Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for generating a random number. It is desirable for random numbers to have minimal or no bias towards any of their possible values, such that each possible value that the random number could take has the same, or substantially the same, likelihood. In some examples, the disclosed apparatus and method involve sampling two kTC noise signals from a capacitor(s) and uses the two sampled signals to generate a random number having minimal or no bias. In some other examples, the disclosed apparatus and method additionally or alternatively use a scrambling circuit to generate a scrambled random number using a random number and a random or pseudo-random dither signal.

Abstract: A rate of change of current sensor includes two measurement coils, arranged such that the turns of the first and second measurement coils are interleaved. The rate of change of current sensor further comprises two return coils, arranged to progress in an opposite direction to the measurement coils. The coils form loops and progress substantially around a target measurement conductor. This ensures that the two measurement coils both receive the same electrostatic coupling from external conductors which are not the target of the measurement operation. Further, the two measurement coils are arranged such that the first coil and the second coil are, on average, the same distance to the current-carrying conductor of interest.

Abstract: A measurement system includes an arc-fault detection circuit and a second detection circuit coupled to a current transducer. By providing both arc-fault detection and further detection capabilities using a current transducer, the overall circuit size may be reduced. To allow the arc-fault detection circuit and the second detection circuit to provide detection of different events, the circuits may operate at different sampling frequencies.

Abstract: A Physical Unclonable Function, PUF, apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a plurality of PUF cells that each comprise a first potential divider and a second potential divider. The apparatus also comprises a determination unit that comprises a selection unit for selecting at least one of the plurality of PUF cells, and a readout unit coupled to each selected PUF cell. The readout unit is configured to determine a PUF value for the selected PUF cell based on a difference between a first analog voltage at the first potential divider and a second analog voltage at the second potential divider.

Abstract: A rate of change of current sensor includes two measurement coils, arranged on a substrate or printed circuit board. The coils form loops and progress substantially around a target measurement conductor. This ensures that the two measurement coils both receive the same electrostatic coupling from external conductors which are not the target of the measurement operation. Further, the two measurement coils are arranged such that the first coil and the second coil are, on average, the same distance to the current-carrying conductor of interest.

Abstract: A device having a biocompatible polymer as a body and regularly spaced radiation seeds and regularly spaced magnetic materials disposed of within the body of the biocompatible polymer, or uniformly distributed liquid radiation and magnetic fluid materials within a polymer slab, hollow thick wall polymer shell, or thin wall polymer balloon, as suitable for surgical placement within a resection cavity for treatment of at-risk tissue in the tumor margin with local hyperthermia in combination with radiation and potentially also with chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy that is slowly released from the biocompatible polymer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for creating a consistent blockchain including block commitment determinations are disclosed herein. An example method includes receiving a request for blockchain data from an application or a user, receiving proposed canonical heads from a plurality of blockchain nodes, receiving votes to determine a correct state for a consistent blockchain that includes a canonical head, the blockchain data being included in the consistent view of a blockchain, determining the canonical head based on the votes, determining a commitment level for at least one block in the consistent view of the blockchain, providing the consistent view of the blockchain to the application or the user, and exposing the commitment level for the at least one block.

Abstract: Atomic position data may be obtained from x-ray diffraction data. The x-ray diffraction data for a sample may be squared and/or otherwise operated on to obtain input data for a neural network. The input data may be input to a trained convolutional neural network. The convolutional neural network may have been trained based on pairs of known atomic structures and corresponding neural network inputs. For the neural network input corresponding to the sample and input to the trained convolutional neural network, the convolutional neural network may obtain an atomic structure corresponding to the sample.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a PUF apparatus for generating a persistent, random number. The random number is determined by selecting one or more PUF cells, each of which comprise a matched pair of capacitors that are of identical design, and determining a value that is accurately and reliably indicative of a random manufacturing difference between them, based in which the random number is generated. The random manufacturing differences between the capacitors creates the randomness in the generated random number. Furthermore, because the random manufacturing difference should be relatively stable over time, the generated random number should be persistent.

Abstract: The response of a coil based current measuring circuit is often proportional to frequency. To correct for this a low pass or integrating function is applied to the response to linearize it. The low pass filter is made from real resistors and capacitors, and tolerances in their values significantly affect the estimate of current. The present approach can provide a way of addressing such problems. This allows consumers of electricity to have confidence in the accuracy of, for example, their electricity meter.

Abstract: The disclosure provides different time of flight, ToF, methods and systems for using two or more non-sinusoidal control signals to achieve modulated output light and/or image sensor control with reduced harmonic content. In particular, the two or more non-sinusoidal control signals have different relative phase offsets or duty cycle ratios such that a combined signal resulting from combing the two or more control signals has reduced harmonic content. By utilising non-sinusoidal signals and effectively making using of the combined signal for the output light and/or image sensor control, the system is more straightforward and lower cost to implement compared with systems that use sinusoidal control signals, whilst still maintaining accuracy of the system by minimising the harmonic noise normally associated with non-sinusoidal signals.

