Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure propose analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) systems particularly suitable for Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) implementations. An exemplary proposed ADC system is configured to determine whether an absolute value of an analog value is greater than a threshold, and, upon positive determination, assign a predetermined digital value as a digital value corresponding to the analog value, without proceeding with the analog-to-digital conversion of the analog value. Because the ADC system only proceeds with the analog-to-digital conversion, using an ADC, when the input analog value is smaller than the threshold, and otherwise the input analog value is simply assigned some predefined digital value, design complexity and power consumption of the system may be significantly reduced, compared to conventional ADCs used in LIDAR applications.

Abstract: An image sensor can respond to light either linearly or logarithmically in order to achieve flexible and high contrast performance. This is made possible by using a programmable lookup table, or an array of numbers, that represents control parameter values of the image sensor. The control parameter values in the lookup table are programmable and could be kept constant, increase linearly, or non-linearly, between consecutive indexes. Photodiode control circuitry is used to adapt the response of the photodiodes in the image sensor depending on the lighting impacting upon the image sensor.

Abstract: Background calibration techniques can effectively to correct for memory, kick-back, and order-dependent errors in interleaved switched-capacitor track-and-hold (T/H) circuits and amplifiers. The techniques calibrate for errors in both the track/sample phase and the hold-phase, and account for the effects of interleaving, buffer/amplifier sharing, incomplete resetting, incomplete settling, chopping, and randomization on the offset, gain, memory, and kick-back errors. Moreover, the techniques can account for order-dependent and state-dependent hold-phase non-linearities. By correcting for these errors, the proposed techniques improve the noise performance, linearity, gain/offset matching, frequency response (and bandwidth), and order-dependence errors. The techniques also help increase the speed (sample rate and bandwidth) and linearity of T/H circuits and amplifiers while simplifying the analog circuitry and clocking needed.

Abstract: An example method to reduce data handling on lithium ion battery monitors is provided and includes receiving a request from a micro-controller for data associated with one or more cells, receiving signals corresponding to monitored properties from the cells, calculating derivative properties from the monitored properties, dividing a default data into a plurality of portions, and sending the derivative properties and one of the portions to the micro-controller according to at least a first compute logic option or a second compute logic option. The default data can include cell voltages, auxiliary inputs, stack voltage, reference output voltage, analog voltage output, analog voltage input, temperature, and reference buffer voltage. The default data is provided sequentially to the micro-controller in as many consecutive read backs as the number of portions, where each portion corresponds to the default data measured at a distinct time instant.

Abstract: Continuous-time pipeline analog-to-digital converters can achieve excellent performance, and avoid sampling-related artifacts traditionally associated with discrete-time pipeline ADCs. However, the continuous-time circuitry in the ADCs can pose a challenge for digital signal reconstruction, since the transfer characteristics of the continuous-time circuitry are not as well characterized or as simple as their discrete-time counterparts. To achieve perfect digital signal reconstruction, special techniques are used to implement an effective and efficient digital filter that combines the digital output signals from the stages of the CT ADCs.

Abstract: The sensor interface IC measures or calibrates a target resistance to be used as a gain resistor for a TIA amplifier in the sensor interface IC. One or more excitation currents are generated in response to different specified excitation voltages that are applied to an external calibration resistor having a specified calibration resistance value. Response voltages are measured across the target resistor, respectively in response to the corresponding different one or more excitation currents. The resistance value of the target resistor is determined using a difference between the measured response voltages, a difference between the specified excitation voltages, and the specified calibration resistance value.

Abstract: A magnetic device may include a magnetic structure, a device structure, and an associated circuit. The magnetic structure may include a patterned layer of material having a predetermined magnetic property. The patterned layer may be configured to, e.g., provide a magnetic field, sense a magnetic field, channel or concentrate magnetic flux, shield a component from a magnetic field, or provide magnetically actuated motion, etc. The device structure may be another structure of the device that is physically connected to or arranged relative to the magnetic structure to, e.g., structurally support, enable operation of, or otherwise incorporate the magnetic structure into the magnetic device, etc. The associated circuit may be electrically connected to the magnetic structure to receive, provide, condition or process of signals of the magnetic device.

Abstract: Semiconductor packages and methods of manufacturing semiconductor packages are described herein. In certain embodiments, the semiconductor package includes a housing including a first compartment and a second compartment, the first and second compartments being divided from one another. The semiconductor package can also include an integrated device die disposed in the first compartment, and a radio frequency (RF) absorber disposed in the second compartment.

Abstract: Improved flash light detection and ranging (also referred to herein as “flash LIDAR”) systems and methods for determining the distance to a target object disposed in a field-of-view. A flash LIDAR system can include an array of illuminators, an array of light detectors, and a signal processor/controller, as well as have a field-of-view in which a target object may be disposed. The flash LIDAR system can effectively divide the field-of-view into a plurality of segments, and each illuminator in the illuminator array can be made to correspond to a specific segment of the field-of-view. The flash LIDAR system can also effectively divide the light detector array into a plurality of subsets of light detectors. Like the respective illuminators in the illuminator array, each subset of light detectors in the light detector array can be made to correspond to a specific segment of the field-of-view.

