Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology is a wireless technology supporting the transmission of large amounts of digital data over short distances using coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power. Enhanced link performance and functionality of such UWB systems is presented exploiting multiple directive antennas for spatially filtering undesired signals and increasing signal strength whilst circuit complexity is reduced by eliminating baluns in prior art solutions. Further enhancements support payloads with flexible encoding schemes, improved channel utilization, reduced processing logic, improved robustness in correlation techniques, versatile synchronisation techniques, improved ranging, as well as providing for improved inter-symbol interference tolerance and detection.

Abstract: Silicon Photonics is a candidate technology for adding integrated optics functionality, either passive or active optical waveguides) to integrated circuits by leveraging the economies of scale of the CMOS microelectronics industry and using materials for the waveguide core such as silicon nitride (SiXNY) and silicon oxynitride (SiOXN1-X) for example. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) provide for movable platforms relative to the substrate allowing additional functionality to be added to a silicon circuit but also Silicon Photonics. Accordingly, by combining “fixed” waveguides formed upon the substrate with “movable” waveguides formed upon one or more movable platforms the inventors have established a series of Integrated Optics MEMS (IO-MEMS) based on Silicon Photonics. Such IO-MEMS include optical switches, optical attenuators, optical gates, optical switch matrices, configurable wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer devices, etc. exploiting both platforms and deformable beams.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology is a wireless technology supporting the transmission of large amounts of digital data over short distances using coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power. Enhanced link performance and functionality of such UWB systems is presented exploiting multiple directive antennas for spatially filtering undesired signals and increasing signal strength whilst circuit complexity is reduced by eliminating baluns in prior art solutions. Further enhancements support payloads with flexible encoding schemes, improved channel utilization, reduced processing logic, improved robustness in correlation techniques, versatile synchronisation techniques, improved ranging, as well as providing for improved inter-symbol interference tolerance and detection.

Abstract: Ultra-wideband (UWB) systems are well-suited to applications such peripheral and device interconnections, sensor networks, control and communications, medical systems, and personal area networks. Whilst emission levels permitted by regulatory agencies are low forcing UWB systems tend to short-range applications other applications may be considered where regulatory restrictions are relaxed and/or not present when addressing military and civilian requirements for communications between individuals, electronic devices, control centers, and electronic systems for example. Accordingly, UWB transmitters, UWB receivers and UWB transceivers are outlined providing flexible configuration and management by the electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices, fixed electronic devices, and sensors for example, to enable their deployment including standalone systems solely exploiting solar harvesting.

Abstract: Silicon Photonics is a candidate technology for adding integrated optics functionality, either passive or active optical waveguides) to integrated circuits by leveraging the economies of scale of the CMOS microelectronics industry and using materials for the waveguide core such as silicon nitride (SiXNY) and silicon oxynitride (SiOXN1-X) for example. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) provide for movable platforms relative to the substrate allowing additional functionality to be added to a silicon circuit but also Silicon Photonics. Accordingly, by combining “fixed” waveguides formed upon the substrate with “movable” waveguides formed upon one or more movable platforms the inventors have established a series of Integrated Optics MEMS (IO-MEMS) based on Silicon Photonics. Such IO-MEMS include optical switches, optical attenuators, optical gates, optical switch matrices, configurable wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer devices, etc. exploiting both platforms and deformable beams.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology is a wireless technology supporting the transmission of large amounts of digital data over short distances using coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power. Enhanced link performance and functionality of such UWB systems is presented exploiting multiple directive antennas for spatially filtering undesired signals and increasing signal strength whilst circuit complexity is reduced by eliminating baluns in prior art solutions. Further enhancements support payloads with flexible encoding schemes, improved channel utilization, reduced processing logic, improved robustness in correlation techniques, versatile synchronisation techniques, improved ranging, as well as providing for improved inter-symbol interference tolerance and detection.

