Abstract: This disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing TSVs within a semiconductor device. According to embodiments illustrated and described in the disclosure, a TSV may be tested by stimulating and measuring a response from a first end of a TSV while the second end of the TSV held at ground potential. Multiple TSVs within the semiconductor device may be tested in parallel to reduce the TSV testing time according to the disclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. There is a circuit assembly with a package substrate and an integrated circuit (IC). The package substrate has a microstrip line, and the IC is secured to the package substrate and is electrically coupled to the microstrip line. A circuit board is also secured to the package substrate. A dielectric waveguide is secured to the circuit board. The dielectric waveguide has a dielectric core that extends into a transition region located between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip line, and the microstrip line is configured to form a communication link with the dielectric waveguide.

Abstract: In described examples, a first and second driver each include a first-rail output transistor including a first terminal coupled to a first power rail and a second-rail output transistor including a first terminal coupled to a second power rail. The first-rail output transistor of each of the first and second drivers includes a second terminal coupled to a second terminal of the second-rail output transistor of an output node of each respective first and second driver. A resistive load includes a first terminal coupled to the first-driver output node and includes a second terminal coupled to the second-driver output node. A sampling circuit generates an indication of an impedance of at least one of the output transistors of the first and second drivers.

Abstract: A high bandwidth Hall sensor includes a high bandwidth path and a low bandwidth path. The relatively high offset (from sensor offset) of the high bandwidth path is estimated using a relatively low offset generated by the low bandwidth path. The relatively high offset of the high bandwidth path is substantially reduced by combining the output of the high bandwidth path with the output of the low bandwidth path to generate a high bandwidth, low offset output. The offset can be further reduced by including transimpedance amplifiers in the high bandwidth sensors to optimize the frequency response of high bandwidth Hall sensor.

Abstract: A regenerative differential receiver includes, for example, a transformer arranged to receive a modulated differential signal. A first detector is arranged to source a first output current for indicating a first power level in response to falling voltage of a first line of the modulated differential signal. A second detector is arranged to sink a second output current for indicating a second power level in response to rising voltage of a first line of the modulated differential signal. A cross-coupled latch is arranged to latch a state in response to the first and second power levels. The cross-coupled latch provides, for example, weak non-linear regeneration for increasing receiver gain and maximum operating frequencies.

Abstract: An optical transmitting system for distance measuring includes a signal generator, a laser diode coupled to the signal generator, and an optics device. The signal generator is configured to generate a first plurality of electrical signals. The laser diode is configured to generate a first plurality of optical waveforms that correspond with the first plurality of electrical signals. The optics device is configured to receive the first plurality of optical waveforms and direct the first plurality of optical waveforms toward a first plurality of scan points that form a scan region within a field of view (FOV). A first signal type, a first signal duration, a first signal amplitude, or a first signal repetition frequency of the first plurality of optical waveforms is based on a first desired range of the first plurality of scan points.

Abstract: An optical time of flight system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to generate a modulation signal having a modulation signal frequency that varies as a function of time, generate an optical waveform with amplitude modulation corresponding to the modulation signal, and direct the optical waveform toward a field of view (FOV). The receiver is configured to receive the optical waveform reflected off of an object within the FOV and determine a distance to the object based on a time of flight from the transmitter to the object and back to the receiver.

Abstract: A system is provided in which a set of modules each have a substrate on which is mounted a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or an RF receiver coupled to a near field communication (NFC) coupler located on the substrate. Each module has a housing that surrounds and encloses the substrate. The housing has a port region on a surface of the housing. Each module has a field confiner located between the NFC coupler and the port region on the housing configured to guide electromagnetic energy emanated from the NFC coupler through the port region to a port region of an adjacent module. An artificial magnetic conductor surface is positioned adjacent the backside of each NFC coupler to reflect back side electromagnetic energy with a phase shift of approximately zero degrees.

Abstract: A first amplifier has an input to receive a Hall-signal output current from a first Hall element and has an output to output feedback current in response to the received Hall-signal output current. The Hall-signal output current is impeded by an impedance of the first Hall element. The feedback current is coupled to counterpoise the Hall-signal output current at the input, and a voltage at the output is an amplified Hall output signal. A second amplifier generates a high-frequency portion output signal in response to a difference between the amplified Hall output signal and a Hall-signal output signal from a second Hall element. A filter reduces high-frequency content of the high-frequency portion output signal and generates an offset correction signal. A third amplifier generates a corrected Hall signal in response to a difference between the amplified Hall output signal and the offset correction signal.

Abstract: An optical distance measurement system includes a transmission circuit and a receive circuit. The transmission circuit is configured to generate narrowband intensity modulated light transmission signals over a first band of frequencies and direct the narrowband light transmission signal toward a target object. The receive circuit is configured to receive reflected light off the target object, convert the reflected light into a current signal proportional to the intensity of the reflected light, filter frequencies outside a second band of frequencies from the current signal to create a filtered current signal, and convert the filtered current signal into a voltage signal. The second band of frequencies corresponds with the first band of frequencies.

