Abstract: In one embodiments, a phacoemulsification apparatus includes a phacoemulsification probe including a horn, a needle mounted in the horn and configured for insertion into a lens capsule of a human eye, and a piezoelectric actuator configured to vibrate the horn and the needle and having a resonant frequency, a signal generator configured to generate a drive signal to drive a vibration of the piezoelectric actuator, phase detection circuitry configured to measure a phase difference between: a voltage across the piezoelectric actuator, and a current flowing through the piezoelectric actuator in response to the drive signal, and a controller configured to adjust a frequency of the drive signal so as to minimize the measured phase difference, whereby the piezoelectric actuator vibrates at the resonant frequency.

Abstract: A control circuit is disclosed that comprises a resistor and a switch network. The switch network is configured to transition between a plurality of states corresponding to a plurality of operational modes of a surgical instrument. In a first phase of a control signal, the control circuit is configured to communicate surgical instrument information to a surgical generator. In the second phase of the control signal and when the at least one switch of the switch network is in a first state of the plurality of states, the control circuit is configured to provide an output corresponding to one of the plurality of states. In the second phase of the control signal and when the at least one switch of the switch network is in a second state of the plurality of states, the control circuit is configured to provide a second output.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification device includes a needle, one or more piezoelectric crystals, and one or more thermocouples. The needle is configured for insertion into a lens capsule of an eye. The one or more piezoelectric crystals are configured to vibrate the needle. The one or more thermocouples are thermally coupled directly to the respective piezoelectric crystals and are configured to measure respective temperatures of the one or more piezoelectric crystals as the crystals vibrate, and to output indications of the respectively measured temperatures.

Abstract: Each of segments of a vibration transmitting member has a dimension of a half-wave length between mutually neighboring vibration anti-nodes and sets a vibration node as a center. In each of recess segments included in the segments, the vibration node is located in a groove, and an intermediate extension extends from a proximal end to a distal end in the groove in a longitudinal direction. At least two of the recess segments are different from each other with respect to at least one of a dimension in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate extension and a cross-sectional area perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the intermediate extension.

Abstract: A variable capacitance circuit may operate a Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistor or other semiconductor device to switch a capacitor in and out. Several circuits may be combined in a parallel network having offset bias voltages, such that the combined network may produce a variable capacitance over a large voltage range. The variable capacitance circuit may be incorporated into a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit where similar devices may be configured to produce a voltage reference as part of the PLL circuitry. Such a circuit may be immune to temperature, process, or voltage variances, since the current pulse magnitude times the low pass filter resistance times the sensitivity of a controlled voltage oscillator can be held constant.

Abstract: A linear travel measurement apparatus for a compression travel of a telescopic spring unit includes an electrically conductive spring. A telescopic spring unit includes a linear travel measurement apparatus of this kind. The spring is configured to form a measurement inductance, which is dependent on an effective length of the spring. The spring has a respective electrical contact at each of its ends and is connected to a measurement capacitance and to an evaluation and control unit by corresponding electrical connections. The measurement inductance forms an electrical LC resonant circuit with the measurement capacitance, the evaluation and control unit are configured to measure the resonant frequency of said LC resonant circuit, and the resonant frequency is given as a function of the compression travel.

Abstract: A power efficient device for driving a load comprising a low current path and a high current path, wherein the high current path is driven by a first voltage source. In order to accommodate larger turn on voltages of possible load devices while maintaining low power operation, an additional voltage source exceeding the voltage source in the high current path is introduced in the low current path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring the level of a liquid in a vessel, such as a chemical reactor, by radar. The method particularly pertains to situations wherein a supercritical fluid is present above the liquid. More particularly, the method serves to cope with the typical vigorous circumstances of a chemical reaction, such as urea synthesis. The invention foresees the use of a tube extending into the liquid, so as to guide the radar waves to the surface level of the liquid.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first inductor formed on a first substrate; a second inductor formed on a second substrate and conductively coupled with the first inductor as a transformer; and a plurality of micro-bump features configured between the first and second substrates. The plurality of micro-bump features include a magnetic material having a relative permeability substantially greater than one and are configured to enhance coupling between the first and second inductors.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for augmenting frequency tuning resolution in an L-C oscillatory circuit which comprises a source of electrical energy, and a tuned section energized by said source of electrical energy for oscillatory conduction of a resonant current therethrough. The tuned section includes an inductor portion extending in substantially looped manner between first and second connection points to define at least one turn. A primary capacitor portion is connected across at least a primary segment of the conductive member delineated by the first and second connection points. The tuned section further includes a secondary capacitor portion connected across a secondary segment of the conductive member intermediately tapped from the primary segment.

