Abstract: A method of operating a driver circuit includes receiving a data signal at a first input of an amplification circuit; amplifying, using the amplification circuit, the data signal to produce an output signal through an output pin; attenuating, using a feedback network, the output signal to produce a feedback signal; coupling the feedback signal to a second input of the amplification circuit; detecting, using a control circuit, a fault condition; and decoupling, responsive to detecting the fault condition, the feedback signal from the second input of the amplification circuit. In some embodiments, the driver circuit transmits a fault condition signal to an electronic control unit of an automobile.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided for use in a sensor system having a plurality of sensing coils arranged in a star configuration coupled to terminals of an integrated circuit, such that a first and a second terminal are connected external to the integrated circuit via a loop including a first and a second sensing coil in the plurality of sensing coils. The integrated circuit includes: sensing circuitry for evaluation of sense signals received from the sensing coils via said terminals; a current source and a current sink coupled to respectively a first and a second of said terminals, such that upon supply of current from the current source a current is established through the loop external to the integrated circuit and a detection signal is generated; and an evaluator for evaluating one of more detection signals to detect failure and/or weakness within said loop.

Abstract: A method of operating a driver circuit includes receiving a data signal at a first input of an amplification circuit; amplifying, using the amplification circuit, the data signal to produce an output signal through an output pin; attenuating, using a feedback network, the output signal to produce a feedback signal; coupling the feedback signal to a second input of the amplification circuit; detecting, using a control circuit, a fault condition; and decoupling, responsive to detecting the fault condition, the feedback signal from the second input of the amplification circuit. In some embodiments, the driver circuit transmits a fault condition signal to an electronic control unit of an automobile.

Abstract: A method of operating a driver circuit includes receiving a data signal at a first input of an amplification circuit; amplifying, using the amplification circuit, the data signal to produce an output signal through an output pin; attenuating, using a feedback network, the output signal to produce a feedback signal; coupling the feedback signal to a second input of the amplification circuit; detecting, using a control circuit, a fault condition; and decoupling, responsive to detecting the fault condition, the feedback signal from the second input of the amplification circuit. In some embodiments, the driver circuit transmits a fault condition signal to an electronic control unit of an automobile.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is provided for use in a sensor system having a plurality of sensing coils arranged in a star configuration coupled to terminals of an integrated circuit, such that a first and a second terminal are connected external to the integrated circuit via a loop including a first and a second sensing coil in the plurality of sensing coils. The integrated circuit includes: sensing circuitry for evaluation of sense signals received from the sensing coils via said terminals; a current source and a current sink coupled to respectively a first and a second of said terminals, such that upon supply of current from the current source a current is established through the loop external to the integrated circuit and a detection signal is generated; and an evaluator for evaluating one of more detection signals to detect failure and/or weakness within said loop.

Abstract: A method of operating a driver circuit includes receiving a data signal at a first input of an amplification circuit; amplifying, using the amplification circuit, the data signal to produce an output signal through an output pin; attenuating, using a feedback network, the output signal to produce a feedback signal; coupling the feedback signal to a second input of the amplification circuit; detecting, using a control circuit, a fault condition; and decoupling, responsive to detecting the fault condition, the feedback signal from the second input of the amplification circuit. In some embodiments, the driver circuit transmits a fault condition signal to an electronic control unit of an automobile.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus (1) for measuring peak pulses of a radio frequency input signal (RFinput) comprises mixing means for mixing the radio frequency input signal (RFinput) with a local oscillator signal (LO) in order to convert the radio frequency input signal (RFinput) directly to zero centre frequency thereby suppressing frequency components in a range close to zero frequency. Control means (20) control the frequency (fLO) of the local oscillator signal (LO) in a manner that a first measurement is performed in a first frequency range and that a second measurement is performed in a second frequency range shifted from the first frequency range.

Abstract: An apparatus for analyzing a spectrum of an input signal (?(t)) having at least one line with a center frequency ({circumflex over (?)}x) at the center of the line includes: a mixer for zero-mixing the input signal (?(t)) to produce a base band signal (z(t)) by sweeping a local oscillator frequency (?s) generated by a local oscillator, a resolution filter for filtering the base band signal (z(t)) to produce a filtered base band signal (y(t) ), and an envelope reconstruction means for reconstructing the envelope (E(?)) of the spectrum of the input signal (?(t)) by using an estimated amplitude (?x) at an estimated center frequency ({circumflex over (?)}x) of each line of the input signal (?(t)). Further, only the real component (I) of the base band signal (z(t)) is filtered with the resolution filter and the imaginary component (Q) is generated from the filtered base band signal (y(t)) by performing a Hilbert transform in a Hilbert filter arranged downstream of the resolution filter.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for analyzing a spectrum of an input signal (x(t)) having at least one line with a center frequency (@s) comprises a mixer (2) for zero-mixing the input signal (x(t)) to produce a base band signal (z(t)) by sweeping a local oscillator frequency (@s) generated by a local oscillator (3) and a resolution filter (4) for filtering the base band signal (z(t)) to produce a filtered base band signal (y(t)). Detector means (7) detects the time of occurrence (ti), the duration (?Ti) and the maximum value (y?i) of several halfwaves of the filtered base band signal (y(t)). Envelope reconstruction means (6) reconstructs the envelope (E(@)) of the spectrum of the input signal (x(t)) by using an estimated amplitude at an estimated center frequency of each line of the input signal (x(t)).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for analyzing a spectrum of an input signal (x(t)) having at least one line with a center frequency (?x) at the center of the line comprises: a mixer (2) for zero-mixing the input signal (x(t)) to produce a base band signal (z(t)) by sweeping a local oscillator frequency (?s) generated by a local oscillator (3), a resolution filter (4) for filtering the base band signal (z(t)) to produce a filtered base band signal (y(t)) and envelope reconstruction means (27) for reconstructing the envelope (E(?)) of the spectrum of the input signal (x(t)) by using an estimated amplitude (?x) at an estimated center frequency ({circumflex over (?)}x) of each line of the input signal (x(t)). Only the reel component (I) of the base band signal (z(t)) is filtered with the resolution filter (4) and the imaginary component (Q) is generated from the filtered base band signal (y(t) by performing a Hilbert transform in a Hilbert filter (21) arranged downstream of the resolution filter (4).

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for analyzing a spectrum of an input signal (x(t)) having at least one line with a center frequency (@s) comprises a mixer (2) for zero-mixing the input signal (x(t)) to produce a base band signal (z(t)) by sweeping a local oscillator frequency (@s) generated by a local oscillator (3) and a resolution filter (4) for filtering the base band signal (z(t)) to produce a filtered base band signal (y(t)). Detector means (7) detects the time of occurrence (ti), the duration (&Dgr;Ti) and the maximum value (y′i) of several halfwaves of the filtered base band signal (y(t)). Envelope reconstruction means (6) reconstructs the envelope (E(@)) of the spectrum of the input signal (x(t)) by using an estimated amplitude at an estimated center frequency of each line of the input signal (x(t)).