Abstract: Forming a three-dimensional structure includes applying photoresist on a layer and using a photolithography system to expose the photoresist. The photolithography system includes a photomask having a pattern thereon, where the pattern provides varying pattern density across a surface of the photomask and has a pitch that is less than a resolution of the photolithography system. The method includes subsequently developing the photoresist such that photoresist remaining on the layer has a three-dimensional profile defined by the photomask. An isotropic etchant is used to etch the layer such that the three-dimensional profile of the photoresist is transferred to the layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting objects comprises an optical interferometer that is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation from a light source, and emit electromagnetic radiation to a detector. The optical interferometer is coupled to an environment and further configured to respond to objects in the environment intruding into an interaction volume of the optical interferometer by varying an intensity of the electromagnetic radiation emitted to the detector based on a property of the objects in the interaction volume. A signal processor is configured to generate an output signal based on the intensity of the electromagnetic radiation emitted to the detector.

Abstract: A transconductor circuitry (10) with adaptive biasing comprises a first input terminal (E10a) to apply a first input signal (inp), and a second input terminal (E10b) to apply a second input signal (inn). A control circuit (200) is configured to control a first controllable current source (110) in a first current path (101) and a second controllable current source (120) in a second current path (102) in response to at least one of a first potential of a first node (N1) of the first current path (101) and a second potential of a second node (N2) of the second current path (102). The first node (N1) is located between a first transistor (150) and the first controllable current source (110), and the second node (N2) is located between a second transistor (160) and the second controllable current source (120).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical sensor arrangement including the steps of providing a substrate having a surface and providing an integrated circuit comprising an optical detector arranged for detecting light of a desired wavelength range. The integrated circuit and a light emitter are mounted onto the surface, wherein the light emitter is arranged for emitting light in the desired wavelength range. The integrated circuit and the light emitter are electrically connected to each other and to the substrate. A light barrier is formed between the optical detector and the light emitter by dispensing a first optically opaque material along a profile of the integrated circuit. A mold layer is formed by at least partly encapsulating the substrate, the integrated circuit and the light emitter with an optically transparent material. A casing, made from a second optically opaque material, is mounted on the light barrier and thereby encloses a hollow space between the casing and the mold layer.

Abstract: We disclose herein a method of compressing data for data transfer within an electronic device. The method comprises: receiving, at a first processing member of the electronic device, a plurality of data samples produced by a member of the electronic device, wherein the data samples comprise numerical bits; restructuring, by the first processing member, the plurality of data samples into a plurality of data packets; labelling each data packet with a sample indicator bit to indicate a plurality of groups across the plurality of data packets; transferring a bit stream comprising at least some of the plurality of data packets across an interface of the electronic device to a receiving member of the electronic device; and decoding the bit stream, by a second processing member of the electronic device, to obtain at least some of the plurality of the data samples, the decoding being based at least in part on the sample indicator bits.

Abstract: A semiconductor body comprises a buried layer of a first type of conductivity, a first region of the first type of conductivity, a shallow region of a second type of conductivity at a first surface of the semiconductor body, a sinker of the first type of conductivity located at the first surface of the semiconductor body, and a separating region of the first type of conductivity encircling at least one of the sinker and the buried layer. The first region is between the buried layer and the shallow region.

Abstract: An intermetal dielectric and metal layers embedded in the intermetal dielectric are arranged on a substrate of semiconductor material. A via hole is formed in the substrate, and a metallization contacting a contact area of one of the metal layers is applied in the via hole. The metallization, the metal layer comprising the contact area and the intermetal dielectric are partially removed at the bottom of the via hole in order to form a hole penetrating the intermetal dielectric and extending the via hole. A continuous passivation is arranged on sidewalls within the via hole and the hole, and the metallization contacts the contact area around the hole. Thus the presence of a thin membrane of layers, which is usually formed at the bottom of a hollow through-substrate via, is avoided.

Abstract: A method of sensing a level of ambient light in an electronic device comprising sensing a combined light level of ambient light and light from the display, integrating this to determine an integrated light level, determining an integrated display light level, and compensating the integrated light level using the integrated display light level to determine the ambient light level. The device modulates the display between first and second brightness levels and determining the integrated display light level comprises sensing a combination of light from the display and ambient light when at each of the first and second brightness levels, determining a difference, and applying a calibration value to the difference to determine the integrated display light level.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for current peak detection. The apparatus includes a pulse laser diode array, a sense resistor, a capacitive voltage divider (CVD) electrically coupled to the pulse laser diode array, a first current rectifier, a second current rectifier, a first current peak detector, a second current peak detector, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operable to convert the analog outputs from each current peak detector to a digital output signal, and a digital signal processing (DSP) unit operable to detect, from the digital output signal, a current peak pulse at the top and the bottom of the sense resistor.

