally concentric with the conductor and supports the pair of metal strips. The metal strips are located back-to-back and form a gap between the metal strips. The sensor located in the gap to measure the magnetic field strength in the gap. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221438 | MAGNETIC PARTICLE IMAGING DEVICES AND METHODS - A magnetic particle imaging device is provided. The device includes a magnetic field source configured to produce a magnetic field having a non-saturating magnetic field region, an excitation signal source configured to produce an excitation signal in the non-saturating magnetic field region that produces a detectable signal from magnetic particles in the non-saturating magnetic field region, and a signal processor configured to convert a detected signal into an image of the magnetic particles. Aspects of the present disclosure also include methods of imaging magnetic particles in a sample, and methods of producing an image of magnetic particles in a subject. The subject devices and methods find use in a variety of applications, such as medical imaging applications. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221439 | Magnetic resonance spectroscopy with real-time correction of motion and frequency drift, and real-time shimming - Disclosed are MR Spectroscopy and MR Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI) methods comprising the sequential steps of water suppression, spatial prelocalization and spatial-spectral encoding, wherein the water suppression is modified to additionally measure and correct the frequency drift, the change in magnetic field inhomogeneity in the volume of interest, and the object movement. By inserting between the water suppression RF pulse and the dephasing gradient pulses either a phase sensitive MRI encoding module, or a 1D, 2D or 3D high-speed MRSI encoding module with simultaneous acquisition of the decaying water signal it is possible to measure frequency drift, magnetic field inhomogeneity and object movement. This information is used to dynamically change the synthesizer frequency of the scanner, the shim settings and to rotate the encoded k-space. In the preferred implementation this information is computed in real-time during the ongoing scan and via feeback loop downloaded to the acquisition control unit to update the aforementioned parameters before the subsequent data acquisition. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221440 | POSITIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CONTRAST METHODS AND APPARATUS USING CHEMICAL EXCHANGE SATURATION TRANSFER - In one aspect, an apparatus for performing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging on a region of an object being imaged is provided. The method comprises at least one coil capable of being operated to emit radio frequency (RF) signals, at least one detector capable of detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals, and at least one controller to operate the at least one coil to provide at least one inversion sequence to the region to flip at least some spins in the region by a desired flip-angle, operate the at least one coil to provide at least one first pulse sequence at a first frequency offset from a peak resonant frequency of water by a first amount in a first direction to magnetize at least one exchange group in the region, operate the at least one coil to provide at least one second pulse sequence at a second frequency offset from the peak resonant frequency of water by the first amount in a second direction opposite the first direction, operate the at least one detector to measure a first signal emitted from the region as a result of providing the at least one first pulse sequence after a predetermined time interval after applying the first inversion sequence, and operate the at least one detector to measure a second signal emitted from the region as a result of providing the at least one second sequence at the predetermined time interval after applying the at least one inversion sequence, wherein the predetermined time interval is selected such that positive contrast is achieved with respect to the first signal relative to the second signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221441 | LOCAL COIL FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A local coil for a magnetic resonance device includes a connector apparatus for establishing a connection to a plug-in station on a patient couch and at least one storage facility. The storage facility may be used to read out by way of the connection and may store at least one non-modifiable data item describing a property of the local coil. The storage facility may include at least one detection facility for acquiring measurement values describing the state of the local coil and at least one evaluation facility configured to modify the readout address of the storage facility as a function of the measurement values. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221442 | TOROID GALVANIC AZIMUTHAL LWD TOOL - An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest of an earth formation, particularly relating to borehole logging methods and apparatuses for estimating electrical resistivity properties using at least one transverse toroid. The apparatus may include one or more transmitters for introducing electrical current to the earth formation. The transverse toroid may detect responsive electric signals from the earth formation at one or more frequencies and provide data from one or more depths of investigation. Further multiple transverse toroids may be used for detecting electric signals from a larger azimuthal range than a single transverse toroid. The method includes steps for using the apparatus to obtain data that may be used to estimate the parameter of interest. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221443 | High Frequency Dielectric Measurement Tool - Disclosed dielectric logging tools and methods employ three or more receive horn antennas positioned between at least two transmit antennas, which can also be horn antennas. The logging tools can operate in the range between 100 MHz and 10 GHz to provide logs of formation permittivity, formation conductivity, standoff distance, and electrical properties of material in the standoff gap. Logs of water-saturated porosity and/or oil movability can be readily derived. The presence of additional receive antennas offers a significantly extended operating range, additional depths of investigation, increased measurement accuracy, and further offers compensation for tool standoff and mudcake effects. In both wireline and logging while drilling embodiments, at least some disclosed dielectric logging tools employ a set of three axially-spaced receive antennas positioned between pairs of axially-spaced transmit antennas. At least some disclosed methods employ absolute amplitude and phase measurements in response to alternate firings of the transmit antennas. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221444 | Determining Earth Properties - A method of determining ground properties comprises the steps of transmitting magnetic waves through the ground from a first location (A) to a second location (B), comparing the magnetic waves received at the second location with the magnetic waves transmitted at the first location so as to determine the attenuation of the ground, and deriving the ground properties from the attenuation thus determined. The magnetic waves are transmitted at multiple frequencies so as to determine a frequency dependency of the attenuation. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221445 | METHOD FOR CONTROL OF STABILIZER ADDITIVES IN ELECTROLESS METAL AND METAL ALLOY PLATING ELECTROLYTES - The present invention describes a method for the measurement of the stabilizer additive concentration in electroless metal and metal alloy plating electrolytes comprising a voltammetric measurement. Said method comprises the steps a. conditioning of the working electrode, b. interaction of intermediates on the working electrode, c. measurement of the Faradaic current and d. determining the Faradaic current. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221446 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SAFE OPERATION OF LARGE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES - Modeling and testing are used to characterize consequences of a first lithium-ion cell having an internal short. The vulnerability of a second lithium-ion cell being induced into thermal runaway by the energy released by the first cell undergoing an internal short is quantified. Characteristics of the packaging of Li-ion cells within a battery pack are analyzed. Combined, these analyses determine the robustness required of a cell in order to withstand a nearby cell's internal short given that the battery is maintained within the specified operational envelope by a BMS and this envelope is modified in real-time as required to meet the safety requirement. Robustness factors are: age, history of charging/discharging, as well as immediate state of charge and environment. In operation, the cell's operational history is incorporated into a model. When the model indicates cell robustness at a predetermined lower limit, operation of the cell is ceased or limited. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221447 | SENSOR SYSTEM FOR DETECTING ANALYTES IN LOW CONCENTRATION - The invention relates to a sensor system ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221448 | Apparatuses and Methods for Testing Welding Apparatuses - A testing apparatus for testing a welding apparatus is disclosed. The testing apparatus comprises a receptacle, a fault indicator, and a power supply, wherein: the receptacle comprises a grounding socket and a plurality of power sockets; the power supply is electrically coupled to the grounding socket, the fault indicator, and at least one of the plurality of power sockets; and when a plug of the welding apparatus is matingly coupled to the receptacle, the fault indicator indicates whether an electrical resistance between a grounding prong of the plug and at least one of a plurality of power prongs of the plug is below a predetermined threshold. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221449 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING A SHORT CIRCUIT - This invention provides a method and an apparatus for detecting a short-circuit occurring between a signal line and a ground line of a lead wire. The apparatus comprises a circuit and a resistive element. The circuit has an output terminal, an input terminal and ground. One end of the ground line is connected to the ground of the circuit, and the other end of the ground line is disconnected. A first terminal of the resistive element is connected to the output terminal of the circuit. One end of the signal line is connected to a second terminal of the resistive element, and the other end of the signal line is disconnected. The circuit is configured to provide a first voltage via the output terminal and obtain a second voltage via the input terminal connected to a joint of the signal line and the resistive element, to provide a third voltage via the output terminal and obtain a fourth voltage via the input terminal, to derive an impedance of the lead wire from the first voltage, the second voltage, the third voltage, the fourth voltage and an impedance of the resistive element, and to determine whether a short-circuit occurs or not, based on the impedance of the lead wire and a predefined impedance. In this way, the shorted lead wire can be detected with high accuracy. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221450 | MEASUREMENT PROCESS FOR DETERMINATION OF THE OPTIMUM CONTACT PRESSURE AMONG COMPONENTS OF A SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL STACK IN THE PACKAGING PROCESS AND ITS MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - The present invention provides a measurement process for determination of the optimum contact pressure among components of a solid oxide fuel cell stack in the packaging process in order that the reduction in performance caused by the packaging process can be reduced. The present invention also provides a measurement apparatus which can carry the measurement process out. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221451 | METHOD FOR DETECTING THE POSITION OF AN ARMATURE OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC ACTUATOR - A method of detecting the position of the armature ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221452 | CAPACITIVE SENSOR AND SENSING METHOD - A capacitive sensing method is provided. The capacitive sensing method includes the step of alternately charging/discharging a capacitive sensing electrode of a capacitive sensor for predetermined times under an active mode and charging/discharging the capacitive sensing electrode during a fixed period under a standby mode while an object is not coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode, in which the capacitive sensing electrode has a first capacitance while the object is not coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode. The capacitive sensing method also includes the step of generating a switch signal while the object is coupled to the capacitive sensing electrode under the standby mode such that the capacitive sensing electrode has a second capacitance larger than the first capacitance and the step of switching the standby mode to the active mode according to the switch signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221453 | OCCUPANT CLASSIFYING DEVICE FOR AN AUTOMOBILE - Provided is an occupant classifying device which can detect an occupant sitting on a seat by a change in an electric field between first and second electrodes that is caused by the occupant sitting on the seat. The occupant classifying device includes: a seat for an occupant to sit on; a first electrode disposed in the seat; a second electrode disposed in the seat, spaced apart from the first electrode, and forming an electric field between the first and second electrodes; and a current measuring device for measuring a variation in current value corresponding to changes in the electric field caused by the occupant sitting on the seat. