Abstract: The described techniques address issues related to conventional bidirectional SPC protocols by providing various signaling schemes to enable bidirectional SPC communications without interrupting other sensor communications. The bidirectional signaling schemes may provide further advantages such as reducing device current draw compared to conventional bidirectional SPC communication schemes, reducing transmission times, increasing data rates, and reducing sensor complexity.

Abstract: The described techniques enhance the conventional SPC communication protocol in various ways to provide further flexibility for various applications while improving performance. This includes the use of an alternative trigger signal that may encode a time base reference of a primary device as well as state data (e.g. an address, configuration data, etc.), which is transmitted to one or more secondary devices. This also includes the use of an end-of-frame (EoF) signal that may be introduced into an SPC data frame to enable the use of a variable data frame length. Still further, techniques are described for the use of another alternate trigger signal that includes a wake up signal that is recognized by a receiving device, which causes the receiving device to transition from a low power mode of operation to a communicating mode of operation.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensor includes a magnetic sensor element configured to generate a signal based on a magnetic field sensed by the magnetic sensor element; a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structure including a membrane configured to move, depending on a pressure applied thereto, relative to the magnetic sensor element; and a field influencing element configured to modify the magnetic field based on a movement of the membrane, wherein the field influencing element is arranged on the membrane.

Abstract: An absolute position measurement system includes a multipole magnet comprising alternating magnetic poles extending along a multipole extension direction, the alternating magnetic poles generating a magnetic field. A magnetic sensor includes a first sensor element arrangement configured to generate a first signal in response to a first magnetic field component and a second sensor element arrangement configured to generate a second signal in response to a second magnetic field component. The absolute position measurement system is configured, as a position of the magnetic sensor relative to the multipole magnet changes, to generate a first oscillating sensor signal with decreasing first signal amplitude and to generate a second oscillating sensor signal with decreasing second signal amplitude based on the first and second signals. A processing circuit is configured to calculate an absolute position of the magnetic sensor based on the first oscillating sensor signal and the second oscillating sensor signal.

Abstract: An inductive sensor may include a first angle measurement path associated with determining an angular position based on a first set of input signals. The inductive sensor may include a second angle measurement path associated with determining an angular position based on a second set of input signals. The inductive sensor may include an amplitude regulation path associated with regulating amplitudes of a set of output signals. The inductive sensor may include a safety path associated with performing one or more safety checks. Each safety check of the one or more safety checks may be associated with at least one of the first angle measurement path, the second angle measurement path, or the amplitude regulation path.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip including a chip substrate and a MEMS element, wherein the chip substrate includes a first surface and a second surface arranged opposite to the first surface, and wherein the MEMS element is disposed at the first surface of the chip substrate and the MEMS element includes a sensitive area; at least one electrical interconnect structure electrically connected to the first surface of the chip substrate; a chip carrier electrically connected to the at least one electrical interconnect structure; a flexible film provided over the second surface of the chip substrate to form a pocket in which the semiconductor chip resides; and a compressible material arranged between the second surface of the chip substrate and the flexible film.

Abstract: A measurement system includes a first pair and a second pair of metamaterial arrays respectively configured to rotate about a rotational axis. The first pair of metamaterial arrays are mutually coupled to each other by a first torque-dependent coupling, thereby forming a first mutually coupled structure. The second pair of metamaterial arrays are mutually coupled to each other by a second torque-dependent coupling, thereby forming a second mutually coupled structure. In response to a torque applied to the rotational shaft, metamaterial arrays of the first pair of metamaterial arrays are configured to undergo a first rotational shift relative to each other, and metamaterial arrays of the second pair of metamaterial arrays are configured to undergo a second rotational shift relative to each other. A change in the first torque-dependent coupling caused by the torque is different than a change in the second torque-dependent coupling caused by the same torque.

Abstract: A off-axis angle sensor may receive a set of output signals including a first output signal, a second output signal, and a third output signal. The off-axis angle sensor may determine, based on the set of output signals, a set of delta signals including a first delta signal, a second delta signal, and a third delta signal. The off-axis angle sensor may identify a set of functional safety checks, from a plurality of functional safety checks configured on the off-axis angle sensor, for selective performance in association with determining functional safety of the off-axis angle sensor. Each of the plurality of functional safety checks may be performed independently of each of the other functional safety checks. The off-axis angle sensor may perform one or more functional safety checks based at least in part on at least one of: the set of output signals or the set of delta signals.

Abstract: In some examples, a circuit comprises a function unit configured to perform a circuit function, and one or more in situ monitors configured to measure internal data associated with the circuit. The circuit may further comprise a memory configured to store one or more limit values associated with the one or more in situ monitors, and a lifetime model unit configured to determine whether the circuit has reached an end-of-life threshold based on the measured internal data from the one or more in situ monitors and the limit values.

Abstract: A driving safety system for a motor vehicle with at least one wheel speed sensor is disclosed, which is configured to determine the actual wheel speed on a wheel, and a driving safety control unit configured to receive a wheel speed signal generated by the wheel speed sensor, where the wheel speed signal represents a determined actual wheel speed. The wheel speed signal is transmitted via an unprotected transmission channel between the wheel speed sensor and the driving safety control unit. The driving safety control unit is configured to receive a travel signal that correlates with the actual vehicle speed and to compare the travel signal with the wheel speed signal to check the wheel speed signal for plausibility. The movement signal is transmitted to the driving safety control unit via a safe transmission channel.