Abstract: An inductor layout (200, 300, 400) comprising a first inductor (210, 310, 410) and a second inductor (220, 320, 420). The first and second inductors (210, 310, 410; 220, 320, 420) are electrically and magnetically independent inductors concentrically arranged on an integrated circuit 800. At least one of the first and second inductors (210, 310, 410; 220, 320, 420) is a multi-loop inductor with a first axis (226a, 316a, 326a, 416a, 426a) of symmetry.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device and method to reduce voltage headroom within a voltage-controlled oscillator by utilizing trifilar coupling or transformer feedback with a capacitive coupling technique. In some embodiments of trifilar coupling, a VCO comprises cross-coupled single-ended oscillators, wherein the voltage of first gate within a first single-ended oscillator is separated from the voltage of a second drain within a second single-ended oscillator within the cross-coupled pair.

Abstract: In a receiving device, an oscillating section generates a local oscillating signal for performing frequency conversion of one reception target channel of channels in broadcasting in a first frequency band and channels in broadcasting in a second frequency band; a first receiving section generates a channel signal based on the local oscillating signal and a high-frequency signal in the first frequency band when the reception target channel is a channel in the first frequency band, and does not perform the generation when the reception target channel is a channel in the second frequency band; and second receiving section generates a channel signal based on the local oscillating signal and a high-frequency signal in the second frequency band when the reception target channel is a channel in the second frequency band, and does not perform the generation when the reception target channel is a channel in the first frequency band.

Abstract: A variable capacitance circuit includes a plurality of variable capacitance elements (varicaps) each having the capacitance value controlled in accordance with the inter-terminal voltage applied between the terminals of the variable capacitance element and connected in parallel to each other, has the combined capacitance value of the plurality of variable capacitance elements variable taking a predetermined capacitance value as a base, sets the inter-terminal voltage of at least one of the plurality of variable capacitance elements to a first voltage as a variable voltage, and sets the inter-terminal voltage of the rest of the plurality of variable capacitance elements to a second voltage as a stationary voltage.

Abstract: A variable inductor is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a variable inductor may comprise a single-turn conductor comprising a first inductor terminal, a second inductor terminal, a first base portion extending from the first inductor terminal to a first intersection location, a second base portion extending from the second inductor terminal to a second intersection location, and a switched portion extending from the first intersection location to the second intersection location, and a switch comprising a first conductive terminal coupled to the first intersection location and a second conductive terminal coupled to the second intersection location.

Abstract: Integrated circuits with phase-locked loops are provided. Phase-locked loops may include an oscillator, a phase-frequency detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator, and a programmable divider. The voltage-controlled oscillator may include multiple inductors, an oscillator circuit, and a buffer circuit. A selected one of the multiple inductors may be actively connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage-controlled oscillators may have multiple oscillator circuits. Each oscillator circuit may be connected to a respective inductor, may include a varactor, and may be powered by a respective voltage regulator. Each oscillator circuit may be coupled to a respective input transistor pair in the buffer circuit through associated coupling capacitors. A selected one of the oscillator circuits may be turned on during normal operation by supplying a high voltage to the selected one of the oscillator circuit and by supply a ground voltage to the remaining oscillator circuits.

Abstract: A design for an oscillator, and a PLL incorporating such an oscillator, which takes up little physical area but maintains a large tuning range and low phase noise. Two LC-tanks are nested and switched. Through tuning the inactive tank, the range of the active tank may be increased and finer tuning becomes possible.

Abstract: A tunable inductor circuit is disclosed. The tunable inductor circuit includes a first inductor. The tunable inductor circuit also includes a second inductor in parallel with the first inductor. The tunable inductor circuit also includes a switch coupled to the second inductor. A resistance of the switch is added in parallel to the first inductor based on operation of the switch.

Abstract: An oscillator circuit includes a pair of negative-resistance circuits, a pair of transmission lines coupled to the pair of negative-resistance circuits respectively, a pair of pads that are provided symmetrically to each other with respect to the pair of transmission lines and are to be coupled to each other by a bonding wire, and a synthetic circuit to synthesize output signals of the pair of negative-resistance circuits.

