Abstract: A circuit for driving a light emitting diode (LED) comprises a plurality of current supply level circuits wherein each current supply level circuit is configured to control a different amount of electric current flowing through the LED. Each current supply level circuit includes a circuit enable transistor, a drive current transistor, and a gain control transistor. The circuit enable transistor is configured to enable current flow through the current supply level circuit. The drive current transistor is configured to control an amount of electric current flowing through the current supply level circuit. The gain control transistor is configured to control a range of the amount of electric current flowing through the current supply level circuit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a calibration system and method including a pixelated display including pixels for projecting an image, an imager positioned to capture the image produced by the pixelated display, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine and measure non-uniformity in the image produced by the pixelated display by repeatedly selecting and illuminating a subset of the pixels in the pixelated display with respective driving currents, controlling the imager to capture the image projected by the subset pixels, determining and storing, for each pixel in the subset, an intensity value produced in response to the respective driving current, and updating, for each pixel in the subset, the respective driving currents based on the determined intensity value and previously stored intensity values corresponding with previously stored driving currents.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a calibration system and method including a pixelated display including pixels for projecting an image, an imager positioned to capture the image produced by the pixelated display, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine and measure non-uniformity in the image produced by the pixelated display by repeatedly selecting and illuminating a subset of the pixels in the pixelated display with respective driving currents, controlling the imager to capture the image projected by the subset pixels, determining and storing, for each pixel in the subset, an intensity value produced in response to the respective driving current, and updating, for each pixel in the subset, the respective driving currents based on the determined intensity value and previously stored intensity values corresponding with previously stored driving currents.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus transferring power between the grid and an electric vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus may include at least one vehicle communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle equipment (EVE) and a processor coupled to the at least one vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVE, receive EVE attributes from the EVE, and transmit electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE) attributes to the EVE. Power may be transferred between the grid and the electric vehicle by maintaining EVSE attributes, establishing communication with the EVE, and transmitting the EVSE maintained attributes to the EVE.

Abstract: Drive circuit (100, 200, 300, 400) for LED thermal emitters in pixel elements of an infrared scene projector (IRSP). At least two current sources (Q1, Q2, Q5) provide output currents (I1, I2, I3) which may be summed and provided to a single LED (150), or provided independently to two or more LEDs (450A, 450B). The current sources may have different gains (G1, G2, G3), and different turn-on voltages (Voffset). This allows for different resolutions for different ranges of apparent temperatures, such as high resolution in a low range and low resolution in a high range, thereby facilitating a digital implementation of the drive circuit(s).

