Abstract: Apparatus and method for establishing a stable operating point of a H-bridge with a center shunt switch. The stable operating point lets a circuit connected to the H-bridge outputs work in a more ideal condition. As such, an H-bridge with a stable operating point will yield a higher performance and/or save power. Since common mode is one of the biggest sources of electromagnetic interference, a stable operating point in an H-bridge also suppresses EMI.

Abstract: The trend in wireless communication receivers is to capture more and more bandwidth to support higher throughput, and to directly sample the radio frequency (RF) signal to enable re-configurability and lower cost. Other applications like instrumentation also demand the ability to digitize wide bandwidth RF signals. These applications benefit from input circuitry which can perform well with high speed, wide bandwidth RF signals. An input buffer and bootstrapped switch are designed to service such applications, and can be implemented in 28 nm complementary metal-oxide (CMOS) technology.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for architectures for an analog feedback class D modulator that increase the power efficiency of the class D modulator. In particular, systems and methods are provided for an analog feedback class D modulator having a digital feed-forward loop. The digital feed-forward loop allows for removal of signal content from an input to an analog-to-digital converter, such that the ADC processes just noise and/or error. Using the techniques discussed herein, the loop filter is low power as it processes error content but not signal content.

Abstract: Wideband baluns with enhanced amplitude and phase balance are provided. The wideband balun includes a first transmission line connected between a first port and a third port, and a second transmission line connected between a second port and a fourth port, and a third transmission line connected between the third port and a reference voltage, such as ground. To enhance phase and/or amplitude balance of the wideband balun, the wideband balun further includes a compensation structure operable to provide at least one of capacitive compensation or inductive compensation to balance the wideband balun. For example, in certain implementations, the compensation structure includes at least one of (i) a capacitor connected between the first port and the second port or (ii) a fourth transmission line connected between the first transmission line and the third port.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system comprises a laser diode; a laser diode driver circuit configured generate a laser beam using the laser diode and to frequency chirp the generated laser beam according to a frequency chirp period; a laser splitter to split the generated laser beam into N transmit laser beams pointed at different angles, wherein N is an integer greater than one, and a frequency chirp period of each of the N transmit laser beams is the frequency chirp period of the generated laser beam; and multiple return beam paths to receive N return beams and determine time of flight values for the N return beams in parallel.

Abstract: A transmitter that reduces 3rd order harmonic (HD3) and inter modulation distortion (IMD3) for a gm stage of a mixer while reducing flicker noise is disclosed. The transmitter may include a balanced mixer, a transconductance stage connected to the mixer, and a bias circuit. The bias circuit may include a programmable current source configured to provide a reference current. Further, the bias circuit may include a replica circuit configured to replicate a DC signal of the transconductance stage. The bias circuit may also include a bias transistor configured to level shift a bias signal obtained from a signal source based on the reference current and the DC signal of the transconductance stage as determined from the replica circuit.

Abstract: A system current sensor module can accurately sense or measure system current flowing through a sense current resistor by shunting current through a gain-setting resistor and using an amplifier to measure a resulting voltage, with an output transistor controlled by the amplifier controlling current through the gain setting resistor in a manner that tends to keep the amplifier inputs at the same voltage. The resistors can be thermally coupled to maintain similar temperatures when a system current is flowing. The thermal coupling can include conducting heat from a first resistor layer carrying the current sense resistor to a thermal cage layer located beyond a second resistor layer carrying the gain-setting resistor. This preserves accuracy, including during aging.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to a frequency-compensated amplifier circuit comprising a first multi-stage amplifier comprising a first amplifier input node, a first amplifier output node, and a first amplifier intermediate node. A first feedback path between the first amplifier input node and the first amplifier output node comprises a feedback resistance. A second feedback path between the first amplifier output node and the first amplifier intermediate node comprises a first capacitor and a portion of the feedback resistance. A first switch circuit may be electrically coupled to the first capacitor and to the feedback resistance. The first switch circuit may have a first state in which the first capacitor is coupled to a first tap point of the feedback resistance and the portion of the feedback resistance has a first value.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques of remotely performing key revocation on a device that cannot communicate outside of a local network of the device. The techniques involve including key revocation instructions in software update instructions that are sent to the device. The device may verify the software update instructions using one or more keys to determine whether they are safe for execution on the device. For example, the device may verify that the software update instructions have been sent by a trusted software provider. The device may execute the key revocation instructions included in the software update instruction to revoke use of a key of the key(s), and initiate use of a new key in place of the revoked key.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a PUF apparatus for generating a persistent, random number. The random number is determined by selecting one or more PUF cells, each of which comprise a matched pair of capacitors that are of identical design, and determining a value that is accurately and reliably indicative of a random manufacturing difference between them, based in which the random number is generated. The random manufacturing differences between the capacitors creates the randomness in the generated random number. Furthermore, because the random manufacturing difference should be relatively stable over time, the generated random number should be persistent.