Abstract: A rate of change of current sensor includes two measurement coils, arranged on a substrate or printed circuit board. The coils form loops and progress substantially around a target measurement conductor. This ensures that the two measurement coils both receive the same electrostatic coupling from external conductors which are not the target of the measurement operation. Further, the two measurement coils are arranged such that the first coil and the second coil are, on average, the same distance to the current-carrying conductor of interest.

Abstract: A rate of change of current sensor includes two measurement coils, arranged such that the turns of the first and second measurement coils are interleaved. The rate of change of current sensor further comprises two return coils, arranged to progress in an opposite direction to the measurement coils. The coils form loops and progress substantially around a target measurement conductor. This ensures that the two measurement coils both receive the same electrostatic coupling from external conductors which are not the target of the measurement operation. Further, the two measurement coils are arranged such that the first coil and the second coil are, on average, the same distance to the current-carrying conductor of interest.

Abstract: Physical Unclonable Functions, PUFs, are hardware devices designed to generate a number that is random (i.e., two identical PUFs should produce randomly different numbers from each other) and persistent (i.e., a PUF should consistently generate the same number over time). Over time, aspects of the PUF hardware may change or drift, which may ultimately cause the generated number to change, and therefore no longer be persistent. Failure to generate a persistent number may cause difficulties for other devices that rely on the persistence of the number generated by the PUF, for example as part of a cryptographic process. The present disclosure relates to monitoring over time the physical characteristics of the PUF that are used to generate its number, and thereby keep track of its reliability to generate a random number that is persistent.

Abstract: A depth estimation system can use a guided filter to enhance depth estimation using brightness image. Light is projected onto an object. The object reflects at least a portion of the projected light. The reflected light is at least partially captured by an image sensor. The depth estimation system may generate a depth image based on a phase shift between the captured light and the projected light and generate a brightness image based on brightness of the captured light. The depth estimation system may use the guided filter to identify a pixel that represents at least a portion of a boundary of the object. The guided filter can determine a depth value of the pixel based on the value of the corresponding pixel in the brightness image. The depth estimation system can assign the depth value to the pixel and generates an enhanced depth image.

Abstract: A depth estimation system can enhance depth estimation using brightness image. Light is projected onto an object. The object reflects at least a portion of the projected light. The reflected light is at least partially captured by an image sensor, which generates image data. The depth estimation system may use the image data to generate both a depth image and a brightness image. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each of which is associated with two ADCs. The ADCs receive different analog signals from the pixel and outputs different digital signals. The depth estimation system may use the different digital signals to determine the brightness value of a brightness pixel of the brightness image. The ADCs may be associated with one or more other pixels. The pixel and the one or more other pixels may be arranged in a same column in an array of the image sensor.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to monitoring the condition of electrical/electronic switches over time by monitoring the impedance of the switch. The condition of switches can degrade as they age, which can reduce their performance and may ultimately lead to failure. In many applications, particularly high-voltage applications, the reliable operation of switches may be very important and failures can present a safety risk and cause costly unscheduled system downtime for repairs. It has been realised that as the condition of switches change, their impedance changes, so monitoring the impedance can give a good indication of the condition of the switch, enabling potential faults/failures to be identified early and acted upon pre-emptively.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a light source system suitable for use in a time of flight camera. The light source system includes a light source, such as a laser, and a driver arranged to supply a drive current to the light source to turn the light source on to emit light. The driver includes two transistors coupled to the light source in series, such that when both transistors are turned on, a drive circuit is completed, current flows and the light source turns on. A very short pulse of light emission may be achieved efficiently by switching one of the transistors to the on-state to complete the drive circuit and a short time later turning off the other transistor in order to break the drive circuit. In this way, a pulse of light in the order of less than 1 nanosecond or less than 500 picoseconds may be achieved.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a light source system suitable for use in a time of flight camera. The light source system includes a light source, such as a laser, and a driver arranged to supply a drive current to the light source to turn the light source on to emit light. The driver includes a capacitor to store energy and then discharge to generate the drive current, and the driver is integrated into a semiconductor die on which the light source is mounted. Consequently, the driver includes within it the source of energy for the drive current and the light source and driver are very close together, meaning that the light source may be turned on and off very quickly with a relatively large drive current, in order to output a high optical power, short duration light pulse.

Abstract: Axial magnetic flux sensors are described. The axial magnetic flux sensors comprise multiple substrates with conductive traces on them in some embodiments, and in other embodiments a single substrate or no substrate. When multiple substrates are provided, the substrates couple together such that the conductive traces connect to form a coil. The coil may be a continuous, multi-loop coil. When the substrates are coupled together, they may define an opening to accommodate a shaft or other piece of equipment.