Abstract: An apparatus and methods to operate the same to provide fast fault-detection on power semiconductor devices such as power transistors are disclosed. In some embodiment, a desaturation based fault-detection circuit for a power transistor is provided. The fault-detection circuit has an adaptable blanking time and a disconnect switch in the blanking mechanism that allow for quick enabling of fault-detection mechanisms to achieve fast fault detection times on power semiconductor devices.

Abstract: Isolated circuit systems are provided. The systems include a primary side circuit and a secondary circuit, electrically isolated from each other. The primary side and secondary side circuits each utilize a direct current (DC) reference signal. The primary side circuit may use the DC reference signal in a modulation operation. The secondary side circuit may use the DC reference signal in a demodulation operation. The DC reference signal may be sent from the primary side circuit to the secondary side circuit, or from the secondary side circuit to the primary side circuit.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to count objects in an area. The techniques include operations comprising: receiving, from a first sensor, data that identifies a location of a first object in an area at a given point in time; receiving, from a second sensor, data that identifies a location of a second object in the area at the given point in time; and aggregating the data from the first sensor and the data from the second sensor to compute a count value indicating how many objects are present in the area at the given point in time.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of monitoring the magnetic field in which a magnetic sensor is operating in to ensure that the sensor is operating within its defined magnetic window. For example, the method uses the sensor output of either a multi-turn sensor, or some other magnetoresistive sensor that is being used in conjunction with the multi-turn sensor, for example, a magnetic single turn sensor or a second multi-turn sensor, to monitor the operating magnetic field.

Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating cameras and phased array antennas for use in electronic toll charge (ETC) are disclosed. In one aspect, an ETC system includes a camera including a lens and configured to capture an image indicative of a position of a vehicle and a plurality of antennas formed in a ring around the lens of the camera. The system further includes control circuitry configured to: determine the position of the vehicle based on the image captured by the camera, adjust the antennas for beamforming based on the position of the vehicle, and wirelessly communicate with an on board device (OBU) of the vehicle via the beamforming provided by the adjusted antennas.

Abstract: A data acquisition device comprises an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to produce a digital value from an analog input signal. The ADC circuit includes a signal input, a mode input, a serial output, and logic circuitry. The logic circuitry is configured to shift bits of the digital value out the serial output and change an order of the bits shifted out the serial output according to the mode input.

Abstract: Accurately measuring bio-impedance is important for sensing properties of the body. Unfortunately, contact impedances can significantly degrade the accuracy of bio-impedance measurements. To address this issue, a method is provided for estimating an impedance matrix of parasitic network disposed between a first network and a second network of a bio-impedance measurement system, the method comprising determining an impedance matrix for the first network (ZMUX) based on an impedance matrix for the second network (ZLOAD) for at least one known load condition; fitting ZMUX values for ZLOAD for the at least one known load condition to estimate parameters of the impedance matrix of the intervening network.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that is implemented to enable multiple tests of different types, such as a direct current (DC) test and/or a radio frequency (RF) test of a semiconductor device. The apparatus includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switch block coupled between the semiconductor device and automatic testing equipment (ATE). The apparatus is configured to enable/disable a DC path or an RF path to switch between a DC test and an RF test without reconfiguring the connections between the semiconductor device and the ATE. The DC path is used to perform a DC contact test for one or more pins of the semiconductor device. The RF path is used to perform an RF test for the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) switches are disclosed. The MEMS switch may have an actuation voltage greater than the expected voltage of a signal being passed by the MEMS switch in normal operation. The MEMS switches may include a distributed hinge structure in some embodiments. Radial contact pads are included in some embodiments, with or separate from the distributed hinge.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to configuring at least one pair of devices in a physical unclonable function (PUF) apparatus and reading out at least one pair of devices for determining a persistent random PUF output. The pair of devices may be readout by measuring a physical difference between the devices/components caused by random manufacturing differences, which may then be used to determine a persistence random PUF output. Configuring the pair of devices includes measuring the random manufacturing difference and, based on that measurement, setting a readout condition for the pair of devices, which dictates aspects of the readout process that should be used for that pair of devices. Each time the pair of devices is readout in the future, it may be readout in accordance with the condition that was set at configuration.

Abstract: A switched-mode power converter apparatus includes a switching converter to receive an input voltage, to convert the input voltage to an output voltage, and to transmit the output voltage to an output node. The apparatus also includes a ripple attenuation circuit coupled to the output node and a voltage source. The voltage source is adjusted to generate a ripple attenuation signal by the ripple attenuation circuit at the output node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting magnetic turn counter errors are provided herein. In one aspect, there is provided a magnetic field turn sensor system including: a magnetic field angle sensor, a signal processing path configured to receive an output from the magnetic field angle sensor and generate an angle measurement based on the output, a turn count path configured to process the output from the magnetic field angle sensor and output a quadrant measurement based on the output and a processor. The processor is configured to: receive the angle measurement from the signal processing path and the quadrant measurement from the turn count path, determine that the angle measurement deviates from the expected transition angle by more than a threshold value, and indicate a fault in response to determining that the angle measurement deviates from the expected transition angle by more than the threshold value.

