Abstract: System and apparatus for robust, portable gas detection. Specifically, this disclosure describes apparatuses and systems for optical gas detection in a compact package using two optical pathways. There is a need for a very compact, low-power, gas detection system for gases such as CO2, NOx, water vapor, methane, etc. This disclosure provides an ultra-compact and highly stable and efficient optical measurement system based on principals of optical absorption spectroscopy using substantially collinear pathways.

Abstract: One embodiment is a baseline restoration (“BLR”) circuit for a photo-counting computed tomography (“PCCT”) signal chain, the BLR circuit comprising a comparator for comparing a shaper voltage output from a shaper component of the PCCT signal chain with a baseline voltage, the comparator outputting a single bit indicative of whether the shaper voltage is above or below the baseline voltage; a low pass filter connected to filter a voltage signal output from the comparator; and a transconductor connected to receive a filtered voltage signal output from the low pass filter, convert the filtered voltage signal to a current signal, and feed the current signal back to an input of the PCCT signal chain.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to envelope regulated, digital predistortion (DPD) are provided. An example apparatus includes an envelope regulator circuit to process, based on a parameterized model, an input signal to generate an envelope regulated signal; a digital predistortion (DPD) actuator circuit to process the envelope regulated signal and the input signal based on DPD coefficients associated with a nonlinearity characteristic of a nonlinear component; and a DPD adaptation circuit to update the DPD coefficients based on a feedback signal indicative of an output of the nonlinear component.

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: The present disclosure provides a sensing assembly for sensing a property of a fluid sample comprising at least one working electrode provided in the primary fluid channel configured to sense a property of a fluid sample in the primary fluid channel; a secondary fluid channel adjacent to and fluidly connected to the primary fluid channel along the primary flow path; and a reference electrode element provided in the secondary fluid channel. The secondary fluid channel is arranged as a branch from the primary flow channel so as to limit the flow of fluid sample from the primary flow channel to the reference electrode element. Alternatively or additionally, a method comprises determining a property of a sample comprising providing such a sensing assembly.

Abstract: Systems configured to implement semi-closed wireless data transfer for rotary joints are disclosed. An example system includes first and second RF transceivers, to be included in different components of a rotary joint. The first and second RF transceivers implement elliptically (e.g., circularly) polarized antennas to realize a short distance communication link (e.g., a 60 GHz short distance communication link) between the two components of a rotary joint. The example system further includes an open-ended waveguide (OEWG) between the first and second RF transceivers, for receiving, at a first end of the OEWG, wireless signals transmitted by one of the first and second RF transceivers, transmitting the received signals through the OEWG, and radiating, at a second end of the OEWG, wireless signals indicative of the received wireless signals, to be received by another one of the first and second RF transceivers.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to frequency converter arrangements are provided. For example, a frequency converter arrangement converts a first signal centered at a first frequency to a second signal centered at a second frequency different from the first frequency. The frequency converter arrangement includes local oscillator (LO) circuitry and in-phase, quadrature-phase (IQ) mixer circuitry coupled to the LO circuitry. The LO circuitry includes duty cycle correction circuitry to adjust a duty cycle of a pair of input clock signals. The duty cycle correction circuitry includes coarse tuning circuitry responsive to a digital calibration code, and analog tuning loop circuitry. The LO circuitry further includes quadrature divider circuitry coupled to an output of the duty cycle correction circuitry, where the quadrature divider circuitry generates an in-phase LO signal and a quadrature-phase LO signal from a pair of output clock signals at outputs of the duty cycle correction circuitry.

