Abstract: Radio transceiver control interfaces are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a semiconductor die includes a group of transmitters and a group of receivers that operate as a transceiver. Additionally, a group of common pins are used to control settings of both the transmitters and receivers. In one example, data received on the common pins can be used to establish enable settings for each of the transmitters and receivers. Thus, rather than using a one-to-one correspondence between a pin and the setting of a particular transmitter or receiver, a mapping is used between the common pins and the settings of the transmitters and receivers.

Abstract: Remote keyless entry (RKE) systems and devices are described. The RKE devices include one or more passive radios that respond to an interrogation signal from an interrogating device such as a vehicle. The passive radio sends a responsive signal that can include a decaying portion representing a ringdown signal. The passive radio includes a SAW resonator in some situations.

Abstract: A MEMS device is provided comprising a mass configured to move along a first axis and a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis; a drive structure coupled to the mass and configured to cause the mass to move along the first axis; a sense structure coupled to the mass and configured to detect motion of the mass along the second axis; a stress relief structure coupled to one of the drive structure or the sense structure; and at least one anchor coupled to an underlying substrate of the MEMS device, wherein the stress relief structure is coupled to the at least one anchor and the at least one anchor is disposed outside of the stress relief structure.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a rotational dynamic element matching (DEM) for Delta Sigma converters. In some implementations, the systems and methods are provided for reducing intersymbol interference (ISI) of a Delta Sigma converter. A delta sigma converter architecture can include multiple I-DACs, and the output from each I-DAC can vary from the other l-DACs. Techniques include decreasing mismatch among multiple l-DACs while improving efficiency of rotational dynamic element matching.

Abstract: A measurement circuit comprises an input terminal to receive a current signal, a first circuit branch coupled to the first terminal and including one or more circuit elements to receive a portion of the current signal, a second circuit branch coupled to the first terminal and including one or more additional circuit elements to receive another portion of the current signal, a nonlinear circuit element coupling the first circuit branch to the second circuit branch, and a quantization circuit configured to produce an input current measurement of current in the first and second circuit branches, and to include current in the second circuit branch in the input current measurement according to a magnitude of the input current signal.

Abstract: Device for improving an optical detecting smoke apparatus and implementing thereof. Apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of smoke in a small, long-lasting smoke detector are disclosed. Specifically, the present disclosure shows how to build one or more optimized blocking members in a smoke detector to augment signal to noise ratio. This is performed while keeping the reflections from the housing structure to a very low value while satisfying all the other peripheral needs of fast response to smoke and preventing ambient light. This allows very small measurements of light scattering of the smoke particles to be reliable in a device resistant to the negative effects of dust. In particular, geometrical optical elements, e.g., cap and optical defection elements, are disclosed.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) inertial sensors exhibiting reduced parasitic capacitance are described. The reduction in the parasitic capacitance may be achieved by forming localized regions of thick dielectric material. These localized regions may be formed inside trenches. Formation of trenches enables an increase in the vertical separation between a sense capacitor and the substrate, thereby reducing the parasitic capacitance in this region. The stationary electrode of the sense capacitor may be placed between the proof mass and the trench. The trench may be filled with a dielectric material. Part of the trench may be filled with air, in some circumstances, thereby further reducing the parasitic capacitance. These MEMS inertial sensors may serve, among other types of inertial sensors, as accelerometers and/or gyroscopes. Fabrication of these trenches may involve lateral oxidation, whereby columns of semiconductor material are oxidized.

Abstract: A structural electronics wireless sensor node is provided that includes layers of electronic components fabricated from patterned nanostructures embedded in an electrically conductive matrix. In some aspects, the structural electronics wireless sensor node includes a plurality of nanostructure layers that each form individual electronic components of the structural electronics wireless sensor node. In certain embodiments, the structural electronics wireless sensor node includes electronic components such as a resistor, a inductor, a capacitor, and/or an antenna.

Abstract: A system for ultrasound beamforming is provided, including a sampled analog beamformer, an array of ultrasound transducers, and a high voltage amplifier coupled to the sampled analog beamformer and the array of ultrasound transducers. The sampled analog beamformer includes a sampled analog filter for filtering an incoming analog signal and adding a fractional delay, and transmitting a filtered analog ultrasound signal. The array of ultrasound transducers further transmits the filtered analog ultrasound signal. The high voltage amplifier drives transducers in the array of ultrasound transducers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic assembly can include: a first electronic device package configured to be mounted on and electrically connected with a system substrate; a second electronic device package electrically connected to the system substrate; and an electrical pathway configured to extend from the system substrate through the first electronic device package and connected to an input terminal of the second electronic device package, the electrical pathway bypassing processing circuitry of the first electronic device package.

