Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier includes a current regulator having a first current mirror of a first conduction type and a first current mirror of a second conduction type. The first current mirror stage of a first conduction type receives a reference current. The first current mirror stage of a second conduction type is connected to the first current mirror stage of the first conduction type, and receives an output current from the first current mirror stage of the first conduction type, and to generate a current to be used as a current source by a transimpedance amplifier. Each of the current mirror stages includes a first transistor and a second transistor of the same conduction type having their gate terminals connected wherein the first transistor receives an input current and the second transistor provides an output current that is a factor of the received input current.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards a speaker/microphone system. Each microphone in a microphone array generate an audio signal based on sound in a physical space. The microphone array may be arranged to logically define the physical space into a plurality of regions that have a status of active or inactive. An output signal may be generated from the audio signals, such that directional noise reduction is performed on audio signals associated with inactive regions and speech enhancement is performed on audio signals associated with active regions. A region's current status may be modified to its opposite status based on a request provided by a user. The request may be triggered by an activator or a spoken word/phrase provided by the user. An indication may be provided to the user regarding each current status for each region. The indication may also represent a quality of audio signals associated with active regions.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards tracking physical objects' pixel locations in a stream of video frames. Radio frequency (RF) readers may be positioned relative to a scene. RF tags may be positioned in the scene at known pixel locations within the field of view of a video recording device. The RF tags may be enabled to generate RF signals to the RF readers. The RF readers may generate RF values based on the RF signals, which may be employed to determine a function to translate the RF values into known pixel locations within a video frame. An RF tag may be disposed at a physical location of at least one object within the scene. A stream of video frames and RF values may be recorded over time. The function may be employed to translate the recorded RF values into pixel locations for the least one object each recorded video frame.

Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier includes a current regulator having a first current mirror of a first conduction type and a first current mirror of a second conduction type. The first current mirror stage of a first conduction type receives a reference current. The first current mirror stage of a second conduction type is connected to the first current mirror stage of the first conduction type, and receives an output current from the first current mirror stage of the first conduction type, and to generate a current to be used as a current source by a transimpedance amplifier. Each of the current mirror stages includes a first transistor and a second transistor of the same conduction type having their gate terminals connected wherein the first transistor receives an input current and the second transistor provides an output current that is a factor of the received input current.

Abstract: A method of communicating a data chirp signal from a transmitter to a receiver, the data chirp signal comprising a sequence of symbols, each symbol encoding a first symbol value and a second symbol value such that the data chirp signal comprises a first symbol value sequence and a second symbol value sequence, the first and second symbol values being encoded via different properties of the symbol, the first symbol value sequence being selected from values in a primary predetermined sequence and a secondary predetermined sequence, the method comprising: selecting consecutive values of the first symbol value sequence from values in consecutive sequence positions of the primary predetermined sequence and the secondary predetermined sequence; encoding first data in the chirp signal via the selected first symbol value sequence; encoding second data in the chirp signal via the second symbol value sequence; and transmitting the data chirp signal to the receiver.

Abstract: A device comprising a chip including a substrate defining one or more electronic devices and a printed circuit board electrically connected to the chip via one or more solder elements sandwiched between the chip and the printed circuit board, and the solder elements, said buffer layers having a Young's Modulus of 2.5GPa or less.

Abstract: A communication device comprising: a first radio capable of communicating according to a first protocol and having a set of operational modes; and a second radio capable of communicating according to a second protocol, the communication device being configured to, in dependence on one or more communications by the second radio in accordance with the second protocol, selecting one mode of operation for the first radio from the set of operational modes, wherein said one or more communications comprises: sending a first message; and a response or non-response to the first message.

Abstract: A method of executing an instruction set having a first instruction and a second instruction, includes: reading the first instruction; determining whether the first instruction is integral with the second instruction; reading the second instruction; when the first instruction is integral with the second instruction, interpreting a first operator field of the second instruction to represent a first operator; and when the first instruction is not integral with the second instruction, interpreting the first operator field of the second instruction to represent a second operator, wherein the first operator is different to the second operator.

Abstract: The present system relates to a GNSS receiver that includes a processor. The processor is configured to receive a temperature signal from a temperature sensor indicating an operating temperature of an resonator. The processor is also configured to compute a frequency and a frequency correction data of the resonator based on the temperature and a frequency model of the resonator. The processor then transmits the frequency correction data to an RF receiver which utilizes the frequency correction data and the resonator to receive and RF signal.