Abstract: An optical distance measuring system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is configured to generate a first optical waveform and direct the first optical waveform toward a first scan point within a field of view (FOV). The receiver is configured to receive the first optical waveform reflected off a first object within the FOV, direct the first optical waveform reflected off the first object to a first photodiode group of an array of photodiode elements, and determine a distance to the first object based on a time of flight of the first optical waveform from the transmitter to the first object and back to the receiver.

Abstract: A pulse of terahertz radiation is transmitted through a touch panel formed of a dielectric material. The pulse generates an employable evanescent field in a region adjacent to a touch surface of the touch panel. The terahertz radiation has a frequency range between 0.1 terahertz and 10 terahertz. A reflected pulse is generated from an object located within the region adjacent to the touch surface of the touch panel. A position is triangulated of the object on the touch surface of the touch panel, based at least in part on the reflected pulse.

Abstract: A high bandwidth Hall sensor includes, for example, a Hall element for generating a first polarity Hall-signal output current. An amplifier receives, at a first input, the first polarity Hall-signal output current and outputs a feedback current of a second polarity opposite the first polarity in response. The feedback current is coupled to the first input, and the feedback current suppresses an instantaneous voltage generated by the first polarity first Hall element output current at the first input. In an embodiment, the feedback current suppresses the instantaneous voltage generated by first polarity Hall element output current such that the effects of the Hall element source impedance are reduced.

Abstract: One example includes a current measurement system. The system includes at least two magnetic field sensors positioned proximal to and in a predetermined arrangement with respect to a current conductor, each of the magnetic field sensors being configured to measure magnetic field associated with a current flowing in the current conductor and provide respective magnetic field measurements. The system also includes a current measurement processor configured to implement a mathematical algorithm based on a Taylor series expansion of the magnetic field measurements to calculate an amplitude of the current based on the mathematical algorithm.

Abstract: A regenerative differential receiver includes, for example, a transformer arranged to receive a modulated differential signal. A first detector is arranged to source a first output current for indicating a first power level in response to falling voltage of a first line of the modulated differential signal. A second detector is arranged to sink a second output current for indicating a second power level in response to rising voltage of a first line of the modulated differential signal. A cross-coupled latch is arranged to latch a state in response to the first and second power levels. The cross-coupled latch provides, for example, weak non-linear regeneration for increasing receiver gain and maximum operating frequencies.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a novel .method and apparatus for testing TSVs within a semiconductor device. According to embodiments illustrated and described in the disclosure, a TSV may be tested by stimulating and measuring a response from a first end of a TSV while the second end of the TSV held at ground potential. Multiple TSVs within the semiconductor device may be tested in parallel to reduce the TSV testing time according to the disclosure.

Abstract: IEEE 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAPs) may be utilized at both IC and intellectual property core design levels. TAPs serve as serial communication ports for accessing a variety of embedded circuitry within ICs and cores including; IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan circuitry, built in test circuitry, internal scan circuitry, IEEE 1149.4 mixed signal test circuitry, IEEE P5001 in-circuit emulation circuitry, and IEEE P1532 in-system programming circuitry. Selectable access to TAPs within ICs is desirable since in many instances being able to access only the desired TAP(s) leads to improvements in the way testing, emulation, and programming may be performed within an IC. A TAP linking module is described that allows TAPs embedded within an IC to be selectively accessed using 1149.1 instruction scan operations.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing TSVs within a semiconductor device. According to embodiments illustrated and described in the disclosure, a TSV may be tested by stimulating and measuring a response from a first end of a TSV while the second end of the TSV held at ground potential. Multiple TSVs within the semiconductor device may be tested in parallel to reduce the TSV testing time according to the disclosure.

Abstract: Described examples include an integrated circuit having an analog-to-digital converter operable to receive an input signal derived from a light signal and convert the input signal to a digital received signal, the analog-to-digital converter operable to receive the input signal during at least one window. The integrated circuit further has a receiver operable to receive the digital received signal, the receiver operable to determine a distance estimate of an object from which the light signal is reflected based on the digital received signal. In an example, the window locations are chosen to correspond to the locations of maximum slope in the signal.

Abstract: A high bandwidth Hall sensor includes, for example, a Hall element for generating a first polarity Hall-signal output current. An amplifier receives, at a first input, the first polarity Hall-signal output current and outputs a feedback current of a second polarity opposite the first polarity in response. The feedback current is coupled to the first input, and the feedback current suppresses an instantaneous voltage generated by the first polarity first Hall element output current at the first input. In an embodiment, the feedback current suppresses the instantaneous voltage generated by first polarity Hall element output current such that the effects of the Hall element source impedance are reduced.