Abstract: There are provided a variable inductor with little degradation in quality factor, and an oscillator and a communication system using the variable inductor. An inductance controller comprising a reactance device with a variable device value, such as, for example, a variable capacitor, is connected to a secondary inductor, magnetically coupled to a primary inductor through mutual inductance. The inductance controller is provided with an inductance control terminal for receiving a control signal for controlling capacitance of the variable capacitor. Inductance of the primary inductor is varied by varying the capacitance by the control signal.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes multiple circuits isolated with respect to one another. Each circuit of the multiple circuits includes an inductor pair formed in a loop pattern on a same layer as at least one other inductor pair from another circuit of the multiple circuits, such that the inductor pair surrounds and is isolated from the at least one other inductor pair.

Abstract: A variable inductor includes: a first inductor having two ends connected to a first terminal and a second terminal; a second inductor having two ends connected to the first terminal and the second terminal; a first node provided on the first inductor; a second node provided on the second inductor; and a switch element that switches between a conductive state and a non-conductive state between the first node and the second node.

Abstract: An inductor architecture for resonant clock distribution networks is described. This architecture allows for the adjustment of the natural frequency of a resonant clock distribution network, so that it achieves energy-efficient operation at multiple clock frequencies. The proposed architecture exhibits no inductor overheads. Such an architecture is generally applicable to semiconductor devices with multiple clock frequencies, and high-performance and low-power clocking requirements such as microprocessors, ASICs, and SOCs. Moreover, it is applicable to the binning of semiconductor devices according to achievable performance levels.

Abstract: A variable simulated inductor comprises an integrator connected to receive the voltage across the input to the circuit. The output of the inductor is connected to a control terminal of a transconductor connected across the input of the circuit. The gain of the transconductor is electronically controllable in order to control the inductance of the circuit. An oscillator using a variable simulated inductor and a piezoelectric resonator connected in parallel is also provided.

Abstract: When a direct-current voltage is applied from a power supply, a signal line generates a standing wave having the ¾ wavelength where a starting end of the signal line connected to the power supply is used as a node and a terminating end is used as an antinode. Strips are connected to a ground layer through switches, respectively. The switches switch connection and non-connection of the strips and the ground layer, under the control from a switch controller. By switching the connection and non-connection of the switches, the distance between the signal line and the ground layer is pseudo adjusted and the effective permittivity in a transmission line unit changes. Therefore, the frequency of the standing wave can be adjusted.

Abstract: In a Hartley voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) circuit comprising two inductors (Ld, Lg), a transistor (Q1) and a varactor (C), the two inductors (Ld, Lg) are arranged as a coupled inductor pair to enable positive mutual inductance (M) between them and reduce the size of the VCO.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a voltage controlled oscillator configured to operate in low and high band modes includes a low band section and a high band section. The voltage controlled oscillator further includes a multi-tap inductor having a high inductance portion coupled to the low band section and a low inductance portion coupled to the high band section. The low band section is configured to provide a low frequency band oscillator output in the low band mode and the high band section is configure to provide a high frequency band oscillator output in the high band mode. The low band section is disabled in the high band mode and the high band section is disabled in the low band mode. A center tap of the multi-tap inductor is coupled to a supply voltage.

Abstract: An electronic device is made from a first substrate with device circuitry including an inductor and a second substrate with inductance adjustment circuitry including a number of other inductors. The substrates are assembled together to be opposite one another. The other inductors are arranged to provide a selection of different mutual inductance relationships relative to the inductor. These relationships are selectable during operation of the device to provide a variable inductance in the device circuitry.

Abstract: An adjustable capacitor is provided including a capacitor unit including a plurality of capacitor groups aligned in a matrix format and a switch unit to adjust capacitance by connecting the plurality of capacitor groups in parallel according to a selection signal of a column and row of the matrix. Accordingly, the adjustable capacitor may be realized of a small size but with a high capacitance change rate.

Abstract: An inductor circuit includes a pair of inductors connected in parallel with each other and a switch for turning on and off electric power to one of the pair of inductors. The inductance of the inductor circuit can be varied and the quality factor Q can be improved. Further, RF circuits employing the inductor circuit can generate an intended operating frequency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for VCO impedance control to optimize performance, efficiency, and power consumption are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one of a plurality of taps on a multi-tap inductive load to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) on a chip comprising a plurality of transmitters and receivers. The multi-tap inductive load may comprise a multi-tap transformer or transmission line, which may be integrated on the chip, or may be integrated on a package to which the chip is coupled. A voltage swing at an output of the VCO and/or a current in the VCO may be adjusted by configuring a load of the VCO utilizing the multi-tap inductive load. The multi-tap inductive load may be coupled to the VCO utilizing one or more CMOS switches.