Abstract: Drive circuit (100, 200, 300, 400) for LED thermal emitters in pixel elements of an infrared scene projector (IRSP). At least two current sources (Q1, Q2, Q5) provide output currents (I1, I2, I3) which may be summed and provided to a single LED (150), or provided independently to two or more LEDs (450A, 450B). The current sources may have different gains (G1, G2, G3), and different turn-on voltages (Voffset). This allows for different resolutions for different ranges of apparent temperatures, such as high resolution in a low range and low resolution in a high range, thereby facilitating a digital implementation of the drive circuit(s).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that provides an output current at voltages useful to operate electronics or charge batteries. This invention also relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner that combines the output of the multiple photovoltaic cells into a single output. The power combiner is comprised of multiple power converters, one for each photovoltaic cell. Each power converter used in these methods has an input-regulating element that has an output wave form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage and current. As a result only the photovoltaic cell voltage is directly measured in these methods and the photovoltaic cell current is determined indirectly.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that provides an output current at voltages useful to operate electronics or charge batteries. This invention also relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner that combines the output of the multiple photovoltaic cells into a single output. The power combiner is comprised of multiple power converters, one for each photovoltaic cell. Each power converter used in these methods has an input-regulating element that has an output wave form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage and current. As a result only the photovoltaic cell voltage is directly measured in these methods and the photovoltaic cell current is determined indirectly.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus transferring power between the grid and an electric vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus may include at least one vehicle communication port for interfacing with electric vehicle equipment (EVE) and a processor coupled to the at least one vehicle communication port to establish communication with the EVE, receive EVE attributes from the EVE, and transmit electric vehicle station equipment (EVSE) attributes to the EVE. Power may be transferred between the grid and the electric vehicle by maintaining EVSE attributes, establishing communication with the EVE, and transmitting the EVSE maintained attributes to the EVE.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that provides an output current at voltages useful to operate electronics or charge batteries. This invention also relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner that combines the output of the multiple photovoltaic cells into a single output. The power combiner is comprised of multiple power converters, one for each photovoltaic cell. Each power converter used in these methods has an input-regulating element that has an output wave form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage and current. As a result only the photovoltaic cell voltage is directly measured in these methods and the photovoltaic cell current is determined indirectly.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) a photovoltaic cell by a power converter that provides an output current at voltages useful to operate electronics or charge batteries. This invention also relates to a method for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) multiple photovoltaic cells by a power combiner that combines the output of the multiple photovoltaic cells into a single output. The power combiner is comprised of multiple power converters, one for each photovoltaic cell. Each power converter used in these methods has an input-regulating element that has an output wave form with a characteristic that is related to the photovoltaic cell voltage and current. As a result only the photovoltaic cell voltage is directly measured in these methods and the photovoltaic cell current is determined indirectly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an interface for transmitting high speed data between circuits. A driver circuit produces first and second differential currents from a digital signal that drive first and second transmission lines. A receiver is connected through first and second terminating resistors to said transmission lines. The resistive elements are in turn connected to first and second common base amplifiers where the differential currents are converted to a differential voltage. The input impedance to the first and second common-base amplifiers is further lowered by a differential amplifier having inputs connected to the inputs of the common-base amplifiers, and an output connected to the bases of said common-base amplifiers. As a result, voltage conversion of the differential signals takes place in the common-base amplifiers and not in the terminating resistors, reducing the level of the differential currents and permitting an increase in the digital data rate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an interface for transmitting high speed data between circuits. A driver circuit produces first and second differential currents from a digital signal that drive first and second transmission lines. A receiver is connected through first and second terminating resistors to said transmission lines. The resistive elements are in turn connected to first and second common base amplifiers where the differential currents are converted to a differential voltage. The input impedance to the first and second common-base amplifiers is further lowered by a differential amplifier having inputs connected to the inputs of the common-base amplifiers, and an output connected to the bases of said common-base amplifiers. As a result, voltage conversion of the differential signals takes place in the common-base amplifiers and not in the terminating resistors, reducing the level of the differential currents and permitting an increase in the digital data rate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a code-multiplexed readout value of photocurrents for a photo-detector array of cells are disclosed. Readout values are determined using a multiplexer and current amplifier for each cell and a current-to-voltage converter for each row of cells. The multiplexer multiplexes a photocurrent in an electrical domain for a respective cell using a code and generates electric currents responsive to the photocurrent. The current amplifier amplifies the electric currents. The current-to-voltage converter for each row generates the readout value for that row of the array responsive to the amplified electric currents.

Abstract: An alternating current filter circuit for a BiCMOS differential amplifier has a circuit that computes a base current of the BiCMOS differential amplifier and a circuit that generates an offset current based upon the computing.

Abstract: An activity detection system for use with an optoelectronic circuit has a pair of single ended transimpedance amplifiers, a filter, a differential amplifier; and a comparator.

Abstract: An activity detection system for use with a signal having a high value and a low value has a differential amplifier, a filter and a comparator configured to compare a signal to a threshold value and determine if the threshold value is above the signal, below the signal or in between the high and low values of the signal.

Abstract: A driver circuit having a single power source that can be used with multiple types of laser devices each having different turn-on voltages.

Abstract: An alternating current filter circuit for a BiCMOS differential amplifier has a circuit that computes a base current of the BiCMOS differential amplifier and a circuit that generates an offset current based upon the computing.

Abstract: A laser diode power controller, and method, are disclosed. The controller can be implemented entirely in CMOS technology due to the simplicity of its quasi-decision-based control routines. The control routines involve the use of a window comparator which determines whether the measured power level of a laser diode falls within a desired range of values. The simplified control routines are also manifested by the use of digital registers to set the desired current values that are to be output to the laser diode and monitor diode. The modulation current supplied to the laser diode exhibits much lower noise levels because the modulation digital to analog converter (DAC) By supplying a continuous current that is selectively switched between the laser diode and a dummy load, much less noise is induced in the power supply than if it had to respond to large changes in modulation current, i.e., OFF (zero) and ON (desired Imod).