Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090033374 | Clock generator - A frequency divider, comprising an input for receiving an input clock signal having a first frequency; a divider, for generating an output signal having an instantaneous frequency equal to the first frequency divided by an instantaneous division ratio; and a sequence generator, for generating a sequence of instantaneous division ratios by adding a sequence of instantaneous dither values to an integer value. The instantaneous division ratios in the sequence have a mean value that is equal to an integer desired ratio, but none of the instantaneous division ratios in the sequence is equal to the integer desired ratio. | 02-05-2009 |
20100164068 | SEMICONDUCTOR STRUCTURES FOR BIASING DEVICES - Semiconductor structures with high impedances for use in biasing for applying voltage bias to part of a device. The semiconductor structure comprises a continuous structure having a plurality of regions of a first semiconductor type (n type or p type) material arranged alternately with at least one region of the opposite type. The structure may be formed from polysilicon and may also include a plurality of intrinsic regions arranged between the n and p type regions. The structure forms a composite diode and provides a high impedance. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166227 | CIRCUITS FOR BIASING/CHARGING HIGH IMPEDANCE LOADS - A charging circuit for charging/biasing high impedance loads such as capacitive loads. The circuit comprises an input for connecting to a voltage/charge source and an output for connecting to the load. A capacitor is connected between the output and a reference voltage such as ground and a reverse bias diode is connected between the input and the output terminals. The reverse bias diode is arranged to allow a reverse current to pass which is sufficient to compensate for current leakage at the output terminal or other parts of the circuit. The reverse bias diode is conveniently a polysilicon diode. The diode may be connected in parallel with a shunt device to allow for rapid charging during start up. | 07-01-2010 |
20100166229 | CHARGE PUMP CIRCUITS - Charge pump circuits having circuit components such as transistors which may be damaged by voltage transients greater than the normal operating voltage levels of the charge pump circuit, such as may be experienced during powering down. The circuit components to be protected are connected in parallel with a leakage element arranged to have a leakage current that is small enough during normal operation to allow the charge pump to operate effectively but which is large enough, during development of a voltage transient, to prevent excess voltage levels being achieved. The leakage element may have a significant leakage current at a voltage less than the breakdown voltage of the circuit component. Suitable leakage elements are poly diodes. | 07-01-2010 |
20100167430 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TESTING A TRANSDUCER AND/OR ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY ASSOCIATED WITH A TRANSDUCER - A method and apparatus for applying a test signal to a node of a signal path of an integrated circuit using a parasitic capacitance of the integrated circuit associated with the node. For example, a parasitic capacitance associated with a bond pad may be used to apply a test signal to a signal path. Alternatively, a parasitic capacitance associated with a shielding element may be used to apply a test signal to the signal path. | 07-01-2010 |
20100219839 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TESTING A CAPACITIVE TRANSDUCER AND/OR ASSOCIATED ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY - A method of testing a capacitive transducer circuit, for example a MEMS capacitive transducer, by applying a test signal via one or more capacitors provided in the transducer circuit. | 09-02-2010 |
20120163632 | CHARGE PUMP CIRCUIT - A bipolar output charge pump circuit | 06-28-2012 |
20120170770 | CHARGE PUMP CIRCUIT - A bipolar output charge pump circuit having a network of switching paths | 07-05-2012 |
20130197920 | DATA TRANSFER - Circuitry for transferring multiple digital data streams, e.g. digital audio data, over a single communications link such as a single wire. A pulse-length-modulator is responsive to a plurality of data streams to generate a series of data pulses with a single data pulse having a rising and falling edge in each of a plurality of transfer periods defined by a first clock signal. The timing of the rising and falling edge of each data pulse is dependent on a combination of the then current data samples from the plurality of data streams. The duration and position of the data pulse in the transfer window in effect defines a data symbol encoding the data. An interface receives the stream of data pulses, and data extraction circuitry samples the data pulse to determine which of the possible data symbols the pulse represents and determines a data value for at least one received data stream. | 08-01-2013 |
20130321190 | ANALOGUE-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER - An apparatus and method for regulating analogue-to-digital converters. First and second input signals are received at controlled oscillator circuitry which generates respective first and second pulse streams with pulse rates based on the relevant input signal. Difference circuitry determines the difference in number of pulses of the first and second pulse streams and outputs a first digital signal. Circuitry also determines a signal independent value based on the number of pulses of the first and/or second pulse streams. In one embodiment this value is the sum or average of the number of pulses of the first and second pulse streams. This value can be used to calibrate for any variation in transfer characteristic of the oscillator circuitry. In one embodiment this value is compared to a reference value and a regulation signal passed to control circuitry to regulate the operation of the oscillation circuitry. | 12-05-2013 |