Abstract: Amplifier systems for measuring a wide range of current are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an amplifier system includes a controllable sensing circuit, a first amplifier including an output configured to drive a device under test (DUT) through the controllable sensing circuit, and a second amplifier including an input coupled to the controllable sensing circuit and operable to generate a measurement signal indicating an amount of measured current of the DUT. The amplifier system further includes a control circuit operable to control a configuration or mode of the controllable sensing circuit suitable for a particular type of DUT.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to configuring a configurable hardware module to perform a measurement of a physical quantity. A configuration manager may receive an indication of the physical quantity and performance factor data describing the measurement of the physical quantity. The configuration manager may generate a hardware configuration of the hardware based at least in part on the indication of the physical quantity and the performance factor data. The hardware configuration may comprise instruction data to configure the hardware module to execute a dynamic measurement of the physical quantity. The configuration manager may also generate configuration data describing the hardware configuration, wherein the configuration data comprises simulation data comprising input parameters for a simulation of the hardware configuration and hardware configuration data for configuring a hardware module to implement at least a portion of the hardware configuration.

Abstract: Amplifier systems for measuring a wide range of current are provided herein. In certain embodiments, an amplifier system includes a controllable sensing circuit, a first amplifier including an output configured to drive a device under test (DUT) through the controllable sensing circuit, and a second amplifier including an input coupled to the controllable sensing circuit and operable to generate a measurement signal indicating an amount of measured current of the DUT. The amplifier system further includes a control circuit operable to control a configuration or mode of the controllable sensing circuit suitable for a particular type of DUT.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for setting and clamping a node voltage are provided herein. In certain embodiments, a node control circuit includes a setting circuit for setting a voltage of a node based on a set signal. The node control circuit further includes at least one of a p-type follower clamp for clamping the node to an upper voltage limit based on an upper clamping control signal or an n-type follower clamp for clamping the node to a lower voltage limit based on a lower clamping control signal. When including both clamps, the node operates with a voltage level set by the set signal, but saturates at the upper voltage limit established by the upper clamping control signal and at the lower voltage limit established by the lower clamping control signal.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an optical fiber link comprises generating a monitoring signal used for monitoring the optical fiber link, combining the generated monitoring signal with a data signal to be transmitted over the optical fiber link, detecting backscattering of the monitoring signal from the optical fiber link, detecting a change in characteristic of the detected backscattered monitoring signal, and determining, from the detected change in characteristic, at least one location along the optical fiber link where the monitoring signal is modified, and signal loss at this location.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method performed by the device of monitoring an optical fibre link. The method provided for monitoring an optical fibre link comprises generating a monitoring signal used for monitoring the optical fibre link, combining the generated monitoring signal with a data signal to be transmitted over the optical fibre link, detecting backscattering of the monitoring signal from the optical fibre link, comparing the detected backscattered monitoring signal with an estimated monitoring signal backscattered along the optical fibre link, and determining, based on the comparison, at least one location along the optical fibre link where the monitoring signal is backscattered, and signal loss caused by the backscattering.

Abstract: A method for monitoring an optical fibre link comprises generating a monitoring signal used for monitoring the optical fibre link, combining the generated monitoring signal with a data signal to be transmitted over the optical fibre link, detecting backscattering of the monitoring signal from the optical fibre link, detecting a change in characteristic of the detected backscattered monitoring signal, and determining, from the detected change in characteristic, at least one location along the optical fibre link where the monitoring signal is modified, and signal loss at this location.

Abstract: Methods, optical transmitters and a system of optical transmitters for transmitting data over and monitoring a fibre cable. A method performed by an optical transmitter for transmitting data over and monitoring of a fibre cable comprises generating at least a first optical carrier and a second optical carrier at a same optical frequency, generating an electromagnetic monitoring signal, modulating the first optical carrier with the generated electromagnetic monitoring data signal to create an optical monitoring signal, and modulating the second optical carrier with a generated electromagnetic data signal to create an optical data signal. The method further comprises combining the optical monitoring signal and the optical data signal in orthogonal polarization modes, transmitting the combined optical monitoring signal and the optical data signal over the fibre cable to be monitored, and monitoring the fibre cable by detecting the optical monitoring signal being backscattered from the fibre cable.