Abstract: A continuously tunable inductor with an inductive-capacitive (LC) voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) having a primary coil. The inductor includes a separate isolated secondary coil, a set of transistors composing a closed loop with the secondary coil, a magnetic coupling between the primary coil of the LC VCO and the secondary coil, an electrical coupling between the LC VCO and the set of transistors composing a closed loop with the secondary coil, and means for electric current injection into the closed loop. Such an inductor can be tuned by modulating a mutual inductance, which is magnetically and electrically coupled with the LC VCO by injection of an electric current (I0).

Abstract: CMOS power oscillator and a method of frequency modulating a CMOS power oscillator. The oscillator comprises a transformer-based feedback CMOS power oscillator circuit formed on a chip-substrate, the oscillator circuit including a transformer coupled to a transistor; means for modulating the capacitance of the transformer to the chip-substrate for frequency modulating an output of the power oscillator.

Abstract: An embodiment of the voltage controlled oscillator is provided. The oscillator comprises a first inductor set, a second inductor set, a second capacitor, a voltage source and a negative resistance element. The inductance of the second inductor set is k times the inductance of the first inductor set. The voltage source applies an ac voltage to the second inductor set. The negative resistance element is coupled to the second inductor set to provide a negative resistance to resonate the second capacitor at the second inductor set.

Abstract: A multi-phase voltage-control oscillator including a first voltage-control oscillator circuit and a second voltage-control oscillator circuit is provided. The second voltage-control oscillator circuit and the first voltage-control oscillator circuit have a plurality of inductors, and the inductors in the second voltage-control oscillator circuit are respectively cross-coupled with the inductors in the first voltage-control oscillator circuit to generate a mutual inductance effect, so as to output a plurality of oscillating signals with different phases.

Abstract: A digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) includes a current generator which generates an electric current having a magnitude corresponding to an input signal, and a digitally controlled oscillating unit which generates an oscillating frequency based on an inductance which varies according to the magnitude of the electric current generated by the current generator.

Abstract: There are provided a variable inductor with little degradation in quality factor, and an oscillator and a communication system using the variable inductor. An inductance controller comprising a reactance device with a variable device value, such as, for example, a variable capacitor, is connected to a secondary inductor, magnetically coupled to a primary inductor through mutual inductance. The inductance controller is provided with an inductance control terminal for receiving a control signal for controlling capacitance of the variable capacitor. Inductance of the primary inductor is varied by varying the capacitance by the control signal.

Abstract: An inductor circuit includes a pair of inductors connected in parallel with each other and a switch for turning on and off electric power to one of the pair of inductors. The inductance of the inductor circuit can be varied and the quality factor Q can be improved. Further, RF circuits employing the inductor circuit can generate an intended operating frequency.

Abstract: Methods and systems for VCO impedance control to optimize performance, efficiency, and power consumption are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one of a plurality of taps on a multi-tap inductive load to a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) on a chip comprising a plurality of transmitters and receivers. The multi-tap inductive load may comprise a multi-tap transformer or transmission line, which may be integrated on the chip, or may be integrated on a package to which the chip is coupled. A voltage swing at an output of the VCO and/or a current in the VCO may be adjusted by configuring a load of the VCO utilizing the multi-tap inductive load. The multi-tap inductive load may be coupled to the VCO utilizing one or more CMOS switches.

Abstract: An injection-locked frequency divider for dividing a frequency of an injection signal and obtaining a frequency divided signal is provided. The injection-locked frequency divider includes a signal injection unit and an oscillator. The signal injection unit includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal for receiving the injection signal. The received injection signal exhibits a phase difference of 180° between the first input terminal and the second input terminal. The oscillator includes an inductor unit and a variable capacitance unit. The injection-locked frequency divider is featured with a wide injection locking range, and can be realized with a low operation voltage, and therefore can be conveniently used in different kinds of hybrid ICs.

Abstract: A Method and an apparatus for distributing a clock signal are disclosed. The apparatus for distributing a clock signal includes a pair of flat plates, a variable inductor and a connection channel. The pair of flat plates includes a clock flat plate having at least one of clock signal extraction points and a reference flat plate arranged in parallel to the clock flat plate. The inductor is connected between the pair of flat plates, and the connection channel is configured to connect electrically the at least one of clock signal extraction points to an external circuit. The inductor may be adjusted to have an inductance for generating a resonance signal of a target frequency from the pair of flat plates.