Abstract: An authentication system and device including physical unclonable function (PUF) and threshold cryptography comprising: a PUF device having a PUF input and a PUF output and constructed to generate, in response to the input of a challenge, an output value characteristic to the PUF and the challenge; and a processor having a processor input that is connected to the PUF output, and having a processor output connected to the PUF input, the processor configured to: control the issuance of challenges to the PUF input via the processor output, receive output from the PUF output, combine multiple received PUF output values each corresponding to a share of a private key or secret, and perform threshold cryptographic operations. The system and device may be configured so that shares are refreshable, and may be configured to perform staggered share refreshing.

Abstract: A capacitive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor is provided, having conductive coatings on opposing surfaces of capacitive structures. The capacitive structures may be formed of silicon, and the conductive coating is formed of tungsten in some embodiments. The structure is formed in some embodiments by first releasing the silicon structures and then selectively coating them in the conductive material. In some embodiments, the coating may result in encapsulating the capacitive structures.

Abstract: Amplifiers can be found in pipelined ADCs and pipelined-SAR ADCs as inter-stage amplifiers. The amplifiers can in some cases implement and provide gains in high speed track and hold circuits. The amplifier structures can be open-loop amplifiers, and the amplifier structures can be used in MDACs and samplers of high speed ADCs. The amplifiers can be employed without resetting, and with incomplete settling, to maximize their speed and minimize their power consumption. The amplifiers can be calibrated to improve performance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanisms for measuring currents flowing in one or more conductor wires. The mechanisms are based on using magnetic sensor pairs arranged within a housing with an opening for the wires, where each magnetic sensor pair can generate a pair of signals indicative of magnetic fields in two different directions. The outputs of the sensor pairs can be used to derive a measure of current(s) flowing through the one or more wires. The use of magnetic sensor pairs that can measure magnetic field in two different directions may enable simultaneous current measurement in multiple wires placed within the opening, improve accuracy of current measurements while relaxing requirements for precise control of the placement of the wire(s), reduce the impact of stray magnetic interference, and enable both AC and DC measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a high dynamic range analog front-end receiver for long range LIDAR with a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) include a clipping circuit to prevent saturation of the TIA. The output of the clipping circuit is connected via a diode or transistor to the input of the TIA and regulated such that the input voltage of the TIA remains close to or is only slightly above the saturation threshold voltage of the TIA. The regulation of the input voltage of the TIA can be improved by connecting a limiting resistor in series with the diode or transistor. A second clipping circuit capable of dissipating higher input currents and thus higher voltages may be connected in parallel with the first clipping circuit. A resistive element may be placed between the first and second clipping circuits to further limit the input current to the TIA.

Abstract: Various embodiments enhance security and tamper resistance of device or components having a hardware intrinsic identity. For example, devices or components having PUFs can map challenges and helper values to a secret or share of secret to utilize a local identity in cryptographic operations. A plurality of components having individual identities can be extend so that the plurality of components can enroll into a shared global identity. Shares of the global identity can be distributed among the plurality of components or devices such that at least two devices must provide at least two shares of the global identity (or threshold operations on the at least two shares) to successfully use the global identity. Such sharing mitigates adversarial tampering attack on the global identity. Share refresh protocols can provide additional security, enable introduction of new components or devices to the global identity, and allow removal of existing components or devices.

Abstract: In an example, a device for controlling an electronic switch between a power supply and a load includes a first device pin configured to be in communication with the electronic switch, a sensing circuit configured to be connected to an input voltage and to measure a current to the load, a control circuit configured to be in communication with the sensing circuit and the electronic switch, the control circuit configured to use a current limit signal to control operation of the electronic switch, and a current limit circuit configured to be in communication with the control circuit, the current limit circuit configured to generate the current limit signal representing a current limit and automatically adjust the current limit signal in response to a change in at least one of the input voltage and an output voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can provide digital-to-analog converter (DAC) termination circuits. A single or multiple parallel impedance networks can be coupled to a DAC to reduce the DAC's AC impedance, increase the DAC speed, and reduce the DAC settling time. The parallel impedance networks can be coupled to one or more of the DAC terminals in termination specific cases, or to nodes within the DAC. In an example, one-sided T-termination can be used with a single termination impedance path coupled in parallel with the DAC terminals, for reducing AC impedance at the DAC reference terminals, increasing speed, and reducing settling time. In an example, multiple impedance networks can be used in an H-bridge termination solution, which can be useful for high resolution DACs with or within a high voltage range.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gate driver system suitable for driving the gate voltage of one or more transistors. The gate driver system is configured to operate in a first state when the current conducted by the transistor is relatively low and in a second state when the current conducted by the transistor is relatively high. In the second state, the gate voltage is set such that the source voltage at the transistor establishes a lower voltage across a source-driven load than is the case when operating the first state, thereby reducing the level of power consumption in the load during second state operation.

Abstract: Optically isolated micromachined (MEMS) switches and related methods are described. The optically isolated MEMS switches described herein may be used to provide isolation between electronic devices. For example, the optically isolated MEMS switches of the types described herein can enable the use of separate grounds between the receiving electronic device and the control circuitry. Isolation of high-voltage signals and high-voltage power supplies can be achieved by using an optical isolator and a MEMS switch, where the optical isolator controls the state of the MEMS switch. In some embodiments, utilizing optical isolators to provide high voltages, the need for electric high-voltage sources such as high-voltage power supplies and charge pumps may be removed, thus removing the cause of potential damage to the receiving electronic device. In one example, the optical isolator and the MEMS switch may be co-packaged on the same substrate.

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.