15th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 16 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120086399 | BATTERY PACK, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM INCLUDING THE BATTERY PACK - A battery pack, a method of controlling the same, and an energy storage system including the battery pack are disclosed. According to some aspects, the method may include calculating charge capacities of the battery cells, obtaining a first average value, which is an average value of the calculated charge capacities, establishing a first standard value for selecting an abnormal battery cell based on the first average value and determining a first battery cell having the lowest charge capacity from among battery cells having charge capacities greater than the first standard value. A second standard value for selecting a battery cell that is to be discharged during a cell balancing operation may be established. A cell balancing operation with respect to battery cells having charge capacities greater than the second standard value may then be performed. Accordingly, a cell balancing operation may be effectively performed in order to efficiently manage a battery pack. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086400 | Module Bypass Switch for Balancing Battery Pack System Modules - A battery pack system module may include a module bypass switch for allowing charge current to bypass the battery pack system module. A charge switch and a discharge switch may be coupled with the module bypass switch. When other battery pack system modules are coupled in series with the module, balancing between modules may be achieved by allowing charge current to bypass the unbalanced modules and charge other modules. For example, when an unbalanced module is at a higher level of charge than other modules, a charge switch and a discharge switch in the unbalanced module de-activate and a module bypass switch activates to allow charge current to rapidly bring other modules into balance. The discharge switch and the charge switch allow the charging current to bypass the unbalanced module creating little or no additional heat dissipation. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086401 | CELL BALANCING CIRCUIT FOR USE IN A MULTI-CELL BATTERY SYSTEM - An apparatus for balancing a multi-cell battery pack has a plurality of switchable loads. Each of the plurality of switchable loads are associated with one of a plurality of cells of a multi-cell battery. The plurality of switchable loads discharge an associated cell in a first mode and diverts part of a charging current away from the associated cell in a second mode responsive to a drive signal. A plurality of current mode driver circuits applies the drive signal to each of the plurality of switched loads. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086402 | FAULT-TOLERANT POWER SUPPLY - In some embodiments, a power supply system includes two power modules each configured to be electrically coupled to a set of battery cells. The set of battery cells produces a first voltage when in a first operational state, and a second voltage when in a second operational state. The second voltage is less than the first voltage. The first power module is configured to provide a third voltage to a load device that is substantially equal to the first voltage, when the set of battery cells is in the first operational state. The second power module is configured to provide a fourth voltage to the load device that is substantially equal to the first voltage, when the set of battery cells is in the second operational state. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086403 | END-OF-DISCHARGE VOLTAGE CORRECTION DEVICE AND END-OF-DISCHARGE VOLTAGE CORRECTION METHOD - An end-of-discharge voltage correction section subtracts, from an end-of-discharge open voltage, the product I×RO of a discharge current I of a block and an ohmic resistance RO of the block and the product ITD×RP of a discharge current ITD obtained by performing a time delay process on the discharge current and a polarization resistance RP of the block. Then, a resulting value is set as an end-of-discharge voltage VL. The ohmic resistance RO is increased as an equivalent cycle count CY increases, and is increased as a healthy parallel number NPH decreases. An increment ΔCY of the equivalent cycle count CY in each charge/discharge cycle becomes greater as a discharge depth DD increases. The healthy parallel number NPH is derived by multiplying a healthy parallel number NPHR of a reference block by the ratio of a capacity CPR of the reference block to a capacity CPS of a target block. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086404 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING HIGH CURRENT AND POWER STORAGE APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A high current control apparatus is disclosed. The high current control apparatus receives a switching control signal from a battery management system, and controls a main switch of a battery with a second control signal according to the switching control signal. The second control signal is generated with a switching unit which is electromagnetically coupled to a switch control unit which receives the switching control signal from the battery management system. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086405 | BATTERY STATE-OF-CHARGE CALCULATION DEVICE - The battery state-of-charge calculation device ( | 2012-04-12 |
20120086406 | CHARGE CONTROL CIRCUIT, BATTERY PACK, AND CHARGING SYSTEM - A charge control circuit includes: a charge controller for controlling an operation of a charger that charges a secondary battery; a voltage detector for detecting a terminal voltage of the secondary battery; and a current detector for detecting a current flowing to the secondary battery, wherein the charge controller repeats a plurality of times constant current constant voltage charge in which the charge controller supplies a charging current of a predetermined set current value from the charger to the secondary battery to cause the charger to execute constant current charge, and, when the terminal voltage detected by the voltage detector becomes equal to a predetermined threshold voltage value during the execution of the constant current charge, causes the charger to execute constant voltage charge by supplying a charging voltage of the threshold voltage value from the charger to the secondary battery until a current value detected by the current detector becomes equal to a predetermined threshold current value, and increases the threshold voltage value and reduces the set current value and the threshold current value each time the constant current constant voltage charge is repeated. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086407 | BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A battery charging circuit comprises: a first voltage regulator, wherein the first voltage regulator has a control input designed for reception of a signal generated by a current metering circuit; the current metering circuit; and a terminal for connecting a battery. An electronic device, in particular a mobile device, comprises a battery charging circuit as defined above. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086408 | POWER DISTRIBUTOR AND SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE HAVING THE SAME - A power distributor includes a large reservoir capacitor, a switch coupled between at least one power supply line and the large reservoir capacitor, and a controller configured to turn on or off the switch based on whether a circuit block connected to the power supply line is in operation or not. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086409 | TECHNIQUE FOR FULLY DISCHARGING A STORAGE CAPACITOR IN A FIRING CIRCUIT FOR AN ELECTRO-EXPLOSIVE DEVICE - A firing circuit configured for complete discharge of a storage capacitor is provided with a storage capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a transistor switch having a gate to which the inductor and the diode are connected in series, the inductor and the capacitor being configured for inductor capacitor ringing, the inductive capacitive ringing creating upon initiation of the circuit a gate voltage at the gate above an initial capacitor voltage of the storage capacitor; and the diode blocking the discharge of the gate voltage ensuring that the capacitor can be fully discharged. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086410 | CAPACITOR CHARGER SYSTEM AND DIGITAL CONTROL MODULE AND ISOLATED ACQUISITION MODULE FOR SUCH A CAPACITOR CHARGER SYSTEM - The invention relates to a capacitor charger system ( | 2012-04-12 |