Abstract: A communication device capable of transmitting data on a communications channel, the communications channel capable of being shared with a number of stations, the communication device being configured to determine a back-off period, the back-off period being a period of time for which the communication device delays transmission of data after determining that the communications channel is idle, wherein the communication device is configured to determine the back-off period in such a way as to favor a decrease in the back-off period in response to an increase in the number of stations.

Abstract: A signal processor for estimating noise power in an audio signal includes a filter unit for generating a series of power values, each power value representing the power in the audio signal at a respective one of a plurality of frequency bands; a signal classification unit for analysing successive portions of the audio signal to assess whether each portion contains features characteristic of speech, and for classifying each portion in dependence on that analysis; a correction unit for estimating a minimum power value in a time-limited part of the audio signal, estimating the total noise power in that part of the audio signal and forming a correction factor dependent on the ratio of the minimum power value to the estimated total noise power, the correction unit being configured to estimate the minimum power value and the total noise power over only those portions of the time-limited part of the signal that are classified by the signal classification unit as being less characteristic of speech; and a noise estim

Abstract: An antenna comprising: a folded dipole and a reflector positioned to reflect radiation emitted by the dipole that is incident on the reflector.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for outputting a voltage having a predetermined relationship with a reference voltage, the voltage regulator includes a driver circuit configured to generate the output voltage, a feedback loop configured to feed back a sensed voltage that is representative of the output voltage to a control unit and the control unit, configured to compare the sensed voltage with the reference voltage and, only if the difference between them exceeds a predetermined threshold, control the driver circuit to adjust the output voltage.

Abstract: A display driver for providing drive voltages to an LCD display, comprising a first resistive ladder, a second resistive ladder, of higher resistance than the first resistive ladder; and a switching arrangement configured to connect the first resistive ladder to provide a drive voltage to the display for a first period, during which the voltage across the display is settling, and disconnect the first resistive ladder from providing that drive voltage during a second period, during which the voltage across the display is settled and the display driver is configured such that the second resistive ladder holds the drive voltage on the display

Abstract: A system and method which identifies locations associated with radio-frequency (RF) signal sources in an area, includes receiving multiple measurement sets from a plurality of collector devices. The collector devices obtain contemporaneous information on characteristics of the signal sources and absolute and/or relative location information of the collectors. These measurement sets are processed to discover positioning data for the RF signal sources that may be used to determine locations of devices in the area that are configured to receive or monitor the RF signals.

Abstract: A communication device capable of communicating over a communication network that is configured such transport of packets through the network is provided by each communication device in the network listening for and relaying packets, the communication device comprising a relay unit configured to listen for packets and relay them over the network, a detection unit configured to identify other communication devices in the network that are also capable of acting as relay devices and a power controller configured to adjust the power that the communication device uses to listen for packets in dependence on the other devices identified by the detection unit.

Abstract: A method of configuring a network, the network comprising a plurality of devices capable of operating according to a wireless communications protocol, each device having a device type, each device communicating directly with one or more local devices of a local group, the local devices being those devices of the network with which the device is in direct communications range, the method comprising: storing a device configuration for each device; at a device: detecting that a first local device having a first device type has left the local group, and detecting that a further device having the first device type has entered the local group; determining that the further device is a replacement for the first local device; and applying the stored configuration for the first local device to the further device.

Abstract: A communication device comprising: a first processing function for performing protocol processing of received datagrams; a second processing function for performing protocol processing for received datagrams at a higher level than the first processing function; and a power controller; the device being configured such that the power controller can place the second processing function in a low power state whilst the first processing function remains capable of performing protocol processing of received datagrams; and the first processing function comprising a mesh datagram processing function configured to process datagrams of a mesh protocol by analysing received datagrams of the mesh protocol, determining a subset of those datagrams for retransmission, and causing the device to retransmit the determined ones of those datagrams.

Abstract: A wireless communication device configured to receive a first data packet identified as being of a broadcast packet type, the first packet comprising a first mesh network data packet that comprises a payload and a first lifetime value. A portion of the first packet may be compared against a record of mesh network data packets previously received by the device. If the record indicates that the first packet has not been previously received by the device and if the first lifetime value of the first packet is not equal to a predetermined threshold value, then form a second mesh network data packet that is unaltered from the first packet except that the first lifetime value is changed to indicate that the first packet has been received. The second packet may be transmitted within a second data packet that is identified as being of the broadcast packet type.

Abstract: A method for identifying packets received at a wireless communication device capable of operating according to a wireless communications protocol and capable of communicating in a network, the method comprising: receiving a first packet; processing, in accordance with a predetermined algorithm, a portion of the first packet in dependence on a first network key associated with a first network; and determining if a result of said processing is successful or unsuccessful and, if successful, identifying the first packet as being addressed to devices in the first network.