Abstract: An example communication system includes a frequency-segmented power amplifier (PA) circuit that includes a plurality of PA segments. Each PA segment is configured to amplify a portion of a PA input signal in a different frequency band to generate a respective output signal (PA segment output signal). The frequency-segmented PA circuit further includes a combiner, configured to combine PA segment output signals from different PA segments to provide a power-amplified version of the PA input signal. Implementing such a frequency-segmented PA circuit may result in significant improvement in PA efficiency.

Abstract: Micromachined inertial devices are presented having multiple linearly-moving masses coupled together by couplers that move in a linear fashion when the coupled masses exhibit anti-phase motion. The couplers move in opposite directions of each other, such that one coupler on one side of the movable masses moves in a first linear direction and another coupler on the opposite side of the movable masses moves in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction. The couplers ensure proper anti-phase motion of the masses.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pulse generator which generates a pulse train by mixing pulses of a first clock having a first frequency, with pulses of a second clock having a second frequency. Over a predefined time period, the combination of pulses results in a pulse train having an effective frequency which is between the first and second frequencies. A multiplexer is used to select which of the first and second clocks should be provided to the output. Depending on the desired target frequency, the multiplexer is controlled to mix differing amounts of pulses from the first and second clocks. A multiplexer is controlled by a control signal, which is generated using combinatorial logic using the first clock as an input. The pulse generator may be used, for example, as a clock for a charge pump.

Abstract: A communication interface protection device includes a first electrical overstress (EOS) protection switch electrically connected to a first terminal and a second EOS protection switch electrically connected to a second terminal. Each of the first and second EOS protection switches includes a first semiconductor-controlled rectifier (SCR) and a second SCR and a first diode having a cathode electrically connected to an anode of the first SCR and a second diode having a cathode electrically connected to an anode of the second SCR. The first EOS protection device is configured to be activated in response to an EOS condition that causes a first bias between the first and second terminals, and wherein the second EOS protection device is configured to be activated in response to an EOS condition that causes a second bias between the first and second terminals.

Abstract: Embodiments may relate to digital predistortion (DPD). DPD logic may identify whether the wireless signal output power of a wireless signal that is to be transmitted is above a power threshold. The signal output power is over (or, in some embodiments, equal to) the power threshold, then the DPD logic may operate in accordance with a pre-stored DPD mode wherein DPD is performed on the wireless signal based on one or more pre-stored DPD coefficients. If the signal output power is under (or, in some embodiments, equal to) the power threshold, then the DPD logic may operate in accordance with a continuously-updated DPD mode. Other embodiments may be described or claimed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to performing facial recognition using a single-pixel sensor that measures the time signature of a light pulse reflected from a subjects face. Due to depth differences between the sensor position and different parts of the subject's face reflections of a short duration illumination pulse from the different parts of the subject's face will arrive back at the sensor at different times, thus providing a time-based one-dimensional signature unique to the individual subject. By analyzing the reflection signature using neural networks or principal component analysis (PCA), recognition of the subject can be obtained. In addition, the same system may also be used to recognize or discriminate between any other objects of known shape in addition to faces, for example manufactured products on a production line, or the like.

Abstract: Adaptive toggle number compensation techniques for reducing data dependent supply noise in DACs are disclosed. Various embodiments are based on setting a certain target toggle number for a plurality of DAC units used to convert at least a portion of a digital data sample and then applying various adaptive techniques to try to achieve the target toggle number in converting the data sample from digital to analog domain. Adaptive toggle number compensation techniques described herein try to reduce data dependent supply noise by deliberately limiting, to a certain target number, the number of DAC units that undergo a switch from the digital input of 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1 in converting a digital data sample. Compared to the conventional dummy signal generation approach, such adaptive toggle number compensation techniques may provide significant savings in terms of power consumption of a DAC.

Abstract: A self-routing capacitor for an integrated circuit having: a first electrode comprising a first base region and a first finger, the first finger extending from a wall of the first base region in a first direction; a second electrode comprising a second base region and a second finger; the second finger extending from a wall of the second base region in a second direction substantially parallel to and opposing the first direction, the second finger coupled to the first finger; a third electrode comprising a third base region and a third finger, the third finger extending from a first wall of the third base in the second direction; and a fourth electrode comprising a fourth finger, the fourth finger extending from a second wall of the third base region in the first direction. The capacitor being coupled to other metal layers through a base region of an electrode.

Abstract: Digital predistortion methods with power-specific capture selection are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a feedback signal indicative of a power amplifier output and establishing boundaries of multiple ranges of powers in the received signal by analyzing signal statistics in windowed intervals of multiple trial captures. At least one range established in this manner may include the highest value, and at least one other range may include the lowest value of the maximum powers determined for the trial captures. The method further includes updating a power amplifier model based on one or more captures of the feedback signal in each of the K ranges, and using the model to apply digital predistortion to an input signal. By specifically targeting regions of lower power and combining these with high-power captures, the model can be made more representative of the signal as a whole, and signal quality may be improved.

Abstract: Improved track and hold (T/H) circuits can help analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) achieve higher performance and lower power consumption. The improved T/H circuits can drive high speed and interleaved ADCs, and the design of the circuits enable additive and multiplicative pseudo-random dither signals to be injected in the T/H circuits. The dither signals can be used to calibrate (e.g., linearize) the T/H circuits and the ADC(s). In addition, the dither signal can be used to dither any remaining non-linearity, and to calibrate offset/gain mismatches in interleaved ADCs. The T/H circuit design also can integrate an amplifier in the T/H circuit, which can be used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the ADC or to act as a variable gain amplifier (VGA) in front of the ADC.