20120086411 | Switching Power Supply Circuit with Reduced Total Harmonic Distortion - A switching power supply circuit has a control circuit for current-mode on-off control of a primary switch connected to an inductor in a voltage boost topology for operation in boundary-conduction mode. The time at which the primary switch is opened is determined by magnitude of current flowing through the primary switch together with the instantaneous voltage present on an AC input to the power supply circuit. The time at which the primary switch is closed is determined by demagnetization of the inductor. An improvement to the foregoing switching power supply circuit comprises a maximum-on-time enforcement circuit to limit the maximum possible primary switch on-time to a predetermined maximum period of time. The enforcement circuit provides a signal to the control circuit to cause termination of the primary switch on-state if and only if the primary switch has been turned on for more than the predetermined maximum period of time. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086412 | Arrangement For Exchanging Power - Power exchanging arrangement, in shunt connection, with a three-phase electric power network including on one hand for each said phase a reactive impedance element and a Voltage Source Converter connected in series with said element, and on the other hand a control unit configured to control semiconductor devices of turn-off type of said converter for generating a voltage with a fundamental frequency being equal to the fundamental frequency of the voltage of the respective said phase and by that control a flow of reactive power between said arrangement and the respective phase of said electric power network. Each Voltage Source Converter includes a series connection of switching cells in the form of so-called H-bridges including two switching elements connected in parallel and each having at least two semiconductor assemblies connected in series. Each switching cell further comprises at least one energy storing capacitor connected in parallel with said switching elements. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086413 | REACTIVE CURRENT TRANSFORMER - An apparatus and method for utilizing reactive power in electric power generating facilities. The primary energy source is a reactive power provided by a source of high-frequency, high-voltage electromagnetic oscillations. As a device, the Reactive Current Transformer consists of a high-voltage, high-frequency electromagnetic generator, preferably Tesla Resonant Transformer and of inductive receiving coils, electromagnetically coupled in the absence of a ferromagnetic core, adjusted in resonance with this electromagnetic generator and mounted in any required quantity, close to it. Energy, emitted by the electromagnetic generator, is being transferred to inductive coils. Reactive current induced in the inductive coils can be collected from them and converted to a standard AC voltage for further use by any convenient way, preferably with a help of additional inductive transforming windings, mounted together and electromagnetically coupled with these inductive coils. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086414 | TV Set Top Box with an Improved Ability to Survive a Transient Signal - A set top box used in a satellite TV system includes a diode coupled in a particular way to better protect an adjustable linear regulator used in the set top box from transient voltages as may result from lighting or the like. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086415 | IGBT/FET-Based Energy Savings Device for Reducing a Predetermined Amount of Voltage Using Pulse Width Modulation - An IGBT/FET-based energy savings device, system and method ( | 2012-04-12 |
20120086416 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - Miniaturization of a multiphase type power supply device can be achieved. A power supply control unit in which, for example, a microcontroller unit, a memory unit and an analog controller unit are formed over a single chip, a plurality of PWM-equipped drive units, and a plurality of inductors configure a multiphase power supply. The microcontroller unit outputs clock signals each having a frequency and a phase defined based on a program on the memory unit to the respective PWM-equipped drive units. The analog controller unit detects a difference between a voltage value of a load and a target voltage value acquired via a serial interface and outputs an error amp signal therefrom. Each of the PWM-equipped drive units drives each inductor by a peak current control system using the clock signal and the error amp signal. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086417 | CONVERTER CONTROLLING APPARATUS - A load variation detecting section 10a determines whether or not the actual load variation falls below a load variation threshold stored in a memory. If a load variation detecting section determines that a specific time period (for example, one minute) has elapsed since the actual load variation fell below a load variation threshold, a power supply section applies same power to reactors for the respective phases. On the other hand, a heat dissipation property calculating section measures temperature-rise rates of the elements for the respective phases, ranks the rates in order from the one having a higher heat dissipation property, and notifies the priority drive phase determining section of the result. A priority drive phase determining section chooses a phase having the highest heat dissipation property as a priority drive phase. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086418 | Multi-phase switching regulator and driver circuit and control method thereof - The present invention discloses a multi-phase switching regulator, and a driver circuit and a control method thereof. The multi-phase switching regulator includes: at least two power stages each having at least one switching power transistor which switches to convert a common input voltage to a common output voltage according to PWM signals generated by corresponding PWM controllers, respectively; a feedback circuit, generating a feedback signal according to the output voltage; a current balance circuit, generating a current balance signal according to the currents of the power stages and a phase off signal to distribute current loading among the active power stages; and a soft shutdown control circuit, generating a soft shutdown control signal according to the phase off signal to gradually change the duty of a PWM signal corresponding to a power stage, so as to softly shut down the power stage to avoid a voltage undershoot. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086419 | Power Supply Device, A Processing Chip for a Digital Microphone and related Digital Microphone - A power supply device, a processing chip for a digital microphone and related digital microphone are described herein. In one aspect, a power supply device includes: at least two cascaded low-dropout linear regulators. In another aspect, a processing chip for digital microphone includes a processing module and a power supply module, wherein the power supply modules includes at least two cascaded low dropout linear regulators. In another aspect, a digital microphone includes a microphone and a processing chip, wherein the processing chip includes a processing module and a power supply module, wherein the power module includes at least two cascaded low-dropout linear regulators. Embodiments described herein provide a power supply device with higher PSRR. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086420 | Capless Regulator Overshoot and Undershoot Regulation Circuit - Systems and methods for reducing voltage undershoot and overshoot of a voltage regulator are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, an undershoot/overshoot regulation circuit comprises a control node having a control voltage. The regulation circuit also comprises a control circuit configured to increase the control voltage in response to a load being applied to an output node of a voltage regulator and decrease the control voltage in response to the load being removed from the output node. The regulation circuit also comprises a control capacitor including a first terminal coupled to the control node and a second terminal coupled to a gate node of the voltage regulator. The control capacitor is configured to increase a gate voltage at the gate node in response to the increase of the control voltage, and decrease the gate voltage in response to the decrease of the control voltage. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086421 | SINGLE-STAGE POWER SUPPLY WITH POWER FACTOR CORRECTION AND CONSTANT CURRENT OUTPUT - An example controller includes a delayed ramp generator, an integrator, an arithmetic operator, and a drive signal generator. The integrator integrates an input current sense signal representative of an input current of the power supply to generate an input charge signal. The input current has a pulsating waveform with a period that is a switching period of a switch of the power supply. The arithmetic operator circuit generates an input charge control signal responsive to the input charge signal and a ratio of a rectified input voltage to a dc output voltage of the power supply. The drive signal generator produces a drive signal responsive to the input charge control signal and a delayed ramp signal generated by the drive signal generator to control the switch. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086422 | DCDC CONVERTER, SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, AND POWER GENERATION DEVICE - A DCDC converter includes a control circuit, a transistor in which switching is controlled by being supplied voltage output from the control circuit to a gate electrode of the transistor, a voltage conversion portion in which supply of input voltage is controlled by the switching of the transistor and output power commensurate with duty ratio of the switching of the transistor, and a detection circuit detecting the output power. Further, the control circuit includes a control signal generation circuit generating a control signal with a pulse voltage waveform and a selection circuit applying voltage of the control signal to the gate electrode in the case where current detected by the detection circuit is the same as or exceeds the threshold value and applying voltage for turning on the transistor to the gate electrode in the case where the current detected by the detection circuit falls below the threshold value. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086423 | SWITCHED MODE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A voltage regulator includes a transistor, a comparator, and a compensation circuit. The comparator has a first input terminal coupled to receive a clock signal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to a control electrode of the transistor. The compensation circuit has a first input terminal coupled to receive a reference voltage, a second input terminal coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator, and an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the comparator. The compensation circuit has a filter circuit. The filter circuit has a first RC time constant during startup of the voltage regulator, and the filter circuit has a second RC time constant during normal operation. Changing the RC time constant for startup prevents an overshoot of an output voltage of the voltage regulator. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086424 | POWER SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE CURRENT DETECTOR CIRCUIT AND DETECTION METHOD - A small power semiconductor device current detector circuit and detection method with low loss by detecting current using the sensing function of a power semiconductor device is disclosed. An already known current is caused to flow through a main region of the power semiconductor device. The current is detected by a current detector unit connected to a sense terminal of the power semiconductor device. A deviation in characteristics between the main region and a sensing region is detected by a variable voltage source circuit based on the detected current. An offset amount and gain amount in an output regulator are regulated in such a way that the characteristics of the two coincide. The offset amount and gain amount to be regulated may be supplied to the output regulator, serially or in parallel, from a CPU provided externally. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086425 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RESISTIVE VOLTAGE SENSING IN AN ISOLATED POWER DISTRIBUTION UNIT - Methods and apparatus provide for a primary side circuit including one or more voltage nodes; and a monitoring circuit operating to monitor one or more parameters of the primary side circuit, and including at least one sensing circuit and at least one processing circuit within a secondary side circuit, where the sensing circuit includes a resistor network having an input for receiving a first sensed voltage from a first of the voltage nodes of the primary side circuit, traversing an isolation boundary between the primary side circuit and the secondary side circuit while adhering to a safety specification, which includes a primary-secondary isolation requirement, and having an output for providing a first modified sensed voltage to the processing circuit. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086426 | SINGLE-INDUCTOR MULTIPLE-OUTPUT POWER SUPPLY WITH DEFAULT PATH - The disclosed embodiments relate to a power supply for a portable electronic device. This power supply includes a power source, an inductor, a control circuit, and an input switch that couples the input terminal of the inductor to either the power source or a reference voltage. The power supply also includes a first output path that produces a first output voltage and a second output path that produces a second output voltage. The first output path includes a first diode coupled between the output terminal of the inductor and the first output voltage, and a first output capacitor coupled between the first output voltage and the reference voltage. The second output path includes a second diode and an output switch coupled between the output terminal and the second output voltage, and a second output capacitor coupled between the second output voltage and the reference voltage. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086427 | ALTERNATING CURRENT/DIRECT CURRENT TWO-WAY SWITCH - There is provided an AC/DC two-way switch connected between an AC power source or a DC power source and a load to control a power supply to the load. The AC/DC two-way switch includes: a bi-directional semiconductor switch element having a transistor structure connected in series between a power source and the load; a rectifying unit connected in parallel between the first input terminal and a second input terminal; a power source unit for converting an output voltage from the rectifying unit into a stable voltage; and a controller for controlling an entire operation of the AC/DC two-way switch. The AC/DC two-way switch further includes a driving unit for turning on the bi-directional semiconductor switch element in response to a control signal. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086428 | Identifying a Cable Path Using Light Emitting Diodes - In one embodiment, a system for identifying a cable path may be provided. The system may include a cable set operable to transmit data, the cable set comprising power delivery wires designed to transmit electrical power. The cable set may also comprise two adapters proximate respective ends of the cable set, the first adapter operable to be coupled to a signal generator operable to transmit electrical power across the power delivery wires. In some embodiments, the cable set may further comprise a circuit coupled to the power delivery wires of the cable set, the circuit operable to receive electrical power from the signal generator and allow at least a portion of the electrical power to continue across the power delivery wires. The cable set may further comprise an indicator coupled to the circuit and operable to emit light when electrical power from the circuit is received at the indicator. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086429 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING MOISTURE CONTENT - An apparatus for measuring moisture content of biomass is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a probe apparatus and a mechanism that inserts the probe apparatus into the biomass. The probe apparatus measures a capacitance of the biomass. In accordance with an embodiment, the probe apparatus is mounted on the mechanism. In an embodiment, the mechanism positions the probe apparatus over the biomass. According to an embodiment, the mechanism inserts the probe apparatus into the biomass as the biomass is being transported in a trailer. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086430 | High-accuracy low-power current sensor with large dynamic range - A current sensing approach makes use of two shunts in series, embedded in a switching fabric, each shunt the object of a differential measurement of voltage drop across the shunt. Methodical make-before-break cycling of the switches in the switching fabric permit real-time or very near-real-time measurement of nearly all of the errors such as offset errors present in each differential-measurement path. Additional differential measurement paths can be connected with the shunts, with RFI filtering at shorter time constants to serve electronic fuse needs. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086431 | VERTICAL TYPE SENSOR - The present invention provides a vertical type sensor, including a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a sensing layer formed on the first electrode layer and reactive to a target substance, wherein the first electrode layer is interposed between the substrate and the sensing layer; and a second electrode layer formed on the sensing layer and having a plurality of openings, wherein the sensing layer is interposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, and the target substance contacts the sensing layer via the plurality of openings. The vertical type sensor of the present invention provides instant, sensitive and rapid detection. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086432 | NON-DESTRUCTIVE DETERMINATION OF FUNCTIONALITY OF AN UNKNOWN SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - Processes and systems for use in reverse engineering integrated circuits determine functionality through analysis of junctions responding to external radiation. Semiconductor devices include a number of p-n junctions grouped according to interconnected functional cells. A surface of the semiconductor device is illuminated by radiation, e.g., by a laser or an electron beam, producing electron-hole pairs. Such pairs give rise to detectable currents that can be used to determine locations of irradiated junctions. By scanning a surface of the device in such a manner, a layout of at least some of the junctions can be obtained. The layout can be used to identify functional cells according to a lookup process. By selectively providing input test vectors to the device and repeating the scanning process, first level functional cells can be identified. A netlist of interconnected functional cells can thus be determined and expanded by repeating the process with different test vectors. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086433 | MEMS-BASED CURRENT SENSING APPARATUS - The invention discloses an MEMS-based current sensing apparatus including: a flexible substrate joined onto an conducting wire; a sensing unit formed of an MEMS structure and disposed on the flexible substrate, the sensing unit outputting a response to a electromagnetic field induced by a current flowing in the conducting wire; and a readout circuit disposed on the flexible substrate and coupled to the sensing unit, the readout circuit monitoring the response to the electromagnetic field and calculating the amount of the current flow. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086434 | WIDE-DYNAMIC RANGE ELECTROMETER WITH A FAST RESPONSE - A method and apparatus for measuring current includes sensing a first voltage at the output of an amplifier and computing a current based on the first voltage and the resistance of a first resistive element, which is electrically coupled between an inverting input of the amplifier and the output of the amplifier, if the first voltage is below a predetermined level. The method also includes sensing a second voltage at the output of a buffer and computing a current based on the first and second voltages and the resistances of the first resistive element and a second resistive element, which is electrically coupled between the inverting input of the amplifier and an input of the buffer and is also electrically coupled to the output of the amplifier through a at least one diode, if the voltage output from the amplifier is above the predetermined level. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086435 | MANIPULATION ASSEMBLY FOR ONLINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TEST PROBE INSTALLATION - An apparatus for online partial discharge testing includes a split-core radio-frequency current transformer sensor, an actuation subassembly, and a biasing member. The current transformer sensor has a first portion, a second portion, and a sensor hinge operably engaged between the first portion and the second portion. The actuation subassembly includes an elongate first member secured to the first portion of the current transformer sensor, a second member secured to the second portion of the current transformer sensor and configured to be movable relative to the first member, and a third member engaged with the second member and configured to translate along a length of the first member. The biasing member is configured to pivotally bias the first portion and the second portion of the current transformer sensor toward each other relative to the sensor hinge, with the biasing member secured relative to the first member. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086436 | Determining Components of an Electric Service - Components of an electric service may be identified by measuring voltage signals relating to the connection of an electrical energy meter connected to the electric service. The voltage signals that may be measured include line to neutral voltages and line to line voltages. The values of the measured voltage signals may be compared to reference information comprising tabulated values that may be tabulated as ratios of nominal service voltages associated with different service types. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086437 | ELECTRIC POWER INFORMATION DISPLAY RECEPTACLE MODULE - A detachable electric power information display receptacle module includes an outlet apparatus and an electric power information display apparatus. The outlet apparatus is detachably connected to the electric power information display apparatus and has a power output interface and a power input interface. When an electrical device is connected to the outlet apparatus, the outlet apparatus detects the power consumption of the electrical device. The electric power information display apparatus receives the power consumption from a signal transmission line and displays electric power information. When the electric power information display apparatus is combined with the outlet apparatus, the detachable electric power information display receptacle module is performed as a portable electronic meter. When the electric power information display apparatus is separated from the outlet apparatus, the electric power information display apparatus may be placed in a proper position for user to review the electric power information conveniently. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086438 | Magnetometer Calibration - A real-time calibration system and method for a mobile device having an onboard magnetometer uses an estimator to estimate magnetometer calibration parameters and a magnetic field external to the mobile device (e.g., the earth magnetic field). The calibration parameters can be used to calibrate uncalibrated magnetometer readings output from the onboard magnetometer. The external magnetic field can be modeled as a weighted combination of a past estimate of the external magnetic field and the asymptotic mean of that magnetic field, perturbed by a random noise (e.g., Gaussian random noise). The weight can be adjusted based on a measure of the statistical uncertainty of the estimated calibration parameters and the estimated external magnetic field. The asymptotic mean of the external magnetic field can be modeled as a time average of the estimated external magnetic field. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086439 | GRAPHITE-BASED SENSOR - A graphite-based sensor includes an undoped graphite structure that adsorbs foreign atoms and molecules. A magnetization detection device includes a substrate on which the graphite structure is adhered, a current source by which a current is applied to the substrate and the graphite structure, and a voltage measuring device coupled to the substrate. When the graphite structure adsorbs the gas molecules, the graphite structure exhibits a ferromagnetic-type behavior, and a corresponding voltage generated in the magnetic detection device changes. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086440 | ROTATION DETECTING DEVICE AND BEARING EQUIPPED WITH ROTATION DETECTING DEVICE - A rotation detecting device, which is compatible regardless of whether a process control device for processing an output signal of the rotation detecting device is standard one or new one having high input signal resolving power, and, also, a rotation detecting device equipped bearing assembly having such rotation detecting device, are provided. The rotation detecting device includes an encoder provided rotatably and having a plurality of circumferentially equidistantly arranged to-be-detected poles, and a sensor for detecting the to-be-detected poles. The use is made of a multiplying unit for multiplying the phase of the to-be-detected poles from an output of the sensor. The use is also made of a pulse outputting unit for receiving an output of the multiplying unit or both the output of the multiplying unit and an output of the sensor and output pulses having two multiplying powers different from each other. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086441 | BENCH AND A METHOD FOR MAGNETOSCOPICALLY TESTING A TURBINE ENGINE SHAFT - A bench for magnetoscopically testing a tubular part, the bench including a tool of elongate shape for inserting inside the part and carrying an endoscopic mechanism for ultraviolet illumination of the inside surface of the part and for observing any defects of the part, and an indexing mechanism co-operating by mutual engagement with external references of the tool that are regularly distributed over at least a fraction of its length to control accurately the advance and the position of the tool inside the part. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086442 | Magnetic Field Sensor and Method Used in a Magnetic Field Sensor that Adjusts a Sensitivity and/or an Offset Over Temperature - A magnetic field sensor and a method associated with the magnetic field sensor provide gain correction coefficients and/or offset correction coefficients stored in the magnetic field sensor in digital form. The gain correction coefficients and/or offset correction coefficients can be used to generate analog control signals to control a sensitivity and/or an offset of an analog signal path through the magnetic field sensor. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086443 | Generator Operation Monitoring - A fiber optic strain and temperature sensor is disclosed. The fiber can directly measure strain and temperature or the fiber can be coated with a magnetostrictive coating to measure magnetic flux, or coated with a hydroscopic coating to measure humidity or moisture content. The optical fiber sensors can be embedded in different locations in a generator to provide real time measurement of operating conditions. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086444 | Apparatus and Method for Reducing a Transient Signal in a Magnetic Field Sensor - A magnetic field sensor includes a compensation loop coupled in series with normal circuit couplings in order to reduce a transient signal that would otherwise be generated when the magnetic field sensor experiences a high rate of change of magnetic field. In some embodiments, the magnetic field sensor is a current sensor responsive to a magnetic field generated by a current-carrying conductor. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086445 | TRANSMISSION DEBRIS SENSOR - A debris sensor for a motor vehicle transmission includes a permanent magnet disposed on the inside bottom of the transmission pan to attract and retain magnetically attracted debris such as filings and particulates and a magnetic sensor such as a Hall effect sensor adjacent the permanent magnet. The magnetic sensor monitors, over time, the magnetic field of the debris collecting magnet. The output of the magnetic sensor is provided to a transmission control module (TCM) or similar electronic control or monitoring device. The output of the sensor is monitored and when the output changes sufficiently, relative to experimental or empirical data, a signal or alarm code is generated or stored relating to the possible need for transmission service. Alternatively, data from the sensor may be read at any time to infer the state of the transmission, the quantity of material on the magnet, a possible service issue based upon the quantity of material on the magnet and the vehicle mileage and the remaining service life of the magnet, for example. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086446 | INTEGRATED MEMS DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE - An integrated MEMS device is disclosed. The system comprises a MEMS resonator; and a MEMS device coupled to a MEMS resonator. The MEMS resonator and MEMS device are fabricated on a common substrate so that certain characteristics of the MEM resonator and MEMS device track each other as operating conditions vary. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086447 | DEVICE FOR THE CONTINUOUS QUALITY CONTROL OF APPLIED ELEMENTS - A method for continuous quality control of geometric, structural and functional parameters of an applied element, such as a staple, in printed products. The quality control is realized with the aid of at least one measuring device that comprises at least one measuring head including at least one permanent magnet and at least one giant magneto resistance sensor chip. The applied element is detected with the measuring head and, based thereon, a magnetic image is generated of the condition of the element. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086448 | AMPLIFYING DRIVING UNIT USING GIANT MAGNETO RESISTANCE SENSOR AND DIAGNOSIS DEVICE USING THE SAME - The present invention relates to an amplifying unit comprising: a pull up down unit pulling up or pulling down a positive GMR signal and a negative GMR signal provide by a GMR sensor; a GMR amplifying unit including a plurality of amplifying units generating a GMR signal by amplifying a difference between the stand-alone type signal and the negative GMR signal according to the GMR sensor; a low pass filtering unit attenuating noise of the GMR signal; a reference converting unit generating a reference voltage having a predetermined range for generating a GMR signal; and a gain converting unit amplifying the GMR signals inputted to the plurality of amplifying units by several ten or hundred times. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086449 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMPLANTABLE DEVICE SAFETY TESTS AND PATIENT SAFETY MONITORING - A magnetic resonance method comprises: performing (C | 2012-04-12 |
