Abstract: Integrated circuits can include semiconductor devices with back-side field plates. The semiconductor devices can be formed on substrates that have conductive layers located within the substrates. The conductive layers can include at least one of a conducting material or a semi-conducting material that modifies an electric field produced by the semiconductor devices. The semiconductor devices can include one or more semiconductor layers that include one or more materials having a compound material that includes at least one Group 13 element and at least one Group 15 element.

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: The present disclosure is related to sensors, such as structural sensors, and related systems and methods.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a distributed mufti-sensor witness integrity sensing platform (WISP) approach which allows for positioning of sensors in an enclosed space. In particular, a WISP platform is divided into two modules, with a base module is connected to multiple edge sensor modules with a wired connection. In general, splitting up the distributed WISP system described herein allows multiple sensors to be placed in an enclosed (and generally inaccessible) location. The sensor data can be transmitted from the multiple edge sensor modules via a connection to the base module. Additionally, the use of the two module system as provided herein allows the sensors to be positioned meters away from the first module.

Abstract: A clamp circuit comprises an output transistor and a replica transistor coupled as a current minor pair, wherein the replica transistor is scaled in size to the output transistor by a size ratio; a first current source configured to set a current in the replica transistor, wherein the output current is set at a clamped output current value that is a sum of current of the first current source and a scaled value of the current of the first current source determined according to the size ratio; and a register circuit, wherein a register value stored in the register circuit sets the clamped output current value.

Abstract: Comprehensive system for fire detection and implementing thereof. The disclosed system combines and optimizes optical, electrical, and sensor sub-systems to provide the functionality demanded by the market. While many of the individual functions exist separately, none of the existing products combine elements from different sub-systems to provide a much higher level of functionality. The present disclosure shows how to build a very compact housing around the smoke detector 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.

Abstract: Operator actions and/or other commands or requests are secured via an authentication path from an action originator to a communications/control module or any other industrial element/controller. In implementations, an industrial control system includes an action authenticator configured to sign an action request generated by the action originator. The destination communications/control module or any other industrial element/controller is configured to receive the signed action request, verify the authenticity of the signed action request, and perform a requested action when the authenticity of the signed action request is verified.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for clock synchronization and frequency translation are provided herein. Clock synchronization and frequency translation integrated circuits (ICs) generate one or more output clock signals having a controlled timing relationship with respect to one or more reference signals. The teachings herein provide a number of improvements to clock synchronization and frequency translation ICs, including, but not limited to, reduction of system clock error, reduced variation in clock propagation delay, lower latency monitoring of reference signals, precision timing distribution and recovery, extrapolation of timing events for enhanced phase-locked loop (PLL) update rate, fast PLL locking, improved reference signal phase shift detection, enhanced phase offset detection between reference signals, and/or alignment to phase information lost in decimation.

Abstract: A multiple operating-mode comparator system can be useful for high bandwidth and low power automated testing. The system can include a gain stage configured to drive a high impedance input of a comparator output stage, wherein the gain stage includes a differential switching stage coupled to an adjustable impedance circuit, and an impedance magnitude characteristic of the adjustable impedance circuit corresponds to a bandwidth characteristic of the gain stage. The comparator output stage can include a buffer circuit coupled to a low impedance comparator output node. The buffer circuit can provide a reference voltage for a switched output signal at the output node in a higher speed mode, and the buffer circuit can provide the switched output signal at the output node in a lower power mode.

Abstract: Low-leakage switch circuit techniques to reduce leakage current of an off-state switch, while maintaining a low on-resistance. The low-leakage switch circuit may allow measurement of low current signals in a transimpedance amplifier with improved accuracy without, the need for calibration. The low-leakage switch circuit may include a bootstrapping path connecting two or more terminals or voltage nodes of an off-state switch in the switch circuit. The bootstrapping path is configured to bootstrap major leakage current contributors in the switch circuit, such as the substrate diode leakage, the subthreshold leakage, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are multiple embodiments of a signal-processing circuit that may be utilized in various circuits, including conversion circuitry. The signal-processing circuit may receive an input and produce charges on multiple different capacitors during different phases of operation based on the input. The charges stored on two or more of the multiple different capacitors may be utilized for producing an output of the signal-processing circuit, such as by combing the charges stored on two or more of the multiple different capacitors. Utilizing the charges on the multiple different capacitors may provide for a high level of accuracy and robustness to variations of environmental factors, and/or a low noise level and power consumption when producing the output.