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221454 | Anti-Capture Method and Apparatus for Micromachined Devices - A MEMS device has a movable beam, a differential capacitor with a movable electrode that moves in response to the displacement of the movable beam and that is disposed between two stationary electrodes, and a voltage circuit for applying a first voltage to the first stationary electrode, second voltage to the second stationary electrode, and a third voltage to the moveable electrode. The MEMS device also has a monitor operably coupled with the movable beam to monitor the displacement of the movable beam. In some embodiments, the monitor may monitor the distance between the movable electrode and at least one of the stationary electrodes. The MEMS device further has a voltage reducing circuit operatively coupled with the monitor, the movable electrode, and the stationary electrodes. The voltage reducing circuit reduces the differential between the third voltage and the voltages on the stationary electrodes when the monitor detects that the displacement of the movable beam is greater than or equal to a threshold value. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221455 | MICROMECHANICAL COMPONENT AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION - A method for producing a micromechanical component, includes providing a first substrate, developing a micropattern on the first substrate, the micropattern having a movable functional element, providing a second substrate, and developing an electrode in the second substrate for the capacitive recording of a deflection of the functional element. The method further includes connecting the first and the second substrate, a closed cavity being formed which encloses the functional element, and the electrode bordering on the cavity in an area of the functional element. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221456 | SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SENSING - A sensor system, and an associated method for detecting harsh environmental conditions, is provided. The sensor system includes at least one sensor having an electrical sensing element. The electrical sensing element is based on certain classes of composite materials: (a) silicon carbide (SiC); (Mo,W) | 2011-09-15 |
20110221457 | CAPACITIVE DYNAMIC QUANTITY SENSOR ELEMENT AND DYNAMIC QUANTITY SENSOR - In order to make it possible to have a simple structure and a small size, to deform flexibly, and to be used for various applications without restricting usage, a capacitive dynamic quantity sensor element includes a base material | 2011-09-15 |
20110221458 | Signal processing algorithms for impedance biosensor - A method for determining impedance includes receiving a time varying voltage signal from a biosensor and receiving a time varying current signal from the biosensor. The time varying voltage signal and the time varying current signal are transformed to a domain that represents complex values. The impedance representative of the biosensor based upon the transformed time varying voltage signal and the time varying current signal is calculated. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221459 | HYBRID OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM - An occupant detection system includes a detection electrode provided in a vehicle seat, a phase difference measuring unit, a direct current measuring unit, and a detecting unit that detects an occupant. The phase difference measuring unit supplies a reference signal comprising a sinusoidal wave to the detection electrode via a resistive element, detects the potential of the detection electrode as an electrode signal, and measures a phase lag time of the electrode signal relative to the reference signal. The direct current measuring unit applies a steady DC voltage to the detection electrode via a resistive element, detects the potential of the detection electrode, and measures time it takes from start of application of the DC voltage to the time when the detection electrode reaches a given potential, as a charge time. The detecting unit detects an occupant based on the phase lag time and the charge time. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221460 | Integrated Circuit Arrangement Having a Defect Sensor - The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement includes a semiconductor body having a first surface and defining a vertical direction running perpendicular to the first surface. At least one sensor line is at least partially arranged above the first surface, and includes a first and a second contact terminal and at least one vertical line section coupled between the first and second contact terminals and running in the vertical direction. An evaluation circuit is coupled to the first and second contact terminals and adapted to evaluate an impedance of the at least one sensor line. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221461 | METHOD FOR TESTING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS OF A REPETITIVE PATTERN UNDER DEFINED THERMAL CONDITIONS - The invention relates to a method for testing several electronic components ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221462 | PROBE CARD HAVING CONFIGURABLE STRUCTURE FOR EXCHANGING OR SWAPPING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOR IMPEDANCE MATCHING AND IMPEDANCE MATCHING METHOD THEREFORE - A probe card having a configurable structure for exchanging/swapping electronic components for impedance matching and an impedance method therefore are provided. In the probe card, an applied force is exerted on the electronic component so as to make the electronic component electrically connected with at least one conductive contact pad of a supporting unit. The supporting unit is a circuit board or a space transformer. In order to facilitate the exchange or swap of the electronic component, the applied force can be removed. The probe card includes a pressing plate which can be moved between a pressing position and a non-pressing position. The pressing plate has a pressing surface which is contacted with the top end of the electronic component while the pressing plate is in the pressing position. Therefore, the applied force can be generated or removed by changing the positioning of the pressing plate. