Abstract: A methane alert station for detecting methane gas in an environment. The methane alert station comprises a casing, at least one window opening formed in the casing, a infrared transmitting window disposed in the at least one window opening, an infrared light source disposed adjacent to the infrared transmitting window, a hyperbolic mirror disposed in the casing coaxially with a central axis, a Winston cone disposed coaxially with the central axis and spaced from the hyperbolic mirror along the central axis, and a filter-detector arranged coaxially with the central axis and so that the Winston cone is disposed between the hyperbolic mirror and the filter-detector. The infrared light source is configured to emit an outgoing infrared light from the casing. The filter-detector is configured to measure a methane gas concentration in the environment by measuring an absorption of infrared radiation of the methane gas at specific wavelength bandwidths.

Abstract: An apparatus include one or more DACs and a resistor divider are configured to generate a variable bias voltage VBIAS with respect to a CM voltage VCM. The CM voltage VCM is applied to a cathode of one or more thermopiles or a negative input of one or more amplifiers to prevent saturation and over range of one or more low voltage readout amplifiers and one or more ADCs.

Abstract: An apparatus include one or more DACs and a resistor divider are configured to generate a variable bias voltage VBIAS with respect to a CM voltage VCM. The CM voltage VCM is applied to a cathode of one or more thermopiles or a negative input of one or more amplifiers to prevent saturation and over range of one or more low voltage readout amplifiers and one or more ADCs.

Abstract: A method of processing an electromagnetic wave comprises regulating at least two independently controllable current sources with a signal determined from at least one characteristic of the electromagnetic wave to generate a processed electromagnetic wave from at least one of the independently controllable current sources.

Abstract: A method of processing an electromagnetic wave comprises regulating at least two independently controllable current sources with a signal determined from at least one characteristic of the electromagnetic wave to generate a processed electromagnetic wave from at least one of the independently controllable current sources.

Abstract: A power control module receives a dynamic power control signal and generates a differential bias signal proportional to the dynamic power control signal. An analog multiplexer receives a digital amplitude signal including n bits and receives the differential bias signal. The analog multiplexer multiplexes the digital amplitude signal with the differential bias signal in parallel and generates a first differential signal. A driver module receives the first differential signal and a second differential signal. The driver module generates a first drive signal proportional to the dynamic power control signal when a bit in said digital amplitude signal is a logic one and the driver module generates a second drive signal proportional to the second differential signal when a bit in said digital amplitude signal is a logic zero.

Abstract: A differential analog filter includes a differential input that includes a first input node and a second input node and a differential output that includes a first output node and a second output node. A fully differential amplifier includes a non-inverting input node and an inverting input node coupled to the differential input. The fully differential amplifier includes a non-inverting output node and an inverting output node coupled to the differential output. A first feedback network is coupled between the non-inverting output node and the inverting input node of the fully differential amplifier. A second feedback network is coupled between the inverting output node and the non-inverting input node of the fully differential amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for amplifying a radio frequency signal including, generating a plurality of shaped pulses utilizing a piecewise linearizer circuit, applying the plurality of shaped pulses to a first input of a radio frequency amplifier circuit, and injecting a radio frequency carrier into a second input of the radio frequency amplifier circuit. The apparatus comprises a piecewise linearizer (PWL) circuit coupled to the input of a Radio Frequency Digital to Analog Converter (RFDAC) operating as a signal amplifier.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for amplifying a radiofrequency signal using a main Digital to Analog Converter (RFDAC) and a subordinate Digital to Analog Converter (Sub-DAC). The main RFDAC provides a first portion of a N-bit digital output, which specifies the amplification level of the radiofrequency signal, and the sub-DAC provides a second portion of the N-bit digital word. Together, the main RFDAC and the Sub-DAC convert a complete N-bit digital word, where N specifies the resolution of the output radiofrequency signal.

Abstract: A method of processing an electromagnetic wave comprises regulating at least two independently controllable current sources with a signal determined from at least one characteristic of the electromagnetic wave to generate a processed electromagnetic wave from at least one of the independently controllable current sources.