Abstract: A phase shifter that includes an RF splitter is disclosed. The RF splitter is arranged so that an RF input signal is provided to, and split over portions of, a feed line that connects an antenna element with a radio transmitter/receiver/transceiver, thus realizing a feed line splitter. Feed line splitters described herein are provided with switches that allow changing a point at which the RF input signal is fed to the feed line, where the switches may be semiconductor-based or MEMS-based switches. The point at which the RF input signal is provided to the feed line to be split defines the electrical path length that the RF energy will travel down each respective path of the feed line splitter, which, in turn, changes the phase shift realized at each output of the feed line splitter. Different antenna elements may be coupled to different outputs of the feed line splitter.

Abstract: A heart monitoring system includes at least two sensors embedded in a seat, such as a driver's seat in a vehicle. One of the sensors obtains a phonocardiogram (PCG) of the driver's heart in addition to noise. Another sensor is a reference sensor that obtains a noise signal, but does not include the PCG signal. Processing circuitry receives the heart signal with the noise and the reference noise signal, and performs adaptive filtering to remove the noise from the heart signal. Further analysis detects a heart rate or other heart measurements in the heart signal, and may output an alert if a heart condition is detected.

Abstract: Power isolators for providing electrical isolation between an input port and an output port that exhibit low electromagnetic interference (EMI) are described. The low EMI may be achieved by, for example, canceling out a common mode current across a transformer in the power isolator that may be converted into EMI. The power isolator may include at least one oscillator circuit that is configured to apply a first signal to a first transformer and a second, different signal to a second transformer. The first and second signals may be configured such that the common mode current generated in each of the first and second transformers has an opposite direction. Thus, the common mode currents in the first and second transformers may at least partially cancel out. As a result, the EMI exhibited by the power isolator may be reduced.

Abstract: Passive gate bias network topologies are implemented for stacked FET switch structures, which improve the settling time and low cut-off frequency for both DC and non-DC operation. DC capable stacked switch bias structures provide gate and bulk bias voltages, using input DC voltages, which are coupled to the gate terminals and the bulk terminals of the stacked switches. The DC coupling can be achieved using resistors, or a combination of resistors and diodes. An exemplary SPST switch includes a series stacked switch in combination with a shunt stacked switch, which can be controlled between alternating states. For low cut-off frequency improvement structures, an input signal is coupled to the gate terminals and bulk terminals of the switches in the stacked switches, using a DC block capacitor and resistors. The low cut-off of the bulk can be improved by connecting the bulk terminal of one switch to the opposite polarity switch.

Abstract: A hot-swap controller regulates the supply of power from an input node to a load coupled to an output node. The controller includes at least one limiting circuit configured to control a first switch connected between the input node and the load to limit an output current of the first switch for application to the load. A control logic circuit determines a state of the first switch and outputs a local state signal, and a communication circuit responsive to the local state signal establishes a voltage or current level corresponding to the local state at a communication circuit output. A communication terminal is also provided that is responsive to the communication output and that is adapted to connect to a second communication terminal of a second hot-swap controller to communicate the local state to the second hot-swap controller.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to systems and methods for operating a plurality of power amplifiers. A predistortion circuit may pre-distort an input signal according to a predistortion configuration to generate a pre-distorted signal for the plurality of power amplifiers. An adaption circuit may receive a first feedback signal from a first power amplifier of the plurality of power amplifiers and generate predistortion correlation data describing a correlation between parameters of a model describing the plurality of power amplifiers. The adaption circuit may receive a first feedback signal from a second power amplifier of the plurality of power amplifiers and update the predistortion correlation data to generate updated predistortion correlation data using the first feedback signal from the second power amplifier. The adaption circuit may also generate the predistortion configuration using the updated predistortion correlation data.

Abstract: A packaging technology in which power switching elements, such as field-effect transistors (FETs), can be oriented in a vertical position relative to the printed circuit board (PCB) on which the product is mounted. The power die including the switching element(s) can essentially stand “on end” so that they take up very little PCB area. Multiple dies can be positioned this way, and the dies can be attached to a heat sink structure, which is designed to take the heat generated by the dies onto the top of the package. The heat sink structure can be attached to a structure to route the power and analog signals properly to the desired pins/leads/balls of the finished product. Using these techniques can result in a significant increase in the power density (both PCB space and solution volume) of power switching elements, e.g., FETs.

Abstract: A data acquisition system comprises a signal processing chain including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit configured to: produce a digital output from an input signal; detect a specified signal feature of the input signal; and change an operating condition of an additional circuit of the signal processing chain in response to detecting the signal feature of the input signal.