Abstract: An encoder system includes a configurable detector array, wherein the configurable detector array includes a plurality of detectors. The encoder system may also include a memory operable to store a partition map that defines a state for each of the plurality of detectors. The encoder system may also include an emitter operable to generate a flux modulated by a motion object, wherein the configurable detector array is operable to receive the flux and generate respective current outputs for each of the detectors in response to the flux. In an embodiment, the current outputs from detectors having a same state are grouped together. The encoder system may also include one or more current duplicators to duplicate the current outputs from detectors having one state to group with the current outputs from detectors having a different state. The encoder system may also adjust weights of the current outputs.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a slot between the top and bottom surfaces, and two holes through the top surface and reaching into the slot. The sensor device further includes a sensor chip mounted on the top surface of the PCB substrate and above one of the two holes. The sensor device further includes a molding compound covering the sensor chip and sidewall surfaces and the top surface of the PCB substrate.

Abstract: An encoder system includes a configurable detector array, wherein the configurable detector array includes a plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the encoder system includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The encoder system may also include a memory operable to store a partition map that defines a state for each of the plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the memory includes a non-volatile memory. The encoder system may also include a controller, such as a microcontroller, operable to read from the memory the partition map and to adjust the partition map according to a misalignment measurement before configuring the configurable detector array. The encoder system may also include an emitter operable to generate a flux modulated by a motion object, wherein the configurable detector array is operable to receive the flux and generate respective current outputs for each of the detectors in response to the flux.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for calibration of an optical sensor package, including setting an initial detection threshold of a detector, gradually increasing a power level of a signal generator that is in communication with a detector to cause a detected power at the detector to exceed the initial detection threshold, storing in a memory a first power level of the signal generator at which the detected power at the detector exceeds the initial detection threshold, and adjusting the initial detection threshold of the detector to an adjusted detection threshold to include a detection buffer amount within the adjusted detection threshold.

Abstract: An optical detector device including: a glass substrate having conductive traces plated thereon; a semiconductor device having an optical detector exposed on a side facing the glass substrate, the semiconductor device further including a plurality of bond pads electrically coupled to a first subset of the conductive traces; a metallic seal structure bonding a side of the glass substrate having the conductive traces with the side of the semiconductor device facing the glass substrate; and a plurality of conductive structures outside of a perimeter of the semiconductor device, the plurality of conductive structures being electrically coupled to a second subset of the conductive traces.

Abstract: A temperature-dependent current generator includes a first transistor connected between first and second nodes and providing a first voltage potential at the second node that decreases first order linearly when ambient temperature increases. The generator further includes an operational amplifier having first and second input terminals and an output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to a second voltage potential that is first order independent of the ambient temperature. The second input terminal is coupled to a third node. The generator further includes a second transistor with gate, source, and drain terminals. The gate terminal is coupled to the output terminal of the operational amplifier. One of the source and drain terminals is coupled to the third node. The generator further includes a resistor coupled between the second and the third nodes. A resistance value of the resistor is first order independent of the ambient temperature.

Abstract: An encoder system includes a configurable detector array, wherein the configurable detector array includes a plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the encoder system includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The encoder system may also include a memory operable to store a partition map that defines a state for each of the plurality of detectors. In an embodiment, the memory includes a non-volatile memory. The encoder system may also include a controller, such as a microcontroller, operable to read from the memory the partition map and to configure the configurable detector array according to the configuration map. The encoder system may also include an emitter operable to generate a flux modulated by a motion object, wherein the configurable detector array is operable to receive the flux and generate respective current outputs for each of the detectors in response to the flux.

Abstract: An optical detection system includes a first device that has a first light source and a first light detector, and a second device that has a second light source and a second light detector. The first and second devices are configured to turn on and off the first and second light sources periodically based on first and second control signals, respectively. The first and second light sources are configured not to emit light simultaneously. The first and second light sources emit light in wavelength ranges that overlap. The optical detection system further has the characteristic that when the first light source is turned on, a radiant power delivered to the second light detector from the first light source is at least 25 percent of a radiant power delivered to the first light detector from the first light source.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a slot between the top and bottom surfaces, and two holes through the top surface and reaching into the slot. The sensor device further includes a sensor chip mounted on the top surface of the PCB substrate and above one of the two holes. The sensor device further includes a molding compound covering the sensor chip and sidewall surfaces and the top surface of the PCB substrate.

Abstract: An optical detection system includes a first device that has a first light source and a first light detector, and a second device that has a second light source and a second light detector. The first and second devices are configured to turn on and off the first and second light sources periodically based on first and second control signals, respectively. The first and second light sources are configured not to emit light simultaneously. The first and second light sources emit light in wavelength ranges that overlap. The optical detection system further has the characteristic that when the first light source is turned on, a radiant power delivered to the second light detector from the first light source is at least 25 percent of a radiant power delivered to the first light detector from the first light source.

Abstract: A sensor device including: a first substrate having a bottom surface and a top surface; a second substrate having a bottom surface and a top surface, a media channel having two vertical sections and a horizontal section, wherein the two vertical sections are through the second substrate, a portion of the bottom surface of the second substrate forms a top surface of the horizontal section, and a portion of the top surface of the first substrate forms a bottom surface of the horizontal section; a sensor chip disposed on one of the two vertical sections of the media channel; and a molding compound covering side surfaces of the first substrate, the second substrate, and the sensor chip.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for calibration of an optical sensor package, including setting an initial detection threshold of a detector, gradually increasing a power level of a signal generator that is in communication with a detector to cause a detected power at the detector to exceed the initial detection threshold, storing in a memory a first power level of the signal generator at which the detected power at the detector exceeds the initial detection threshold, and adjusting the initial detection threshold of the detector to an adjusted detection threshold to include a detection buffer amount within the adjusted detection threshold.

Abstract: A temperature compensation circuit for a light source (e.g., light emitting diode (LED)) whose radiant energy output decreases when ambient temperature increases includes a first circuit element for generating a first current that increases proportional to an increase in the ambient temperature, and a second circuit element for generating a second current that is first order independent of the ambient temperature. The circuit further includes a weighted current adder for generating a third current by combining the first and second currents with first and second weights applied to the first and second currents respectively. The circuit further includes a third circuit element responsive to the third current for supplying a fourth current to the light source to maintain a radiant energy output of the light source constant independent of the ambient temperature.

Abstract: A device includes an optical modulator configured to produce first and second modulated optical signals in response to a first electrical signal and a reference optical signal. The device further includes a phase detector configured to receive first and second encoded optical signals and the first and second modulated optical signals and to produce a second electrical signal indicating a phase difference between the first encoded optical signals and the first modulated optical signals. The device further includes a voltage-controlled oscillator configured to produce electrical pulses in response to the second electrical signal, and a counter configured to count a number of the electrical pulses, producing a count. The first electrical signal to the optical modulator is the count or a derivative of the count.

Abstract: A method of sensing absolute position of a structure includes: generating a signal pattern to repetitively provide a changing voltage to each of two or more tracks of a sensor, capacitively coupling an electrode of the sensor to the tracks to determine a first electrode position along the tracks by detecting a first group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern, moving at least one of the electrode and the tracks relative to another of the electrode and the tracks to result in a second electrode position along the tracks different from the first electrode position, and detecting a second group of signals emitted in response to the signal pattern with the electrode capacitively coupled to the tracks to determine the second electrode position.