Abstract: An apparatus for sound detection, sound localization and beam forming comprises a display and a plurality of microphone stacks, wherein the display surrounds each microphone stack in lateral directions. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of elastic connectors, wherein each elastic connector surrounds one respective microphone stack in lateral direction and mechanically connects the respective microphone stack with the display. Each microphone stack further comprises a microelectromechanical transducer array, the transducer array comprising a plurality of membranes, in particular nano-membranes, and corresponding integrated back-volumes, the back-volumes being arranged under the membranes. An optical reading device is configured to separately detect the displacement of each membrane.

Abstract: A power on reset circuit comprises terminals for reference and supply potentials and a voltage divider coupled therebetween. First and second transistors of a bandgap circuit are resistively coupled to the reference potential terminal and have bases connected to the voltage divider. Current mirrors couple the collectors of the first and second transistors to an output terminal providing an output signal indicating a power on reset condition. A first compensation transistor is coupled between the collector of one of the transistors and the reference potential terminal, and a second compensation transistor is coupled between the output terminal and the reference potential terminal to compensate the effect of parasitic substrate currents in response to an external interference.

Abstract: A system comprises a display and one or more sensors, the one or more sensors being located beneath the display. The display comprises an array of light emitting diodes and associated transistors supported by a substrate. The display further comprises two or more layers of insulator material. The thicknesses of the layers are optimized to allow transmission of infrared radiation and/or visible radiation through the layers and onto the one or more sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method and apparatus that can be used to adjust for distorted ambient light readings caused by the ambient light sensor being located behind the display screen. The strategy of the disclosure relies, at least in part, on spectral decomposition of ambient light measurements into independent sources (e.g., red, green, and blue display components of an Organic Light Emitting Diode (“OLED”) display screen and ambient light). Following the spectral decomposition technique, a more accurate ambient light measurement can be obtained in some instances. This technique enables determinations such as ambient lux and correlated color temperature independent of the content displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A DAC, for use in an iADC, is configured for converting a multi-bit word to an analog feedback signal. The DAC comprises a MMS logic block. It further comprises a plurality of output elements configured to generate respective analog portions based on a selection vector and a signal combiner for combining the analog portions to the analog feedback signal. In the MMS logic block switching blocks are arranged cascaded. Each switching block receives at least a portion of the multi-bit word, splits the portion into two sub-portions and forwards them to one subsequent switching block or to one output element. A weight factor is adjusted by multiplying it with the difference of the two sub-portions. A weight accumulator accumulates successive adjusted weight factors, wherein the way of splitting the portion of a further multi-bit word is determined based on the sign of the weight accumulator.

Abstract: A method of measuring a distance using a time of flight sensor comprising a substantially transparent cover covering a light emitter and one or more photodetectors. The method comprises emitting a series of pulses of light from the light emitter; and using the one or more photodetectors to obtain a distribution of times at which at least one photodetector of the one or more photodetectors detected photons after each emission of the series of pulses of light. If the distribution of times comprises only a single peak, the method further comprises analysing the single peak to determine if the single peak includes counts of photons reflected from a target. If the single peak includes counts of photons reflected from a target, the method further comprises measuring the separation between a reference time and a point of the single peak.

Abstract: A method of measuring light intensity comprising exposing a photodiode to light to cause the photodiode to provide a current of a first polarity, supplying said current to an integrator to integrate said current to provide an integrated output voltage, and comparing the output voltage with a threshold voltage. Charge packages of opposite polarity are applied to said first polarity to reset the integration voltage prior to the start of the integration time. At the end of the integration time, the photodiode is disconnected from said integrator and a reference voltage coupled to the integrator input, whilst a resistance is coupled into the circuit until the comparison signal switches. The comparison signal is monitored to measure a time between the end of the integration time and the switching of the comparison signal to provide a measure of a residual voltage.

Abstract: A method for operating a time-of-flight sensor system includes by an array of pixels of a time-of-flight sensor of the time-of-flight sensor system, generating signal data representative of reflected light from an environment; generating an intensity representation of an object in the environment based on the signal data representative of the reflected light from the environment; determining that the intensity representation indicates that an object in the environment includes a target object; and responsive to the determining, generating a three-dimensional representation of the environment based on the data representative of the reflected light.

Abstract: A duty cycle correction circuit comprises a buffer stage which outputs a digital output signal having a duty cycle. At least one buffer of the buffer stage is configured to exhibit a controllable tripping threshold. A control loop circuit comprises a sensing circuit including a switched capacitor that is reset to a reference potential and time-integrates the digital output signal. A comparator is configured to compare the potential at a terminal of the capacitor with the reference potential. A register stores a correction value determined by the comparator to adjust the tripping threshold of the at least one buffer.

