Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for generating quadrature clock signals for high-speed signal processing and similar applications. In various embodiments, a first input signal is rotated by a first phase angle to obtain a first rotated signal that represents a first quadrature clock signal. A second input signal that is 180 degrees out-of-phase with the first signal is rotated by a second phase angle such as to produce a second rotated signal. The unaltered first input signal and the phase-shifted second signal are then combined to derive an interpolated signal. This interpolated signal may be used to generate a second quadrature clock signal. As a result, the presented systems and methods effectively addresses the challenges of low-jitter, high-accuracy clock signal generation in applications such as SERDES and other systems that require precise timing signals, thereby ensuring enhanced system performance, while reducing complexity and power consumption.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for high-swing push-pull assisted Voltage Mode Logic (VML) driver circuits that enhance output voltage amplitude to improve efficiency and performance in electronic applications. In embodiments, this is accomplished by utilizing a primary current generator circuit that is powered by a supply voltage to generate a primary current. The primary current is provided, through a switching circuit, to an output node that, in response to an input signal, generates a first output voltage. Further, a supplementary current generator circuit is coupled to the switching circuit to generate a secondary current. The combination of the primary and secondary currents increases the amplitude of the first output voltage, thereby enabling the VML driver circuit to deliver enhanced performance, particularly in applications requiring precise voltage control and high efficiency.

Abstract: A smart power system is described. In one or more implementations, the smart power system comprises a microcontroller and a power converter electrically connected to the microcontroller and is configured to convert electrical energy from one form to another. The system also includes a switch element electrically connected to the microcontroller and configured to control distribution of the converted electrical energy to an electrical load. A sense element is electrically connected to the electrical load and to the microcontroller and is configured to monitor the converted electrical energy distributed to the electrical load and to furnish a feedback signal based upon the converted electrical energy. The microcontroller is configured to verify and to monitor the power converter, as well as to control and to monitor distribution of the converted electrical energy to the electrical load based upon the feedback signal.

Abstract: An image capture device for a secure industrial control system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the image capture device includes: an image sensor; a signal processor coupled to the image sensor; and a controller for managing the signal processor and transmitting data associated with processed image signals to at least one of an input/output module or a communications/control module via a communications interface that couples the controller to the at least one of the input/output module or the communications/control module, wherein the controller is configured to establish an encrypted tunnel between the controller and the at least one of the input/output module or the communications/control module based upon at least one respective security credential of the image capture device and at least one respective security credential of the at least one of the input/output module or the communications/control module.

Abstract: A stress-isolated microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device and a method of manufacture of the stress-isolated MEMS device are provided. MEMS devices may be sensitive to stress and may provide lower performance when subjected to stress. A stress-isolated MEMS device may be manufactured by etching a trench and/or a cavity in a first side of a substrate and subsequently forming a MEMS device on a surface of a platform opposite the first side of the substrate. Such a stress-isolated MEMS device may exhibit better performance than a MEMS device that is not stress-isolated. Moreover, manufacturing the MEMS device by first forming a trench and cavity on a backside of a wafer, before forming the MEMS device on a suspended platform, provides increased yield and allows for fabrication of smaller parts, in at least some embodiments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for increasing efficiency of excess loop delay compensation in delta-sigma analog-to-digital converters. In some examples, systems and methods are provided for reducing total capacitance in an embedded excess loop delay compensation digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in a quantizer for a continuous time delta-sigma ADC. In other examples, the excess loop delay compensation DAC can be a current domain DAC, a charge domain DAC, or a voltage domain DAC. Additionally, methods are provided for digitally controlling the gain of an excess loop delay DAC. Furthermore, methods are provided to calibrate a gain mismatch between a main successive approximation register DAC and an excess loop delay DAC. The systems and methods provided herein improve performance of continuous time delta-sigma ADCs. Continuous time delta-sigma ADCs are high precision and power efficient ADCs, often used in audio playback devices and medical devices.

Abstract: A programmable discrete input module is described. In one or more implementations, the programmable discrete input module comprises a pulse width modulation module configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal based upon an input signal and a pulse width demodulation module configured to generate a demodulated pulse width signal. An isolator is configured to isolate the pulse width modulation module and the pulse width demodulation module and to generate isolated modulated pulse width signal based upon the pulse width modulated signal for the pulse width demodulation module to generate the demodulated pulse width signal. The programmable discrete input module also includes a first comparator and a second comparator for comparing the demodulated pulse width signal with a respective programmable reference and a digital filter configured to filter a comparison signal output by the first comparator or the second comparator to generate a discrete input signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a measurement module for measurement of a multi-electrode resistive sensing element with improved noise performance and accuracy. In some embodiments, stimulation to the sensing element is provided by a current path that originates from a signal source, through a switch block, through a pair of terminals, and ending at a reference node such as ground. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is coupled directly to one or both of the terminals to digitize a voltage. The ADC is coupled to terminals on the sensing element to measure a sensed voltage signal before the sensed signal goes through the switch block. As a result, the measured voltage signal may be free of noise that could be picked up from passing through the switch block, and accuracy of the resistance measurements on the sensing element can be improved.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for a system to track usage of a software application on a remote device, without having connectivity to the remote device. The system transmits an activation token to a computing device different from the remote device to activate the software application, and receives a deactivation token generated by the remote device from the computing device when the software application is deactivated. The system uses transmission of an activation token and receipt of a deactivation token as indicators of start and end times of use of the software application. For example, the system uses the indicated start and end times to determine a billing period for use of the software application.

