Abstract: A liquid immersion sensor for a mobile device with at least two acoustic transducers is described. The liquid immersion sensor may include a signal generator having a signal generator output configured to generate a signal for transmission via a first acoustic transducer, and a signal receiver having a signal receiver input configured to receive a delayed version of the generated signal via a second acoustic transducer. The signal receiver includes a signal receiver output. The liquid immersion sensor includes a controller having a first controller input for receiving a reference signal and a second controller input coupled to the signal receiver output. The controller determines a time lag value between the reference signal and the delayed signal and generates a control output signal dependent on the phase difference. The control output signal indicates if the mobile device is immersed in liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an acoustic transducer arrangement configured to transmit at least one acoustic signal and configured to detect a reflection of said at least one acoustic signal, and a controller configured to determine a time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal, the controller further configured to determine at least a first value indicative of temperature based on said time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal and calibration information indicative of a relationship between time-of-flight and temperature in a space the apparatus is located.

Abstract: One example discloses a power management circuit, including: an ultrasonic transmitter configured to generate an ultrasonic signal having a set of transmitted ultrasonic signal attributes; an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect the ultrasonic signal having a set of received ultrasonic signal attributes; wherein the power management circuit is configured to cause a device to be operated at a first power level and a second power level; and a proximity detection circuit configured to transition the device from the first power level to the second power level in response to a preselected difference between the transmitted set of ultrasonic signal attributes and the received set of ultrasonic signal attributes.

Abstract: One example discloses a power management circuit, including: an ultrasonic transmitter configured to generate an ultrasonic signal having a set of transmitted ultrasonic signal attributes; an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect the ultrasonic signal having a set of received ultrasonic signal attributes; wherein the power management circuit is configured to cause a device to be operated at a first power level and a second power level; and a proximity detection circuit configured to transition the device from the first power level to the second power level in response to a preselected difference between the transmitted set of ultrasonic signal attributes and the received set of ultrasonic signal attributes.

Abstract: A device, including: a dielectric case or chassis; a first integrated circuit (IC) configured to produce a millimeter wave signal; a first IC antenna configured to receive the millimeter wave signal from the IC and radiate the millimeter wave signal; and a first waveguide configured to guide the radiated millimeter wave signal to the dielectric case, wherein the millimeter wave signal is coupled into to the dielectric case.

Abstract: A controller for a haptic actuator is described. The controller includes a driver which has an output configured to be coupled to a linear resonant actuator in a first mode and a frequency detector having an input configured to be coupled to the haptic actuator in a second mode. The frequency detector is configured to detect a signal generated on the terminals of the haptic actuator in response to an externally applied force and to determine a resonant frequency of the haptic actuator from the generated signal.

Abstract: A hybrid connector for a data cable, including: a galvanic connector having a plurality of connectors configured to make a galvanic connection with a plurality of connectors in a receptacle wherein a first portion of the plurality connectors are power connections and a second portion of the plurality of connectors are data connections; a plurality of millimeter wave wireless transmitter/receivers (TRx) configured to transmit/receive data from/to the hybrid connector; and a plurality of millimeter wave antennas surrounding the galvanic connector each antenna connected to one of the plurality of millimeter wave TRx's, wherein the plurality of millimeter wave antennas are configured to transmit/receive millimeter wave data signals.

Abstract: A hybrid connector for a data cable, including: a galvanic connector having a plurality of connectors configured to make a galvanic connection with a plurality of connectors in a receptacle wherein a first portion of the plurality connectors are power connections and a second portion of the plurality of connectors are data connections; a plurality of millimeter wave wireless transmitter/receivers (TRx) configured to transmit/receive data from/to the hybrid connector; and a plurality of millimeter wave antennas surrounding the galvanic connector each antenna connected to one of the plurality of millimeter wave TRx's, wherein the plurality of millimeter wave antennas are configured to transmit/receive millimeter wave data signals.

Abstract: A device, including: a dielectric case or chassis; a first integrated circuit (IC) configured to produce a millimeter wave signal; a first IC antenna configured to receive the millimeter wave signal from the IC and radiate the millimeter wave signal; and a first waveguide configured to guide the radiated millimeter wave signal to the dielectric case, wherein the millimeter wave signal is coupled into to the dielectric case.