Abstract: Word lines of a NAND flash memory array are formed by concentric, rectangular shaped, closed loops that have a width of approximately half the minimum feature size of the patterning process used. The resulting circuits have word lines linked together so that peripheral circuits are shared. Separate erase blocks are established by shield plates.

Abstract: A novel form of an integrated variable inductor uses an on-chip transformer together with a variable capacitor. The variable capacitor can either be a varactor or a switched capacitor array and is connected to the secondary coil of the transformer. By changing the capacitance at the secondary coil of a transformer, the equivalent inductance looking into the primary coil of the transformer can be adjusted. With another capacitor in parallel to the primary coil, two different modes of resonance inherently exist, and a very wide frequency tuning range can be achieved by combining the two modes.

Abstract: An L-C resonant circuit with an adjustable resonance frequency, having a capacitor and a first inductor electrically coupled together and a second inductor magnetically coupled to the first inductor. Additionally, there is a control circuit to sense a signal representing a first current flowing through the first inductor and to force through the second inductor a second current that is a replica of the first current for setting the adjustable resonance frequency of the L-C resonant circuit.

Abstract: An integrated tunable resonance circuit is provided for providing a high-frequency output signal with a frequency dependent on a control signal, comprising a parallel resonance circuit with a first inductive element and an output for providing the high-frequency output signal, a switching unit with a controlled path, and a control terminal for switching between states, whereby the switching unit is designed to exhibit a predominantly capacitive behavior in a first state and a predominantly resistive behavior in a second state, whereby the resonance circuit is designed to drive the control terminal of the switching unit as a function of the control signal. The resonance circuit has a second inductive element which can be mutually coupled to the first inductive element, whereby the controlled path is connected parallel to the second inductive element. The invention relates furthermore to a voltage-controlled oscillator and to an integrated circuit.

Abstract: An inductance-switchable dual-band voltage-controlled oscillation circuit is proposed, which is designed for integration to a high-frequency signal processing system, such as an ultra-wideband (UWB) circuit system, for providing a dual-band voltage-controlled oscillating signal generating function. The proposed voltage-controlled oscillation circuit is characterized by the use of a switchable inductance circuit architecture in lieu of a switchable capacitive circuit architecture for integration to a fixed-inductance circuit architecture to constitute a variable-inductance LC tuning circuit architecture that allows the provision of a dual-band oscillating signal generating function. Further, a current mirror circuit module is used to maintain the quality factor of the LC tuning circuit in both operating modes; a buffer-stage circuit architecture is used to achieve low power consumption, low phase noise, and broad tuning range.

Abstract: An LC tack structure. The structure, including a set of wiring levels on top of a semiconductor substrate, the wiring levels stacked on top of each other from a lowest wiring level nearest the substrate to a highest wiring level furthest from the substrate; an inductor in the highest wiring level, the inductor confined within a perimeter of a region of the highest wiring level; and a varactor formed in the substrate, the varactor aligned completely under the perimeter of the region of the highest wiring level. The structure may additionally include an electric shield in a wiring level of the set of wiring levels between the lowest wiring level and the highest wiring level. Alternatively, the inductor includes a magnetic core and alternating electrically non-magnetic conductive metal coils and magnetic coils around the core.

Abstract: An adjustable inductor includes a first conductor line to receive an alternating current (AC) signal, a second conductor line configured in a loop arrangement, to generate an inducting current upon receiving the AC signal at the first conductor line, and a switch to adjust an inductance of the first conductor line by switching a loop connection of the second conductor line according to an external control signal.

Abstract: A multi-phase voltage-control oscillator including a first voltage-control oscillator circuit and a second voltage-control oscillator circuit is provided. The first voltage-control oscillator circuit includes a first LC tank and a first inductor assembly unit. The second voltage-control oscillator circuit includes a second LC tank and a second inductor assembly unit. A mutual inductance effect is generated between the inductors of the first voltage-control oscillator and the inductors of the second voltage-control oscillator.

Abstract: An inductor circuit includes a pair of inductors connected in parallel with each other and a switch for turning on and off electric power to one of the pair of inductors. The inductance of the inductor circuit can be varied and the quality factor Q can be improved. Further, RF circuits employing the inductor circuit can generate an intended operating frequency.