Abstract: System and apparatus for carbon dioxide detection within an automobile. Specifically, this disclosure describes apparatuses and systems for optical gas detection in a stationary and moving vehicle. There is a need for a such a system to prevent loss of life and contribute to a safer traffic environment. This disclosure provides a highly efficient optical measurement system based on principals of optical absorption spectroscopy. It detects the presence of neglected children and animals and changes the vehicle's interior environment accordingly so as to preclude many potentially dangerous conditions. The present disclosure can also optimize ventilation for a driver. To this end, a driver can maximize alertness and attentiveness.

Abstract: Multiple transmit and receive channels in a communication transceiver may be dynamically configured using corresponding channel registers. The present disclosure proposes a profile-based direct memory access (PDMA) that can be used to transfer data from a memory and program specific profile registers in a randomly accessed addressing manner. PDMAs can offload the system processor from reprogramming many system registers based on external or internal events in a multi channels communication system. Furthermore, a PDMA based DMA controller is proposed to configure the frequency hopping registers of the transceiver based on PDMA.

Abstract: One embodiment is circuitry for implementing a baseline restoration (“BLR”) circuit for a photon-counting computed tomography (“PCCT”) signal chain, the circuitry comprising a multi-level discriminator circuit for receiving a shaper voltage from the PCCT signal chain, the discriminator circuit outputting a digital signal indicative of one of a range of voltages within which the shaper voltage falls; a digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”) connected to receive the digital signal output from the discriminator circuit, the DAC converting the received digital signal to a corresponding active reference voltage; and a feedback circuit that injects a cancellation current proportional to the difference between the shaper voltage and the active reference voltage at the input of the PCCT signal chain.

Abstract: A secure 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 secure 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 secure industrial control system are provisioned with the security credentials for providing security at multiple (e.g., all) levels of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and techniques for remote bus enable. In some embodiments, a communication system with remote enable functionality may include: a master transceiver coupled to a downstream link of a bus; a voltage regulator, wherein the voltage regulator has a voltage output and an enable input, and the voltage output is coupled to the master transceiver; and a switch coupled to the enable input of the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A detector for use in detecting reflected or scattered light pulses for a lidar system includes a primary lens, a secondary lens, and a photodiode array. The primary lens is configured to collect and focus the light pulses, the secondary lens is configured to receive and further focus the light pulses from the primary lens, and the photodiode array is configured to receive and sense the light pulses from the secondary lens. At least one of the primary lens or the secondary lens are configured using liquid crystal polymer (LCP).

Abstract: Sensing devices are described. A sensing device includes an inertial sensor, a read-out circuit configured to determine first data indicative of an acceleration of the structure using an output of the inertial sensor, an energy harvester configured to capture energy, and a power management unit. The power management unit comprises a plurality of energy storage components coupled to the energy harvester and a plurality of switches coupled to respective energy storage components of the plurality of energy storage components. The power management unit monitors energy levels stored in the energy storage components, selectively charges the plurality of energy storage components by selectively activating the plurality of switches, and provides power to one or more of the inertial sensor and the read-out circuit based on the monitored energy levels.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometers are described. The MEMS accelerometers may include multiple proof mass portions collectively forming one proof mass. The entirety of the proof mass may contribute to detection of in-plane acceleration and out-of-plane acceleration. The MEMS accelerometers may detect in-plane and out-of-plane acceleration in a differential fashion. In response to out-of-plane accelerations, some MEMS accelerometers may experience butterfly modes, where one proof mass portion rotates counterclockwise relative to an axis while at the same time another proof mass portion rotates clockwise relative to the same axis. In response to in-plane acceleration, the proof mass portions may experience common translational modes, where the proof mass portions move in the plane along the same direction.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide miniaturized isolator modules capable of transferring power and/or data signals across an isolation barrier by way of a transformer while maintaining intrinsic safety (IS) compliance. For example, the isolator modules may provide power from a non-IS side to an IS side of the isolation barrier while protecting the IS side in the event of an overvoltage and/or overcurrent event on the non-IS side. In some aspects, an isolator module includes one or more silicon protection devices, which facilitate the miniaturization of the isolator module while maintaining protection against overvoltage and/or overcurrent events in accordance with IS standards. In some aspects, an isolator module includes a transformer adapted for IS compliance. For example, coils of the transformer may be disposed on opposing sides of an isolation barrier having a thickness of at least 200 microns.