Abstract: A method and electronic device for configuring a PUF, wherein: PUF cells are configured to use a signal path; determining a winner of racing pairs of PUF cells in a first round and in a second round wherein winners of the first round are raced; the first and second round are repeated for different signal paths; determining, for each signal path, a comparison metric, wherein the comparison metric is based on the count of the outputs of the PUF cells having the signal path in common; determining an optimum signal path for the PUF from the respective comparison metrics; and configuring the PUF to use the optimum signal path.

Abstract: Navigation systems and methods for autonomous vehicles are provided. The navigation system may include multiple navigation subsystems, including one having an inertial measurement unit (IMU). That unit may serve as the primary unit for navigation purposes, with other navigation subsystems being treated as secondary. The other navigation subsystems may include global positioning system (GPS) sensors, and perception sensors. In some embodiments, the navigation system may include a first filter for the IMU sensor and separate filters for the other navigation subsystems.

Abstract: Simple, low-cost systems and methods allow to shape the output spectrum of pre-equalized Tomlinson Harashima Precoding (THP)-equalized transmitters in a manner such as to create a relatively narrow DC null to facilitate transmission over DC-null channels in AC-coupled communication channels. Advantageously, this may be accomplished without significantly adding to the peak value of the to-be-transmitted signal and without the need to resort to high-order filters in the signal path or the use of recursive taps to compensate such filters.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to envelope regulated, digital predistortion (DPD) are provided. An example apparatus includes an envelope regulator circuit to process, based on a parameterized model, an input signal to generate an envelope regulated signal; a digital predistortion (DPD) actuator circuit to process the envelope regulated signal and the input signal based on DPD coefficients associated with a nonlinearity characteristic of a nonlinear component; and a DPD adaptation circuit to update the DPD coefficients based on a feedback signal indicative of an output of the nonlinear component.

Abstract: Systems and methods involving nanomaterial-based electrodes, such as supercapacitor and battery electrodes that can be flexible, are described.

Abstract: A zero trust industrial control system is disclosed herein. The industrial control system includes a plurality of industrial elements (e.g., modules, cables) which are provisioned during manufacture with their own unique security credentials. A key management entity of the zero trust industrial control system monitors and manages the security credentials of the industrial elements starting from the time they are manufactured up to and during their implementation within the industrial control system for promoting security of the industrial control system. An authentication process, based upon the security credentials, for authenticating the industrial elements being implemented in the industrial control system is performed for promoting security of the industrial control system. In one or more implementations, all industrial elements of the zero trust industrial control system are provisioned with the security credentials for providing security at multiple (e.g., all) levels of the system.

Abstract: Provided are methods of manufacturing comprising providing a FET base structure, the FET base structure comprising a substrate, a drain and a source; and providing a channel layer on the FET base structure; and providing a first layer on the FET base structure. The first layer comprises a one-dimensional or two-dimensional material and is arranged on an upper surface of the channel layer so as to form a sensing surface of the FET. The step of providing the channel layer comprises forming the channel layer and subsequently transferring the channel layer onto the FET base structure. Alternatively or additionally, the step of providing the first layer on the FET base structure comprises forming the first layer and subsequently transferring the first layer onto the FET base structure.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to hybrid basis function, neural network-based digital predistortion (DPD) are provided. An example apparatus for a radio frequency (RF) transceiver includes a digital predistortion (DPD) actuator to receive an input signal associated with a nonlinear component of the RF transceiver and output a predistorted signal. The DPD actuator includes a basis-function-based actuator to perform a first DPD operation using a set of basis functions associated with a first nonlinear characteristic of the nonlinear component. The DPD actuator further includes a neural network-based actuator to perform a second DPD operation using a first neural network associated with a second nonlinear characteristic of the nonlinear component. The predistorted signal is based on a first output signal of the basis-function-based actuator and a second output signal of the neural network-based actuator.

Abstract: Fault monitoring systems and methods presented herein perform steps comprising, in response to a host device receiving a valid command, if no fault condition is present in a circuit, communicating an acknowledgement response to the host device. Whether a fault condition is present in the circuit may be determined by a monitoring circuit. If a fault condition is found, an error acknowledgement response that is different from the acknowledgement response may be communicated to the host. Contrariwise, if an invalid command is received from the host, no acknowledgement response and no error acknowledgement response are communicated to reduce unnecessary communication.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a dynamic composite field of view in a scanning lidar system, such as to improve a signal-to-noise ration of detected light. The dynamic composite field of view can include a subset of the available detector pixels, and can thereby reduce noise introduce by noise sources that can scale with a detector area, such as dark current and gain peaking that can be caused by a capacitance of the photodetector.

Abstract: A switch fabric is disclosed that includes a serial communications interface and a parallel communications interface. The serial communications interface is configured for connecting a plurality of slave devices to a master device in parallel to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and the parallel communications interface is configured for separately connecting the plurality of slave devices to the master device to transmit information between the plurality of slave devices and the master device, and to transmit information between individual ones of the plurality of slave devices. The parallel communications interface may comprise a dedicated parallel communications channel for each one of the plurality of slave devices. The serial communications interface may comprise a multidrop bus, and the parallel communications interface may comprise a cross switch.