20120086450 | ENHANCED SECURITY PORTAL WITH MULTIPLE SENSORS - A system and method for detecting objects foreign to a human body. The system including a thermal detector configured to obtain thermal imaging data, a quadrapole resonance (QR) device configured to transmit an excitation signal and receive a resulting signal emanating from a material excited by the excitation signal, and a controller configured to determine if a foreign object is present based on the thermal imaging data and the excitation signal. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086451 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA AND A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE HAVING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA - The present embodiments include a magnetic resonance antenna having parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods arranged in a birdcage structure and antenna ferrules connecting the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods at ends of the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods in radio frequency terms. The magnetic resonance antenna includes a plurality of radio-frequency switching elements configured to interrupt at least a part of the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods to detune a natural resonance frequency with respect to an operating magnetic resonance frequency in radio frequency terms. At least some radio-frequency switching elements of the plurality of radio-frequency switching elements are arranged at end sections of the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086452 | RF COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - It is an object of the present invention to provide an RF coil and an MRI apparatus capable of ensuring a wide imaging space and excellent in terms of allowing maintenance at the time of installation or failure. In order to do so, an RF coil of the present invention includes a cylindrical outer conductor and a plurality of rung conductors disposed inside the outer conductor along a circumferential direction of the outer conductor. In addition, each of the plurality of rung conductors is electrically connected to the outer conductor through a capacitor so as to form an electrical loop. The outer conductor is divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction and is characterized in that the numbers of rung conductors disposed in at least two divided portions are different. In addition, an MRI apparatus of the present invention includes such an RF coil. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086453 | MRI WITH HYPERPOLARISATION DEVICE USING PHOTONS WITH ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM - A photonic-based hyperpolarisation device is disclosed with an electromagnetic source for emitting photonic radiation having a substantial penetration depth for material of the object, in particular of tissue, to be examined. For example, soft or ultra-soft x-rays are applied. Notably, the photonic-based hyperpolarisation device incorporates a magnet to generate a static magnetic field. Alternatively, the photonic-based hyperpolarisation device is incorporated in an magnetic resonance examination system. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086454 | SAMPLING SYSTEM BASED ON MICROCONDUIT LAB ON CHIP - An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest in a downhole fluid using fluid testing module. The fluid testing module may include: a substrate comprising at least one microconduit, and a sensor. The sensor may be disposed within the at least one microconduit or external. The apparatus may include a fluid mover for moving fluid within the microconduit. The method includes estimating a parameter of interest using the fluid testing module. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086455 | METHOD FOR OPERATING OF A METAL DETECTION SYSTEM AND METAL DETECTION SYSTEM - A method for operating of a metal detection system may comprise a balanced coil system with a transmitter coil that is connected to a transmitter unit, which generates transmitter signals having a transmitter frequency that is selected from a group of at least two transmitter frequencies, and with a first and a second receiver coil that provide output signals to a signal input of at least one amplifier unit included in a receiver unit, wherein the output signals compensate each other so that the system is in balance. A system adapted to operate according to an exemplary method is also provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a control unit generates a control signal according to the transmitter frequency of the transmitter unit and that is provided to the control input of at least one controllable impedance unit, which is coupled to the signal input of the at least one amplifier unit, wherein the control signal is adapted to control the impedance value of the at least one controllable impedance unit in such a way that the impedance value is increased or lowered when the transmitter frequency is increased or lowered. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086456 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING VISCOSITY AND DENSITY DOWNHOLE USING A RELAXED VIBRATING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ELEMENT - An apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of interest in a downhole fluid using a fluid analyzer. The fluid analyzer may include: a electrically conductive element configured to vibrate in response to an energy source, a housing to enclose the electrically conductive element and receive a fluid, and a sensor configured to respond to shear waves induced in the fluid by the vibration of the electrically conductive element. The electrically conductive element may be relaxed during operation. Also disclosed is a method of use for the apparatus. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086457 | TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION FOR MAGNETIC DETERMINATION METHOD FOR THE STATE OF CHARGE OF A BATTERY - An exemplary embodiment includes a method of determining a state of charge of a battery system including determining a temperature dependent magnetic property value of a magnetic material proximate a battery cell; determining a temperature compensated value of said determined magnetic property value; and, using said temperature compensated value as an input to a state of charge (SOC) estimator to determine a state of charge (SOC) of said battery system. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086458 | SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF A GROUND FAULT IN A HIGH RESISTANCE GROUND NETWORK - A method is provided for detection of a ground fault in a high resistance network in a voltage source power conversion circuit comprising a power converter that converts incoming AC power to DC power applied to a DC bus and an inverter that converts DC power from the DC bus to output AC power. The method includes detecting a midpoint-to-ground voltage between a low side of the DC bus and a ground potential and detecting the presence of a ground fault in a high resistance network based upon the detected midpoint-to-ground voltage. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086459 | Apparatus and Method for Fault Detection and Location Determination - An electrical waveform is received over an electrical power line. A plurality of nominal electrical parameters are determined for the electrical power network and the plurality of nominal electrical parameters are associated with a state of the electrical power network in the absence of at least one transitory electrical fault in the network. Subsequently, a plurality of electrical parameters of the electrical waveform are sampled when the at least one transitory electrical fault exists in the network. A plurality of inductances are determined based at least in part upon a comparison of the nominal electrical parameters and the plurality of sampled electrical parameters. The plurality of inductances are representative of inductances present in the network when the at least one transitory electrical fault exists in the network. The plurality of inductances are analyzed to determine a distance and/or direction to the at least one electrical fault. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086460 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING MONITORING ELEMENTS AND SINGLE USE ELEMENTS WITH A COMMON CABLE - A system includes a common line configured to conduct electrical power and one or more monitoring devices coupled to the common line and configured to operate when a positive voltage is provided on the common line. The system also includes a single use device coupled to the common line and an activation circuit coupled between the single use device and the common line, the activation circuit only allowing current to flow through the single use device when a negative voltage is provided on the common line. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086461 | DETECTION AND COMPENSATION OF MULTIPLEXER LEAKAGE CURRENT - A multiplexed input/output (I/O) system detects leakage currents on a selected input channel. The system includes a leakage detection multiplexer connected to provide an output selected from one of a plurality of input channels. In addition, the leakage detection multiplexer provides as part of the output measured leakage currents associated with the selected input channel. Based on the detected leakage currents, a determination can made regarding whether the detected leakage currents have compromised the integrity of the multiplexer output. In addition, the detected leakage current can be used to compensate the output provided by the multiplexer to account for the presence of leakage currents on the selected channel. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086462 | TEST APPARATUS - A power supply compensation circuit generates a compensation pulse current when a switch element is turned on. A pattern generator generates a test pattern that specifies a test signal to be output from a driver and a control signal to be output from the driver. In a calibration step, a voltage measurement unit measures the power supply voltage. A current adjustment unit adjusts the compensation pulse current to be generated in a test step after the calibration step. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086463 | Metamaterial Particles for Near-Field Sensing Applications - A method and structure for designing near-field probes with high sensitivity used in detecting a wide variety of materials and objects such as biological anomalies in tissues, cracks on metallic surfaces, location of buried objects, or composition of material such as permittivity and permeability . . . etc., is disclosed. The present invention includes using single or multiple metamaterial unit cells or metamaterial particles as near-field sensors. Metamaterial unit cells are defined as the building blocks used for fabricating metamaterials that provide electrical or magnetic properties not found in naturally occurring media. Metamaterial unit cells or particles include split-ring resonators, complementary split-ring resonators, or a variety of other electrically-small resonators made of conducting wires or conducting flat surfaces. Metamaterial unit cells are excited by appropriate excitations such as small loops, microstriplines, etc. depending on the electromagnetic properties of the metamaterial unit cell. Once the metamaterial unit cell is excited, the reflection and transmission coefficients from the excitation mechanism can be measured. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086464 | IN-SITU VHF VOLTAGE/CURRENT SENSORS FOR A PLASMA REACTOR - An RE voltage probe is adapted to have a long coaxial cable to permit a measuring device to be connected remotely from the probe without distorting the voltage measurement. An RF current probe is encapsulated in a conductive housing to permit its placement inside a plasma reactor chamber. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086465 | MEASURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CAPACITOR - A measuring apparatus for capacitor is applied to a charging power source and a capacitor to be measured. The measuring apparatus for capacitor includes a microcontroller unit, an analog-digital converter unit, a charging-side switch unit, a charging-side resistor unit, a discharging-side switch unit and a discharging-side resistor unit. The capacitor to be measured is charged and discharged by the charging-side switch unit and the discharging-side switch unit controlled by the microcontroller unit. The charging and discharging voltage and time variation of the capacitor to be measured are measured by the analog-digital converter unit to calculate the capacitance value of the capacitor to be measured. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086466 | Semiconductor test probe apparatus and method - An improved probe card system includes a probe assembly having a cantilever probe with a contact arm integral with and extending from a distal end of the probe, wherein the contact arm is oriented substantially parallel to a die or other material to be tested. The contact arm may be an elongated tip of the probe configured to contact a bumped pad or other contact on an outer surface of the arm. Inherent cantilever action of the probe may translating to a scrubbing action of the side of a contact arm on a test pad or solder ball. Some embodiments employ two or more probes for Kelvin-type probing, and the contact arm at the end of the probe can incorporate a substantially straight arm or a bent arm to follow the contour of a solder bump. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086467 | APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A DISK DRIVE AND DISK DRIVE TEST APPARATUS - The invention provides a method and apparatus for inserting a disk drive into or removing a disk drive from a test cell, the test cell including plural slots, each slot having a carrier for receiving the disk drive, the method including: moving the carrier out of the slot into an open position so that it can receive a disk drive, wherein the carrier remains in contact with the slot; inserting a disk drive into the carrier when the tray is still in contact with the slot; and moving the carrier containing the disk drive into a closed position back in the slot. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086468 | Method and system for introducing physical damage into an integrated circuit device for verifying testing program and its results - According to an embodiment of the disclosure, a method verifies bitmap information or test data information for a semiconductor device. The method places a defect on a semiconductor device at an actual defect location using a laser to physically damage the semiconductor device. A logical address associated with the defect is detected and bitmap information or test data information is reviewed to determine an expected location corresponding to the logical address. Then, the accuracy of the bitmap information or the test data information is determined by comparing the actual defect location with the expected location. A deviation between the two indicates an inaccuracy. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086469 | REDUCTION OF SIGNAL SKEW - Skew is reduced by extracting the AC component of an input signal and superimposing it on a common reference voltage to produce a resulting voltage. The resulting voltage is provided as an input to a comparator, which compares it to the reference voltage to provide a final output. Thus, all signals fed to a system, in accordance with an embodiment, are referenced at the same DC level and hence, skew is reduced. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086470 | CONSTANT IMPEDANCE LINE DRIVER WITH DIGITALLY CONTROLLED EDGE RATE - A constant impedance driver provides controlled output slew rates. The driver includes a plurality of buffers, each with an output impedance that is multiple of the output impedance of the driver. Outputs of buffers are coupled in parallel to form the output of the driver. Inputs to the buffers are coupled to an input signal or delayed versions of the input signal. The buffer inputs may be selectively coupled to taps of a delay line to provide selected slew rates on the output of the driver. The buffers may be selectively enabled to change or calibrate the output impedance of the driver. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086471 | PSOC ARCHITECTURE - A circuit with a plurality of analog circuit blocks, each configured to provide at least one analog function and a programmable interconnect coupled of the analog circuit blocks and configurable to interconnect combinations of the analog circuit blocks to one another. The circuit is formed in an integrated circuit (chip) and the programmable interconnect comprises a plurality of switches coupled between the analog circuit blocks and ports that provide signal connections for the chip. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086472 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING POWER MEASUREMENT INSIDE A FIELD PROGRAMMABLE GATE ARRAY WITHOUT EXTERNAL COMPONENTS - A method of calculating total power usage of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) without external components generates at least one coefficient based on a power equation and a given FPGA logic design, wherein the power equation calculates FPGA power as a function of temperature and voltage. The at least one coefficient is applied to the power equation along with internally generated temperature and voltage measurement values. The temperature measurement and the voltage measurement values are applied to the power equation with the at least one coefficient applied to calculate a power measurement based on the temperature measurement value and the voltage measurement value. The at least one coefficient is generated by taking an FPGA design and iteratively simulating the design in a power estimation tool over a range of temperature and input voltage values. A characterization data set is generated and curve fitted to the power equation to produce the at least one coefficient. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086473 | BIPOLAR-MOS DRIVER CIRCUIT - The present invention relates to electronic driver circuits, and more particularly, to low power electronic driver circuits having low manufacturing costs. The present invention is a circuit design that utilizes two transistor types that can be manufactured together thereby reducing the number of processing steps and masks and resulting in lower cost. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086474 | Field Device for Process Automation - A field device comprising a signal processing unit that generates a digital measurement, control or regulation signal, and comprises an output stage that converts the digital measurement, control or regulation signal into an analog voltage or current signal, The field device also includes a monitoring device which comprises a measuring device that detects the analog voltage or current signal and converts this signal into a digital voltage or current measurement signal, a first digital low-pass filter for filtering the digital measurement, control or regulation signal, a second digital low-pass filter having the same cut-off frequency as that of the first digital low-pass filter, a comparator downstream of the low-pass filters, and an evaluation device that generates an error message when the deviation between the compared signals exceeds a pre-determined level. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086475 | ELECTRONIC LOAD OF SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT - An electronic load for a semiconductor element is provided. The electronic load includes at least two slope generating circuits, each of which generates a current according to a current for the electronic load corresponding to an output voltage of a power supply. Each slope generating circuit comprises at least a first slope generating circuit that simulates a first slope when the output voltage of the power supply is between 0V to a rated voltage, and a second slope generating circuit that simulates a second slope when the output voltage of the power supply is higher than the conducting state voltage of the semiconductor element by subtracting the forward bias voltage from the output voltage of the power supply. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086476 | Fast and accurate current driver with zero standby current and features for boost and temperature compensation for MRAM write circuit - Systems and methods for realizing current drivers without current or voltage feedback for devices that require accurate current drive with zero standby current has been disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this current driver is applied for write circuits for MRAMs. A fast and accurate reference current is generated by diode voltage divided by resistor without any feedback. The diode current is not fed back from the reference current. The diode current is generated from a regulated voltage. Temperature compensation of the write current is inherently built in the diode current reference. Fine-tuning of the temperature coefficient is achieved by mixing poly and diffusion resistors. A switch inserted in the current driver can turn on the driver fast and without a need for standby current. Leading boost in the current driver can fast charge the large coupling capacitance of word and bit lines and speed up write timing. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086477 | GATE SIGNAL LINE DRIVE CIRCUIT AND DISPLAY DEVICE - Provided is a gate signal line driving circuit including: 2n clock signal lines where 2n-phase clock signals are input in the normal order of the sequence in normal-directional scanning and in the inverse order of the sequence in inverse-directional scanning, respectively; and a plurality of basic circuits, each being connected with the 2n clock signal lines and outputting a gate signal from an output terminal, in which each of the basic circuits includes a high-voltage applying switching circuit where one clock signal line is connected to an input side and applies a voltage applied to the clock signal line to the output terminal and an off-signal applying switching circuit that applies an off-voltage to a switch of the high-voltage applying switching circuit, and a clock signal line where a clock signal having an inverse phase is connected to a switch of the off-signal applying switching circuit. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086478 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE INCLUDING A TEST CIRCUIT OF A MULTIVALUED LOGIC CIRCUIT HAVING AN IMPEDANCE CONTROL - A semiconductor device, having an input terminal configured to receive a multi-valued input signal as input, the multi-valued input signal including a plurality of values, a multi-valued logic circuit that operates with a multi-valued function and output binary signals to an output section in response to the input signal that has been input to the input terminal, the output section having a number of nodes being one less than a number of the plurality of values of the multi-valued input signal, and an impedance control circuit that is connected to the input terminal and the output section, and changes a combined resistance value in response to the binary signals of the plurality of nodes to change a current which flows in the input terminal. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086479 | Controlling Power Chain with Same Controller in Either of Two Different Applications - A controller for controlling a power chain in an electronic device can be used in either of two different applications. The first application requires the controller to produce drive signals for driving discrete power MOSFETs within the power chain. The second application requires the controller to produce an output PWM signal to control an integrated circuit having power MOSFETs integrated with MOSFET drivers within the power chain. The controller generally includes a sensor that detects which of the two applications the controller is in. The controller also generally includes outputs that produce, when the controller is in the first application, the drive signals for driving the discrete power MOSFETs. But when the controller is in the second application, one of the outputs is used to produce the output PWM signal for controlling the integrated circuit. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086480 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR SUB-HARMONIC ELIMINATION OF A POWER CONVERTER - A circuit and method are provided for a power converter to select one from a plurality of current limit signals as a final current limit signal according to the present duty ratio of a power switch for the pulse width modulation of the next cycle, so that the duty ratio of the power switch in the next cycle is prevented from acute variation to eliminate sub-harmonic which otherwise may happen. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086481 | POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM - A power supply system, for discharging a resume and reset (RSMRST) signal during the RSMRST signal pull down, includes a voltage regulating circuit, a delay circuit, a switch circuit, and a discharge circuit. The voltage regulating circuit receives a first voltage signal and converts the first voltage signal to a second voltage signal. The delay circuit is charged by the second voltage signal and outputs the second voltage signal once fully charged. The switch circuit receives the second voltage signal and then outputs a RSMRST signal. The discharge circuit discharges the delay circuit. The delay circuit is charged during a first state and discharged during a second state. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086482 | VOLTAGE-CONTROLLED OSCILLATOR MODULE HAVING ADJUSTABLE OSCILLATOR GAIN AND RELATED OPERATING METHODS - Apparatus and methods are provided for oscillators having adjustable gain. An exemplary oscillator module comprises a first node for a first voltage, a control node for a control signal, and oscillator circuitry coupled to the first node and the control node. The oscillator circuitry generates an output signal with a first oscillation frequency based on the first voltage, and in response to the control signal being asserted, the oscillator circuitry generates the output signal with a second oscillation frequency based on the first voltage. The second oscillation frequency is greater than the first oscillation frequency. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086483 | OSCILLATOR CIRCUIT AND ELECTRIC-CURRENT CORRECTION METHOD - A PLL circuit includes a storage unit for storing a control voltage at a desired frequency obtained when a reference signal is synchronized with a referenced signal; a current generator circuit that includes a pull-up circuit and a pull-down circuit, each of which outputs an electric current at a predetermined timing; a voltage detecting unit that detects an output voltage corresponding to an electric current output by the current generator circuit; and a current control unit that changes a current value of at least one of the pull-up circuit and the pull-down circuit so that respective current values match each other, and controls the respective current values of the pull-up circuit and the pull-down circuit so that the output voltage detected by the voltage detecting unit matches the control voltage stored in the storage unit. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086484 | Delay Locked Loop Including a Mechanism for Reducing Lock Time - A delay locked loop (DLL) includes a delay line configured to provide a delayed version of a reference clock as a feedback clock. The DLL also includes a phase detector that may provide an output signal that is indicative of a change in a delay associated with the delay line. The DLL may also include a step size controller that may provide a step size indication corresponding to a first step size in response to detecting the output signal indicating a first change in delay, and to provide a step size indications corresponding to a second step size that is smaller than the first step size in response to detecting the output signal indicating a second change in delay. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086485 | Modular Programmable Delay Line Blocks for Use in a Delay Locked Loop - Modular delay line blocks include a plurality of delay elements, each including a delay unit, an input, an output, a next element output, and an element return path. The delay elements are coupled together in a chain between a block input and a block output. The block input is coupled to the input of a first element in the chain and the block output is coupled to the output of the first element. In addition, the next element output of the first element is coupled to the element input of a next element in the chain, and the element output of the next delay element is coupled to the element return path of a previous element in the chain. In response to a selection control signal, each element may selectively route a signal from the element input to one of the next element output or to the element output. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086486 | PHASE INTERPOLATOR AND DELAY LOCKED-LOOP CIRCUIT - A phase interpolator includes a delay difference detector and a phase interpolation driver. The delay difference detector receives a delay code to detect a delay difference. The phase interpolation driver includes two or more driver blocks complementarily operating, and the phase interpolation driver interpolate two input signals in response to the delay difference to provide an interpolated output signal. Each of two or more driver blocks includes a plurality of unit drivers, each input of the unit drivers is commonly connected, and each delay of the two or more driver blocks is varied according to the delay difference. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086487 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device includes a monitoring circuit including a delay circuit including a plurality of elements and a plurality of interconnects arranged in a tree shape, a data supply circuit configured to supply a determination signal to the delay circuit, and a delay evaluation circuit connected to an end point of the delay circuit and configured to evaluate a delay state of the determination signal. The monitoring circuit controls at least one of a power supply voltage, a substrate voltage, and a clock frequency of a semiconductor circuit included in the semiconductor device based on an output of the delay evaluation circuit. The circuits included in the monitoring circuit are arranged in a space in the semiconductor device using a layout tool, whereby highly accurate delay monitoring can be performed while reducing an increase in area. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086488 | DIFFERENTIAL AMPLIFIERS, CLOCK GENERATOR CIRCUITS, DELAY LINES AND METHODS - A differential amplifier may be configured to have a duty cycle and/or gain that is adjustable, such as by adjusting the switch points of circuitry in the differential amplifier. The differential amplifier may alternatively or additionally have a hysteresis function by, for example, using a signal feedback from the output of the amplifier to adjust the switch points of circuitry in the differential amplifier. The differential amplifier may be used for a variety of purposes, such as in an input buffer or delay line, either of which may be used, for example, in a clock generator circuit. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086489 | ADAPTIVE QUADRATURE CORRECTION FOR QUADRATURE CLOCK PATH DESKEW - Quadrature clocking schemes are widely used in modern communications systems, but often suffer from phase imbalance. Conventional solutions that attempt to address this phase imbalance, however, are generally large and use a substantial amount of power. Here, however, a correction circuit is provided that can locally correct for phase imbalance without the need for bulky and high power consuming circuitry. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086490 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT DEVICES USING POWER SUPPLY CIRCUITS WITH FEEDBACK FROM A REPLICA LOAD - An integrated circuit device includes an external power supply input configured to be coupled to an external power supply and a digital circuit, such as a clock signal generator circuit, that generates noise at a power supply input thereof. The device further includes a replica load circuit and a power supply circuit coupled to the external power supply input, to a power supply input of the digital circuit and to a power supply input of the replica load circuit. The power supply circuit is configured to selectively couple the external power supply node to the power supply input of the digital circuit responsive to a voltage at the power supply input of the replica load circuit. The replica load circuit may be configured to provide a load that varies responsive to a voltage at the power supply input of the digital circuit. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086491 | INTEGRATED JITTER COMPLIANT CLOCK SIGNAL GENERATION - Integrated jitter compliant clock signal generation apparatus and methods are provided. Input signals having different frequencies are used to generate respective clock signals having closely spaced frequencies. The input signals might be generated, for example, in adjacent Phase Locked Loops (PLLs) which receive reference clock signals. The reference clock signals, or signals from which the reference clock signals originate, are also closely spaced. The closely spaced reference clock signals are effectively separated for cleanup and then brought back together to provide the closely spaced clock signals. This allows cleanup of the closely spaced reference clock signals to occur at staggered and more widely spaced frequencies. These techniques could also be applied to reference clock signals which are harmonically related and are used to generate harmonically related output clock signals. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086492 | FREQUENCY DOMAIN CLOCK RECOVERY - Consistent with an aspect of the present disclosure, an optical signal carrying data or information is supplied to photodetector circuitry that generates a corresponding analog signal. The analog signal may be amplified or otherwise processed and supplied to analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) circuitry, which samples the analog signal to provide a plurality of digital signals or samples. The timing of such sampling is in accordance with a clock signal supplied to the ADC circuitry. A phase detector is provided that detects and adjust the clock signal to have a desired phase based on frequency domain data that is output from a Fast Fourier transform (FFT) circuit that receives the digital samples. Preferably, the phase detector circuit is configured such that it need not receive all the frequency domain data output from the FFT at any given time in order to determine the clock phase. Rather, a subset of such data is supplied to the phase detector circuit, such that the phase detector has a simpler design, operates faster, and is computationally efficient. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086493 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANAGING HANDHELD DEVICE POWER CONSUMPTION - A method and device for managing handheld device power consumption are disclosed. The method includes the following steps of: calculating an operating frequency needed by the function currently operated by the handheld device; and setting the system clock of the handheld device according to the operating frequency. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086494 | RECEIVER CIRCUITRY AND RELATED CALIBRATION METHODS - Apparatus and methods are provided for calibrating and operating a receiver circuit. An exemplary method comprises the steps of applying a first voltage offset to a first input of an amplifier circuit, generating an output signal at an output of the amplifier circuit based on the first voltage offset and a second voltage offset at a second input of the amplifier circuit, adjusting the second voltage offset based on the output signal, and maintaining the second voltage offset at a constant voltage when the output signal is indicative of the second voltage offset cancelling the first voltage offset. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086495 | VOLTAGE LEVEL SHIFTER - An input of a first inverter is configured to serve as an input node. An output of the first inverter is coupled to an input of a second inverter. An output of the second inverter is configured to serve as an output node. An input of a third inverter is coupled to an input of the first inverter. A gate of a first NMOS transistor is coupled to an output of the third inverter. A drain of the first NMOS transistor is coupled to the second inverter. A source of the first NMOS transistor is configured to serve as a level input node. When the input node is configured to receive a low logic level, the output node is configured to receive a voltage level provided by a voltage level at the level input node. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086496 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH SWITCHING ELEMENT DRIVEN BY CONTROL VOLTAGE - In an electronic device with a switching element, a control circuit controls the voltage at the control terminal of the switching element and drives the switching element, by controlling an ON-drive switching element and an OFF-drive switching element based on an inputted drive signal to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to turn OFF a switching element using a switching circuit other than the OFF-drive switching element after an elapse of a predetermined period of time from a timing at which the drive signal switches from an ON instruction thereof to an OFF instruction thereof, the ON instruction giving an instruction to turn ON the switching element, the OFF instruction giving an instruction to turn OFF the switching element. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086497 | COMPOUND FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR WITH MULTI-FEED GATE AND SERPENTINE INTERCONNECT - Aspects provide for reducing the size and cost of a compound semiconductor power FET device while increasing yield and maintaining current handling capabilities of the FET by distributing portions of the current in parallel to sections the source and drain fingers to maintain a low current density, and applying the gate signal to both ends of the gate fingers to increase yield. The current to be handled by the FET may be divided among a set of electrodes arrayed along the width of the source or drain fingers and oriented to cross the fingers along the length of the source and drain fingers. The current may be conducted from the electrodes to the source and drain fingers through vias disposed along the surface of the fingers. Heat developed in the source, drain, and gate fingers may be conducted through the vias to the electrodes and out of the device. | 2012-04-12 |
20120086498 | HIGH-VOLTAGE SWITCH USING THREE FETS - Switch circuits are disclosed, for providing a single-ended and a differentially switched high-voltage output signals by switching a high supply voltage in response to at least one logic-level control signal. The switch that provides the single-ended switched high-voltage output signal includes a chain of at least three serially coupled field effect transistors (FETs). The chain receives the high supply voltage and switches it to output the high-voltage output signal. The switch that provides the differentially switched high-voltage output signal includes two differentially coupled chains, each having at least three serially coupled FETs. The chains receive the high supply voltage and switch it to output the differential high-voltage output signal. A control/bias circuit provides a control voltage to at least one of the FETs in the chains, responsive to the control signal. | 2012-04-12 |