Abstract: A device for managing power of a laser source in a laser-based apparatus includes switched-mode power controller circuitry. The power controller circuitry further includes a controller output configured to be coupled to reservoir capacitor of a laser source to provide a first mode of regulating charging of the reservoir capacitor between illuminations of the laser source and a second mode of regulating charging of the reservoir capacitor during illuminations of the laser source.

Abstract: Monitoring temperature of a laser diode and adjusting usage of the laser diode based on the monitoring information. The method of monitoring includes using a laser driver circuit to drive the laser diode to deliver multiple test current stimuli at different times related to the laser driver issuing one or a burst of illumination pulses. A differential measurement can be made between at least two of the test current stimuli. The differential measurement can be used to determine an indication of the heating or health of the laser diode in the system or of the laser system as a whole.

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: 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: 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to configuring at least one pair of devices in a physical unclonable function (PUF) apparatus and reading out at least one pair of devices for determining a persistent random PUF output. The pair of devices may be readout by measuring a physical difference between the devices/components caused by random manufacturing differences, which may then be used to determine a persistence random PUF output. Configuring the pair of devices includes measuring the random manufacturing difference and, based on that measurement, setting a readout condition for the pair of devices, which dictates aspects of the readout process that should be used for that pair of devices. Each time the pair of devices is readout in the future, it may be readout in accordance with the condition that was set at configuration.

Abstract: Site-specific modification of proteins with microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is a powerful and versatile strategy for a controlled modification of proteins under physiological conditions. We present evidence that solid-phase microbead-immobilization can be used to site-specifically and efficiently attach different functional molecules important for further downstream applications to proteins of therapeutic relevance including scFV, Fab-fragment and antibodies. We demonstrate that MTG remained firmly immobilized with no detectable column bleeding and that enzyme activity was sustained during continuous operation, which allowed for a convenient recycling of the enzyme, thus going beyond solution-phase MTG conjugation. In addition it is showed that immobilized MTG shows enhanced selectivity towards a certain residue in the presence of several reactive residues which are all targeted if the conjugation was carried out in solution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to integrated circuits which include various structural elements designed to reduce the impact of strain on the electronic components of the circuit. In particular, a combination of trenches and cavities are used to mechanically isolate the integrated circuit from the surrounding substrate. The trenches may be formed such that they surround the integrated circuit, and the cavities may be formed under the integrated circuit. As such, the integrated circuit may be formed on a portion of the substrate that forms a platform. In order that the platform does not move, it may be tethered to the surrounding substrate. By including such mechanical elements, variation in the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit are reduced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides numerous applications for the use of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) to controllably steer light. When combined with an image sensor, light generated or reflected from different fields of view (FOV) can be steered, allowing an increase in the FOV or the resolution of the image. Further, the LCPG can stabilize the resulting image, counteracting any movement of the image sensor. The combination of LCPGs and liquid crystal waveguides (LCWGs) allows fine deflection control of light (from the LCWG) over a wild field of view (from the LCPG). Further applications of LCPGs include object tracking and the production of depth images using multiple imaging units and independently steered LCPGs. The LCPG may be used in controlling both the projection and reception of light.

Abstract: Time-of-flight (ToF) systems which use pulsed laser diodes, are required to measure distances with high level of precision and control. The present disclosure provides a method and a corresponding system for controlling a temporal response of a laser diode, in particular pulsed laser diodes. In particular, the present disclosure provides a method and a related system for driving a laser diode so as to obtain predominantly a peak pulse response while minimising or completely avoiding the post-peak response in a temporal response of the laser diode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to integrated circuits which include various structural elements designed to reduce the impact of strain on the electronic components of the circuit. In particular, a combination of trenches and cavities are used to mechanically isolate the integrated circuit from the surrounding substrate. The trenches may be formed such that they surround the integrated circuit, and the cavities may be formed under the integrated circuit. As such, the integrated circuit may be formed on a portion of the substrate that forms a platform. In order that the platform does not move, it may be tethered to the surrounding substrate. By including such mechanical elements, variation in the electrical characteristics of the integrated circuit are reduced.

Abstract: Site-specific modification of proteins with microbial transglutaminase (MTG) is a powerful and versatile strategy for a controlled modification of proteins under physiological conditions. Solid-phase microbead-immobilization is used to site-specifically and efficiently attach different functional molecules important for further downstream applications to proteins of therapeutic relevance including scFV, Fab-fragment and antibodies. MTG remained firmly immobilized with no detectable column bleeding and enzyme activity was sustained during continuous operation. Immobilized MTG shows enhanced selectivity towards a certain residue in the presence of several reactive residues which are all targeted when the conjugation was carried out in solution. The generation of dual site-specifically conjugated IgG1 with immobilized and MTG in solution is reported, i.e. site-specific conjugation to glutamine and lysine residues of IgG1 antibody.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to configuring at least one pair of devices in a physical unclonable function (PUF) apparatus and reading out at least one pair of devices for determining a persistent random PUF output. The pair of devices may be readout by measuring a physical difference between the devices/components caused by random manufacturing differences, which may then be used to determine a persistence random PUF output. Configuring the pair of devices includes measuring the random manufacturing difference and, based on that measurement, setting a readout condition for the pair of devices, which dictates aspects of the readout process that should be used for that pair of devices. Each time the pair of devices is readout in the future, it may be readout in accordance with the condition that was set at configuration.

Abstract: A laser emitter circuit comprises a laser diode; a driver circuit configured to generate a drive signal; and a resonant circuit coupled to the driver circuit and the laser diode, wherein the resonant circuit is configured to use the drive signal of the driver circuit to generate a continuous wave sinusoidal drive signal to drive the laser diode.

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: A hybrid temperature sensor for an integrated circuit includes two temperature sensors—an application temperature sensor for measuring temperature during normal use of the integrated circuit, and a calibration temperature sensitive element. By providing two temperature sensitive elements within the integrated circuit, it is possible to take advantage of different characteristics of temperature sensors to achieve high accuracy calibration of the application temperature sensor relatively quickly and at low cost, whilst also maintaining desirable characteristics for the application temperature sensor, such as high speed, low power consumption, high resolution, etc.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrostatic shield for providing electrostatic shielding for a current sensing coil. Current sensing coils are configured to enable the measurement of a current carried by an electrical conductor passing through a core of the current sensing coil. The electrostatic shield of the present disclosure is configured to provide electrostatic shielding to a core of the current sensing coil in order to reduce or eliminate electrostatic coupling between the electrical conductor and the current sensing coil, thereby improving the accuracy of current measurement that may be achieved by the current sensing coil.

Abstract: An image processing system for time-of-flight depth imaging includes a processor for determining depth measurements using different modes of operation. The processor determines depth measurements in a first set of frames using a second set of frames. The first mode is a continuous wave modulation mode without depth linearization and the second mode is a continuous wave modulation mode with depth linearization. The depth estimates collected in the second mode using depth linearization are used to correct the depth estimates collected in the first mode.

Abstract: Time of Flight (ToF) image processing methods include collecting correlation samples to calculate a phase estimate. Systems and methods are provided for collecting correlation samples from multiple pixels. An image processing system for continuous waves includes a light source configured to emit light, an image sensor having a plurality of pixels, and a processor configured to collect correlation samples from a subset of the plurality of pixels in the image sensor.

Abstract: Time of Flight (ToF) image processing systems and methods for proximity detection are disclosed. In particular, use of a separate proximity detector can be eliminated by using the time of flight image processing system as disclosed herein. In particular, the time of flight image processing system has two modes: a low resolution proximity detection mode and a high resolution imaging mode.