Abstract: Methods, optical transmitters and a system of optical transmitters for transmitting data over and monitoring a fiber cable. A method performed by an optical transmitter for transmitting data over and monitoring of a fiber cable comprises generating at least a first optical carrier and a second optical carrier at a same optical frequency, generating an electromagnetic monitoring signal, modulating the first optical carrier with the generated electromagnetic monitoring data signal to create an optical monitoring signal, and modulating the second optical carrier with a generated electromagnetic data signal to create an optical data signal. The method further comprises combining the optical monitoring signal and the optical data signal in orthogonal polarization modes, transmitting the combined optical monitoring signal and the optical data signal over the fiber cable to be monitored, and monitoring the fiber cable by detecting the optical monitoring signal being backscattered from the fiber cable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method performed by the device of monitoring an optical fibre link. The method provided for monitoring an optical fibre link comprises generating a monitoring signal used for monitoring the optical fibre link, combining the generated monitoring signal with a data signal to be transmitted over the optical fibre link, detecting backscattering of the monitoring signal from the optical fibre link, comparing the detected backscattered monitoring signal with an estimated monitoring signal backscattered along the optical fibre link, and determining, based on the comparison, at least one location along the optical fibre link where the monitoring signal is backscattered, and signal loss caused by the backscattering.

Abstract: Various examples are directed to configuring a configurable hardware module to perform a measurement of a physical quantity. A configuration manager may receive an indication of the physical quantity and performance factor data describing the measurement of the physical quantity. The configuration manager may generate a hardware configuration of the hardware based at least in part on the indication of the physical quantity and the performance factor data. The hardware configuration may comprise instruction data to configure the hardware module to execute a dynamic measurement of the physical quantity. The configuration manager may also generate configuration data describing the hardware configuration, wherein the configuration data comprises simulation data comprising input parameters for a simulation of the hardware configuration and hardware configuration data for configuring a hardware module to implement at least a portion of the hardware configuration.

Abstract: Provided herein are apparatus and methods for low distortion composite amplifiers with high load current. In certain configurations, a composite amplifier can be a closed loop system which includes two or more amplifiers such that one or more amplifiers can provide an output current to a load while one or more amplifiers can control an output voltage to be proportional to an input voltage. The loop gain can be proportional to the product of the individual amplifier gains and to a noise gain network function. In this way the composite amplifier can maintain low distortion for heavier loads and for load currents which exceed the normal load current operation of a single amplifier.

Abstract: Provided herein are apparatus and methods for low distortion composite amplifiers with high load current. In certain configurations, a composite amplifier can be a closed loop system which includes two or more amplifiers such that one or more amplifiers can provide an output current to a load while one or more amplifiers can control an output voltage to be proportional to an input voltage. The loop gain can be proportional to the product of the individual amplifier gains and to a noise gain network function. In this way the composite amplifier can maintain low distortion for heavier loads and for load currents which exceed the normal load current operation of a single amplifier.

Abstract: A filter provides high-pass coupling between circuits. The filter includes charge storage elements and switch elements coupling the charge storage elements. A controller is coupled to the switch elements for sequencing configurations of the switch elements in phases for each of a succession of sample periods to perform a time sampled continuous value signal processing of the input signal to form the processed signal. The sequenced configurations include a configuration in which a charge representing a value of the input signal is stored on a multiple of the charge storage elements, a configuration in which charge storage elements are coupled with the switch elements, and a set of one or more configurations that implement a scaling of a charge on one of the charge storage elements to be on one or more of the charge storage elements.

Abstract: A filter provides high-pass coupling between circuits. The filter includes charge storage elements and switch elements coupling the charge storage elements. A controller is coupled to the switch elements for sequencing configurations of the switch elements in phases for each of a succession of sample periods to perform a time sampled continuous value signal processing of the input signal to form the processed signal. The sequenced configurations include a configuration in which a charge representing a value of the input signal is stored on a multiple of the charge storage elements, a configuration in which charge storage elements are coupled with the switch elements, and a set of one or more configurations that implement a scaling of a charge on one of the charge storage elements to be on one or more of the charge storage elements.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides portable magnetic toy construction system having a base plate upon which to build magnetic toy constructions, the base plate configured to accept and hold in position ferromagnetic or magnetic base elements, such as ferromagnetic balls. The base plate comprises at least one flexible membrane that stretches around a base element and holds the base element in position. The membrane exerts a force that holds the base element in position resisting lateral movement, although the elasticity of the flexible membrane still allows a user to manipulate the base element through the membrane to move the base element laterally. In one configuration, the base plate forms part of a travel case that can additionally include compartments to store magnetic building components. Further embodiments provide a magnetic toy construction, and a method for building the construction, that incorporate the base plate.