Abstract: An analog-to-digital (ADC) converter system and method of using the system that can be used in low power situations. The converter can periodically or recurrently turn off a reference standard in order to conserve power and instead using a stable supply source as a reference voltage. A precise conversion for signal from the analog to the digital domain while maintaining a low quiescent current.

Abstract: A data channel includes a power constrained first channel portion to receive energy from a limited power source and a non-power constrained second channel portion to receive energy from a different power source than the first channel portion. The first channel portion includes an ADC circuit to output an ADC data sample, a first transmitter circuit configured to serially transmit data that includes ON bits and OFF bits, and logic circuitry configured to derive transmit data from the ADC data sample. The transmitter circuit uses more energy transmitting the ON bits than the OFF bits, and the derived transmit data has a reduced number of the ON bits from the ADC data sample. The second channel portion includes a first receiver circuit to receive the derived transmit data from the first transmitter circuit of the first channel portion.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital (ADC) converter system and method of using the system that can be used in low power situations. The converter can periodically or recurrently turn off a reference standard in order to conserve power and instead using a stable supply source as a reference voltage. A precise conversion for signal from the analog to the digital domain while maintaining a low quiescent current.

Abstract: A system for processing a signal in a signal chain having decentralized embedded power management of components of the signal chain includes an input circuit to generate a measurement signal responsive to a stimulus, where the measurement signal is indicative of a characteristic of the stimulus. The system additionally includes a signal converter circuit coupled to the input circuit to convert the measurement signal to a digital signal according to a timing condition for capturing a sample of the measurement signal. The signal converter includes a control circuit to provide electrical power to the input circuit based on the timing condition and a sampling circuit to capture the sample of the measurement signal responsive to an indicator signal generated by the sensor circuit.

Abstract: A semiconductor Hall plate-based sensor can provide information about package stress and can be substantially immune to the influence of magnetic fields. In an example, the sensor can include a Hall plate and an excitation circuit. The excitation circuit can provide signals to respective node pairs of the Hall plate. A measurement circuit can receive information about a first electric signal at a first pair of nodes in response to a first portion of the excitation signal, and can receive information about a second electric signal at a second pair of nodes in response to a second portion of the excitation signal. The first and second electric signals can indicate a charge carrier mobility characteristic of the semiconductor, which can be used to provide an indication of physical stress on the sensor.

Abstract: A semiconductor-based stress sensor can include a bipolar transistor device with first and second collector terminals. An excitation circuit can provide an excitation signal to an emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor device, and a physical stress indicator for the semiconductor can be provided based on a relationship between signals measured at the collector terminals in response to the excitation signal. The signals can indicate a charge carrier mobility characteristic of the semiconductor, which can be used to provide an indication of physical stress. In an example, the physical stress indicator is based on a current deflection characteristic of a base region of the transistor device.

Abstract: A system for processing a signal in a signal chain having decentralized embedded power management of components of the signal chain includes an input circuit to generate a measurement signal responsive to a stimulus, where the measurement signal is indicative of a characteristic of the stimulus. The system additionally includes a signal converter circuit coupled to the input circuit to convert the measurement signal to a digital signal according to a timing condition for capturing a sample of the measurement signal. The signal converter includes a control circuit to provide electrical power to the input circuit based on the timing condition and a sampling circuit to capture the sample of the measurement signal responsive to an indicator signal generated by the sensor circuit.

Abstract: Techniques to reduce the on-time of a multi-stage ADC circuit by combining the settling time of a signal conditioning circuit, e.g., buffer circuit, and the setting time of a residue amplifier when cancelling the offset of the signal conditioning circuit. The techniques can allow the signal conditioning circuit and the residue amplifier to settle together.

Abstract: Techniques for saving operating power of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) are provided. In an example, a circuit can include an ADC configured to provide a multiple-bit digital representation of an analog input during a first mode of operation and an output configured to provide a single bit representation of a first comparison of the analog input signal to a second analog signal during a second mode of operation. In certain examples, the circuit can include an encoder configured to provide the multiple-bit digital representation during the first mode and to power down during the second mode of operation.

Abstract: A multi-frequency inductive sensing system can be used for spectrographic material analysis of a conductive target material (such as tissue) based on electrical impedance spectroscopy. An inductive senor can be driven with an excitation current at multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?) to project a time-varying magnetic field into a sensing area on the surface of the target material, inducing eddy currents within the target material. The inductive sensor can be characterized by a sensor impedance Z(?) as a function of the sensor excitation frequency (?), and the resulting induced eddy currents. Multiple sensor impedance Zs(?) measurements, at the multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?), can be determined, which represent electromagnetic properties of the target material (such as permittivity ?, permeability ?, and resistivity ?), based on the induced eddy currents.

Abstract: Remote inductive sensing uses a sensor resonator with a remote sense inductor coupled to a resonator capacitor through a shielded transmission line. The T-line includes a signal line and a shield return line: the sense inductor is connected at a T-line sensing end between the signal line and the shield return line, and the resonator capacitor is connected at a T-line terminal end to at least the signal line. An inductance-to-data converter (IDC) is connected at the T-line terminal end to the signal line and shield return line (set to a common mode voltage). In operation, the IDC drives oscillation signals over the signal line to the sensor resonator to sustain a resonance state, with the sense inductor projecting a magnetic sensing field, and converts changes in oscillation drive signals, representing changes in resonance state resulting from a sensed condition, into sensor data corresponding to the sensed condition.