Abstract: A filter assembly includes an incident medium, a spacer, at least one dielectric filter and an exit medium. The spacer is arranged between the incident medium and the at least one dielectric filter such that the incident medium and the at least one dielectric filter are spaced apart by a working distance and thereby enclose a medium of lower index of refraction than the incident medium. The at least one dielectric filter is arranged on the exit medium.

Abstract: An optical device (306) includes an internal cavity and an emitter (102) disposed in the internal cavity (210). The emitter is operable to emit a first light wave (220). The optical device also includes a detector (104) disposed in the internal cavity. The detector is operable to detect a second light wave (225) that is based on the first light wave. The second light wave is susceptible to being coupled with an undesired light wave (235) that is based on the first light wave. The optical device further includes an interference filter (310) disposed on the detector. The interference filter has a filter property that causes the interference filter to attenuate the interfering light wave.

Abstract: An audio system for an ear mountable playback device comprises a speaker and an error microphone that is configured to sense sound being output from the speaker and ambient sound. The audio system further comprises a detection engine that is configured to determine a driver response between the speaker and the error microphone, and to estimate a leakage condition from the determined driver response.

Abstract: A time-of-flight arrangement (10) comprises a laser (15), a laser driver (12), a clock generator (11) that is coupled to the laser (15) via the laser driver (12), a photodiode circuit (50) and a time-to-digital converter (14). The photodiode circuit (50) comprises an avalanche photodiode (51), a quenching circuit (52), a diode node (53) and a readout circuit (54). The quenching circuit (52) is coupled via the diode node (53) to the avalanche photodiode (51). An input of the readout circuit (54) is connected to the diode node (53). At least one of the clock generator (11) and the readout circuit (54) is coupled on its output side to the input side of the time-to-digital converter (14).

Abstract: A noise cancellation system for an ear-mountable playback device having a speaker, a feedforward microphone and an error microphone comprises a filter chain for coupling the feedforward microphone to the speaker, the filter chain comprising a series connection or parallel connection of a coarse filter and a fine filter, and a noise control processor. The fine filter is formed of a set of sub-filters having a predefined frequency range, wherein the predefined frequency range of each of the sub-filters together forms an effective overall frequency range of the fine filter.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus for enabling an imaging sensor to perform Time-of-Flight measurements while requiring less histogram memory and in many cases less power consumption. A light source is operated to cause multiple light emissions and a coarse/estimated distance is determined based on a first echo received based on the first light emission. A histogram is saved and a fine distance is calculated from the coarse distance and data derived from the echo of a second light emission.

Abstract: A peak-detector circuit may include a first input terminal for providing a first input voltage, a first rectifying element with an anode connected to the first input terminal, a first capacitor with a first electrode connected to a cathode of the first rectifying element, a first terminal coupled to the first electrode of the first capacitor, a second rectifying element with a cathode connected to the first input terminal, a second capacitor, a first switch coupling an anode of the second rectifying element to a first electrode of the second capacitor, and a second terminal coupled to the first electrode of the second capacitor.

Abstract: A signal processor is provided, the signal processor comprising a transaction buffer, a processing memory, a processing unit, and a bus connection that is configured to be connected to a bus system for data transmission, wherein the transaction buffer is configured to receive and save a set of data packets from the bus system, the data packets each comprise payload data and attributed address data, where the address data relate to an address of the processing memory, the processing memory is connected with the processing unit, the processing unit is configured to run a process routine, and the transaction buffer is configured to transfer payload data between the processing memory and the transaction buffer at a selectable instant of time during the process routine run by the processing unit. Furthermore, a method for transferring data is provided.

Abstract: A position sensor comprises at least one magneto-sensitive element, a current source that is coupled to the at least one magneto-sensitive element and is configured to supply a source current to the at least one magneto-sensitive element, an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled to the at least one magneto-sensitive element, a position calculation unit that is coupled to an output of the analog-to-digital converter and comprises a first output for providing a position signal, and a diagnostic unit that comprises an output coupled to the current source and is configured to provide a stimulus signal as a function of a stimulus pattern at the output of the diagnostic unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for circuit failure detection for a diode array. The apparatus includes a diode array, a diode array test circuit electrically coupled to the diode array and operable to perform circuit failure detection during a test mode when a test input voltage is applied, the diode array test circuit includes an input resistor, an input voltage node, a buffered amplifier circuit, and a plurality of amplifier circuit switches. The apparatus further includes a current detector electrically coupled to the output of the buffered amplifier circuit and operable to determine, during the test mode, a current measurement of the pulse laser diode array.

Abstract: An audio system for an ear mountable playback device comprises a compensation filter configured to generate a third compensation signal by applying filter operations to an audio signal, and an error compensation unit configured to generate a compensated error signal on the basis of the third compensation signal and a disturbed audio signal from an error microphone. The audio system further comprises a first noise filter configured to be adapted based on the compensated error signal, and a detection unit configured to estimate the acoustic leakage condition on the basis of the first noise filter or of the disturbed audio signal and an audio output signal. The compensation filter is configured to be adapted based on the acoustic leakage condition.