Renesas Electronics America Inc.

Jeffrey T Sieber

Samuel James Guido

Jeremy Brodt

Richard A Leach

A method and apparatus for communicating over a power line. In one embodiment of the method, a first PWM waveform signal is generated, wherein a duty cycle of the first PWM waveform signal is proportional to an amplitude of a first analog signal. A first sinusoidal waveform signal is also generated, which has a first frequency. The first sinusoidal waveform signal is modulated in relation to the first PWM waveform signal. The modulated first sinusoidal waveform signal is transmitted to a circuit via a power conductor that couples a power source to the circuit. The circuit in turn generates a demodulated signal by demodulating the modulated first sinusoidal waveform signal.

Communication over power lines

An apparatus and method of scheduling signals. In one embodiment, the method includes a first circuit receiving a first plurality of reference values. The first circuit selects a reference value from the first plurality according to a first reference identifier (ID) that is stored in memory. The first circuit compares the selected reference value to a first match value.

Digital I/O signal scheduler

A method and apparatus for distributing events. In one embodiment, the method includes a bus concurrently transmitting a first event-signal and a first event-identification (event-ID); wherein the first event-signal, when active, indicates that a first event has occurred, is occurring, or should occur. The first event-ID corresponds to the first event-signal.

Microcontroller peripheral event distribution bus

A system that includes a multiplexer having an output selectively coupled to a plurality of inputs, a bus coupled to the output of the multiplexer, and first and second circuits configured to generate first and second digital signals, respectively. The first digital signal is related to a rotational angle of a crankshaft at a first point in time, and the second digital signal is related to a value of parameter at the first point in time, wherein the parameter is one other than the rotational angle of the crankshaft. The first and second circuits are coupled directly or indirectly to first and second inputs of the multiplexer.

Reference distribution bus

An apparatus is disclosed that includes first and second circuits coupled together via a bus, an input pin configured to receive an analog input signal, a digital-to-analog (DAC) convertor configured to convert a multibit reference signal into an analog reference signal, a comparator circuit coupled to the bus, an output of the DAC and to the input pin. The comparator circuit is configured to receive the analog reference signal from the DAC and the analog input signal, and configured to generate a first digital signal set to a first state if the analog reference signal is greater in magnitude than the analog input signal, or set to a second state if analog reference signal is lower in magnitude than the analog input signal. The comparator circuit is also configured to transmit the first digital signal to the first circuit via the bus. The first circuit in turn is configured to receive the first digital signal. In response to receiving the first digital signal, the first circuit is configured to generate a second digital signal set to the first or second state depending on whether the received first digital signal is set to the first or second state. The second circuit is configured to receive the second digital signal from the first circuit via the bus.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey T Sieber