Abstract: A secure optionally passive RFID tag or sensor system comprises a passive RFID tag having means for receiving radio signals from at least one base station and for transmitting radio signals to at least one base station, where the tag is capable of being powered exclusively by received radio energy, and an external power and data logging device having at least one battery and electronic circuitry including a digital memory configured for storing and recalling data.

Abstract: A secure passive RFID tag system comprises at least one base station and at least one passive RFID tag. The tag includes a fiber optic cable with the cable ends sealed within the tag and the middle portion forming an external loop. The loop may be secured to at least portions of an object. The tag transmits and receives an optical signal through the fiber optic cable, and the cable is configured to be damaged or broken in response to removal or tampering attempts, wherein the optical signal is significantly altered if the cable is damaged or broken. The tag transmits the optical signal in response to receiving a radio signal from the base station and compares the transmitted optical signal to the received optical signal. If the transmitted optical signal and the received optical signal are identical, the tag transmits an affirmative radio signal to the base station.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to anode materials having high surface areas and improved cycle performance made by surface treatments of spheroidized graphite powders. The surface treatments provide a high surface area protective coating over the spheroidized graphite powder. The anodes made according to the disclosed embodiments have improved cycle life and long term high temperature storage performance. In the disclosed embodiments, a spheroidized graphite powder is coated with a high surface area protective coating. The high surface area protective coating improves the performance and durability of an anode made from disclosed material. The high surface area protective coating can include polymers, metal compounds and/or hard carbon. Further, in some embodiments, a protective coating, that may or may not have a high surface area but does have increased durability, can be formed by heat treating the spheroidized graphite in oxidizing or inert atmospheres.

Abstract: Multi-sensor compressive imaging systems can include an imaging component (such an an RF, microwave, or mmW metamaterial surface antenna) and an auxialiary sensing component (such as an EO/IR sensor). In some approaches, the auxiliary sensing component includes a structured light sensor configured to identify the location or posture of an imaging target within a field of view of the imaging component. In some approaches, a reconstructed RF, microwave, or mmW image may be combined with a visual image of a region of interest to provide a multi-spectral representation of the region of interest.

Abstract: Methods for localized thinning of wafers used in semiconductor devices and the structures formed from such methods are described. The methods thin localized areas of the backside of the semiconductor wafer to form recesses with a bi-directional channel design that is repeated within the wafer (or die) so that no straight channel line crosses the wafer (or die). The bi-directional pattern design keeps the channels from being aligned with the crystal orientation of the wafer. The recesses are then filled by a solder ball drop process by dropping proper size solder balls into the recesses and then annealing the wafer to reflow the solder balls and flatten them out. The reflow process begins to fill in the recesses from the bottom up, thereby avoiding void formation and the resulting air traps in the reflowed solder material. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to anode materials having high surface areas and improved cycle performance made by surface treatments of spheroidized graphite powders. The surface treatments provide a high surface area protective coating over the spheroidized graphite powder. The anodes made according to the disclosed embodiments have improved cycle life and long term high temperature storage performance. In the disclosed embodiments, a spheroidized graphite powder is coated with a high surface area protective coating. The high surface area protective coating improves the performance and durability of an anode made from disclosed 200 material. The high surface area protective coating can include polymers, metal compounds and/or hard carbon. Further, in some embodiments, a protective coating, that may or may not have a high surface area but does have increased durability, can be formed by heat treating the spheroidized graphite in oxidizing or inert atmospheres.

Abstract: A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies.

Abstract: One example of the invention operates during the device shut-down procedure, to generate a merged command list containing the components from the various individual static command lists. The generated merged command list is then stored in non-volatile memory, and subsequently accessed on the next device start-up to control the launching of required software components. In this way, only one command list, being the merged command list, need be processed on device start-up, and hence device start-up time is reduced.

Abstract: A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies.

Abstract: A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies.

Abstract: A punching bag system is provided for determining the position of a punching bag. A punching bag is suspended by a coupling from a stand which permits the punching bag to travel between an up position where it is in contact with a contact area on the stand, and a down position where it is free from contact with the stand. Light-emitting devices and light-receiving devices are radially positioned on the stand between the coupling and the contact area. Light is emitted from the light-emitting devices and reflected into the light-receiving devices when the punching bag is in the up position. The light-receiving devices generate an output proportional to the amount of light received therein which is analyzed to determine if the punching bag is in the up position. A metric is determined based in part on the determined position and is presented by an output device.

