Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a timing synchronization circuit for a digital receiver structure that includes a timing error detection module comprising a phase difference calculation unit arranged for calculating a phase difference between incoming samples of a digital data stream, and a timing error estimator arranged for determining a timing error estimate based on the calculated phase difference, and for generating, based on the determined timing error estimate, a signal indicative of timing error detection. The circuit also includes a timing error control module arranged for receiving the signal indicative of timing error detection, for evaluating the number of received signals indicative of timing error detection and for outputting, after comparison with a threshold value, a sampling adjustment command for adjusting the sampling instants applied for obtaining the digital data stream.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a circuit that includes an input port for applying a sinusoidal input signal, and a first buffering means for converting the sinusoidal input signal into a square wave signal. A DC level of the square wave signal may be defined by an adjustable threshold voltage level. The circuit also includes an output port for outputting the square wave signal to a power amplifier. Further, the circuit includes a feedback loop having a low pass filtering means arranged for filtering the square wave signal and comparing means arranged for comparing a DC level of a filtered signal received from the low pass filtering means with a pre-set reference level. The reference level may be selected for cancelling a given harmonic component. The comparing means is further arranged for outputting to the first buffering means a correction signal for adjusting the threshold voltage level of the first buffering means.

Abstract: The application describes methods and apparatus for chemical sensing, e.g. gas sensing, which have high sensitivity but low power operation. A sensor is described having a flexible membrane comprising a III/N heterojunction structure configured so as to form a two dimensional electron gas within said structure. A sensing material is disposed on at least part of the flexible membrane, the sensing material being sensitive to one or more target chemicals so as to undergo a change in physical properties in the presence of said one or more target chemicals. The sensing material is coupled to said heterojunction structure such that said change in physical properties of the sensing material imparts a change in stress within the heterojunction structure which modulates the resistivity of the two dimensional electron gas.

Abstract: A buffering circuit for buffering an oscillator signal. The buffering circuit includes a plurality of PMOS and NMOS transistor pairs connected in parallel, each pair having connected gate terminals and connected drain terminals forming an inverter circuit, each pair arranged for receiving via a direct coupling an oscillator signal at its gate terminal, and each pair further being connected with an additional PMOS and NMOS transistor.

Abstract: A Sensor for sensing the presence of at least one fluidum in a space adjoining the sensor is disclosed. In one aspect, the sensor has a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer stack, a gate electrode overlaying at least part of the 2DEG layer stack for electrostatically controlling electron density of a 2DEG in the 2DEG layer stack and a source and a drain electrode contacting the 2DEG layer stack for electrically contacting the 2DEG, wherein a detection opening is provided in between the gate electrode and the 2DEG layer stack and wherein the detection opening communicates with the space through a detection opening inlet such that molecules of the fluidum can move from the adjoining space through the detection opening inlet into the detection opening where they can measurably alter a electric characteristic of the 2DEG.

Abstract: A communication device is disclosed. The device may be in particular a radio transmitter and a receiver that can operate with low power consumption and with improved interference rejection, therefore particularly suitable for use in low-power communication systems, such as wireless sensor networks and wireless body area networks. In one aspect, multiple frequency tones (carriers) are used to carry information from the transmitter, such that a RF signal having multiple radio frequency components is produced and transmitted. In the receiver, an envelope detector is still the RF down-converter. After down-converting intermodulation components are extracted containing amplitude, phase and frequency information of the multiple radio frequency components. This allows the desired signal (the baseband information) to be distinguished from the carriers and unwanted interference.

Abstract: Various active diode circuits are described. In one example, there is provided an active diode circuit having an active diode and a control circuit. The active diode includes an anode terminal, a cathode terminal and a control terminal. The control circuit is configured to generate a control current of the active diode on the control terminal proportional to the diode current of the active diode. The control circuit is also configured to control the diode voltage of the active diode below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An example device includes: a data input module configured to receive information about a living being's physiological signals, coordinates, and motion intensity; an activity recognition module configured to calculate, from information received about the living being's motion intensity, a living being's activity; a location recognition module, configured to calculate, from information received about the living being's coordinates, a living being's location; a memory storage configured to store information about the living being's physiological signals and activity in association with the location; a normalization parameters estimator module configured to use a mathematical model to calculate a plurality of normalization parameters for a plurality of detected activities and locations; and a model selector module configured to determine, based on the plurality of normalization parameters and the living being's location, a set of location-specific normalization parameters used to further calculate normalized phy

Abstract: A circuit for digitizing a sum of a first input signal and a plurality of second input signals has a passive adder that sums the second input signals and outputs a summation signal and a multi-bit quantizer circuit. The quantizer circuit compares the summation signal at a first comparator input with a signal at a second comparator input, which is derived from the first input signal and has an appropriate polarity so that the difference between the summation signal and the signal at the second comparator input is indicative of the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The comparator also produces a comparator output signal based on the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The quantizer circuit also has a control logic block for determining a multi-bit representation of the sum from the comparator output signal.

