Texas Instruments Corporation

Russell Melvin Rosenquist

Arup Polley

Terry Lee Sculley

David D Baker

Srinath Mathur Ramaswamy

Sriram Narayanan

Russell Lynn Stilley

Thomas Brian Olson

Veronica B Howard

Jonathan A Kaye

Darrell Lee Johnson

Jose Antonio Fernandez

A system for measuring current includes a conductive trace comprising N substantially parallel straight sections having a substantially constant cross-section, N&#x2265;4. Adjacent substantially straight sections are spaced apart by a given distance and each pair of adjacent straight sections is connected by a respective loop of the current trace such that current in odd-numbered straight sections flows in a first direction and current in even-numbered straight sections flows in an opposite direction. The N magnetic field based current sensors are each positioned on a respective straight section of the conductive trace. The current is calculated based on where M=N&#x2212;1, and S(i) is the measured signal read at magnetic field based current sensor i.

Removal of higher order magnetic interference in magnetic field based current sensors

A closed-loop calibration scheme is configured to allow a device to remain in continuous operation. A signal generator device provides a pseudorandom sequence for a signal received by a magnetic field magnetic field sensor, such as a Hall-effect sensor. A signal decoder circuit receives the output signal and decouples the generated spread spectrum signal from the interference by measuring the gain in the overall signal. The decoder device distinguishes the known spread spectrum signal from any perturbation effects of particular bandwidths. A processing circuit then outputs a signal that has an operation parameter that has been adjusted to compensate for the perturbation effects. The processing circuit provides the receiver circuit with the compensation signal, hence forming a closed-loop calibration configuration.

Closed-loop device calibration using a wideband signal

A periphery band is around an excluded region. For automatically counting physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region, an imaging sensor captures: a first image of the periphery band and the excluded region; and a second image of the periphery band and the excluded region. In response to the first image, a first number is counted of physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region. Relevant motion is automatically detected within the periphery band, while ignoring motion within the excluded region. In response to the second image, a second number is counted of physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region. In response to determining that a discrepancy exists between the detected relevant motion and the second number, the discrepancy is handled.

Method and system for automatically counting physical objects within a periphery band and an excluded region

A method and apparatus for a hand-held device for ensuring a secured mode transition. The method includes receiving a request to transition to a mode, determining the mode of the hand-held device, transitioning to a transition mode relevant to the received request, wherein the relevant transition mode ensures that the transition is securely executed, setting the device in accordance with the received request, and transitioning to the mode requested.

Method and apparatus for secure mode indication

A directional controller for a device is provided. The directional controller consists of keypad contacts, a keyboard, and a button. The keypad contacts are on a printed circuit board. The keyboard has more than four keys and each key is disposed adjacent to one of the keypad contacts. The button is operable for pivoting engagement with the more than four keys to promote contact between the more than four keys and the adjacent one of the keypad contacts.

Multi-direction switch for a cursor device

System and method for driving an LCD using a data-dependent, logic-level drive scheme. A preferred embodiment comprises determining a desired state of each pixel in an LCD pixel segment, deriving a drive waveform based upon the state of all pixels in the LCD pixel segment, and outputting the drive waveform to the LCD pixel segment. By using the states of all the pixels in the LCD pixel segment in the determination of the drive waveform, it is possible to increase the on and off voltage to help improve display quality.

Data-dependent, logic-level drive scheme for driving LCD panels

A method to more accurately monitor remaining battery life under varying load conditions. The measured battery voltage is adjusted for the current load and then used to determine the remaining battery life according to the battery voltage discharge curve for the battery type and chemistry. Advantageously, in an embodiment the present invention the remaining battery life can be determined despite fluctuations in the current due to a changing load and without monitoring current flow so that the determination of battery life is independent of the battery charging process.

Circuit for detecting low battery condition on an electronic device with a changing load

A hardware latch for limiting access to protected system memory. An N-bit bus provides the instructions executed by the system to a combinatorial logic block ( ). The combinatorial logic block ( ) provides eight separate outputs and functions as a series of comparators. One input of each comparator is connected to the instruction bus, the other input of each comparator is hardwired to indicate the pattern that appears on the bus when a particular instruction is executed. The output from a given comparator is active when that particular instruction is applied to the instruction bus ( ). A counter ( ) counts the instructions and selects which output from the combinatorial logic block should be selected by multiplexer ( ). If the output of the multiplexer is logic false, the sequence of instructions is broken and the counter ( ) is reset. If the output of the multiplexer is logic true, the counter is allowed to continue incrementing. If the counter reaches eight, a flip-flop ( ) representing the hardware gate can be written to. The output of the flip-flop ( ) is gated with the write signal provided to the protected blocks to prevent the write operations when the gate is locked. Another logic gate ( ) is provided to reset the counter if the instructions are executed out of a section of memory other than one of the protected blocks.

System and method for limited access to system memory

A method of controlling contrast in LCDs using dynamic LCD biasing includes the step of identifying an expected bias function as a function of LCD material, LCD operating voltage, and LCD duty cycle. The expected bias function is then approximated to obtain a linear description of the expected bias function. A voltage is generated that follows the linear description of the expected bias function. The step of generating the voltage results in dynamic LCD biasing.

Method and circuit for controlling contrast in liquid crystal displays using dynamic LCD biasing

Method and circuit for controlling contrast in liquid crystal displays

An information handling system is described having a power supply (16) having a switching circuit (24) that switches a plurality of energy sources (20) and (22) between series and parallel couplings. Associated with the switching circuit (24) is a voltage level detecting circuit (18) for monitoring the voltage level of the energy sources (20) and (22). A processor (12) for controlling the information handling system (10) responds to the voltage level detecting circuit (18) and in the event of a low voltage condition, the processor (12) activates the switching circuit (24) to switch the energy sources (20) and (22) from a series to a parallel coupling. Alternatively, processor (12) responds to other inputs or conditions for actuating switching circuit (24).

Growing community of inventors

Plano, TX, United States of America

Russell Melvin Rosenquist