Abstract: An electric field sensor including a dielectric layer having a plane surface, at least one transceiver antenna disposed on one side of the dielectric layer, the at least one transceiver antenna configured to emit a wave above the plane surface of the dielectric layer and detect an event adjacent the plane surface, an integrated circuit coupled to the at least one transceiver antenna.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising an acoustic transducer arrangement configured to transmit at least one acoustic signal and configured to detect a reflection of said at least one acoustic signal, and a controller configured to determine a time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal, the controller further configured to determine at least a first value indicative of temperature based on said time-of-flight of the at least one acoustic signal and calibration information indicative of a relationship between time-of-flight and temperature in a space the apparatus is located.

Abstract: A liquid immersion sensor for a mobile device with at least two acoustic transducers is described. The liquid immersion sensor may include a signal generator having a signal generator output configured to generate a signal for transmission via a first acoustic transducer, and a signal receiver having a signal receiver input configured to receive a delayed version of the generated signal via a second acoustic transducer. The signal receiver includes a signal receiver output. The liquid immersion sensor includes a controller having a first controller input for receiving a reference signal and a second controller input coupled to the signal receiver output. The controller determines a time lag value between the reference signal and the delayed signal and generates a control output signal dependent on the phase difference. The control output signal indicates if the mobile device is immersed in liquid.

Abstract: A controller for a haptic actuator is described. The controller includes a driver which has an output configured to be coupled to a linear resonant actuator in a first mode and a frequency detector having an input configured to be coupled to the haptic actuator in a second mode. The frequency detector is configured to detect a signal generated on the terminals of the haptic actuator in response to an externally applied force and to determine a resonant frequency of the haptic actuator from the generated signal.

Abstract: An environmental parameter sensor for a mobile device is described comprising a first acoustic transducer; a second acoustic transducer arranged at a predetermined distance from the first acoustic transducer; a controller coupled to the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer; wherein the controller is configured to determine at least one of a time-of-flight value and an attenuation value of an acoustic signal between the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer and to determine at least one environmental parameter from the at least one of the time-of-flight value and the attenuation value The environmental parameter sensor may determine environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity from acoustic measurements.

Abstract: A bulk-acoustic-mode MEMS resonator has a first portion with a first physical layout, and a layout modification feature. The resonant frequency is a function of the physical layout, which is designed such that the frequency variation is less than 150 ppm for a variation in edge position of the resonator shape edges of 50 nm. This design combines at least two different layout features in such a way that small edge position variations (resulting from uncontrollable process variation) have negligible effect on the resonant frequency.

Abstract: A pressure sensor measures pressure by measuring the deflection of a MEMS membrane using a capacitive read-out method. There are two ways to implement the invention. One involves the use of an integrated Pirani sensor and the other involves the use of an integrated resonator, to function as a reference pressure sensor, for measuring an internal cavity pressure.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.

Abstract: One example discloses an acoustic pairing device, comprising: an acoustic processor configured to receive a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; a signal comparison module configured to identify a propagation delay or amplitude difference between the first and second acoustic signals; and a pairing module configured to output a pairing signal if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value. Another example discloses a method for acoustic pairing between a first device and a second device, executed by a computer programmed with non-transient executable instructions, comprising: receiving a propagation delay or amplitude difference between a first acoustic signal and a second acoustic signal; pairing the first and second devices if the propagation delay or amplitude difference is between a first value and a second value.

Abstract: A pressure sensor measures pressure by measuring the deflection of a MEMS membrane using a capacitive read-out method. There are two ways to implement the invention. One involves the use of an integrated Pirani sensor and the other involves the use of an integrated resonator, to function as a reference pressure sensor, for measuring an internal cavity pressure.

Abstract: An environmental parameter sensor for a mobile device is described comprising a first acoustic transducer; a second acoustic transducer arranged at a predetermined distance from the first acoustic transducer; a controller coupled to the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer; wherein the controller is configured to determine at least one of a time-of-flight value and an attenuation value of an acoustic signal between the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer and to determine at least one environmental parameter from the at least one of the time-of-flight value and the attenuation value The environmental parameter sensor may determine environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed, and humidity from acoustic measurements.