Abstract: Ultra-wideband (UWB) systems are well-suited to applications such peripheral and device interconnections, sensor networks, control and communications, medical systems, and personal area networks. Whilst emission levels permitted by regulatory agencies are low forcing UWB systems tend to short-range applications other applications may be considered where regulatory restrictions are relaxed and/or not present when addressing military and civilian requirements for communications between individuals, electronic devices, control centers, and electronic systems for example. Accordingly, UWB transmitters, UWB receivers and UWB transceivers are outlined providing flexible configuration and management by the electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices, fixed electronic devices, and sensors for example, to enable their deployment including standalone systems solely exploiting solar harvesting.

Abstract: Silicon Photonics is a candidate technology for adding integrated optics functionality, either passive or active optical waveguides) to integrated circuits by leveraging the economies of scale of the CMOS microelectronics industry and using materials for the waveguide core such as silicon nitride (SiXNY) and silicon oxynitride (SiOXN1-X) for example. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) provide for movable platforms relative to the substrate allowing additional functionality to be added to a silicon circuit but also Silicon Photonics. Accordingly, by combining “fixed” waveguides formed upon the substrate with “movable” waveguides formed upon one or more movable platforms the inventors have established a series of Integrated Optics MEMS (IO-MEMS) based on Silicon Photonics. Such IO-MEMS include optical switches, optical attenuators, optical gates, optical switch matrices, configurable wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer devices, etc. exploiting both platforms and deformable beams.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless technology transmits digital data as modulated coded impulses over a very wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance. Accordingly, the inventors have established UWB devices which accommodate and adapt to inaccuracies, errors, or issues within the implemented electronics, hardware, firmware, and software. Beneficially, UWB receivers may accommodate offsets in absolute frequency between their frequency source and the transmitter, accommodate drift arising from phase locked loop and/or from relative clock frequency offsets of the remote transmitter and local receiver. UWB devices may also employ modulation coding schemes offering increased efficiency with respect to power, data bits per pulse transmitted, and enabled operation at higher output power whilst complying with regulatory emission requirements.

Abstract: Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have found widespread applications across biotechnology, medicine, communications, and consumer electronics. These are typically one-dimensional MEMS (e.g. rotation, linear translation on a single axis) or two-dimensional MEMS (e.g. linear translation in two directions in the plane of the MEMS). It would be beneficial therefore for designers of components, circuits, and systems to exploit MEMS elements that produce both out-of-plane and in-plane motion thereby allowing for novel two-dimensional and three-dimensional MEMS micropositioners.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless technology transmits digital data as modulated coded impulses over a very wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance. Accordingly, the inventors have established UWB devices which accommodate and adapt to inaccuracies, errors, or issues within the implemented electronics, hardware, firmware, and software. Beneficially, UWB receivers may accommodate offsets in absolute frequency between their frequency source and the transmitter, accommodate drift arising from phase locked loop and/or from relative clock frequency offsets of the remote transmitter and local receiver. UWB devices may also employ modulation coding schemes offering increased efficiency with respect to power, data bits per pulse transmitted, and enabled operation at higher output power whilst complying with regulatory emission requirements.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless technology transmits digital data as modulated coded impulses over a very wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance. To support extended operation, particularly with battery power sources, the inventors have established UWB devices which support wake-up from deep sleep modes when these devices exploit low frequency clock sources for ultra-low power consumption. Further, power consumption may be reduced by exploiting transistors or so-called compounded MOSFET structures whose effective gain and output resistance exceeds any single transistor irrespective of length or by employing biasless low power differential (exponential) transconductance stages within operational transconductance amplifiers in order to provide very high gain low power amplification stages. Further, the inventors have established voltage reference sources that consume very low current, a few nA, and ultra-low power low dropout regulators.

Abstract: Within many applications impulse radio based ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmission offers significant benefits for very short range high data rate communications when compared with existing standards and protocols. In many of these applications the main design goals are very low power consumption and very low complexity design for easy integration and cost reduction. Digitally programmable IR-UWB transmitters using an on-off keying modulation scheme on a 0.13 microns CMOS process operating on 1.2V supply and yielding power consumption as low as 0.9 mW at a 10 Mbps data rate with dynamic power control are enabled. The IR-UWB transmitters support new frequency hopping techniques providing more efficient spectrum usage and dynamic allocation of the spectrum when transmitting in highly congested frequency bands. Biphasic scrambling is also introduced for spectral line reduction.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Today's leading edge modulated sinusoidal wave wireless communication standards and systems achieve power efficiencies of 50 nJ/bit employing narrowband signaling schemes and traditional RF transceiver architectures. However, such designs severely limit the achievable energy efficiency, especially at lower data rates such as below 1 Mbps. Further, it is important that peak power consumption is supportable by common battery or energy harvesting technologies and long term power consumption neither leads to limited battery lifetimes or an inability for alternate energy sources to sustain them. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for next generation applications to exploit inventive transceiver structures and communication schemes in order to achieve the sub nJ per bit energy efficiencies required by next generation applications.

