Abstract:
Multiple measurements may be obtained via a single pin of an integrated circuit (IC) to set multiple control parameters of a light emitting diode (LED) controller within the IC. For example, a first input signal may be applied from the IC to two or more components via a single IC pin. A first output signal may be obtained from the two or more components via the single IC pin. A second input signal may be applied from the IC to the two or more components via the single IC pin, and a second output signal may be obtained from the two or more components via the single IC pin. A first parameter and a second parameter of the two or more components may be calculated based, at least in part, on the first output signal and the second output signal obtained via the single IC pin.
Abstract:
A bipolar junction transistor (BJT) may be used in a power stage DC-to-DC converter, such as a converter in LED-based light bulbs. The power stage may be operated by a controller to maintain a desired current output to the LED load. The controller may operate the power stage by monitoring a start and end of a reverse recovery time of the BJT. Information regarding the start and end of the reverse recovery time may be used in the control of the power stage to improve efficiency of the power stage.
Abstract:
In one embodiment a heating mechanism is provided with an integrated circuit for testing and calibration purposes. During production testing, heating elements may be activated in order to quickly bring an integrated circuit up to operating temperature for temperature testing or calibration. Once the operating test temperature has been reached, the circuit can be quickly and easily tested to show it is operable within the design temperature range and/or to obtain calibration data to correct for temperature drift. Calibration data may be used to create correction data, which may be stored within the integrated circuit. During normal operation, the correction data may be used to compensate for variations in operation due to temperature.
Abstract:
A low power analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may sense current output of a geophone instead of voltage. The output of the geophone may be terminated through a resistor into a virtual ground of an integrator, which may be located inside a current mode delta-sigma analog-to-digital converter. The integrator may have a current mode or a charge mode feedback. Thus, the geophone may experience constant or substantially constant impedance terminated into a virtual ground. This approach may eliminate an instrumentation amplifier from a geophone sensing circuit, while still allowing for accurate sensing of geophone signals. The instrumentation amplifier is a major current consumer from the signal path, so its elimination may significantly reduce power consumption. The instrumentation amplifier may be eliminated, at least in part because of the provision of the resistance into a virtual ground of an integrator of the delta-sigma ADC.