Abstract: An optical device for characterizing flicker from an ambient light source is disclosed. The device comprises a radiation-sensitive device configured to vary a current in response to incident radiation, a second or higher-order modulator configured to output data corresponding to the current, and processing circuitry configured to provide a real-time characterization of flicker in the incident radiation based upon an analysis of changes in the data. Also disclosed is an associated method of characterizing flicker from an ambient light source.

Abstract: An ambient light sensor is provided that includes a sensor input having a delta-sigma analogue to digital converter. The delta-sigma analogue to digital converter includes a switched capacitor, a common mode voltage source, a reference voltage source, and a switch network. In a first clock phase, the switch network connects the switched capacitor to charge it to either a sum or difference voltage. In a second clock phase, the switch network connects the switched capacitor to transfer charge into a summing junction. A controller controls the switch network in response to a comparator output to connect the switched capacitor to either the common mode voltage or the reference voltage while in the first clock phase.

Abstract: A switch circuit for use in a single-ended switched-capacitor circuit for front-end circuitry of a sensor device is disclosed. The switch circuit comprises a first transistor and a second transistor having a same channel-type as the first transistor. A first node is connected to a source of the first transistor and a drain of the second transistor and a second node is connected to a drain of the first transistor and a source of the second transistor. Also disclosed is a sampling circuit comprising the switch circuit and a sampling capacitor, wherein the switch circuit is configurable to electrically couple the sampling capacitor to an integrator circuit or to a voltage reference. An integrated circuit device and a light to frequency converter or light sensor comprising the switch circuit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sensor circuit comprising a sensor input includes a delta-sigma analogue to digital converter. The delta-sigma analogue to digital converter includes a switched capacitor, a common mode voltage source, a reference voltage source, and a switch network. The switch network, in a first clock phase, connects the switched capacitor to charge it to either a sum or difference voltage, and in a second clock phase connects the switched capacitor to transfer charge into a summing junction. A controller controls the switch network responsive to a comparator output to selectively connect the switched capacitor to one of the common mode voltage and the reference voltage in the first clock phase. Implementations of the sensor circuit transfer charge every clock cycle and have low noise and high sensitivity.

Abstract: A switch circuit for use in a single-ended switched-capacitor circuit for front-end circuitry of a sensor device is disclosed. The switch circuit comprises a first transistor and a second transistor having a same channel-type as the first transistor. A first node is connected to a source of the first transistor and a drain of the second transistor and a second node is connected to a drain of the first transistor and a source of the second transistor. Also disclosed is a sampling circuit comprising the switch circuit and a sampling capacitor, wherein the switch circuit is configurable to electrically couple the sampling capacitor to an integrator circuit or to a voltage reference. An integrated circuit device and a light to frequency converter or light sensor comprising the switch circuit is also disclosed.

Abstract: A measurement circuitry (MC) for evaluating a resistance of a resistive gas sensor (GS) comprises a first current path (P1), wherein a first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1) is arranged in the first current path (P1). A reference resistor (Rreference) and a second logarithmic compression circuit (LC2) is arranged in a second current path (P2) of the measurement circuitry (MC). A voltage generator (VG) provides a fixed voltage excitation for the resistive gas sensor (GS) and the reference resistor (Rreference). A first current (I1) received from the resistive gas sensor (GS) flows from the gas sensor (GS) via the first current path (P1) into the first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1). An evaluation circuit (EC) determines the resistance (Rs) of the resistive gas sensor (GS) in dependence on a first and second output signal (Ve1, Ve2) of the first and the second logarithmic compression circuit (LC1, LC2).

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (10) comprises a first and a second sampling capacitor (24, 25), a first integrator (26), a first and a second input switch (31, 32) coupling a first input terminal (11) and a common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24), a third and a fourth input switch (33, 34) coupling a second input terminal (12) and the common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25), a fifth and a sixth input switch (35, 36) coupling a second electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24) to an amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the first integrator input (27), and a seventh and an eighth input switch (37, 38) coupling a second electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25) to the amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the second integrator input (28).

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (10) comprises a first and a second sampling capacitor (24, 25), a first integrator (26), a first and a second input switch (31, 32) coupling a first input terminal (11) and a common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24), a third and a fourth input switch (33, 34) coupling a second input terminal (12) and the common mode terminal (39) to a first electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25), a fifth and a sixth input switch (35, 36) coupling a second electrode of the first sampling capacitor (24) to an amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the first integrator input (27), and a seventh and an eighth input switch (37, 38) coupling a second electrode of the second sampling capacitor (25) to the amplifier common mode terminal (40) and the second integrator input (28).

Abstract: A measurement circuitry (MC) for evaluating a resistance of a resistive gas sensor (GS) comprises a first current path (P1), wherein a first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1) is arranged in the first current path (P1). A reference resistor (Rreference) and a second logarithmic compression circuit (LC2) is arranged in a second current path (P2) of the measurement circuitry (MC). A voltage generator (VG) provides a fixed voltage excitation for the resistive gas sensor (GS) and the reference resistor (Rreference). A first current (I1) received from the resistive gas sensor (GS) flows from the gas sensor (GS) via the first current path (P1) into the first logarithmic compression circuit (LC1). An evaluation circuit (EC) determines the resistance (Rs) of the resistive gas sensor (GS) in dependence on a first and second output signal (Ve1, Ve2) of the first and the second logarithmic compression circuit (LC1, LC2).

Abstract: In one embodiment a power conversion arrangement comprises a switching converter (DC) with an input which is supplied with an input voltage (Vin) and a first output (Out1) to provide a first output voltage (Vout1) as a function of the input voltage (Vin), a linear regulator (LDO1) with an input coupled to the first output (Out1) of the switching converter (DC), the linear regulator (LDO1) having a second output (Out2) to provide a second output voltage (Vout2) as a function of the first output voltage (Vout1) to a connectable electrical load (CS), a component for sensing (MSI) a load current (Iload) at the second output (Out2) of the linear regulator (LDO1), the component being connected to the second output (Out2) of the linear regulator (LDO1), and a unit for influencing (MVA) the first output voltage (Vout1) as a function of the load current (Iload), the unit (MVA) being connected to the first output (Out1) of the switching converter (DC) and to the component for sensing (MSI) the load current (Iload).

Abstract: In one embodiment a power conversion arrangement comprises a switching converter (DC) with an input which is supplied with an input voltage (Vin) and a first output (Out1) to provide a first output voltage (Vout1) as a function of the input voltage (Vin), a linear regulator (LDO1) with an input coupled to the first output (Out1) of the switching converter (DC), the linear regulator (LDO1) having a second output (Out2) to provide a second output voltage (Vout2) as a function of the first output voltage (Vout1) to a connectable electrical load (CS), a component for sensing (MSI) a load current (Iload) at the second output (Out2) of the linear regulator (LDO1), the component being connected to the second output (Out2) of the linear regulator (LDO1), and a unit for influencing (MVA) the first output voltage (Vout1) as a function of the load current (Iload), the unit (MVA) being connected to the first output (Out1) of the switching converter (DC) and to the component for sensing (MSI) the load current (Iload).