Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090050814 | Passive Solid State Ionizing Radiation Sensor - A radiation sensor and a method for making the radiation sensor are described. An ionizing radiation sensitive area is formed in a radiation insensitive or hardened die. When the sensitive area is impacted by ionizing radiation, properties of the sensitive area change. For example, the changed property may be charge density, threshold voltage, leakage current, and/or resistance. Circuitry for measuring these property changes is located in a radiation hardened area of the die. As a result, a radiation sensor may be fabricated on a single die. | 02-26-2009 |
20100253403 | Radiation-Hardened Charge Pump Topology - A radiation-hardened charge pump circuit is provided. The circuit includes a first charge pump having a first charge pump output, a second charge pump having a second charge pump output, a first coincidence detector receiving as inputs the first charge pump output and the second charge pump output and producing as an output a first coincidence signal, and an analog 2:1 multiplexor for selecting either the first charge pump output or the second charge pump output based on the first coincidence signal. In alternative embodiment, the circuit includes at least three charge pumps, at least two coincidence detectors, decision logic, and a correspondingly-sized analog multiplexor. | 10-07-2010 |
20100308878 | AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF CLOCK DUTY CYCLE - In general, this disclosure is directed to a duty cycle correction (DCC) circuit that adjusts a falling edge of a clock signal to achieve a desired duty cycle. In some examples, the DCC circuit may generate a pulse in response to a falling edge of an input clock signal, delay the pulse based on a control voltage, adjust the falling edge of the input clock signal based on the delayed pulse to produce an output clock signal, and adjust the control voltage based on the difference between a duty cycle of the output clock signal and a desired duty cycle. Since the DCC circuit adjusts the falling edge of the clock cycle to achieve a desired duty cycle, the DCC may be incorporated into existing PLL control loops that adjust the rising edge of a clock signal without interfering with the operation of such PLL control loops. | 12-09-2010 |
20110045652 | TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE SUBSTRATE CROSS TALK ON MIXED SIGNAL AND RF CIRCUIT DESIGN - An integrated circuit has a buried insulation layer formed over a semiconductor substrate, and a semiconductor mesa formed over the buried insulation layer. A low resistivity guard ring substantially surrounds the semiconductor mesa and is in contact with the semiconductor substrate. The low resistivity guard ring is grounded and isolates the semiconductor mesa from RF signals. | 02-24-2011 |
20110109354 | AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF CLOCK DUTY CYCLE - In general, this disclosure is directed to a duty cycle correction (DCC) circuit that adjusts a falling edge of a clock signal to achieve a desired duty cycle. In some examples, the DCC circuit may generate a pulse in response to a falling edge of an input clock signal, delay the pulse based on a control voltage, adjust the falling edge of the input clock signal based on the delayed pulse to produce an output clock signal, and adjust the control voltage based on the difference between a duty cycle of the output clock signal and a desired duty cycle. Since the DCC circuit adjusts the falling edge of the clock cycle to achieve a desired duty cycle, the DCC may be incorporated into existing PLL control loops that adjust the rising edge of a clock signal without interfering with the operation of such PLL control loops. | 05-12-2011 |
20130027137 | RADIATION HARDENED DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIER - This disclosure is directed to techniques for preventing or reducing perturbations of an output signal of a differential amplifier caused by ionizing radiation incident upon the amplifier. The amplifier may include an amplification module that includes a plurality of amplification units configured to amplify a difference between a first component and a second component of a differential voltage signal to generate a plurality of amplified difference signals each corresponding to the amplified difference. The amplifier may further include a combination module that combines the plurality of amplified difference signals to generate a common output signal corresponding to the amplified difference. | 01-31-2013 |
20140132306 | CMOS LOGIC CIRCUIT USING PASSIVE INTERNAL BODY TIE BIAS - This disclosure is directed to devices, integrated circuits, systems, and methods for implementing an internal body tie bias circuit in a CMOS logic circuit. In one example, a CMOS logic circuit is formed in an integrated circuit. The CMOS logic circuit includes a PMOS transistor, an NMOS transistor; and a body tie bias circuit formed in the integrated circuit. The body tie bias circuit is coupled between a body tie connection terminal of the PMOS transistor and a body tie connection terminal of the NMOS transistor. | 05-15-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080264075 | Heat pump system with extended run time boost compressor - A heat pump system is disclosed that utilizes a primary compressor, a booster compressor, and a controlled heat exchanger heat exchanger fluidly connected between the boost compressor output and the primary compressor input. The controlled heat exchanger functions to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant entering the primary compressor, thereby allowing the booster compressor to operate for longer periods without overheating the primary compressor. Increasing compressor run times improves both the heat pump efficiency and extends the compressor lifespan. The heat energy may be diverted away from the primary compressor to a hydronics system for heating an indoor space. Additionally, heat energy may be withdrawn from the hydronics system to defrost the outdoor coil of the heat pump system. The periods of compressor inactivity may also be extended by withdrawing heat energy stored in a hydronics tank. | 10-30-2008 |
20080276638 | Heat pump with forced air heating regulated by withdrawal of heat to a radiant heating system - A heat pump system is disclosed that utilizes a variable speed hydronics pump to selectively divert heat energy from a forced air heating system to a hydronics radiant heating system. By actively controlling the speed of the withdrawal of heat, the temperature of the forced air output may be maintained while maximizing the amount of heat delivered by the efficient hydronics system. The heat pump system also actively controls the blower of the forced air system. To reduce the frequency of the compressors cycling on and off, a tank may be used to store and dispense heat if the hydronics system is not of sufficient size. | 11-13-2008 |
20100170658 | Dual-Pressure Dual-Compartment Fluid Tank - An improved dual-pressure dual-compartment tank for transferring heat energy between two solutions while physically isolating the solutions from each other is disclosed. The tank has one fluid compartment positioned within a second fluid compartment such that the transfer of heat energy between the compartments is facilitated. One of the compartments is structured to maintain a substantially higher pressure than the other compartment so that if a physical divider between the compartments were to fail, the lower pressure fluid would not contaminate the higher pressure fluid. Additionally, the divider may take a variety of shapes to improve fluid mixing by accelerating or decelerating the fluid, and/or to provide an amount of surface area between compartments that is inversely proportional to the local temperature gradient between the compartments. These designs may include shapes such as a cone, a corrugated cylinder, a corrugated cone, or a cone with an outer spiral for improving mixing, thermal transfer, or to simplify construction of the dual-compartment tank. | 07-08-2010 |