Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for additive manufacturing are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes: coupling a plurality of build platforms to a carrier; forming a plurality of 3D objects on the plurality of build platforms using an additive manufacturing process, where each build platform receives at least one 3D object thereon; removing the plurality of build platforms from the carrier; performing post-processing of the plurality of 3D objects while the 3D objects remain on the respective build platforms; and separating the plurality of 3D objects from the respective build platforms.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing movement of an object, including: a first sensor providing a first signal along a first signal path on a semiconductor chip, the first signal being used to determine a first characteristic of the movement; a second sensor providing a second signal along a second signal path on the semiconductor chip, the second signal being used to determine a second characteristic of the movement; and an alarm circuit configured to issue a fault warning when there is a violation of a predefined relationship between the first signal and the second signal based on a missing or additional portion of the first signal or the second signal.

Abstract: A monitoring device of a sensor may obtain a first signal at a point on a first branch of a signal path of the sensor. The monitoring device may obtain a second signal at a point on a second branch of the signal path of the sensor and may monitor the first signal for first characteristics indicated by the first signal. The monitoring device may monitor the second signal for second characteristics indicated by the second signal. The monitoring device may determine whether a quantity of first characteristics indicated by the first signal without a particular quantity of second characteristics being indicated by the second signal reaches a threshold quantity of first characteristics. The monitoring device may assess functionality of the signal path based on whether the quantity of first characteristics indicated by the first signal without a particular quantity of second characteristics being indicated by the second signal reaches the threshold quantity of first characteristics.

Abstract: A sensor system for sensing movement of an object, including: a first sensor providing a first signal along a first signal path on a semiconductor chip, the first signal being used to determine a first characteristic of the movement; a second sensor providing a second signal along a second signal path on the semiconductor chip, the second signal being used to determine a second characteristic of the movement; and an alarm circuit configured to issue a fault warning when there is a violation of a predefined relationship between the first signal and the second signal based on a missing or additional portion of the first signal or the second signal.

Abstract: A sensor system and an alerting unit. The sensor system according to the invention may comprise first sensing element configured to measure a first signal indicative of a velocity of a movement of an object and a second sensing element configured to measure a second signal indicative of a direction of the movement, further comprising an alerting unit configured to issue a warning if a predefined relationship between the first signal and the second signal is being violated. The invention further teaches an alerting unit configured to monitor a predefined relationship between a first signal and a second signal and further configured to issue a warning should the predefined relationship become violated.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a two-pin current interface including an input pin configured to draw an input current and an output pin configured to output an output current, a sensor configured to generate a measurement signal, and a current modulator configured to generate a current pulse as the output current such that the output current toggles between at least two main current states based on the measurement signal. The current modulator is configured to modulate the output current such that the output current is increased, to a first current level greater than the at least two main current states, at an initial phase of the current pulse for a first duration, and to modulate the output current such that the output current is decreased, to a second level less than the at least two main current states, at a terminal phase of the current pulse for a second duration.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a two-pin current interface including an input pin configured to draw an input current and an output pin configured to output an output current, a sensor configured to generate a measurement signal, and a current modulator configured to generate a current pulse as the output current such that the output current toggles between at least two main current states based on the measurement signal. The current modulator is configured to modulate the output current such that the output current is increased, to a first current level greater than the at least two main current states, at an initial phase of the current pulse for a first duration, and to modulate the output current such that the output current is decreased, to a second level less than the at least two main current states, at a terminal phase of the current pulse for a second duration.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a two-pin current interface including an input pin configured to draw an input current and an output pin configured to output an output current, a sensor configured to generate a measurement signal, and a current modulator configured to generate a current pulse as the output current such that the output current toggles between at least two main current states based on the measurement signal. The current modulator is configured to modulate the output current such that the output current is increased, to a first current level greater than the at least two main current states, at an initial phase of the current pulse for a first duration, and to modulate the output current such that the output current is decreased, to a second level less than the at least two main current states, at a terminal phase of the current pulse for a second duration.

