Abstract: A system for measuring an angular position of a rotor with respect to a stator, wherein the rotor is rotatable around a rotation axis, the system comprising: a magnetic source mounted on the rotor, having at least four magnet poles and providing a periodically repetitive magnetic field pattern with respect to the rotation axis; a sensor mounted on the stator and comprising a plurality of sensor elements for measuring at least one magnetic field component of the magnetic field and for providing a measurement signal thereof; the sensor being located substantially centered around the rotation axis, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis at a first distance from the magnetic source; the sensor elements being located substantially on a circle at a second distance from the rotation axis; a calculator that determines the angular position by calculating it from the measurement signals.

Abstract: Angular position sensor system comprising: a cylindrical magnet rotatable about a rotation axis; and an angular position sensor device comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of magnetic sensitive elements configured for measuring a first magnetic field component in a first direction and a second magnetic field component in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and a processing circuit configured for calculating the angular position; the sensor device being oriented such that the first direction is oriented in a circumferential direction, and the second direction is either parallel or orthogonal to the rotation axis; the sensor device being located at a predefined position where a magnitude of a third magnetic field component orthogonal to the first and second magnetic field component is negligible over the 360° angular range.

Abstract: A method of measuring temperature based upon a system of equations applying Stefan-Boltzmann's law and using a measurement value for an object to be measured and an ambient temperature value (Ta) comprises: pre-calculating (200, 202) a first vector (LUT1) and a second vector (LUT2). The first vector (LUT1) is a series of values proportional to received power based upon respective temperature values and in respect of a predetermined generic range of temperatures. The second vector (LUT2) is a series of sensitivity characteristic factor values based upon expected measured temperature values and in respect of a predetermined range of expected object measured temperatures. The first vector (LUT1) and the second vector (LUT2) are used (206) to generate a temporary vector (LUTT) of a series of values limited to the ambient temperature value to solve the system of equations in respect of the measurement value for the object, thereby determining (208) a temperature (To) for the object from the measurement value.

Abstract: A thermal imaging apparatus comprising: a thermal detector device (100) comprising an array of thermal sensing pixels (102) and signal processing circuitry (104) coupled to the detector device (100). The circuitry (104) supports a background identifier (110) and a pixel classifier (112), the background identifier (110) comprising a common intensity identifier (114) and an expected background intensity calculator (116). The background identifier (110) receives pixel measurement data captured by the detector device (100) in respect of pixels of the array (102) and the common intensity identifier (114) identifies a largest number of substantially the same pixel intensity values from the pixel measurement data. The expected background intensity calculator (116) uses the largest number of substantially the same pixel intensity values to generate a model of expected background intensity levels.

Abstract: A position sensor system for determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic structure, the system comprising: said magnetic structure comprising a plurality of non-equidistant poles; said sensor device comprising at least three magnetic sensors spaced apart over predefined distances; and the sensor device being adapted for: a) measuring at least three in-plane magnetic field components, and for calculating two in-plane field gradients therefrom; b) measuring at least three out-of-plane magnetic field components, and for calculating two out-of-plane field gradients therefrom; c) calculating a coarse signal based on these gradients; d) calculating a fine signal based on these gradients; e) determining said position based on the coarse signal and the fine signal.

Abstract: A position sensor system for determining a position of a sensor device relative to a magnetic structure, the system comprising: said magnetic structure comprising a plurality of poles; said sensor device comprising a plurality of magnetic sensors; the magnetic structure being movable relative to the sensor device, or vice versa; wherein: a distance between centres of adjacent poles varies along the movement direction; the sensor device is adapted: for determining a first magnetic field component parallel to, and a second magnetic field component perpendicular to a movement direction, and for calculating a fine signal based on a ratio of the first and second magnetic field component; and for determining a coarse signal based on components and/or gradients; and for determining said position based on the coarse signal and the fine signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to sensors comprising a substrate, a platinum component having a first surface facing toward the substrate and a second surface facing away from the substrate, a protective covering over the platinum component, the protective covering comprising one or more layers, at least on of which is an oxygen getter material, a lower surface in physical contact with the second surface of the platinum component, and an upper surface; and a method for forming such a sensor. The protective covering with oxygen getter material protects the platinum component against oxygen dissolution therein, thereby reducing sensor drift.

Abstract: A linear or angular position sensor system comprising a magnetic structure for generating a magnetic field, and a sensor device movable relative to the magnetic structure. The sensor device comprises a plurality of sensor elements for measuring at least two characteristics of said magnetic field, and a processing circuit for determining a linear or angular position of the sensor device relative to the magnetic structure in accordance with a predefined function of these characteristics (e.g. components or gradients). The magnetic structure comprises one or more grooves, having a shape and size which can be described by a limited set of parameters, having values optimized to reduce a maximum error between the actual position of the sensor device, and the calculated position based on said predefined function, by at least a factor of 2.

Abstract: A sensor interface circuit comprises an input arranged to receive a sensor signal being an electrical signal representative of an electrical quantity. The electrical quantity includes a physical quantity converted in a sensor. The sensor interface circuit includes conversion means arranged for converting the sensor signal into a digital signal, memory to store sensor characterisation data, signal processing means adapted to obtain a first sensor result by processing the digital signal using the sensor characterisation data, and an output unit arranged to receive and output the first sensor result, the digital signal and the sensor characterisation data.

Abstract: A sensor device (100) comprises an emitter device (106) arranged to emit electromagnetic radiation and having an emission region associated therewith. The sensor device (100) also comprises a detector device (108) arranged to receive electromagnetic radiation and having a detection region associated therewith, and an optical system (122). The emission region is spaced at a predetermined distance from the detection region. The optical system (122) defines a plurality of principal rays, a number of the plurality of principal rays intersecting the detection region. The number of the plurality of principal rays also intersect the emission region.

