Abstract: A MEMS resonator has a resonator mass in the form of a closed ring anchored at points around the ring. A set of ring comb electrode arrangements is fixed to the ring at locations between the anchor points, to couple the input (drive) and output (sense) signals to/from the resonator mass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining a charged particle concentration in an analyte (100), the method comprising steps of: i) determining at least two measurement points of a surface-potential versus interface-temperature curve (c1, c2, c3, c4), wherein the interface temperature is obtained from a temperature difference between a first interface between a first ion-sensitive dielectric (Fsd) and the analyte (100) and a second interface between a second ion-sensitive dielectric (Ssd) and the analyte (100), and wherein the surface-potential is obtained from a potential difference between a first electrode (Fe) and a second electrode (Se) onto which said first ion-sensitive dielectric (Fsd) and said second ion-sensitive dielectric (Ssd) are respectively provided, And ii) calculating the charged particle concentration from locations of the at least two measurement points of said curve (c1, c2, c3, c4).

Abstract: A pulse-based memory read-out device, including: a pulse generator at a first end of a bit line and a detector at a second end of the bit line. The pulse generator is configured to send an electrical pulse along the bit line from the first end of the bit line. The detector is configured to: detect the electrical pulse at the second end; and output a digital signal representing a current state of a selected memory cell in the bit line, wherein the digital signal is based on an amplitude of the electrical pulse at the second end.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heterojunction bipolar transistor, including providing a substrate comprising an active region bordered by shallow trench insulation regions; depositing a stack of a dielectric layer and a polysilicon layer over the substrate; forming a base window in the stack, the base window extending over the active region and part of the shallow trench insulation regions, the base window having a trench extending vertically between the active region and one of the shallow trench insulation regions; growing an epitaxial base material inside the base window; forming a spacer on the exposed side walls of the base material; and filling the base window with an emitter material. A HBT manufactured in this manner and an IC including such an HBT.

Abstract: A MEMS resonator has a component which provides a capacitance associated with the transduction gap which has a temperature-dependent dielectric characteristic, which varies in the same direction (i.e. the slope has the same sign) as the Young's modulus of the material of the resonator versus temperature. This means that the resonant frequency is less dependent on temperature.

Abstract: Wireless communications devices, methods and systems are implemented in various fashions. According to one such implementation, a method is used in a device using time-division-multiple access and multiple-mode wireless modules. Logic generates a signal indicative (304) of a first (e.g., TV) wireless module (150) being active. In a first state where the first wireless module (150) is active, a switch connects a transmitter of a second (e.g., cellular) wireless module (100) to a duplexer (202). In a second state where the first wireless module is not active, logic connects the transmitter of the second wireless module (100) to an antenna (102) while bypassing the duplexer (202). Logic connects, in the first state, the duplexer (202) to the antenna (102) and connects, in the second state, the transmitter to the antenna while bypassing the duplexer (202).

Abstract: A protection circuit (100, 700) is disclosed for protecting an integrated circuit having a first supply rail (Vcc) and a second supply rail (Vss) from exposure to an excessive voltage. The protection circuit (100, 700) comprises a sensor (120) for sensing a voltage increase on the first supply rail (Vcc). Such a sensor may be implemented as an RC element. The sensor (120) has an output coupled to a signal path for providing a detection signal on said path. The sensor (120) triggers a clamping circuit (180) to clamp the first supply rail (Vcc) to the second supply rail (Vss) in response to the detection signal, which typically signals an ESD event on the supply rails. A pre-amplifying stage (160) is coupled between the sensor (120) and the clamping circuit (180) to amplify the detection signal for the clamping circuit (180). The protection circuit further comprises a hold circuit (140) for holding the control input of the pre-amplifying stage (160) in an enabled state upon termination of the detection signal.

Abstract: A down-converter for receiving a multiband radio frequency signal (RF) and a local oscillator signal comprises a frequency divider and a heterodyne receive chain. The frequency divider is configured to divide the local oscillator signal and provide different divided local oscillator signals. The heterodyne receive chain comprises a first stage mixer and second stage mixers. The first stage mixer is configured to mix the multiband radio frequency signal and either the local oscillator signal or a divided local oscillator signal to generate a first intermediate frequency signal. Each second stage mixer is configured to mix the first intermediate signal and a divided local oscillator signal to generate second intermediate frequency signals that each represent a band from the multiband radio frequency signal. The frequency divider is configured to provide a different divided local oscillator signal to each of the second stage mixers.

Abstract: A method of wireless communication, with a circuit that includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, can be carried out using a circuit that is configured and arranged to communicate with RFID cards that use load modulation of an RF carrier provided by the RFID reader. A presence of the radio frequency (RF) carrier is detected on an antenna. A local clock signal is generated. A difference between the local clock signal and the RF carrier is detected. In response to the detected difference, the frequency of the local clock signal is modified to reduce the detected difference. Load modulation of the RF carrier is mimicked by modulating the local clock signal to encode data; and driving the antenna with the modulated local clock signal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a communication apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a near field communication circuit designed to update at least one event field, associated with a number of occurrences of at least one event, which converted from a first data coding format to a second data coding format and provided in an external communication message that is communicated automatically or in response to receiving an access command. Also included in the instant specification are communication systems, and methods of communicating.