Abstract: A sensor device includes a two-pin current interface including an input pin configured to draw an input current and an output pin configured to output an output current, a sensor configured to generate a measurement signal, and a current modulator configured to generate a current pulse as the output current such that the output current toggles between at least two main current states based on the measurement signal. The current modulator is configured to modulate the output current such that the output current is increased, to a first current level greater than the at least two main current states, at an initial phase of the current pulse for a first duration, and to modulate the output current such that the output current is decreased, to a second level less than the at least two main current states, at a terminal phase of the current pulse for a second duration.

Abstract: A monitoring unit (100; 800) for monitoring an integrity of a signal path (200; 620) configured to receive an input signal (210, 802) and further configured to provide an output (220) in response to the input signal (210, 802), comprises a signal monitor (110; 801) configured to extract a first signal (112; 630) from the signal path (200; 620) corresponding to the input signal (210, 802) in at least a first characteristic. The monitoring unit (100; 800) further comprises a signal interface (120; 803) configured to extract a second signal (122; 631) corresponding to the output (220) in at least a second characteristic from the signal path (200; 620); and an evaluator (130) configured to determine, whether the at least first characteristic of the first signal (112; 630) corresponds to the at least second characteristic of the second signal (122; 631) according to a predefined relation.

Abstract: A monitoring unit (100; 800) for monitoring an integrity of a signal path (200; 620) configured to receive an input signal (210, 802) and further configured to provide an output (220) in response to the input signal (210, 802), comprises a signal monitor (110; 801) configured to extract a first signal (112; 630) from the signal path (200; 620) corresponding to the input signal (210, 802) in at least a first characteristic. The monitoring unit (100; 800) further comprises a signal interface (120; 803) configured to extract a second signal (122; 631) corresponding to the output (220) in at least a second characteristic from the signal path (200; 620); and an evaluator (130) configured to determine, whether the at least first characteristic of the first signal (112; 630) corresponds to the at least second characteristic of the second signal (122; 631) according to a predefined relation.

Abstract: A sensor system and an alerting unit. The sensor system according to the invention may comprise first sensing element configured to measure a first signal indicative of a velocity of a movement of an object and a second sensing element configured to measure a second signal indicative of a direction of the movement, further comprising an alerting unit configured to issue a warning if a predefined relationship between the first signal and the second signal is being violated. The invention further teaches an alerting unit configured to monitor a predefined relationship between a first signal and a second signal and further configured to issue a warning should the predefined relationship become violated.

Abstract: An apparatus for the determination of a momentary relative direction of an indicator object depending on a magnetic field influenced or generated by the indicator object includes first means for sensing a course of a first magnetic field component of the magnetic field, second means for sensing a course of a second magnetic field component of the magnetic field, and means for evaluating the course of the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component in order to determine the momentary, relative direction of the indicator object, the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component being offset in angle with respect to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for the determination of a momentary relative direction of an indicator object depending on a magnetic field influenced or generated by the indicator object includes first means for sensing a course of a first magnetic field component of the magnetic field, second means for sensing a course of a second magnetic field component of the magnetic field, and means for evaluating the course of the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component in order to determine the momentary, relative direction of the indicator object, the first magnetic field component and the second magnetic field component being offset in angle with respect to each other.

Abstract: The invention is direct to a comparator circuit that maps an analog input signal into a digital output signal and comprises a threshold as well as an upper and a lower hysteresis threshold. Given transgression of the upper or lower hysteresis threshold by the analog input signal, at least one unlatch signal is formed that enables the switching of the digital output signal when the analog input signal upwardly transgresses the threshold. Independently of at least one unlatch signal, the digital output signal is inventively switched when the analog input signal transgresses the upper or lower hysteresis threshold.

Abstract: The invention is direct to a comparator circuit that maps an analog input signal into a digital output signal and comprises a threshold as well as an upper and a lower hysteresis threshold. Given transgression of the upper or lower hysteresis threshold by the analog input signal, at least one unlatch signal is formed that enables the switching of the digital output signal when the analog input signal upwardly transgresses the threshold. Independently of at least one unlatch signal, the digital output signal is inventively switched when the analog input signal transgresses the upper or lower hysteresis threshold.