Abstract: The subject disclosure describes a structure and method that generates the average of two or more reference quantities (e.g., reference voltage potentials) and monitors the integrity of the voltage reference potentials. The subject technology produces a reference with improved accuracy and more accurate monitoring compared to traditional techniques. For example, the subject technology provides for a fault circuit that includes a monitoring circuit, and an averaging circuit configured to receive a plurality of reference signals and to produce an averaged reference signal based on the received plurality of reference signals. In some examples, the monitoring circuit is configured to receive the averaged reference signal from the averaging circuit, compare the averaged reference signal to each of the plurality of reference signals, and generate a fault signal when the averaged reference signal deviates from at least one of the plurality of reference signals by at least a threshold value.

Abstract: A pre-charge circuit is provided for pre-charging the input node of a capacitive component to which the multiplexer output is fed to a charge level that is close to or approximates the signal output level of the multiplexer when its output is next switched. In order to reduce the level shifting burden on the amplifier in the pre-charge circuit, each pre-charge circuit input channel has a respective capacitor that is able to be switched in and out of series with the respective multiplexer channels, such that the respective capacitors track the signal levels on the multiplexer channels. The provision of the corresponding capacitors for each MUX channel reduces the input current to the pre-charge amplifier, and allows for the level shifting burden to be taken by the capacitors, leading to more stable and lower power operation.

Abstract: A back-gate carbon nanotube field effect transistor (CNFETs) provides: (1) reduced parasitic capacitance, which decreases the energy-delay product (EDP) thus improving the energy efficiency of digital systems (e.g., very-large-scale integrated circuits) and (2) scaling of transistors to smaller technology nodes (e.g., sub-3 nm nodes). An exemplary back-gate CNFET includes a channel. A source and a drain are disposed on a first side of the channel. A gate is disposed on a second side of the channel opposite to the first side. In this manner, the contacted gate pitch (CGP) of the back-gate CNFET may be scaled down without scaling the physical gate length (LG) or contact length (LC). The gate may also overlap with the source and/or the drain in this architecture. In one example, an exemplary CNFET was demonstrated to have a CGP less than 30 nm and 1.6× improvement to EDP compared to top-gate CNFETs.

Abstract: A novel, modified MEMS accelerometer with additional ability to measure optical radiation due to integration of silicon photodiode in the silicon cap. The silicon cap is used to protect the MEMS based accelerometer from the environment. The function of the cap is enhanced to include optical measurement. The entire sensor element including accelerometer and photodiode (XL+PD) occupies no more space than the XL alone.

Abstract: Gain independent reference channel measurement system and method. A method of making robust, stable measurements, in a variety of different applications is disclosed. More specifically, this disclosure describes systems and methods relating to performing gain independent reference channel measurements by making two phase measurements of a device under test. Mathematically, the measurements are combined and many common mode parameters drop out. The result yields an analysis of a device under test analysis which mitigated errors, predominately arising from environmental variations and changes in circuit behavior stemming from swings in signal input.

Abstract: Bias networks for amplifiers are disclosed. An example bias network includes an adaptive bias circuit, configured to generate a bias signal for an amplifier, and further includes a coupling circuit, configured to couple the adaptive bias circuit to the amplifier. The coupling circuit is made adaptive in that its' impedance depends on a power level of an input signal to be amplified by the amplifier. By configuring the coupling circuit to have a variable impedance that depends on the power level of the input signal, the coupling circuit may adapt to the input power level and, thereby, may modify the bias signal to reduce/optimize at least some of the nonlinearity that may be introduced to the bias signal by the adaptive bias circuit.

Abstract: VCO ADCs consume relatively little power and require less area than other ADC architectures. However, when a VCO ADC is implemented by itself, the VCO ADC can have limited bandwidth and performance. To address these issues, the VCO ADC is implemented as a back end stage in a VCO-based continuous-time (CT) pipelined ADC, where the VCO-based CT pipelined ADC has a CT residue generation front end. Optionally, the VCO ADC back end has phase interpolation to improve its bandwidth. The pipelined architecture dramatically improves the performance of the VCO ADC back end, and the overall VCO-based CT pipelined ADC is simpler than a traditional continuous-time pipelined ADC.

Abstract: Variable gain amplifiers (VGA) with output phase invariance are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a VGA is operable in a selected gain setting chosen from multiple gain settings that provide different amounts of amplification to a radio frequency (RF) input signal. The VGA includes a gain transistor that has a substantially constant bias current across the gain settings, such that the VGA's output phase, input impedance matching, and/or input return loss are substantially constant. The gain setting of the VGA is selected by controlling relative biasing of a pair of cascode transistors each connected to the gain transistor by a corresponding degeneration resistor. The degeneration resistors provide compensation that reduces or eliminates a difference in output phase of the VGA across gain settings, for instance, by introducing a zero in a transfer function of the VGA that cancels a pole arising from the cascode transistors.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices are described that include a proof mass movably connected to a substrate by accordion springs disposed on opposite sides of the proof mass, with a coupler coupling two of the accordion springs together. The coupler is a bar in some implementations, and may be rigid. The coupler therefore restricts the motion of the accordion springs relative to each other. In this manner, the motion of the proof mass may be restricted to preferred types and frequencies.