Abstract: A differential switched capacitor neural amplifier comprises a sampling stage (SMP) with a plurality of differential inputs for receiving a plurality of input voltages and with at least one pair of digitally adjustable charge stores for sampling the plurality of input voltages, a summation stage (SM) for summing up charges resulting from the sampled plurality of input voltages in order to generate a summation signal, the summation stage (SM) being connected downstream to the sampling stage (SMP), and a buffer and activation stage (ACB) that is configured to apply an activation function and to generate a buffered output voltage at a differential output, based on the summation signal.

Abstract: A sensing system comprising an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and an electronic component configured to interact with a circuitry of the sensing system. The electronic component is located at least partially between the emitter and the detector. The electronic component reduces an amount of electromagnetic radiation propagating from the emitter to the detector. The electronic component advantageously reduces the unwanted detection of electromagnetic radiation that would otherwise propagate directly from the emitter to the detector without leaving the sensing system, thereby reducing a measurement noise and improving an accuracy of the sensing system. The sensing system may form part of a time-of-flight sensing system or a proximity sensing system. The sensing system may form part of an electronic device such as a mobile phone.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement includes a switchable voltage source having a source output for alternatively providing a first and a second excitation voltage, an integrator having an integrator input and an integrator output, a sensor resistor having a first terminal coupled to the source output, a reference resistor having a first terminal coupled to a second terminal of the sensor resistor and a second terminal coupled to the integrator input, and a comparator having a first comparator input coupled to the integrator output.

Abstract: A charge sensitive amplifier circuit for sensor frontend comprises an input node to be connected to a sensor to receive an input charge, and an output node to be connected to a charge conversion circuit. The charge sensitive amplifier circuit comprises a first transfer switch located between the input node and the output node to transfer the input charge to the output node. The charge sensitive amplifier circuit further comprises a second transfer switch located in parallel to the first transfer switch between the input node and the output node to transfer the input charge to the output node.

Abstract: A particulate matter sensor system for sensing particulate matter in a fluid includes a substrate and a cover disposed on the substrate. The cover defines at least a portion of a flow path through the microfluidic system. The sensor system includes a particulate matter sensor disposed in an interior space between the cover and the substrate. The particulate matter sensor includes an integrated sensor device electrically connected to the substrate. The flow path is defined through the particulate matter sensor. The sensor system includes a fluid circulation device disposed in the interior space between the cover and the substrate and configured to cause fluid to flow along the flow path through the microfluidic system.

Abstract: A method for estimating ambient light at a display screen of a device. The method comprises determining one or more expected colour values of display screen output light, detecting light with a sensor positioned behind the display screen, determining one or more colour values of the detected light, determining a difference between the one or more expected colour values of the display screen output light and the one or more colour values of the detected light, and, from the determined difference, estimating a first portion of the detected light corresponding to the display screen output light and a second portion of the detected light corresponding to ambient light.

Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode and a converter arrangement including an integration amplifier, a comparator amplifier, an integration capacitor and a result register. During a precharge phase the result register is set to a starting value. During an integration phase a current is sampled through the photodiode to update the result register in response to down charges applied to an input of the integration amplifier. During a residue phase the result register is updated in dependence on the charge remaining on the integration capacitor. Measuring the residual charge increases resolution and accuracy of the converter.

Abstract: A method of operating an optical proximity sensor of a computer device having a display, where the optical proximity sensor is located beneath or otherwise adjacent to the display. The method comprises obtaining a vertical synchronization signal from a display driver, and synchronizing periodic illumination of a light emitter of the optical proximity sensor with the vertical synchronization signal.

Abstract: An output driver (1) comprises a driver transistor (MP0) having a gate node (GMP0) to apply a gate control voltage (GCV) and a gate control circuit (30) to control the gate node (GMP0) of the driver transistor (MP0). The output driver (1) is configured to be operable in a first operation mode and a second operation mode, the variable resistance of the current path of the driver transistor (MP0) being lower in the first operation mode than in the second operation mode. The gate control circuit (30) comprises a controllable resistor (RC), the controllable resistor (RC) being disposed between the gate node (GMP0) of the driver transistor (MP0) and an output node (QP) of the output driver (1), and a resistance of the controllable resistor (RC) being dependent on operating the output driver in the first or second operation mode.

Abstract: The current disclosure describes a stereo imaging system that is configured to use Time-of-Flight (“Tof”) techniques to aid in stereoscopic image processing. One process disclosed uses ToF to aid in identifying the same elements (e.g., pixel clusters) in stereo image pairs by narrowing down search areas for matching. Another process uses ToF to aid in identifying the same elements in stereo image pairs where there a small amount texture making it difficult to find a match.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a multitude of photodiodes and analog-to-digital converters disposed in adjacent first and second portions of a semiconductor substrate. The photodiodes exhibit X-ray radiation tolerance. An arrangement of several image sensors in adjacent rows can be used for an X-ray detector in a computed tomography apparatus.