Abstract: A memory device includes a non-volatile memory block, a protection unit arranged for connecting to a communication bus, and a sequencer arranged to receive commands from the protection unit. A logic circuit is arranged to output an enabling signal, and includes first and second logic subcircuits, and a combiner logic circuit.

Abstract: A pixel circuit wherein a pixel arrangement comprises a pixel comprising a photodetector, an integrator for accumulating a signal from the photodetector, a source following output transistor for amplifying the integrated signal, and a current source for applying a readout current through the output transistor, a voltage regulating circuit comprising an amplifier, a replica transistor dimensioned substantially the same as the output transistor, and a replica current source for providing substantially the readout current through each replica transistor, a gate of the replica transistor is connected with an output node of the amplifier connected with the pixel arrangement, and a source of the replica transistor is connected with a negative input of the amplifier, and with the replica current source, a predefined reference voltage is applicable to a positive input.

Abstract: A bus node IC comprises at least one static address selection terminal and a detecting circuit for detecting a state of the static address selection terminal, and a communication circuit adapted for determining a node address identifier taking the detected state into account. The detecting circuit is adapted for detecting the state by determining an electrical property of a passive electronic component when connected to the static address selection terminal. The communication circuit is adapted for receiving/transmitting data over the data bus in accordance with a first communication protocol using the node address identifier for identification of the IC, and for receiving/transmitting data over said data bus in accordance with a second communication protocol using a further node address identifier for identification of the IC, wherein the communication circuit is adapted for configuring the further node address identifier by using data received using the first protocol.

Abstract: A permanent magnet in the form of a multi-pole magnet, comprising an isotropic magnetic material, having a central axis, magnetised such that the magnetic field, considered on a virtual circle lies substantially in a virtual plane tangential to the circle, and rotates inside that virtual plane, depending on the position on the circle. A method of producing a magnet comprising: a) providing a shaped body comprising an isotropic magnetic material; b) providing at least four electrical conductor segments; c) simultaneously make currents flow in each conductor segment. A magnet made in this way. Use of such a magnet for angular position sensing. An angular position sensor system comprising such a magnet.

Abstract: A communication system comprising: a digital serial bus, and a master device and at least one slave device connected to the bus. The master and the slave(s) are adapted to communicate according to a predefined communication protocol. The master is adapted for transmitting a continuous bitstream in the form of a plurality of frames, such that each frame comprises one or more words. Each word has a constant time duration, with the first word of each frame being a unique word transmitted by the master for indicating the start of a frame. One or more bits each word is transmitted by the master as a dominant bit; a non-dominant bit, for allowing the at least one slave to overwrite. The at least one slave is adapted for overwriting in the continuous bitstream some non-dominant bits to transmit data in a quasi-synchronous manner.

Abstract: A motion or saturation determination apparatus (100) comprising: a light source configured to emit light and an optoelectronic device (102) configured to receive an electromagnetic signal and to translate the signal to a plurality of electrical output signals corresponding to a plurality of predetermined phase offset values in accordance with an indirect time of flight measurement technique. A signal processing circuit (110, 116, 126, 132, 136) of the apparatus (100) is configured to process the electrical output signals to calculate a plurality of measurement vectors derived from the plurality of electrical signals. The vectors are in respect of a plurality of frequencies and comprise a first measurement vector for a fundamental harmonic frequency and a second measurement vector for a non-fundamental frequency.

Abstract: A rotary button system for use in a domestic apparatus, comprising: a ferromagnetic plate; a button removably mountable at a predefined first distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a first side of said plate, and rotatable about a virtual rotation axis substantially perpendicular to said plate, and comprising a permanent magnet magnetised in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a magnetic sensor device mounted at a predefined second distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side, and comprising one or more magnetic sensors for measuring one or more magnetic field components or field gradients, and configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said one or more field components and/or field gradients.

Abstract: A circuit for biasing and reading out a bridge sensor structure comprises at least two pairs of connection terminals. The circuit comprises an excitation signal generator for generating an excitation signal for biasing and/or exciting the bridge, in which the excitation signal is provided as a non-constant periodic continuous function of time, and a detection circuit for obtaining the sensor signal from the bridge sensor structure by electrically connecting the detection circuit to any pair of connection terminals while applying the excitation signal to another pair. The circuit comprises a switch unit for switching the electrical excitation signal and for switching the detection circuit. A controller controls the switch unit to switch the first pair from being connected to the excitation signal generator at a time when the generated excitation signal is in a predetermined signal range where the excitation signal value is substantially equal to zero.

Abstract: A position sensor arrangement, comprising: a magnetic source and a position sensor device movably arranged relative to each other; the latter comprising at least three magnetic sensors for measuring said magnetic field; a processing unit for determining a position based on a ratio of a first pairwise difference and a second pairwise difference, the first pairwise difference being a difference of a first pair of two signals, the second pairwise difference signal being a difference of a second pair of two signals. A method of determining a position, by performing said measurements, and by calculating said differences and said ratio. A method of calibrating said position sensor, including the step of storing at least one parameter or a look-up table in a non-volatile memory. A method of auto-calibration.

Abstract: A circuit for determining and/or compensating for a measurement error of a sheathed sensor due to a property of a sheath of that sheathed sensor comprises a first and a second terminal for connecting to a pair of sensor signal leads of a sensor element in a sheathed sensor and a voltage measurement circuit. A switching unit controls switching an electrical connection between a first and a second state. A correction measurement circuit generates a correction signal indicative of that a measured current running from the first terminal through the switching unit. A controller receives the measurement and correction signal in both the first and second state, and calculates an error value indicative of the measurement error and/or a sensor readout value that is corrected for the measurement error by taking the measurement and correction signal into account as obtained in both the first and second state.