Abstract: A memory device having complementary global and local bit-lines, the complementary local bit-lines being connectable to the complementary global bit-lines by means of a local write receiver which is configured for creating a full voltage swing on the complementary local bit lines from a reduced voltage swing on the complementary global bit lines. The local write receiver comprises a connection mechanism for connecting the local to the global bit-lines and a pair of cross-coupled inverters directly connected to the complementary local bit lines for converting the reduced voltage swing to the full voltage swing on the complementary local bit lines.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for electrochemical gas sensing, comprising a plurality of different electrodes and a freestanding electrolyte film covering said electrodes, wherein at least two of those electrodes present a different distance from its top surface to the electrolyte film surface. The disclosure also relates to an electronic system and a method for electrochemical gas sensing.

Abstract: A multi-channel biopotential signal acquisition system is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of biopotential channels is corrected for common-mode interference. In one aspect, each biopotential channel includes an electrode for providing a biopotential input signal and an associated amplifier for amplifying the biopotential input signal and providing a biopotential output signal. The output signal is processed in a processor. Each biopotential output signal is passed to a common-mode feedback system, which determines an average common-mode signal and feeds that signal back to each of the amplifiers in each of the biopotential channels to enhance common-mode rejection ratio of the system.

Abstract: A biopotential signal acquisition system, comprising: a first active electrode including an integrated pre-amplifier and an analogue to digital converter; a second active electrode including an integrated pre-amplifier and an analogue to digital converter, wherein the second active electrode has variable gain; a test signal generator for generating a test signal at a test frequency and coupling the test signal to the first and/or second active electrodes; and a digital signal processor configured to: process the digital outputs of the first and second active electrodes to derive a gain control signal based on a difference between the first and second active electrode outputs at the test frequency, and apply the gain control signal to the second active electrode. The disclosure also relates to an electronic circuit or device and a biopotential signal acquisition method.

Abstract: The disclosed technology generally relates to sensors comprising a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), and more particularly to an AlGaN/GaN 2DEG-based sensor for sensing signals associated with electrocardiograms, and methods of using the same. In one aspect, a sensor comprises a substrate and a GaN/AlGaN hetero-junction structure formed on the substrate and configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel within the GaN/AlGaN hetero-junction structure. The sensor additionally comprises Ohmic contacts connected to electrical metallizations and to the 2DEG channel, wherein the GaN/AlGaN hetero-junction structure has a recess formed between the Ohmic contacts. The sensor further comprises a dielectric layer formed on a top surface of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and an electronic readout circuit for measuring a capacitance of a MEMS sensor are disclosed. In one aspect, the readout circuit includes: an input stage for receiving a first signal from the sensor and for presenting a second signal; a charge amplifier stage for amplifying and integrating the second signal; and a control logic for controlling the readout circuit according to a predefined timing relation synchronized to actuation voltages applied to the sensor for generating the first signal. The readout circuit may further includes a first switching unit for applying a first reference voltage to the sensor and a second switching unit for applying the second signal to the charge amplifier stage, wherein the first and the second switching units are controlled according to the predefined timing relation such that a plurality of the second signals are accumulated.

Abstract: An analog signal processor (ASP) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ACIS can be used for remotely monitoring ECG signals of a subject that has reduced power consumption. In one aspect, the ASIC performs the functions of: ECG signal extraction with high resolution using ECG readout channel, feature extraction using a band-power extraction channel, adaptive sampling the ECG signals using an adaptive sampling analog-to-digital converter, and impedance monitoring for signal integrity using an impedance monitoring channel. These functions enable the development of wireless ECG monitoring systems that have significantly lower power consumption but are more efficient that predecessor systems. In one embodiment, the ASP ASIC consumes 30 ?W from a 2V supply with compression provided by adaptive sampling providing large reductions in power consumption of a wireless ECG monitoring system of which the ASP ASIC forms a part.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring timing of a plurality of critical paths of a functional circuit includes a plurality of canary circuits, each configured to be coupled to a critical path of a functional circuit for detecting and outputting critical timing events. Each canary circuit includes an adjustable delay element and an analyzer circuit for receiving a count of the critical timing event output from at least one of the plurality of canary circuits for a predetermined time interval for a plurality of delay values of the adjustable delay elements and for determining a probability distribution of critical timing events of the at least one of the plurality of critical paths for the predetermined time interval for the plurality of delay values.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a heartbeat. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a sensor package mountable over a pulse location of a user. The sensor package may include a first sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a first output signal comprising a heart pulse signal and a first set of noise artifacts, a second sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a second output signal indicative of a second set of noise artifacts, and a mechanically isolating material located between the first sensor element and the second sensor element. The device may further comprise processing circuitry connected to the sensor package and configured to extract the heart pulse signal from the first output signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal.

Abstract: An autonomous transducer system is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an energy scavenging module, energy storage module, a load circuit having at least one functional block providing a given functionality, and a power management module arranged for providing power supplied by the energy scavenging module to the load circuit or for exchanging power with the energy storage module. The power management module may further include a tuning module configured to tune the at least one functional block of the load circuit according to a given configuration scheme.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to detecting a start frame delimiter. A received data packet is correlated with a known sequence, which provides a first correlation result. The received data packet is correlated with a predefined sequence, which yields at least a second correlation result. The data packet comprises at least a preamble portion and a header portion, whereby the preamble portion comprises the start frame delimiter. The predefined sequence is determined according to the preamble pattern. The method further comprises comparing the first correlation result with the second correlation result and comparing the first correlation result with a given threshold. The process of correlating will be continued until two criteria are met: the first correlation result is larger than the threshold and larger than the at least second correlation result. Only then it is decided that the start of frame delimiter pattern has been detected.