Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present disclosure, a communication device is provided, comprising: a receiver circuit configured to receive a signal; a controller configured to control said receiver circuit, wherein said controller is configured to cause said receiver circuit to operate either in a complex receiver mode or in a real receiver mode; wherein the controller is configured to cause said receiver circuit to operate in the real receiver mode until the signal is successfully acquired. In accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, a corresponding method of operating a communication device is conceived.

Abstract: A communication device and method include a reconfigurable receiver that is reconfigurable between communication, ranging and radar modes. The reconfigurable receiver includes a mixer configured to mix digital samples with a carrier phase estimate signal and configured to generate in-phase digital samples based on the carrier phase estimate. The reconfigurable receiver further includes a symbol correlator configured to correlate against the in-phase digital samples and generate correlated data, and a symbol binning unit configured to bin the correlated data and generate a first order channel impulse response estimate. The reconfigurable receiver yet further includes a multiplexer configured to switch the digital samples to the symbol binning unit when the reconfigurable receiver is configured in radar mode and to switch the correlated data to the symbol binning unit when the reconfigurable receiver is configured in a ranging mode.

Abstract: A communication device and method include a reconfigurable receiver that is reconfigurable between communication, ranging and radar modes. The reconfigurable receiver includes a mixer configured to mix digital samples with a carrier phase estimate signal and configured to generate in-phase digital samples based on the carrier phase estimate. The reconfigurable receiver further includes a symbol correlator configured to correlate against the in-phase digital samples and generate correlated data, and a symbol binning unit configured to bin the correlated data and generate a first order channel impulse response estimate. The reconfigurable receiver yet further includes a multiplexer configured to switch the digital samples to the symbol binning unit when the reconfigurable receiver is configured in radar mode and to switch the correlated data to the symbol binning unit when the reconfigurable receiver is configured in a ranging mode.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor, having at least one electrode is disclosed. A frequency spread signal generation circuit is coupled to the at least one electrode to apply a frequency spread signal based on a spread sequence. A periodic signal with a frequency is coupled to the at least one electrode. A frequency controller is coupled to the frequency spread signal generation circuit to vary the frequency of the periodic signal. A receiver circuit is coupled to the at least one or a further electrode to receive a version of the frequency spread signal which depends on a capacitance applied to the at least one electrode. An evaluation circuit is coupled to the receiver circuit to determine a capacitance value based on the received, dependent version of the frequency spread signal.

Abstract: A system includes a capacitive sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode. The system includes a measurement system configured to sense a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode and apply a first offset to the sensed capacitance to provide an offset compensated capacitance.

Abstract: A capacitance sensor, having at least one electrode is disclosed. A frequency spread signal generation circuit is coupled to the at least one electrode to apply a frequency spread signal based on a spread sequence. A periodic signal with a frequency is coupled to the at least one electrode. A frequency controller is coupled to the frequency spread signal generation circuit to vary the frequency of the periodic signal. A receiver circuit is coupled to the at least one or a further electrode to receive a version of the frequency spread signal which depends on a capacitance applied to the at least one electrode. An evaluation circuit is coupled to the receiver circuit to determine a capacitance value based on the received, dependent version of the frequency spread signal.

Abstract: A system includes a capacitive sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode. The system includes a measurement system configured to sense a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode and apply a first offset to the sensed capacitance to provide an offset compensated capacitance.