Abstract: Disclosed herein are example methods, systems, and devices involving electrically-conductive wires, such as standard IC bonding wires, that are configured so as to operate as inertial sensors. One embodiment of the disclosed methods, systems, and devices may take the form of a system that includes a first electrically-conductive wire and a second electrically-conductive wire, where the first wire and the second wire are electromagnetically coupled; and a sensor oscillator, where the sensor oscillator is coupled to the first wire and the second wire, and where the sensor oscillator is configured to output a sensor-oscillator signal that is frequency modulated based on a change in complex impedance between the first wire and the second wire, where the change in complex impedance is due to a displacement of the first wire relative to the second wire.

Abstract: Described herein is a wireless transceiver and related method that enables ultra low power transmission and reception of wireless communications. In an example embodiment of the wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver receives a first-reference signal having a first-reference frequency. The wireless transceiver then uses the first-reference signal to injection lock a local oscillator, which provides a set of oscillation signals each having an oscillation frequency that is equal to the first-reference frequency, and each having equally spaced phases. Then the wireless transceiver combines the set of oscillation signals into an output signal having an output frequency that is one of (i) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a transmitter implementation) or (ii) a difference of (a) a second-reference frequency of a second-reference signal and (b) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a receiver implementation).

Abstract: Methods and systems for utilizing oscillator frequency divider settings as a temperature sensor are described herein. An example method may involve a reader device transmitting an RF signal to a tag device that includes an electronic oscillator configured to generate an oscillator signal with an oscillator frequency and a frequency adjuster configured to adjust the oscillator frequency with a frequency adjustment factor to provide a resulting frequency, the oscillator frequency being dependent on a temperature of the tag device and the resulting frequency being based on a reference frequency provided by the RF signal. The method may also involve the reader device receiving data from the tag device, the data being indicative of the oscillator frequency. The method may further involve the reader device determining an estimate of the temperature of the tag device based on at least the received data and a predetermined relationship between temperature and oscillator frequency.

Abstract: Described herein is a wireless transceiver and related method that enables ultra low power transmission and reception of wireless communications. In an example embodiment of the wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver receives a first-reference signal having a first-reference frequency. The wireless transceiver then uses the first-reference signal to injection lock a local oscillator, which provides a set of oscillation signals each having an oscillation frequency that is equal to the first-reference frequency, and each having equally spaced phases. Then the wireless transceiver combines the set of oscillation signals into an output signal having an output frequency that is one of (i) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a transmitter implementation) or (ii) a difference of (a) a second-reference frequency of a second-reference signal and (b) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a receiver implementation).

Abstract: Described herein is a wireless transceiver and related method that enables ultra low power transmission and reception of wireless communications. In an example embodiment of the wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver receives a first-reference signal having a first-reference frequency. The wireless transceiver then uses the first-reference signal to injection lock a local oscillator, which provides a set of oscillation signals each having an oscillation frequency that is equal to the first-reference frequency, and each having equally spaced phases. Then the wireless transceiver combines the set of oscillation signals into an output signal having an output frequency that is one of (i) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a transmitter implementation) or (ii) a difference of (a) a second-reference frequency of a second-reference signal and (b) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a receiver implementation).

Abstract: Described herein is a wireless transceiver and related method that enables ultra low power transmission and reception of wireless communications. In an example embodiment of the wireless transceiver, the wireless transceiver receives a first-reference signal having a first-reference frequency. The wireless transceiver then uses the first-reference signal to injection lock a local oscillator, which provides a set of oscillation signals each having an oscillation frequency that is equal to the first-reference frequency, and each having equally spaced phases. Then the wireless transceiver combines the set of oscillation signals into an output signal having an output frequency that is one of (i) a multiple of the first-reference frequency (in accordance with a transmitter implementation) or (ii) a difference of (a) a second-reference frequency of a second-reference signal and (b) a multiple of the first- reference frequency (in accordance with a receiver implementation).