Abstract: A wide variety of devices generate alarms when a particular condition is met. For example, a smoke detector generates an alarm upon detecting smoke whilst a motion detector generates an alarm upon detecting motion when the system to which the motion detector is connected is set or armed. However, in each instance the alarm is the same when the specific condition, e.g. smoke, motion; is met. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide users with an alarm which is generated in dependence upon an overall context within which the alarm is established and the resulting alarm generated varies in dependence upon the established context.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless technology transmits digital data as modulated coded impulses over a very wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance. To support extended operation, particularly with battery power sources, the inventors have established UWB devices which support wake-up from deep sleep modes when these devices exploit low frequency clock sources for ultra-low power consumption. Further, power consumption may be reduced by exploiting transistors or so-called compounded MOSFET structures whose effective gain and output resistance exceeds any single transistor irrespective of length or by employing biasless low power differential (exponential) transconductance stages within operational transconductance amplifiers in order to provide very high gain low power amplification stages. Further, the inventors have established voltage reference sources that consume very low current, a few nA, and ultra-low power low dropout regulators.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Such UWB systems through their receivers may operate in the presence of interfering signals and should provide for robust communications. Accordingly, an accurate and sharp filter that operates at low power is required and beneficially one that does not require a highly accurate power heavy clock. Further, many UWB applications require location and/or range finding of other elements and it would therefore be beneficial to provide a UWB based range finding and/or location capability removing the requirement to add additional device complexity and, typically significant, power consumption.

Abstract: Within many applications impulse radio based ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmission offers significant benefits for very short range high data rate communications when compared with existing standards and protocols. In many of these applications the main design goals are very low power consumption and very low complexity design for easy integration and cost reduction. Digitally programmable IR-UWB transmitters using an on-off keying modulation scheme on a 0.13 microns CMOS process operating on 1.2V supply and yielding power consumption as low as 0.9 mW at a 10 Mbps data rate with dynamic power control are enabled. The IR-UWB transmitters support new frequency hopping techniques providing more efficient spectrum usage and dynamic allocation of the spectrum when transmitting in highly congested frequency bands. Biphasic scrambling is also introduced for spectral line reduction.

Abstract: Within many applications impulse radio based ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) transmission offers significant benefits for very short range high data rate communications when compared with existing standards and protocols. In many of these applications the main design goals are very low power consumption and very low complexity design for easy integration and cost reduction. Digitally programmable IR-UWB transmitters using an on-off keying modulation scheme on a 0.13 microns CMOS process operating on 1.2 V supply and yielding power consumption as low as 0.9 mW at a 10 Mbps data rate with dynamic power control are enabled. The IR-UWB transmitters support new frequency hopping techniques providing more efficient spectrum usage and dynamic allocation of the spectrum when transmitting in highly congested frequency bands. Biphasic scrambling is also introduced for spectral line reduction.

Abstract: Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology exploits modulated coded impulses over a wide frequency spectrum with very low power over a short distance for digital data transmission. Today's leading edge modulated sinusoidal wave wireless communication standards and systems achieve power efficiencies of 50 nJ/bit employing narrowband signaling schemes and traditional RF transceiver architectures. However, such designs severely limit the achievable energy efficiency, especially at lower data rates such as below 1 Mbps. Further, it is important that peak power consumption is supportable by common battery or energy harvesting technologies and long term power consumption neither leads to limited battery lifetimes or an inability for alternate energy sources to sustain them. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for next generation applications to exploit inventive transceiver structures and communication schemes in order to achieve the sub nJ per bit energy efficiencies required by next generation applications.