Abstract: A passive wireless sensor may be wirelessly coupled with an interrogator. The sensor uses multiple antennas to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator and compares a path length difference between the signal received at each antenna. The path length difference changes based on the relative position of the sensor and interrogator. Using the path length difference, the sensor transmits a response signal to the interrogator. The interrogator analyzes the response signal to determine sensor position. The interrogator compares the determined sensor position to a previous known sensor position to determine if an attack has occurred, such as a replay, counterfeit, or tampering attack. The sensor may include cryptographic circuitry that scrambles the response signal, thwarting an attack such as a sniffing attack. The interrogator may include multiple antennas and determine a position of the sensor by calculating an angle-of-arrival that enhances a signal from the sensor, via beamforming.

Abstract: Aspects of this disclosure relate to a segmented receiver for a wireless communication system. The segmented receiver includes a first receiver segment and a second receiver segment configured to receive respective radio frequency signals. The radio frequency signals can be orthogonally polarized. Branch circuits in each receiver segment can provide a radio frequency signal to different mixers. The different mixers can be included in different receiver segments and receive local oscillator signals from independent local oscillators. Each receiver segment can process a different bandwidth of the radio frequency signal. Two different bandwidths of the radio frequency signal can be processed concurrently by different receiver segments.

Abstract: A three-axis accelerometer includes a single, integrated mass including at least one lateral (x-y) proof mass and at least one vertical (z) proof mass. The vertical proof mass is arranged as a teeter-totter mass, which is located within the lateral proof mass. The vertical proof mass is mechanically coupled to the lateral proof mass with one or more torsional springs, and the lateral proof mass is mechanically coupled to one or more anchors with one or more lateral springs. The at least one vertical proof mass may be symmetrically positioned about one or more axes of the three-axis accelerometer, so that the 3-axis accelerometer has in-plane symmetry. The three-axis accelerometer may be less susceptible for mechanical cross-talk or noise and may provide a smaller packaged solution for sensing acceleration in three directions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of a multiple-mass, multi-axis microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer sensor device with a fully differential sensing design that applies differential drive signals to movable proof masses and senses differential motion signals at sense fingers coupled to a substrate. In some embodiments, capacitance signals from different sense fingers are combined together at a sensing signal node disposed on the substrate supporting the proof masses. In some embodiments, a split shield may be provided, with a first shield underneath a proof mass coupled to the same drive signal applied to the proof mass and a second shield electrically isolated from the first shield provided underneath the sense fingers and biased with a constant voltage to provide shielding for the sense fingers.

Abstract: A substance delivery device is disclosed. The substance delivery device includes a lever that includes a drive arm that is rotatable about a pivot. The substance delivery device also includes a pump that has a deformable chamber. The deformable chamber is configured to rotate the drive arm about the pivot towards a container so as to deform the container to drive a fluid substance from the container.

Abstract: Packaging of microfabricated devices, such as integrated circuits, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), or sensor devices is described. The packaging is 3D heterogeneous packaging in at least some embodiments. The 3D heterogeneous packaging includes an interposer. The interposer includes stress relief platforms. Thus, stresses originating in the packaging do not propagate to the packaged device. A stress isolation platform is an example of a stress relief feature. A stress isolation platform includes a portion of an interposer coupled to the remainder of the interposer via stress isolation suspensions. Stress isolation suspensions can be formed by etching trenches through the interposer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for multiphase clock generation are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a multiphase clock generator includes a first clock buffer that generates a first output clock signal based on a first input clock signal, a second clock buffer that generates a second output clock signal based on a second input clock signal, and a first clock interpolation circuit that generates a third output clock signal based on interpolating the first input clock signal and the second input clock signal. The first clock interpolation circuit generates the third output clock signal based on multiplying the first input clock signal by a first adjustable current to generate a first multiplied current, multiplying the second input clock signal by a second adjustable current to generate a second multiplied current, combining the first multiplied current and the second multiplied current to generate a combined current, and integrating the combined current.

Abstract: A signal conditioning circuit to reduce detrimental effects of analog circuit elements. The techniques described herein provide a cascade of buffer circuits and signal processing circuitry to measure and cancel the distortion introduced by the buffer circuits. Thus, a buffer can be added to the signal path of an input signal without the detrimental effects, such as added distortion, that typically accompany the addition of buffers.

Abstract: Techniques to adjust a gain of an analog-to-digital converter circuit (ADC) and/or an ADC full scale from one sample to the next of an analog input signal to compensate for the signal loss over distance, which can increase an effective dynamic range of the system. The benefit of compensating for the signal loss due to distance is that a data interface between the ADC of the receiver of the LIDAR system and a signal processor no longer needs to support the dynamic range from the range specification.