Abstract: A Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (PMUT) device is provided. The PMUT includes a substrate and an edge support structure connected to the substrate. A membrane is connected to the edge support structure such that a cavity is defined between the membrane and the substrate, where the membrane configured to allow movement at ultrasonic frequencies. The membrane comprises a piezoelectric layer and first and second electrodes coupled to opposing sides of the piezoelectric layer. For operation in a Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducer (CMUT) mode, a third electrode is disposed on the substrate and separated by an air gap in the cavity from the second electrode. Also provided are an integrated MEMS array, a method for operating an array of PMUT/CMUT dual-mode devices, and a PMUT/CMUT dual-mode device.

Abstract: A MEMS system includes a gyroscope that generates a quadrature signal and an angular velocity signal. The MEMS system further includes an accelerometer that generates a linear acceleration signal. The quadrature signal and the linear acceleration signal are received by a processing circuitry that modifies the linear acceleration signal based on the quadrature signal to determine linear acceleration.

Abstract: A robotic cleaning appliance includes a sonic transducer and a processor coupled with a housing. The sonic transducer transmits sonic signals toward a surface within its ringdown distance and receives corresponding returned signals. Following cessation of the sonic signals, the processor samples the ringdown signal generated by the sonic transducer during an early portion before the corresponding returned signals have reflected back to the sonic transducer, and during a later portion which includes the corresponding returned signals. The processor utilizes the sampled early portion to estimate a void ringdown signal of which represents performance of the sonic transducer in absence of returned signals being received. The processor compares the estimated void ringdown signal to the later portion of the ringdown signal and generates a metric based on the comparison. The processor utilizes the metric to determine a type of the surface, out of a plurality of surface types.

Abstract: A capturable code for automatically formatting and addressing a text message to apply for an offer is disclosed. The method interacting with, via a mobile device of a user, a capturable code and automatically generating a text message on the mobile device in response to the interaction. The automatic generation automatically provides an address for the text message, and automatically formats the text message. Providing, at the mobile device and into the text message, at least one device identifier (ID) for the mobile device and a user identifier (ID). Sending, via the mobile device, the text message to the address. Receiving, at the mobile device, a prepopulated form, which is prefilled with user specific information. Verifying, at the mobile device, the user specific information. Receiving, at the mobile device and upon a credit approval, a new credit account in a ready-to-use format.

Abstract: An alternate venting path can be employed in a sensor device for pressure equalization. A sensor component of the device can comprise a diaphragm component and/or backplate component disposed over an acoustic port of the device. The diaphragm component can be formed with no holes to prevent liquid or particles from entering a back cavity of the device, or gap between the diaphragm component and backplate component. A venting port can be formed in the device to create an alternate venting path to the back cavity for pressure equalization for the diaphragm component. A venting component, comprising a filter, membrane, and/or hydrophobic coating, can be associated with the venting port to inhibit liquid and particles from entering the back cavity via the venting port, without degrading performance of the device. The venting component can be designed to achieve a desired low frequency corner of the sensor frequency response.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscopes and related sense frequency tracking techniques are described. Various embodiments facilitate sense frequency tracking and offset and/or sensitivity change compensation. Exemplary embodiments can comprise receiving a sense signal at an output of a MEMS gyroscope and determining a sense resonant frequency of the sense signal. In addition, exemplary methods can comprise generating an input sine wave with a frequency of the sense resonant frequency of the sense signal injecting the input sine wave into the MEMS gyroscope, to facilitate sense frequency tracking.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sensor includes a two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers, a contact layer, a matching layer between the two-dimensional array and the contact layer, where the matching layer has a non-uniform thickness, and an array controller configured to control activation of ultrasonic transducers during an imaging operation for imaging a plurality of pixels within the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers. During the imaging operation, the array controller is configured to activate different subsets of ultrasonic transducers associated with different regions of the two-dimensional array of ultrasonic transducers at different transmission frequencies, where the different frequencies are determined such that a thickness of the matching layer at a region is substantially equal to a quarter wavelength of the first transmission frequency for the region.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone includes a cavity to receive an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal causes movement of a diaphragm relative to one or more other surfaces, which in turn results in an electrical signal representative of the received acoustic signal. A light sensor is included within the packaging of the MEMS microphone such that an output of the light sensor is representative of a light signal received with the acoustic signal. The output of the light sensor is used to modify the electrical signal representative of the received acoustic signal in a manner that limits light interference with an acoustical output signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transceiver system includes a transmitter block, a receiver block, a state machine, a computer unit. The transmitter block contains circuitry configured to drive an ultrasound transducer. The receiver block contains circuitry configured to receive signals from the ultrasound transducer and convert the signals into digital data. The state machine is coupled to the transmitter and receiver blocks and contains circuitry configured to act as a controller for those blocks. The computing unit is coupled to the transmitter block, the receiver block, and the state machine and is configured to drive the transmitter block and process data received from the receiver block by executing instructions of a program. The program memory is coupled to the computing unit and is configured to store the program. The computing unit is configured to be reprogrammed with one or more additional programs stored in the program memory.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of CMOS control elements arranged in a two-dimensional array and a plurality of MEMS devices. Each CMOS control element of the plurality of CMOS control elements includes at least one of a low voltage semiconductor device, a high voltage PMOS semiconductor device, and a high voltage NMOS semiconductor device. Each MEMS device of the plurality of MEMS devices is associated with a CMOS control element of the plurality of CMOS control elements. The plurality of CMOS control elements are arranged in the two-dimensional array such that low voltage semiconductor devices are only adjacent to other low voltage semiconductor devices, high voltage PMOS semiconductor devices are only adjacent to other high voltage PMOS semiconductor devices, and high voltage NMOS semiconductor devices are only adjacent to other high voltage NMOS semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Reducing a sensitivity of an electromechanical sensor is presented herein. The electromechanical sensor comprises a sensitivity with respect to a variation of a mechanical-to-electrical gain of a sense element of the electromechanical sensor; and a voltage-to-voltage converter component that minimizes the sensitivity by coupling, via a defined feedback capacitance, a positive feedback voltage to a sense electrode of the sense element—the sense element electrically coupled to an input of the voltage-to-voltage converter component. In one example, the voltage-to-voltage converter component minimizes the sensitivity by maintaining, via the defined feedback capacitance, a constant charge at the sense electrode. In another example, the electromechanical sensor comprises a capacitive sense element comprising a first node comprising the sense electrode. Further, a bias voltage component can apply a bias voltage to a second node of the electromechanical sensor.

