Abstract: A MEMS package comprises a first speaker arrangement configured for emitting sound in a first audio frequency range and a second speaker arrangement configured for emitting sound in a different second audio frequency range.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing system senses frost and ice accumulation in an energy efficient defrost system. The capacitance sensing system comprises a first capacitor including a portion of a metal heat exchanger and a sensor electrode electrically isolated from the metal heat exchanger; a tank oscillator including a second capacitor and an inductor coupled in parallel with each other and with the first capacitor; and a circuit coupled to the tank oscillator. The circuit determines a resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determines a capacitance value of the first capacitor based on the resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, and transmits a heater activation command in response to determining the capacitance value is greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing system for sensing frost and ice accumulation. The capacitance sensing system comprises a first capacitor formed by a portion of a metal heat exchanger and a sensor electrode electrically isolated from the metal heat exchanger, a tank oscillator comprising a second capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel with each other and coupled in parallel with the first capacitor, and a circuit coupled to the tank oscillator. The circuit coupled to the tank oscillator is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine that the capacitance value is greater than a predefined threshold, and transmit a heater activation command in response to determining the capacitance value is greater than the predefined threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a communication interface, and a hardware controller. The hardware controller may detect a door open and close event for a refrigeration unit and receives temperature readings from the temperature sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor. The hardware controller determines whether a performance level of the seal has fallen below a threshold level based on the temperature and pressure readings and transmits a signal through the communication interface responsive to a determination that the performance level of the seal has fallen below the threshold level.

Abstract: A system includes a controller to provide at least one control output to an automated system in response to a control command received at a control input of the controller. The control output controls the operation of the automated system based on the control command. A signature analyzer generates the control command to the controller and receives an impedance signature related to a property of a material or object encountered by the automated system. The signature analyzer compares the impedance signature to at least one comparison signature to determine the property of the material or object. The signature analyzer adjusts the control command to the controller to control the operation of the automated system based on the determined property.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a communication interface, and a hardware controller. The hardware controller may detect a door open and close event for a refrigeration unit and receives temperature readings from the temperature sensor and pressure readings from the pressure sensor. The hardware controller determines whether a performance level of the seal has fallen below a threshold level based on the temperature and pressure readings and transmits a signal through the communication interface responsive to a determination that the performance level of the seal has fallen below the threshold level.

Abstract: A capacitance sensing system for sensing frost and ice accumulation. The capacitance sensing system comprises a first capacitor formed by a portion of a metal heat exchanger and a sensor electrode electrically isolated from the metal heat exchanger, a tank oscillator comprising a second capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel with each other and coupled in parallel with the first capacitor, and a circuit coupled to the tank oscillator. The circuit coupled to the tank oscillator is configured to determine a resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency of the tank oscillator, determine that the capacitance value is greater than a predefined threshold, and transmit a heater activation command in response to determining the capacitance value is greater than the predefined threshold.

Abstract: A system includes a controller to provide at least one control output to an automated system in response to a control command received at a control input of the controller. The control output controls the operation of the automated system based on the control command. A signature analyzer generates the control command to the controller and receives an impedance signature related to a property of a material or object encountered by the automated system. The signature analyzer compares the impedance signature to at least one comparison signature to determine the property of the material or object. The signature analyzer adjusts the control command to the controller to control the operation of the automated system based on the determined property.

Abstract: A system includes a controller to provide at least one control output to an automated system in response to a control command received at a control input of the controller. The control output controls the operation of the automated system based on the control command. A signature analyzer generates the control command to the controller and receives an impedance signature related to a property of a material or object encountered by the automated system. The signature analyzer compares the impedance signature to at least one comparison signature to determine the property of the material or object. The signature analyzer adjusts the control command to the controller to control the operation of the automated system based on the determined property.

Abstract: A configurable integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate having a semiconductor surface that the IC is formed within and thereon. The IC includes a configurable Analog Front End (cAFE) including at least one circuit module or input/output (IO), an analog switch having at least a first substantially gate enclosed Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (SGEFET) having a gate stack including a gate on a gate dielectric, a source, and a drain. The drain or source is a substantially gate enclosed (SGE) inner electrode relative to the gate, and the other of the source and the drain is outside the gate. The inner electrode of the first SGEFET is directly coupled to an analog bus. A switch control provides control signals to at least the gate of the first SGEFET for controlling a connectivity between the circuit module and/or the IO and the analog bus.

Abstract: A configurable integrated circuit (IC) includes a substrate having a semiconductor surface that the IC is formed within and thereon. The IC includes a configurable Analog Front End (cAFE) including at least one circuit module or input/output (IO), an analog switch having at least a first substantially gate enclosed Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (SGEFET) having a gate stack including a gate on a gate dielectric, a source, and a drain. The drain or source is a substantially gate enclosed (SGE) inner electrode relative to the gate, and the other of the source and the drain is outside the gate. The inner electrode of the first SGEFET is directly coupled to an analog bus. A switch control provides control signals to at least the gate of the first SGEFET for controlling a connectivity between the circuit module and/or the IO and the analog bus.

Abstract: A method and a circuit arrangement are disclosed for determining radiation intensity using counting detectors or detector elements, in which x-ray radiation photons, which are either absorbed or absorbed in part, generate electrical signals, the pulse number and pulse height of which is correlated to an incident radiation intensity, and the radiation intensity is at least determined by counting the pulses. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the signal pulses incident on at least one detector or detector element are detected simultaneously by at least one continuously operating pulse height discriminator and by at least one pulse height discriminator operating in a clocked fashion, with the number of incident signal pulses being determined with the aid of these two items of detection information.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining individual quantum absorption events in a radiation converter which counts quanta. In at least one embodiment of the method, temporally continuous analog-to-digital conversion of electrical signals generated by a quantum absorption event to a digital signal is carried out first of all by the radiation converter. The digital signal is then processed to determine the number of quanta of the underlying quantum absorption event absorbed in the radiation converter.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement and method of operating the sensor arrangement are described. The sensor arrangement has sensor devices formed on or in a substrate and a calibration device for calibrating a respective sensor device. Each sensor device has an electrical signal converter which is a field-effect transistor (FET) having a gate terminal coupled to a sensor element that is coupled to the signal converter, a device that keeps constant the electrical voltage between source and drain terminals of the FET, and a device for detecting the value of the electric current flowing through the signal converter. The sensor element characteristically influences the electrical conductivity of the signal converter on account of a sensor event on the sensor element. The calibration device brings the gate region of the FET to an electrical calibration potential such that the electric current is independent of parameter fluctuations of the FET.