Abstract: A position detecting system detects and responds to the movement of a target through a sensing domain area of a plane. The movement causes the amount of the target that lies within a sensing domain area to change. A portion of the target always lies within at least one of the sensing domain areas of the plane.

Abstract: An inductive coded lock system includes an inductive lock mechanism, and a conductive key/target. The inductive lock mechanism includes multiple inductor coils and sensor circuitry. Each inductor coil is operable to project a magnetic field defining a sensing area proximate to the inductor/coil, the inductor coils being spatially arranged to define a key/target sensing area incorporating each inductor coil sensing area. The sensor circuitry drives inductor coils, and measures sensor response (such as with an inductance comparator) to a key/target inserted within the key/target sensing area, including detecting an unlock condition corresponding to a pre-defined coded lock pattern. The key/target includes active and inactive areas (such as conductive/nonconductive) corresponding spatially to the sensing areas in the key target sensing area, the active and inactive areas arranged in a pre-defined coded key pattern corresponding to the pre-defined coded lock pattern.

Abstract: A multi-frequency inductive sensing system can be used for spectrographic material analysis of a conductive target material (such as tissue) based on electrical impedance spectroscopy. An inductive senor can be driven with an excitation current at multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?) to project a time-varying magnetic field into a sensing area on the surface of the target material, inducing eddy currents within the target material. The inductive sensor can be characterized by a sensor impedance Z(?) as a function of the sensor excitation frequency (?), and the resulting induced eddy currents. Multiple sensor impedance Zs(?) measurements, at the multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?), can be determined, which represent electromagnetic properties of the target material (such as permittivity ?, permeability ?, and resistivity ?), based on the induced eddy currents.

Abstract: A rotational sensing system is adaptable to sensing motor rotation based on eddy current sensing. An axial target surface is incorporated with the motor rotor, and includes one or more conductive target segment(s). An inductive sensor is mounted adjacent the axial target surface, and includes one or more inductive sense coil(s), such that rotor rotation rotates the target segment(s) laterally under the sense coil(s). An inductance-to-digital converter (IDC) drives sensor excitation current to project a magnetic sensing field toward the rotating axial target surface. Sensor response is characterized by successive sensor phase cycles that cycle between LMIN in which a sense coil is aligned with a target segment, and LMAX in which the sense coil is misaligned. The number of sensor phase cycles in a rotor rotation cycle corresponds to the number of target segments. The IDC converts sensor response measurements from successive sensor phase cycles into rotational data.

Abstract: Remote inductive sensing uses a sensor resonator with a remote sense inductor coupled to a resonator capacitor through a shielded transmission line. The T-line includes a signal line and a shield return line: the sense inductor is connected at a T-line sensing end between the signal line and the shield return line, and the resonator capacitor is connected at a T-line terminal end to at least the signal line. An inductance-to-data converter (IDC) is connected at the T-line terminal end to the signal line and shield return line (set to a common mode voltage). In operation, the IDC drives oscillation signals over the signal line to the sensor resonator to sustain a resonance state, with the sense inductor projecting a magnetic sensing field, and converts changes in oscillation drive signals, representing changes in resonance state resulting from a sensed condition, into sensor data corresponding to the sensed condition.

Abstract: A multi-frequency inductive sensing system can be used for spectrographic material analysis of a conductive target material (such as tissue) based on electrical impedance spectroscopy. An inductive sensor can be driven with an excitation current at multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?) to project a time-varying magnetic field into a sensing area on the surface of the target material, inducing eddy currents within the target material. The inductive sensor can be characterized by a sensor impedance Z(?) as a function of the sensor excitation frequency (?), and the resulting induced eddy currents. Multiple sensor impedance Zs(?) measurements, at the multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?), can be determined, which represent electromagnetic properties of the target material (such as permittivity ?, permeability ?, and resistivity ?), based on the induced eddy currents.

Abstract: A position detecting system detects and responds to the movement of a target through a sensing domain area of a plane. The movement causes the amount of the target that lies within a sensing domain area to change. A portion of the target always lies within at least one of the sensing domain areas of the plane.

Abstract: A position detecting system detects and responds to the movement of a target through a sensing domain area of a plane. The movement causes the amount of the target that lies within a sensing domain area to change. A portion of the target always lies within at least one of the sensing domain areas of the plane.

Abstract: A multi-frequency inductive sensing system can be used for spectrographic material analysis of a conductive target material (such as tissue) based on electrical impedance spectroscopy. An inductive sensor can be driven with an excitation current at multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?) to project a time-varying magnetic field into a sensing area on the surface of the target material, inducing eddy currents within the target material. The inductive sensor can be characterized by a sensor impedance Z(?) as a function of the sensor excitation frequency (?), and the resulting induced eddy currents. Multiple sensor impedance Zs(?) measurements, at the multiple sensor excitation frequencies (?), can be determined, which represent electromagnetic properties of the target material (such as permittivity ?, permeability ?, and resistivity ?), based on the induced eddy currents.