Abstract: A transceiver that may be implemented in low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) transmission system or a multipoint LVDS transmission system, and corresponding systems are disclosed herein. The transceiver can filter a common-mode component of a differential input signal input into the transceiver while maintaining a high impedance for a differential-mode component of the differential input signal. The transceiver utilizes teeter-totter circuitry to maintain the high impedance for the differential-mode component of the differential input signal.

Abstract: One embodiment is a method for estimating an internal temperature of a battery, the method comprising obtaining multiple terminal impedance measurements, wherein each of the terminal impedance measurements is taken at a different one of a plurality of frequencies; determining model parameters for a multivariable polynomial regression model; and applying the multivariable polynomial regression model to the multiple terminal impedance measurements to estimate the internal temperature of the battery.

Abstract: A power domain isolation system, such as without requiring a transformer, can include a reactive circuit, an input network having first and second input nodes that are coupled in parallel with the reactive circuit via respective first and second current control circuits, and an output network having first and second output nodes that are coupled in parallel with the reactive circuit via respective third and fourth current control circuits. The first and second current control circuits can be configured to couple the reactive circuit to the input nodes when the third and fourth current control circuits are configured to electrically isolate the reactive circuit from the output nodes, and the first and second current control circuits can be configured to electrically isolate the reactive circuit from the input nodes when the third and fourth current control circuits are configured to couple the reactive circuit to the output nodes.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to electrical overstress protection devices, and more particularly to electrical overstress monitoring devices for detecting electrical overstress events in semiconductor devices. In one aspect, a device configured to monitor electrical overstress (EOS) events includes a pair of spaced conductive structures configured to electrically arc in response to an EOS event, wherein the spaced conductive structures are formed of a material and have a shape such that arcing causes a detectable change in shape of the spaced conductive structures, and wherein the device is configured such that the change in shape of the spaced conductive structures is detectable to serve as an EOS monitor.

Abstract: Quadrature error correction (QEC) for radio transceivers are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a transceiver includes an in-phase (I) signal path including a first controllable amplifier coupled to a first data converter, and a quadrature-phase (Q) signal path including a second controllable amplifier coupled to a second data converter. The transceiver further includes a QEC circuit operable to correct for a quadrature error between the I signal path and the Q signal path by adjusting a gain of the first controllable amplifier and/or a gain of the second controllable amplifier.

Abstract: A contactless charging drawer for smart garments using magnetic coupling links. A frame with a primary coil creates a magnetic field which couples with a secondary coil disposed a drawer. Smart garments, or any device, can then be safely charged in the drawer. The combination provides for a wireless power charging environment while adding an extra degree of freedom in impedance transformation without the need for electrical contacts to the drawer.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer is provided, comprising a substrate disposed in a plane defined by a first axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis; a first proof mass and a second proof mass coupled to the substrate and configured to translate in opposite directions of each other along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes; and at least one lever coupling the first proof mass to the second proof mass, wherein, the MEMS accelerometer is configured to detect acceleration along the third axis via detection of translation of the first and second proof masses along the third axis; and the MEMS accelerometer exhibits symmetry about the first and second axes.

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: The present disclosure relates to the determination of impedances in an electrical network. Methods and apparatuses for determining one or more impedances within a root and branch network are disclosed. The impedance of a common root part and the impedance of a branch of the electrical network may be determined based on the current in the common root part, the current in a branch of the electrical network and the voltage across the common root part and the branch. By determining the impedance of different parts of the electrical network in this way, the network may be monitored over time and the location of any faults or impending faults in the network may be identified more exactly without requiring invasive network probing and testing.

Abstract: A device to predict failure in a power supply includes a converter circuit configured to generate a regulated output voltage. The device additionally includes a first feedback circuit to generate a first feedback voltage proportional to the regulated output voltage and a second feedback circuit to generate a second feedback voltage based on the regulated output voltage. The second feedback circuit includes a voltage sampling circuit to detect the regulated output voltage, a correction circuit to generate a correction signal responsive to a voltage difference between the regulated output voltage and a specified output voltage, a reference circuit to obtain a specified correction signal to apply to the power supply, a comparator circuit to determine whether a difference between the generated correction signal and the specified correction signal exceeds a threshold signal value, and an alerting circuit to generate an alert signal responsive to the determination.