Dialog Semiconductor Gmbh

Apple Inc.

Andreas Adler

Carlo Eberhard Peschke

James Hollabaugh

Dirk Killat

Jason Brinsfield

Michael Maurer

Calvin M Ryan

John J Sullivan

Techniques for protecting non-volatile memory (NVM) from power cycle interruptions during memory operations are disclosed. A power management integrated circuit (PMIC) coupled to a memory circuit with NVM implements the various techniques disclosed. When a power reset signal is asserted to a PMIC, the PMIC may delay initiation of the power reset cycle when it detects that the NVM coupled to the PMIC is active to prevent corruption of the NVM by the power reset cycle. The PMIC may detect the activity level of the NVM based on an activity output signal that indicates whether the NVM is active (e.g., programming or erasing) or inactive.

Non-volatile memory power cycle protection mechanism

Methods and systems to achieve linear and exponential control over a current to drive color LEDs have been achieved. Current digital-to-analog converters (IDAC) comprising each an exponential current digital-to analog converter and a linear IDAC, being cascaded to each other are used for a linear and an exponential control of a current driving a set of color LEDs, preferably RGB LEDs. The linear part of the IDAC, which is converting the mantissa of a floating-point number is used to control the color composition of the color LEDs. The exponential part of the IDAC, which is converting the exponent of the floating-point number is used to control the brightness of the color LEDs. While fading from one color to a next color a linear color change is required. The exponential part of the IDAC is used to dim the LEDs from bright to dark and vice versa. In order to get the visual perception of a linear dimming an exponential current change is required.

Combined exponential/linear RGB LED I-sink digital-to-analog converter

Circuits and methods to achieve a low-noise and low offset continuous sigma-delta modulator used e.g. for battery management are disclosed. Continuous integration of input is enabled by special switching principle of three parallel integrators. Precharging of integrator output in so called pre-run mode minimizes integrator leakage and non-ideal effects by connecting a Gm in pre-run mode either to input voltage or to a reference voltage depending this Gm is being used in a following clock period. Parasitic effects due to switching at first integration capacitor are minimized by using buffer amplifiers tracking the voltage on integration capacitors.

Sigma-delta modulator

A communication device such as a cellular or wireless telephone handset has a light display, such as handset cover light or display backlight, synchronized to audio signals from multiple audio sources such as a microphone or AM/FM receiver. The communication device further includes an audio to illumination conversion apparatus for modulating the light display in response to the audio signal. The audio to illumination conversion apparatus has a plurality of audio filter circuits for filtering the audio signal to restrict frequency content of the audio signal to a pass-band. Multiple integration circuits generate an energy content signal indicating an energy level within the pass-band and for the whole spectrum of the audio signal. An illumination modulator generates a modulation pattern for the light display in response to the energy content signals from a predefined light show.

Modulation of a background light or any illumination of a mobile phone

Circuits and methods to convert a digital floating-point number into an analog current have been achieved. The conversion is performed directly by using an exponential current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and a cascaded linear current digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The exponential current DAC is converting exponentially the exponent of the floating-point number, its output current is biasing the linear DAC, which is converting the mantissa of the floating-point number. The output current of the linear current DAC is correlates linearly with the value of the floating-point number. This technique is commutative, this means the sequence of the linear and the exponential converter can be interchanged. In this case the linear converter provides a biasing current to the exponential converter. The sign bit can be considered by converting the direction of the output current of the converter. This floating-point number conversion can handle a very high dynamic range and requires a minimum of chip space.

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Schlierbach, Germany

Andreas Adler