Abstract: The invention provides a clock select circuit and method which uses feedback arrangements between latches in different branches, with each branch for coupling an associated clock signal to the circuit output. An override circuit is provided in one of the feedback arrangements for preventing a latching delay in that feedback arrangement. This enables rapid switching between clocks in both directions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a noise sensor for an alternating or direct current power supply. The sensor comprises a noise sensing unit and a noise separator. The noise separator is configured to receive first, second and third input signals and provide a first output signal representative of the common mode noise and a second output signal representative of the differential mode noise. The noise sensing unit comprises a first capacitive element, a second capacitive element, a first resistive element and a second resistive element.

Abstract: Consistent with an example embodiment, a method of may be provided to manufacture a vertical capacitor region that comprises a plurality of said trenches, wherein the portions of the semiconductor region in between said trenches comprise an impurity. This allows for the trenches to be placed in closer vicinity to each other, thus improving the capacitance per unit area ratio. The total capacitance of the device is defined by two series components, that is, the capacitance across the dielectric liner, and the depletion capacitance of the silicon next to the trench. An increase of the voltage on the capacitor increases the depletion in the silicon and the depletion capacitance as a result, such that the overall capacitance is reduced. This effect may be countered by minimizing the depletion region which may be achieved by ensuring that the silicon adjacent to the capacitor is as highly doped as possible.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus (100) comprising a noise detector (102) configured to: receive a stream of information representative of a stream of audio signal samples (112); and detect samples in the received stream of information (112) that are distorted by impulse noise in order to generate a noise detection signal (114), wherein the noise detection signal (114) also identifies preceding and succeeding samples that are undistorted. The signal processing apparatus (100) also comprises a processor (104) configured to replace distorted samples in the received stream of information with composite predicted values (426; 526) to provide a reconstructed stream of audio signal samples (116).

Abstract: A method for detecting speech using a first microphone adapted to produce a first signal (x), and a second microphone adapted to produce a second signal (x2), the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying gain to the second signal to produce a normalised second signal, which signal is normalised relative to the first signal; (ii) constructing one or more signal components from the first signal and the normalised second signal; (iii) constructing an adaptive differential microphone (ADM) having a constructed microphone response constructed from the one or more signal components which response has at least one directional null; (iv) producing one or more ADM outputs (yf, yb) from the constructed microphone response in response to detected sound; (v) computing a ratio of a parameter of either a first signal component or a constructed microphone response to a parameter of an output of the ADM; (vi) comparing the ratio to an adaptive threshold value; (vii) detecting speech if the ratio is greater than or equ

Abstract: There is provided a method (100) of authenticating a first device (120) to a second device (110) based on a number of data elements and based on a predefined recombination function known by the first device and the second device. The method is executable by the first device and comprises receiving (101) an input signal by the first device from the second device, the input signal being indicative of selected ones of the data elements, generating (102), by the first device, an authentication signal by using the recombination function and based on the selected data elements as input elements, wherein the authentication signal represents a basis for the second device for authenticating the first device, and sending (103) the authentication signal to the second device.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a MEMS pressure sensor including: a lower electrode; a first insulating layer over the lower electrode; a second insulating layer over the first insulating layer that forms a cavity between the first and second insulating layers; an upper electrode over the second insulating layer, wherein a portion of the cavity is between the upper and lower electrodes; and a NONON pressure membrane over the upper electrode.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a current driver for controlling a safety control device, including: a clamp circuit connected to a first output configured to clamp the voltage at the first output to a clamp voltage value, wherein the first output is configured to be connected to a high voltage switch; a plurality of medium voltage switches; a plurality of switch drivers, wherein each switch driver is connected to one of the medium voltage switches; a plurality of second outputs wherein each of the plurality of second outputs are configured to be connected across one of a plurality of loads; and a controller configured to control the high voltage switch.

Abstract: An invention for generating a slot table entry address for a communications device of a communications network includes a method that involves processing a slot counter value according to a configuration setting value to produce a processed slot counter value, the slot counter value identifying a time slot of data communications of the communications network, masking a cycle counter value according to the configuration setting value to generate a masked cycle counter value, where the cycle counter value identifies a communications cycle containing the time slot, and processing the processed slot counter value and the masked cycle counter value to generate a slot table entry address such that a corresponding slot table entry of the time slot of the communications cycle in a slot table is accessed by the communications device at the slot table entry address.

Abstract: A method for installing linked MIFARE applications (TK1-A, TK1-B, TK1-C) in a MIFARE memory (MM) being configured as a MIFARE Classic card or an emulated MIFARE Classic memory comprises storing the first linked MIFARE application (TK1-A) in a first free sector of the MIFARE memory, storing the second linked MIFARE application (TK1-B) in a second free sector of the MIFARE memory and writing link information (LK) indicating this second sector in a link information memory location of the first sector where first linked MIFARE application (TK1-A) has been stored, and repeating the steps of storing linked MIFARE applications and writing link information (LK) until the last linked MIFARE application (TK1-C) has been stored.