Abstract: A gyroscope includes drive portions, lever arms, and proof masses located in a device plane. The lever arms are caused to rotate about an anchoring point based on anti-phase movement of the drive portions along a first axis in the device plane, and are coupled to the proof masses to cause the proof masses to move in anti-phase along an axis perpendicular to the first axis in the device plane. In response to a Coriolis force applied to the proof masses, the lever arm rotates out of plane and the proof masses move relative to sense electrodes. The movement of the proof masses with respect to the sense electrodes is used to measure angular velocity.

Abstract: Systems and methods of optically stabilizing an image. A lens obtains optical image information corresponding to an image. An image sensor converts the optical image information into electrical image information. A rotation signal related to rotational movement of a camera unit is generated using a first motion sensor that provides a signal related to rotation when the camera unit is rotated. A translation signal related to translational movement of the camera unit is generated using a second motion sensor that provides a signal related to translation when the camera unit undergoes translational movement. The translation signal is modified using the rotation signal to generate a corrected translation signal that compensates for lens movement which is different from second motion sensor movement. The corrected translation signal controls an actuator that adjusts a lens position with respect to the image sensor, based on rotation and translation experienced by the camera unit.

Abstract: A robotic cleaning appliance includes a housing, surface treatment item, surface type detection sensor, and processor. The sensor emits sonic signals toward a surface being traversed and receives corresponding returned signals from the surface. The returned signals are used for surface type detection and include directly reflected primary returned signals and multi-path reflected secondary returned signals which return at a later time than the primary returned signals. The processor selects a window of time after transmission of a sonic signal such that the returned signals in the window comprise at least a portion of the secondary returned signals, wherein the window is related to round trip time-of-flight of the returned signals; processes the returned signals falling in the window to achieve a reflectivity metric; compares the reflectivity metric to a stored value; and based on the comparison, determines which surface type of a plurality of surface types has been detected.

Abstract: In a method for fingerprint authentication, a fingerprint image is received from a fingerprint sensor. Fingerprint authentication of the fingerprint image is performed by comparing the fingerprint image to a set of authentication fingerprint images including at least one enrollment fingerprint image and at least one transformed fingerprint image, where the transformed fingerprint image is generated by applying a transfer function to at least one enrollment fingerprint image of the set of authentication fingerprint images, and where the transfer function is for simulating fingerprint image acquisition during a predefined environmental condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods of correcting for signal drift in optical image stabilization of a portable device. An accelerometer is used to obtain an acceleration signal corresponding to acceleration of the portable device. A gravity component is removed from the accelerometer signal to obtain a proper acceleration signal. A double integration is performed on the proper acceleration signal to obtain a translation signal. A drift component of the translation signal is estimated. The estimated drift component is used to generate a drift correction signal. A phase compensation signal is determined based on a plurality of phase responses of a plurality of components of the optical image stabilization system. The drift correction signal and the phase compensation signal are applied to an actuator controller which controls movement of a lens within the portable device as part of the process for optical image stabilization.

Abstract: Exemplary multipath digital microphone described herein can comprise exemplary embodiments of adaptive ADC range multipath digital microphones, which allow low power to be achieved for amplifiers or gain stages, as well as for exemplary adaptive ADCs in exemplary multipath digital microphone arrangements described herein, while still providing a high DR digital microphone systems. Further non-limiting embodiments can comprise an exemplary glitch removal component configured to minimize audible artifacts associated with the change in the gain of the exemplary adaptive ADCs.

Abstract: A MEMS device may output a signal during operation that may include an in-phase component and a quadrature component. An external signal having a phase that corresponds to the quadrature component may be applied to the MEMS device, such that the MEMS device outputs a signal having a modified in-phase component and a modified quadrature component. A phase error for the MEMS device may be determined based on the modified in-phase component and the modified quadrature component.

Abstract: A method includes generating motion data by receiving a gyroscope data from a gyroscope sensor, performing integration using the gyroscope data and generating an integrated gyroscope data using a first processor. The method further includes receiving a data from one or more sensors, other than the gyroscope sensor, and performing sensor fusion using the integrated gyroscope data and the data to generate motion data using a second processor.

Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate, an oxide layer, a membrane, an electrode, and a trench. The oxide layer is disposed on the substrate. The membrane is positioned on the oxide layer. The membrane with the oxide layer and the substrate forms an enclosed cavity therein. The membrane comprises a rigid portion and a deformable portion wherein the deformable portion of the membrane deforms responsive to stimuli. The oxide layer forms side walls of the cavity. The electrode is positioned on the substrate and within the cavity. The trench is formed in the oxide layer, and wherein the trench is covered with barrier material.