Abstract: An image processing system having on-the-fly calibration uses the placement of the imaging sensor and the light source for calibration. The placement of the imaging sensor and light source with respect to each other affect the amount of signal received by a pixel as a function of distance to a selected object. For example, an obstruction can block the light emitter, and as the obstruction is positioned an increasing distance away from the light emitter, the signal level increases as light rays leave the light emitters, bounce off the obstruction and are received by the imaging sensor. The system includes a light source configured to emit light, and an image sensor to collect incoming signals including reflected light, and a processor to determine a distance measurement at each of the pixels and calibrate the system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a position of a magnet. The systems and methods utilize a first sensor located at a first sensor position and arranged to measure at least two components of a magnetic field produced by the magnet, a second sensor located at a second sensor position and arranged to measure at least two components of the magnetic field produced by the magnet, and processing circuitry operatively connected to the first and second sensors to receive signals derived from signals outputted by the first and second sensors. A field angle is calculated from a first differential field of a first field dimension and a second differential field of a second field dimension orthogonal to the first field dimension. The first and second differential fields are calculated based on signals outputted by the first and second sensors.

Abstract: In some boost converter applications, an input voltage normally exceeds a regulated output voltage. The operation of the boost converter in this condition can be referred to as a pass-through operation. Using various techniques, the efficiency of a pass-through operation of a synchronous boost regulator circuit can be greatly improved. For example, a synchronous boost regulator circuit can include an input voltage VIN to output voltage VOUT voltage comparator that can accurately monitor the output voltage to detect the pass-through operation. In a pass-through operation, the high-side switch can be kept ON to maintain high efficiency, and the quiescent current of the regulator circuit can be minimized by setting portions of the control circuit into a sleep mode.

Abstract: A light beam can be steered using a non-mechanical beam steerer structure. For example, a combination of sub-aperture and full-aperture beam steering structures can be used (e.g., corresponding to regions of controlled variation in an index of refraction). The sub-aperture elements can include tapered structures defining a saw-tooth or triangular footprint in the plane in which the in-plane steering is performed. Respective rows of sub-aperture tapered structures can be configured to controllably steer the light beam in the first in-plane direction, wherein at least one row of sub-aperture tapered structures defines a first base region edge that is tipped at a first specified in-plane angle relative to a second base region edge defined by another row. Use of the tipped configuration can simplify a configuration of the beam steerer structure, such as allowing a configuration lacking a compensation plate at the input.

Abstract: Capacitive sensing can be used to measure electrostatic features of a space. Rudimentary capacitive sensing can be blurry. For instance, the resolution of a capacitive sensor generating a simple electric field is not very high, and the response to the simple electric field is also not very high. Using many capacitive sensors and special sets of excitation signals exciting the capacitive sensors, the capacitive sensors can generate specialized electrostatic fields. Because the specialized electrostatic fields provide different views of the space, enhanced inferences can be made from measurements of responses to those specialized electrostatic fields. Selecting certain specialized electrostatic fields can allow capacitive sensors to sense a focused region of the space. Repeating the steps with varied electrostatic fields can allow capacitive sensors to make enhanced inferences for many focused regions of the space, thereby increasing the resolution of capacitive sensing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide ADCs particularly suitable for PDAF image sensors, which ADCs may have an increased speed and/or reduced design complexity and power consumption compared to conventional implementations. An example ADC for a PDAF image sensor is configured to implement modified SAR techniques which reduce the number of bit trials required for conversion, and enable increased number of samples in a row-conversion time period of the image sensor. The ADC may implement the modified SAR techniques in combination with CMS in pixel readout signal chain, which may reduce noise without a proportionate increase in ADC sample rate.

Abstract: A MIMO radar transceiver assembly includes a plurality of transceiver circuit regions and a plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas include a first transmit antenna coupled to a first transceiver circuit region among the plurality of transceiver circuit regions, a first receive antenna coupled to the first transceiver circuit region, a second transmit antenna coupled to a second transceiver circuit region among the plurality of transceiver circuit regions, and a second receive antenna coupled to the second transceiver circuit region. At least one of the second transmit antenna and the second receive antenna is interleaved between the first transmit antenna and the first receive antenna. Interleaving of the antennas can increase virtual aperture and angular resolution of the radar system without increasing physical dimensions of the transceiver assembly.

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: Aspects of this disclosure relate to an adaptive biasing circuit for a power amplifier. The adaptive biasing circuit can include a shunt resistor arrangement and/or a floating gate linearizer arrangement.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to perform analog signal conditioning (including filtering and amplification) and analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) on a System-in-package (SIP) assembly technology. In particular, the disclosure combines a programmable gain amplifier (PGA), one or more filter circuits, and an ADC circuit onto the same SIP. These devices are coupled together on the SIP using high-accuracy and precise integrated-passive components. The SIP receives an analog signal, amplifies the analog signal with the PGA on the SIP, filters the amplified analog signal with the filter circuit(s) on the SIP, and then performs analog-to-digital conversion on the filtered amplified analog signal with the ADC circuit on the SIP, The SIP can be configured for various applications based on a variety of inputs and control mechanisms.