Abstract: A torque measurement system includes a first rotatable carrier structure and a second rotatable carrier structure mechanically coupled to a shaft; a first metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the first rotatable carrier structure; a second metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the second rotatable carrier structure; and a low-friction material arranged between the first and the second rotatable carrier structures. The first and the second metamaterial tracks are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are mutually coupled to each other by a torque-dependent coupling. Responsive to a torque applied to the shaft, the first metamaterial track is configured to undergo a rotational shift relative to the second metamaterial track. The low-friction material provides a low-friction rotational shift between the first rotatable carrier structure and the second rotatable carrier structure such that the predetermined distance is constant during the rotational shift.

Abstract: A rotation sensor system includes a rotatable target object configured to rotate about a rotational axis in a rotation direction; a first millimeter-wave (mm-wave) metamaterial track coupled to the rotatable target object, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track is arranged around the rotational axis, and where the first mm-wave metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures having at least one first characteristic that changes around a perimeter of the first mm-wave metamaterial track; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first electro-magnetic transmit signal towards the first mm-wave metamaterial track, where the first mm-wave metamaterial track converts the first electro-magnetic transmit signal into a first electro-magnetic receive signal; at least one receiver configured to receive the first electro-magnetic receive signal; and at least one processor configured to determine a rotational parameter of the rotatable target object based on the received first electro-magne

Abstract: A method and slave devices are disclosed in which an address assignment to slave devices takes place with the aid of a collision detection. The slave device receives an initialization signal, transmits an identifier over a bus in response to the initialization signal, checks whether a collision occurs on the bus when transmitting the identifier, and if a collision occurs, places the slave device into an inactive state, and if no collision occurs, receives an address for the slave device after the transmission of the identifier.

Abstract: In some examples, a method of operating a circuit is described. The method may include performing a circuit function and estimating a probability of failure of the circuit based on one or more stress origination metrics, one or more stress victim events, and one or more initial state conditions.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a magnetic angle sensor includes measuring, for a plurality of angle positions within a 360° rotation of a measurement object, in each case a first sensor signal for a first magnetic field component and a second sensor signal for a second magnetic field component orthogonal to the first magnetic field component, wherein the first and second sensor signals are in each case 360° periodic and representable as a Fourier series with a Fourier component of a fundamental and a Fourier component of a harmonic; determining the Fourier component of the harmonic for the first and second sensor signals based on a difference between a trajectory defined by the measured first and second sensor signals and a circular path; and correcting the angle positions based on the Fourier component of the harmonic determined for the first and second sensor signals.

Abstract: A sensor device includes an output driver configured to: adjust a first time interval of the output signal between a first signal edge of a first type and a first signal edge of a second type based on a first reference value; adjust a second time interval of the output signal between the first signal edge of the second type and a second signal edge of the first type based on a second reference value; adjust a third time interval of the output signal between the second signal edge of the first type and a second signal edge of the second type based on a first data value; and adjust a fourth time interval of the output signal between the second signal edge of the second type and a third signal edge of the first type based on a second data value.

Abstract: A system includes a movable part that is rotatably movable, the movable part comprising a first portion and a second portion; transceiver circuitry configured to transmit a radio signal towards the movable part and to receive a receive radio signal from the movable part; and evaluation circuitry configured to determine a rotational position of the movable part based on the receive radio signal. The first portion of the movable part has a first electromagnetic reflectivity for the radio signal and the second portion of the movable part has a second electromagnetic reflectivity for the radio signal. The first electromagnetic reflectivity differs from the second electromagnetic reflectivity.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a first metamaterial track mechanically coupled to a rotational shaft configured to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the first metamaterial track is arranged at least partially around the rotational axis, and wherein the first metamaterial track includes a first array of elementary structures; at least one transmitter configured to transmit a first continuous wave towards the first metamaterial track, wherein the first metamaterial track is configured to convert the first continuous wave into a first receive signal based on a rotational parameter of the rotational shaft; and at least one quadrature continuous-wave receiver configured to receive the first receive signal, acquire a first measurement of a first property of the first receive signal, and determine a measurement value for the rotational parameter of the rotational shaft based on the first measurement.

Abstract: An angle sensor may include a first angle measurement path to determine an angular position based on sensor values from a first set of sensing elements. The angle sensor may include a second angle measurement path to determine the angular position based on sensor values from a second set of sensing elements. A type of the second set of sensing elements is different from a type of the first set of sensing elements. The angle sensor may include a safety path to perform a set of safety checks, the set of safety checks including a first vector length check associated with the first angle measurement path and a second vector length check associated with the second angle measurement path. The angle sensor may include an output component to provide an indication of a result of the set of safety checks.

Abstract: A torque measurement system includes a first rotatable carrier structure and a second rotatable carrier structure mechanically coupled to a shaft; a first metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the first rotatable carrier structure; a second metamaterial track coupled to and configured to co-rotate with the second rotatable carrier structure; and a low-friction material arranged between the first and the second rotatable carrier structures. The first and the second metamaterial tracks are spaced apart by a predetermined distance and are mutually coupled to each other by a torque-dependent coupling. Responsive to a torque applied to the shaft, the first metamaterial track is configured to undergo a rotational shift relative to the second metamaterial track. The low-friction material provides a low-friction rotational shift between the first rotatable carrier structure and the second rotatable carrier structure such that the predetermined distance is constant during the rotational shift.