Abstract: An apparatus including a bidirectional power converter circuit. The power converter circuit includes a primary circuit side including a plurality of primary switches, an isolation transformer, and a secondary circuit side separated from the primary circuit side by the isolation transformer. The secondary circuit side includes an inductor, a rectifier circuit coupled to the inductor and configured to receive energy from the primary circuit side and provide energy to the primary circuit side, and a clamp circuit coupled to the inductor and configured to provide a reset voltage to the inductor that prevents inductor current runaway.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides designs and techniques to improve turn “off” times of a bootstrapped switch, maximizing the total “on” time of the bootstrapped switch. The techniques described herein provide a protection device coupled to the bootstrapped switch. The protection device may be controlled by an input voltage to the bootstrapped switch during a boosting phase and may be controlled by a constant voltage during a non-boosting phase. The techniques for reducing turn “off” times are particularly useful in high-speed applications, such as high-speed, low-voltage analog-to-digital converters.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of a wireless sensor platform. The device that interrogates a wireless sensor node (an interrogator) may be configured to determine the quantity to be measured by extracting information from multiple echoes produced in response to multiple interrogation pulses or produced due to multi-path propagation. Although different echoes may have been transformed to different extents, the echoes may share unique characteristics that are specific to the wireless sensor node that produced them. Accordingly, the SNR may be improved by keeping only portions of the received signal that exhibit such characteristics. The SNR may be further improved by summing the echoes together. In some embodiments, the echoes may be summed together in a coherent fashion, thereby producing an echo having an amplitude greater than the amplitude of each of the received echoes.

Abstract: One embodiment is a reconfigurable mixer topology for selectively implementing one of a harmonic rejection mixer (HRM) and a subharmonic mixer (SHM), the reconfigurable mixer topology comprising a mixer core comprising a plurality of differential mixers each having a first clock input and a second clock input; a clock generator for generating a plurality of clock signals each having a different phase; and a clock distributor for distributing the plurality of clock signals to the first and second clock inputs of the differential mixers in accordance with a designated operation of the reconfigurable mixer as an HRM or an SHM.

Abstract: Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are described. The PUFs utilize intrinsic information to determine the confidence level of comparison values. The information about confidence levels may be used to simplify the process of recovering the PUF secret. Since the information about confidence levels may be intrinsic, and not know outside the PUF, the PUF may be secure.

Abstract: Micro-isolators exhibiting enhanced isolation breakdown voltage are described. The micro-isolators may include an electrically floating ring surrounding one of the isolator elements of the micro-isolator. The isolator elements may be capacitor plates or coils. The electrically floating ring surrounding one of the isolator elements may reduce the electric field at the outer edge of the isolator element, thereby enhancing the isolation breakdown voltage.

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: A flow meter is disclosed. The flow meter can include a housing that has a cavity. The flow meter can also include a deformable tube that is disposed in the cavity. The deformable tube can comprise a portion of a flow path of a fluid substance. The flow meter can further include a cam that is rotatably coupled to the housing. A portion of the cam is configured to press against a portion of the collapsible tube so as to deform the portion of the collapsible tube. The cam can be configured to rotate in response to a flow of the fluid substance in the flow path.

Abstract: Low-cost time synchronization associated wireless Battery Management System (BMS) and a host controller are described herein. The time synchronization techniques described herein are low-cost because of the use of existing communicating lines without using adding additional dedicated lines or wires for synchronization. Moreover, the time synchronization techniques described herein may be implemented without complex circuitry.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) yaw gyroscopes having out-of-plane quadrature trim electrodes are described. The gyroscope includes a proof mass configured to be driven in-plane. The proof mass includes an opening, or a plurality of openings. The out-of-plane quadrature trim electrodes are positioned to laterally overlap edges of the opening in a projection plane. The out-of-plane quadrature trim electrodes trim in-plane motion of the proof mass in one or two directions to limit quadrature motion. The out-of-plane quadrature trim electrodes may be arranged in a symmetric pattern to enable mode switching.

Abstract: Thermal temperature sensors for power amplifiers are provided herein. In certain implementations, a semiconductor die includes a compound semiconductor substrate, and a power amplifier including a plurality of field-effect transistors (FETs) configured to amplify a radio frequency (RF) signal. The plurality of FETs are arranged on the compound semiconductor substrate as a transistor array. The semiconductor die further includes a semiconductor resistor configured to generate a signal indicative of a temperature of the transistor array. The semiconductor resistor is located adjacent to one end of the transistor array.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a hybrid circuit, including a first current sink configured to sink a zero temperature coefficient (ZTC) current, a second current sink configured to sink a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) current, a first transistor configured to provide a first current, a second transistor configured to provide a second current, a third transistor configured to provide a third current mirroring the ZTC current, a fourth transistor configured to provide a sum current of the first current and the third current, and a current mirror configured provide a hybrid current mirroring the sum current.

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.