Abstract: A circuit for transmitter-receiver isolation that is useful in a monostatic (combined transmitting and receiving) antenna configuration is shown and described. In addition, methods and systems are shown for automatically adjusting the circuit in response to changes in antenna configuration, external signal reflectors, and jamming energy (e.g., self jammer energy) by adjusting the circuit to tune out these sources of jammer energy to yield an increase in RFID reader receiver sensitivity when compared to measurements of the receiver sensitivity when the jammer energy is not present.

Abstract: A method for obtaining individual dies from a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes a device layer, and the device layer in turn includes active regions separated by predefined spacings. Thick metal is selectively formed on backside of the device layer such that thick metal is formed on backside of active regions but not on backside of the predefined spacings. The semiconductor structure is then cut along the predefined spacings to separate the active regions with thick metal on their backside into individual dies.

Abstract: A punching bag system is provided for determining the position of a punching bag. A punching bag is suspended by a coupling from a stand which permits the punching bag to travel between an up position where it is in contact with a contact area on the stand, and a down position where it is free from contact with the stand. Light-emitting devices and light-receiving devices are radially positioned on the stand between the coupling and the contact area. Light is emitted from the light-emitting devices and reflected into the light-receiving devices when the punching bag is in the up position. The light-receiving devices generate an output proportional to the amount of light received therein which is analyzed to determine if the punching bag is in the up position. A metric is determined based in part on the determined position and is presented by an output device.

Abstract: A sensor may include a substrate having a sensing portion defining a sensor thereon and a circuit mounting portion defining at least one electrically conductive pad that is electrically connected to the sensor. The sensor may be configured to produce a signal indicative of a condition of the patient. An anisotropic medium may be disposed on the circuit mounting portion and may be electrically conductive in a direction through the medium and electrically insulating in directions along the medium. An electrical circuit may be mechanically mounted to the circuit mounting portion of the first substrate via the anisotropic medium with at least one electrically conductive terminal juxtaposed over the at least one electrically conductive pad. The anisotropic medium may establish local electrical contact between the at least one electrically conductive terminal and the at least one electrically conductive pad.

Abstract: Disclosed is an indoor location system that uses an electrical power line, power line signal injection devices, and portable position receivers (tags) to generate location data relating to positions of the tags in a structure such as a residence or business. The indoor location system fingerprinting of multiple signals transmitted along the power line to achieve sub-room-level localization of the positioning receivers. Details regarding power line positioning are described along with how it compares favorably to other fingerprinting techniques.

Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable antenna system for an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader/encoder includes a plurality of antenna elements; and a mechanism constructed and adapted to dynamically and selectively configure said plurality of antenna elements during operation thereof. The antenna elements may be arranged in a pattern of conductive areas, and each antenna element is switchably connectable to ground or to a transmission line connectable to the RFID reader/encoder. Each antenna element may be square, rectangle, circular, or diamond shaped. The antenna elements may located on an inner layer of the multi-layer printed circuit and wherein regions above the antenna elements are a dielectric layer or a slot aperture. The antenna system may be incorporated into an RFID encoder/reader.

Abstract: An RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) reader system has a sensor system associated with its antenna system. The sensor system determines one or more of an orientation, position, velocity, motion and acceleration of antenna elements in said antenna system. The reader system uses the sensor data to control the antenna system based.

Abstract: An RFID protection scheme includes monitoring an output signal of a least one receiver mixer of the reader, and, based at least in part on said monitoring, when said output signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, performing one or more of the following: removing an RF signal from a transmitter power amplifier (PA); removing a bias from the PA; causing a protection switch to divert transmitter power away from an antenna circuit; and signaling a processor to reduce transmitter power.

Abstract: A simulated RFID tag may be combined with other such tags to form a population of simulated tags. A method of testing an RFID reader includes providing at least one population of simulated RFID tags; configuring tags in the at least one population of simulated RFID tags; and querying the at least one population of simulated RFID tags with the RFID reader. The simulated RFID tags may be configured by assigning arbitrary static IDs to at least some of the simulated RFID tags; assigning a sequence of tag IDs to at least some of the simulated RFID tags; assigning a sequence of time-varying IDs to at least some the population of simulated RFID tags; and assigning arbitrary timing/persistence to at least some of the simulated RFID tags.