Abstract: A battery system monitor includes cell measurement circuits (CMCs) that each measure a voltage at or current through a pair of terminals of a respective associated battery module from among a plurality of plurality of battery modules in a battery system. Wireless communication transceivers (WCTs), each associated with a different CMC, transmit voltage or current measurement information of the associated CMC across a wireless communication link. A controller receives the voltage or current measurement information from the wireless communication transceivers for monitoring the state of operation of the battery system. Battery system monitoring is improved through synchronization of clocks in different CMCs or WCTs to enable synchronous sampling of multiple battery modules, through systems for determining relative positions of battery modules in a series coupling of battery modules between terminals of the battery system, and through improvements to the reliability of wireless communication.

Abstract: A lidar system can be used to measure a distance to one or more objects in a target region, such as by transmitting light towards the target and then receiving light reflected or scattered from the target. Received light can be stored as charge on storage elements such as capacitors, where received light can be stored on different storage elements depending on a time of arrival of the received light. A reduction in the number of storage elements can be achieved by providing one or more groups of storage elements, where each group of storage elements can correspond to a digit of a time of flight, where the time of flight can be round trip travel time of a light beam travelling from the lidar system to the target region and then back to the lidar system. Each group of storage elements can be arranged in a binary tree of a decimal tree configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to generating a measurement sensor profiling summary in relation to a measurement sensor of an electrical measurement system, the measurement sensor being suitable for measuring an electrical property. The profiling summary is generated by obtaining a plurality of profiling results each comprising an estimate of a transfer function of a measurement sensor of the electrical measurement system and a corresponding certainty value indicative of the accuracy of the estimate of the transfer function, wherein the plurality of profiling results are based on estimates of the transfer function of the measurement sensor and corresponding certainty values that were determined by a monitor module of the electrical measurement system during a profiling period of time; and generating a profiling summary based on at least one of the plurality of profiling results.

Abstract: There is provided an analog signal gauge that monitors an analog signal at a node and a non-volatile memory element to store an event that occurs at the node when a certain criteria, such as exceeding a maximum safe threshold, is satisfied. This way, the analog signal gauge can help to provide an accurate picture of the operating characteristics in the analog circuit which it is monitoring, including indications of faults that occur in the analog system.

Abstract: Sense amplifiers for use in connection with microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes are described. The sense amplifiers may be configured to change the level of a gyroscope signal, i.e., the signal produced by a gyroscope in response to angular motion, to a level suitable for processing circuitry arranged to infer the angular velocity. The sense amplifier may further provide a DC discharge path allowing for discharge of the DC component of the output signal. The DC discharge path may include an anti-aliasing filter and a resistive circuit. The anti-aliasing filter may filter the output signal to maintain the resistive circuit in the linear region. The anti-aliasing filter may be designed with a frequency response such that discrete frequency sub-bands are blocked or at least attenuated. The frequency sub-bands may be tuned to substantially match the gyroscope's resonant frequency and its integer multiples.

Abstract: A processor system includes a processor core, a cache, a cache controller, and a cache assist controller. The processor core issues a read/write command for reading data from or writing data to a memory. The processor core also outputs an address range specifying addresses for which the cache assist controller can return zero fill, e.g., an address range for the read/write command. The cache controller transmits a cache request to the cache assist controller based on the read/write command. The cache assist controller receives the address range output by the processor core and compares the address range to the cache request. If a memory address in the cache request falls within the address range, the cache assist controller returns a string of zeroes, rather than fetching and returning data stored at the memory address.

Abstract: Device for optically detecting smoke 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 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. In particular, geometrical optical elements, e.g., cap and optical defection elements, are disclosed.

Abstract: A position sensor may include a resonator attachable to a first object, and an antenna attachable to a second object and driven at a resonant frequency of the resonator. A change in a position of the first object relative to the second object may be sensed as a change in a power of the antenna when the antenna is driven at the resonant frequency of the resonator. The first object may be a former of a speaker, and a voice coil of the speaker may be positioned on the former together with the position sensor. In operation, the antenna may output a position signal to an external system of electronics, indicating a position of the voice coil. The external system of electronics may perform feedback processing to compensate for nonlinearities in the voice coil's position when the voice coil is used to drive a diaphragm of the speaker.

Abstract: High power radio frequency (RF) switches with low leakage current and low insertion loss are provided. In one embodiment, an RF switch includes a plurality of transistors and is configured to selectively connect one of a transmit path or a receive path to an antenna. All of the transistors are configured to be in an on state when the RF switch operates in a high power mode and all of the transistors are configured to be in an off state when the RF switch operates in a low power mode.

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: Multiplying digital-to-analog converter (MDACs) are implemented in pipelined ADCs to generate an analog output being fed to a subsequent stage. A switched capacitor MDAC can be implemented by integrating a capacitor digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with charge pump gain circuitry. The capacitor DAC can implement the DAC functionality while the charge pump gain circuitry can implement subtraction and amplification. The resulting switched capacitor MDAC can leverage strengths of nanometer process technologies, i.e., very good switches and highly linear capacitors, to achieve practical pipelined ADCs. Moreover, the switched capacitor MDAC has many benefits over other approaches for implementing the MDAC.