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221463 | SCANNING CANNULA - A scanning cannula for scanning an electrosurgical instrument for electrical insulation defects includes an elongated sleeve having a receiving end, an opposite exit end, and a passageway extending from the receiving end to the exit end. At least one sweeping contact is disposed in the passageway. A circuit in the sleeve is electrically connected to the at least one sweeping contact. A communication device is connected to the circuit to transmit signals from the circuit to a switchbox of a surgical instrument. An electrosurgical instrument inserted into the receiving end of the sleeve passes through the at least one sweeping contact, and any electrical defect of the electrosurgical instrument detected by the at least one sweeping contact is relayed as an error signal to the circuit, which communicates the error signal to the switchbox. The switchbox cuts current to the electrosurgical instrument and signals an alarm. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221464 | CONTACT PROBE AND SOCKET, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF TUBE PLUNGER AND CONTACT PROBE - A contact probe has a tubular plunger which is not made by press working and rounding so that quality control of gold plating or the like is not necessary or not difficult. The tubular plunger is made of a metal tube with a tip that has a reduced outside diameter and notches spaced from the tip. The tip is bent inside the tube and an outer surface of the metal tube, from a bent part to a bottom side, with a small diameter defining a convex part having a larger diameter. The small diameter part of the metal tube is cut off at the end of the small diameter. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221465 | PROBE CARD AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A probe card and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. To manufacture the probe card, via holes for receiving probe pins are formed in a plate-shaped or block-shaped probe substrate, and the probe pins are simultaneously inserted into the via holes. Then the probe substrate is bonded onto a supportable board having a thermal expansion coefficient similar to that of a wafer, and the probe substrate is separated into individual parts each having a specific size that disallows a deviation in location of the probe pins from chip pads of the wafer in spite of thermal expansion of the probe substrate. Therefore, the probe card can be manufactured through a simpler and more cost-effective process while preventing a location deviation of the probe pins due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the probe card and the wafer. The probe substrate and a main circuit board are electrically connected through connecting members passing through openings in the supportable board. The connecting members may be directly or indirectly connected to the main circuit board, and the probe substrate may be composed of first and second probe substrates. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221466 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF TESTING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - According to the following disclosure, disclosed is a semiconductor device including: an internal circuit configured to receive and output a signal current; a current mirror unit outputting a copied current corresponding to the signal current; and a test pad from which the copied current is taken out. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221467 | AC POWER SUPPLY MEASURING CIRCUIT WITH VOLTAGE PROTECTING FUNCTION - An alternating current (AC) power supply measuring circuit includes a voltage dividing circuit, a measuring integrated circuit (IC), a control board, and a first power rectifying circuit. The voltage dividing circuit receives an AC voltage signal and divides the AC voltage signal to a first voltage dividing signal and a second voltage dividing signal. The measuring IC receives the first and second voltage dividing signals to obtain an AC voltage measuring signal. The control board receives the AC voltage measuring signal and processes the AC voltage measuring signal. The first power rectifying circuit provides a floating ground signal to the voltage dividing circuit. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221468 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A semiconductor integrated circuit includes first and second bump pads configured to output data, a probe test pad coupled to the first bump pad, and a pipe latch unit configured to selectively transfer data loaded on first and second data lines to one of the first and second bump pads in response to a pipe output dividing signal during a normal mode, and sequentially transfer the data loaded on the first and second data lines to the probe test pad in response to the pipe output dividing signal during a test mode. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221469 | LOGIC BUILT-IN SELF-TEST SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR APPLYING A LOGIC BUILT-IN SELF-TEST TO A DEVICE UNDER TEST - A logic built-in self test (LBIST) system comprises a device under test having a first plurality of first bistable multivibrator circuits an LBIST controller, and a second plurality of second bistable multivibrator circuits. Each second bistable multivibrator circuit is coupled to a corresponding first bistable multivibrator circuit to swap a second state value kept by the second bistable multivibrator circuit with a first state value kept by the corresponding first bistable multivibrator circuit depending on a first control signal from the LBIST controller and the second bistable multivibrator circuits are coupled to form one or more scan chains when receiving a second control signal from the LBIST controller. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221470 | MAGNETIC DEVICE FOR PERFORMING A "LOGIC FUNCTION" - A device for performing a “logic function” including a magnetic structure including at least one first magnetoresistive stack including a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer separated by a non-ferromagnetic interlayer, the ferromagnetic hard layer being pinned in a fixed magnetic state which serves as a reference and at least one first and one second current line belonging to a first and a second level of metallization respectively, each of the two lines generating a magnetic field in the vicinity of the first stack when a current flows therethrough. The first and second lines are disposed at various distances of the second ferromagnetic layer, the various distances being determined by the “logic function”. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221471 | CONTROLLABLE STORAGE ELEMENTS FOR AN IC - An integrated circuit (“IC”) that includes a configurable routing fabric with controllable storage elements is described. The routing fabric provides a communication pathway that routes signals to and from source and destination components. The routing fabric may provide the ability to selectively store the signals passing through the routing fabric within the storage elements of the routing fabric. In this manner, a source or destination component may continually perform operations (e.g., computational or routing) irrespective of whether a previous signal from or to such a component is stored within the routing fabric. The source and destination components include configurable logic circuits, configurable interconnect circuits, and various other circuits that receive or distribute signals throughout the IC. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221472 | Method and Apparatus for Providing A Non-Volatile Programmable Transistor - A method and apparatus of providing a programmable system using non-volatile programmable transistors are disclosed. A programmable logic circuit, in one embodiment, includes a first programmable transistor and a second programmable transistor. The first programmable transistor includes a first gate terminal, a first source terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first programming terminal. The second programmable transistor includes a second gate terminal, a second source terminal, and a second drain terminal, and a second programmable terminal. The first and second programmable transistors include non-volatile memory elements. The first and the second gate terminals are coupled to an input terminal, and the first drain terminal and the second source terminal are coupled to an output terminal to perform a logic function. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221473 | SOFT ERROR DETECTION FOR LATCHES - A system and method for soft error detection in digital ICs is disclosed. The system includes an observing circuit coupled to a latch, which circuit is capable of a response upon a state change of the latch. The system further includes synchronized clocking provided to the latch and to the observing circuit. For the latch, the clocking defines a window in time during which the latch is prevented from receiving data, and in a synchronized manner the clocking is enabling a response in the observing circuit. The clocking is synchronized in such a manner that the circuit is enabled for its response only inside the window when the latch is prevented from receiving data. The system may also have additional circuits that are respectively coupled to latches, with each the additional circuit and its respective latch receiving the synchronized clocking Responses of a plurality of circuits may be coupled in a configuration corresponding to a logical OR. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221474 | NON-BINARY DECODER ARCHITECTURE AND CONTROL SIGNAL LOGIC FOR REDUCED CIRCUIT COMPLEXITY - A decoder for sequentially enabling outputs in response to clock signal inputs is described including X number of logic stages corresponding to X number of outputs of the decoder. Each of the logic stages has a plurality of inputs, wherein each logic stage includes fewer than log | 2011-09-15 |
20110221475 | LOGIC CIRCUIT - An object is to apply a transistor using an oxide semiconductor to a logic circuit including an enhancement transistor. The logic circuit includes a depletion transistor | 2011-09-15 |
20110221476 | PHASE FREQUENCY DETECTOR - The present invention relates to a phase frequency detector (PFD) ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221477 | HIGH-SPEED DIFFERENTIAL COMPARATOR CIRCUITRY WITH ACCURATELY ADJUSTABLE THRESHOLD - A high-speed differential comparator circuit is provided with an accurately adjustable threshold voltage. Differential reference voltage signals are provided to control the threshold voltage of the comparator. The common mode voltage of the reference signals preferably tracks the common mode voltage of the differential high-speed serial data signal being processed by the comparator circuit. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221478 | CIRCUIT FOR MULTIPLEXING DIGITAL AND ANALOG INFORMATION VIA SINGLE PIN OF DRIVER FOR SWITCHED MOSFETS OF DC-DC CONVERTER - Multiple characteristics of a DC-DC converter, such as its mode of operation (e.g., either forced continuous conduction mode, or discontinuous conduction mode), and an operational parameter (such as the dead-time between switching times of the output switching devices (upper and lower MOSFETs) of the converter, whose associated driver integrated circuit has a pin usage that leaves only a single pin available for auxiliary purposes, are programmed by a single pin-based digital and analog information extracting circuit that couples both digital information and analog information within the same control signal to the driver IC by way of only the one available pin. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221479 | SENSOR OUTPUT IC AND SENSOR DEVICE - A sensor output IC has a switching element that turns on and off between output terminals based on a detection signal from a sensor, and a temperature-limiting circuit that maintains the switching element in an off state when a temperature at the sensor output IC becomes a predetermined value or more. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221480 | DRIVE CIRCUIT - A resonant gate drive circuits for a voltage controlled transistor according to the embodiments are characterized by connecting a resonant inductor and a resistor to a gate of the voltage controlled transistor or a gate of the normally-on voltage controlled transistor or a voltage control terminal of a pseudo normally-off element, in series, and providing the drive circuit with two complementary switching elements connected in series. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221481 | GATE DRIVE CIRCUIT - Provided is a gate drive circuit capable of turning off a MOS-FET reliably without adding a complicated structure. The gate drive circuit for driving a power MOS-FET includes: a first switching element connected to a gate terminal of the power MOS-FET through a first resistor, for setting a gate potential of the power MOS-FET to a potential for turning on the power MOS-FET, based on a signal from a signal source; and a second switching element connected to the gate terminal of the power MOS-FET through a second resistor, for setting the gate potential of the power MOS-FET to a potential for turning off the power MOS-FET, based on the signal from the signal source, in which the first resistor has a resistance value set to a value larger than a resistance value of the second resistor. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221482 | Semiconductor device - Provided is a semiconductor device that may include a switching device having a negative threshold voltage, and a driving unit between a power terminal and a ground terminal and providing a driving voltage for driving the switching device. The switching device may be connected to a virtual ground node having a virtual ground voltage that is greater than a ground voltage supplied from the ground terminal and may be turned on when a difference between the driving voltage and the virtual ground voltage is greater than the negative threshold voltage. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221483 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND STANDBY CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF - The present invention is applicable to the field of electrics and provides an integrated circuit (IC) and a standby controlling method thereof. The IC comprises a reset device, a standby control device, a functional device and a power supply control device. The functional device at least comprises a functional unit that does not operate in a standby mode. The power supply control device is configured to supply power to the functional device, the standby control device and the reset device. The standby control device is configured to control the power supply control device to control a power supply voltage of the functional unit to be within a preset range below a normal operating voltage when a standby status signal is detected, and restore the power supply voltage into the normal operating voltage when a wake-up signal is detected; and the reset device is configured to reset the functional device when the system standby status signal is detected and release the resetting of the functional device when the wake-up signal is detected. The IC of the present invention reduces the time required by the IC to wake up from the standby mode while ensuring that the whole functional device has low static power consumption. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221484 | CIRCUIT FOR GENERATING POWER-UP SIGNAL OF SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY APPARATUS - A power-up signal generating circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a current source unit configured to supply a current to a first node; a current sink unit configured to be turned on when the level of a divided voltage dividing an external voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined level to allow the current to flow from a first node to a second node; a control unit configured to control the turn-on timing of the current sink unit by controlling a voltage level of the second node; and a signal generating unit configured to enable a power-up signal depending on a voltage level of the first node. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221485 | Time synchronization method and apparatus - The present invention discloses a time synchronization method and apparatus. The method comprises: each net element node locks a clock synchronization signal of its upper-level net element node through a physical channel, and a clock synchronization network is established; and each net element node performs time counting by using the locked clock synchronization signal and performs time compensation according to the time counting through a time synchronization protocol to realize time synchronization. Through the present invention, each net element node performs the time counting by using the locked clock signal, and performs the time compensation according to the time counting to realize the time synchronization, thus the problem that the accumulative effect of phase transfer results in very obvious phase delay in the related technologies is solved, so as to reduce the phase delay and realize high precision, high interference resistance and reliability. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221486 | DIGITALLY CALIBRATED HIGH SPEED CLOCK DISTRIBUTION - An electronic circuit for distributing a clock signal to a plurality of clock destinations includes phase adjustment circuits for adjusting phase shifts of the clock at the respective one of the clock destinations responsive to a respective DC voltage feedback signal receive from the respective one of the clock destinations; phase detectors for detecting a phase shift of the clock signal at the respective one of the clock destinations according to a nearest neighbor clock destination; and loop filters for generating and transmitting respective DC voltage feedback signals. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221487 | CLOCK SYNCHRONISER - A clock synchroniser for generating a local clock signal synchronised to a received clock signal. The clock synchroniser incorporates a reference oscillator providing a reference signal, and a synthesiser circuit arranged to synthesise a local clock signal from the reference signal. The synthesiser circuit comprises a phase-locked-loop circuit, including a phase detector receiving the reference signal, and a controllable divider arranged in a feedback path from a controlled oscillator to the phase detector, the divider being controllable to set a frequency division value N along the path to determine a ratio of the local clock frequency to the reference frequency. The clock synchroniser also incorporates a clock comparison circuit adapted to generate a digital signal indicative of an asynchronism between the local and received clock signals. A control link is arranged to link the clock comparison circuit to the divider. This link receives the digital signal and provides a control signal to the divider to adjust the frequency division value N according to the digital signal, to alter the local clock frequency and reduce the asynchronism. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221488 | INTERFACE CIRCUIT WITH DAMPING RESISTOR CIRCUIT - A semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with: a variable resistor section, a variable delay section and a data fetch section. The variable resistor section provides damping for a data signal inputted thereto to thereby generate a damped data signal. The damping resistance of the damping is variable. The variable delay section gives a variable delay to a clock signal to thereby generate a delayed clock signal. The data fetch section fetches data from the damped data signal in synchronization with the delayed clock signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221489 | AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CALIBRATION CIRCUIT AND AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CALIBRATION METHOD - An automatic frequency calibration circuit and an automatic frequency calibration method for a fractional-N frequency synthesizer are provided. In a calibration mode, a state machine adjusts a fractional part and an integer part of a division ratio of a frequency divider unit according to a required precision. A first and a second frequency detecting units detect a reference frequency and an output frequency of the frequency divider unit, respectively. A judging interval unit defines at least one judging period in a total comparison time. A comparator compares the outputs of the first and the second frequency detecting units and outputs a comparison result at the judging period. Wherein, the state machine changes the capacitor configuration of a voltage-controlled oscillator when the comparison result shows that the reference frequency does not match the output frequency of the frequency divider unit. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221490 | PLL apparatus - There is provided an art to prevent an unstable operation due to temperature in a PLL apparatus in which a proper range of an amplitude level of an external reference frequency signal is specified and a control voltage is supplied to a voltage-controlled oscillator according to whether the amplitude level falls within the proper range or not. The PLL apparatus includes: a switching unit switching a signal that is to be supplied to a control voltage output unit between a signal of a phase comparison unit and a preset signal of a preset signal output unit; a protection circuit provided between a signal path of a reference frequency signal and a ground and having diodes that are connected in inverse parallel in order to regulate an amplitude level of the reference frequency signal; a temperature detection unit detecting an atmospheric temperature of the protection circuit; and a level detection unit detecting the amplitude level of the external reference frequency signal, and threshold values as references for the switching are set according to the detected temperature, thereby coping with a change in the amplitude level due to a temperature characteristic of the diodes. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221491 | RECEIVING CIRCUIT AND SAMPLING CLOCK CONTROL METHOD - A receiving circuit includes: a clock generating circuit to generate a plurality of clock signals in a cycle; an oversampling circuit to oversample input data based on the plurality of clock signals and output a plurality of samples of digital data in a unit interval; a data boundary determining circuit to detect a changing point of the digital data, determine data boundaries of the unit interval based on the changing point, and output digital data corresponding to a central data between the data boundaries; and a clock phase control circuit to control a phase of at least one of the plurality of clock signals so that a first number of the plurality of samples becomes a certain value when a second number of samples between the data boundaries is larger than a threshold value. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221492 | DIGITALLY CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR - Embodiments of a device and circuit implementing a digitally controlled oscillator with reduced analog components. In an example, the digitally controlled oscillator can include a phase accumulator controlled by a stall circuit to selective stall the phase accumulator. In some examples, the digitally controlled oscillator can include a phase select circuit to select multiple phases of a phase select circuit based on the output of the phase accumulator. In some examples, these selected phases can then be used by a phase interpolator to generate a synthetic clock signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221493 | Constant Phase Angle Control for Frequency Agile Power Switching Systems - Power switching systems often benefit from controlling the instant at which the power devices change state so as to minimize dissipation in these devices. Such systems often require fairly tight tolerances on reactive components and a relatively narrow frequency operating range to be certain these switching times occur as intended. This invention defines a system that can adapt the required switching instant over very wide changes in the reactive components. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221494 | PHASE-LOCKED LOOP START UP CIRCUIT - A phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) having a VCO input for receiving a control voltage and a VCO output, a feedback loop between the VCO input and the VCO output, and a start-up circuit having a start-up circuit input and a start-up circuit output. The start-up circuit output is coupled to the VCO input and the start-up circuit input is coupled to the VCO output. The start-up circuit provides a voltage at its start-up circuit output during a start-up phase, which terminates after a predetermined number of feedback pulses are detected by the start-up circuit. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221495 | DIGITAL DLL INCLUDING SKEWED GATE TYPE DUTY CORRECTION CIRCUIT AND DUTY CORRECTION METHOD THEREOF - Provided are a delay locked loop (DLL) that may can be included in a data processing device and may include a duty correction circuit, and a duty correction method of such a DLL. The duty correction method includes aligning a second transition of an output clock at a first transition of a clock for duty correction, sampling the clock for duty correction at the first transition of the output clock to detect an error of a duty cycle, and performing duty correction using a skewed gate chain according to the detected error of a duty cycle. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221496 | DLL CIRCUIT - A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit includes a clock input buffer that generates a reference clock signal by buffering an external clock signal and outputs the reference clock signal by correcting a duty cycle of the reference clock signal in response to a duty cycle control signal. The DLL circuit also includes a timing compensation unit configured that generates a compensation reference clock signal by compensating for a toggle timing of the reference clock signal that is changed during the duty cycle correction operation in response to a timing control signal. The DLL circuit further includes and a duty cycle control unit that generates the duty cycle control signal and the timing control signal by detecting the duty cycle of the reference clock signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221497 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MINIMIZING SKEW BETWEEN SIGNALS - Delay associated with each of two signals along respective transmission paths is accurately measured using a delay measurement circuit that is fabricated in situ on the actual device where the circuitry for propagating the two signals is fabricated. Thus, the measured delay associated with each of the two signals is subject to the same fabrication-dependent attributes that affect the actual circuitry through which the two signals will be propagated during operation of the device. The skew between the two signals is quantified as the difference in the measured delays. Coarse and fine delay modules are defined within the transmission path of each of the two signals. Based on the measured skew between the two signals, the coarse and fine delay modules are appropriately set to compensate for the skew. The appropriately settings for the coarse and fine delay modules can be stored in non-volatile memory elements. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221498 | SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING OPERATION OF A CIRCUIT WITH A CONTROL SIGNAL, AND CORRESPONDING INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A system for synchronizing the operation of a circuit with a control signal includes synchronization flip-flops operating in cascade for receiving a control signal to be synchronized and providing a corresponding control signal synchronized with a clock signal, and a circuit including a finite state machine for receiving the clock signal having state flip-flops for storing the current state of the finite state machine, wherein a last synchronization flip-flop includes one of the state flip-flops. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221499 | COUNTER CIRCUIT AND PROTECTION CIRCUIT - A counter circuit is provided that can switch delay times by use of a simple circuit configuration. A counter circuit includes plural stages of flip flops connected in cascade, in which a flip flop in a first stage receives a clock from an oscillator as an input signal, and a flip flop in a given stage after the first stage receives a Q output of a preceding stage as an input signal, wherein all or part of the plural stages of flip flops receive a mode signal, and wherein each of the plural stages of flip flops divides by 2 a frequency of the received input signal for output as a Q output when the mode signal indicates a normal delay mode, and each stage of the flip flops that receives the mode signal allows through passage of the received input signal for output as a Q output when the mode signal indicates a delay shortened mode. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221500 | DELAY-LOCK LOOP AND METHOD ADAPTING ITSELF TO OPERATE OVER A WIDE FREQUENCY RANGE - A delay-lock loop receives an input clock signal from the output of a programmable divider that receives a reference clock signal. The delay-lock loop includes a voltage-controlled delay line generating a plurality of delayed clock signals having different phases. A plurality of the delayed clock signals are combined to generate a plurality of output signals. During an initialization period, an initialization circuit sets the delay of the delay line to a minimum delay value and then compares this delay value to the period of the input clock signal. Based on this comparison, the initialization circuit programs the programmable divider and adjusts the number of delayed clock signals combined to generate the output signals. More specifically, as the frequency of the reference clock signal increases, the divider is programmed to divide by a greater number, and a larger number of delay clock signals are combined to generate the output signals. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221501 | TRIMMING CIRCUIT - A trimming circuit is provided. The trimming circuit had at least a trimming cell, and each of the at least trimming cell includes three current paths and a fuse. A first one of the current paths is interrupted when a second one of the current paths is uninterrupted, and the first one of the current paths is uninterrupted when the second one of the current paths is interrupted. When a trimming control signal is at an enable state, a third one of the current paths is uninterrupted, such that the fuse is blown. Based on the status of the fuse, the trimming circuit is capable of trimming an output voltage or an output current of an electric apparatus. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221502 | TESTABLE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT AND TEST METHOD THEREFOR - Disclosed is an integrated circuit ( | 2011-09-15 |
20110221503 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT INCLUDING CONSTANT ADJUSTING CIRCUIT - A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an integrating circuit comprising a variable resistance, an integration capacitance and an amplifier; a switched capacitor connected with the amplifier in parallel to the variable resistance; and an adjusting circuit configured to adjust a resistance value of the variable resistance. The integrating circuit generates a control signal of a voltage based on a first time constant determined based on the resistance value of the variable resistance and a capacitance value of the integration capacitance, and a second time constant determined based on a capacitance value of the switched capacitor and the capacitance value of the integration capacitance. The adjusting circuit adjusts the resistance value of the variable resistance based on the control signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221504 | CONFIGURABLE SWITCHED CAPACITOR BLOCK - A configurable switched capacitor block includes a switched-capacitor (SC) sampling circuit, a fully differential amplifier, an SC feedback circuit, and a comparator. The SC sampling circuit is coupled to receive an input signal and to selectively generate a sampled signal to a differential input of the amplifier. The SC feedback circuit is coupled between the differential inputs and the differential outputs of the amplifier to selectively control a feedback of the amplifier. The comparator is coupled to the differential outputs of the amplifier to generate an output signal. The configurable switched capacitor block has multiple modes of operation which are selectable by programming the SC sampling circuit and the SC feedback circuit. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221505 | Distributed, diode mixer circuit - A distributed, diode mixer circuit includes a plurality of passive diode mixer cores including at least first and second passive diode mixer cores including doubly-balanced diodes in symmetrical balanced configuration forms, each mixer core having a pair of differential reference nodes driven by the reference signal and a pair of differential nodes driven by the data signal and a reactive impedance network including one or multiple reactive elements or transmission lines connected between the like nodes of each the first and second mixer cores. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221506 | Phase-combining circuit and timing signal generator circuit for carrying out a high-speed signal transmission - A phase-combining circuit for combining cyclic timing waveforms that have been phase-controlled by control signals based on three or more input signals of different phases, has a weight signal generating circuit and a weighting circuit. The weight signal generating circuit generates weights according to the control signals, and the weighting circuit gives the weights to the respective input signals, with a positive or negative polarity for each one signal. | 2011-09-15 |
20110221507 | SAMPLING MIXER, FILTER DEVICE, AND RADIO DEVICE - A sampling mixer includes TAs (transconductance amplifiers), an in-phase mixer section connected to the TA and the TA, an opposite-phase mixer section connected in parallel with the in-phase mixer section, and a signal generator for generating a control signal for the in-phase mixer section and the opposite-phase mixer section respectively. The IIR filter using signals that underwent a current conversion by using the different transconductances is constructed, so that the filter characteristic can be designed by a weighting of the transconductance in addition to a capacitance ratio. As a result, the wide-band filter characteristic and the band-pass filter characteristic can be obtained, and deterioration of the receiving sensitivity can be suppressed by designing the filter characteristic suitable for the radio communication system. | 2011-09-15 |