Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for maintaining timing precision in different operating modes of a device (e.g., a wireless node). A timing circuit may switch clock signals between two different modes (e.g., high power and low power) while preserving timing precision. In a high-power mode, the timing circuit may provide a high frequency clock signal, and in a lower-power mode, it may provide a low frequency clock signal. Moreover, the switching between the different clock signals may be synchronized to select edges of the low frequency clock signal.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to time-interleaved polyphase linearization for a receive signal chain are provided. An example receive signal chain includes an input node to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal. The receive signal chain further includes a plurality of polyphase mixer circuitries including first mixers and first local oscillators to generate a plurality of phase-shifted downconverted signals based on the received RF signal. The receive signal chain further includes a first multiplexer to select one of the plurality of phase-shifted downconverted signals during each time slot of a plurality of time slots. The receive signal chain further includes signal conditioning circuitry comprising at least one nonlinear component. The signal conditioning circuitry conditions, during each time slot, a respective selected one of the plurality of phase-shifted downconverted signals to generate a conditioned signal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for maintaining timing precision in different operating modes of a device (e.g., a wireless node). A timing circuit may switch clock signals between two different modes (e.g., high power and low power) while preserving timing precision. In a high-power mode, the timing circuit may provide a high frequency clock signal, and in a lower-power mode, it may provide a low frequency clock signal. Moreover, the switching between the different clock signals may be synchronized to select edges of the low frequency clock signal.

Abstract: A method and device for processing an agricultural product is provided. The device includes a chamber having an opening, and a heater operative to heat the contents of the chamber. A sensor having an output is coupled to the chamber, the sensor output being processed to provide information about at least one of: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of a material in the contents of the chamber. The method includes loading a quantity of the agricultural product in a chamber having an port and applying an elevated temperature to the chamber to increase a rate of decarboxylation. A property of a gas is measured at the port the measurement being processed to determine one of either: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of material in the sample.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring components of a vehicle includes a manager and a wireless node. The manager is positioned on the vehicle and configured to wirelessly transmit a wake signal in response to an event. The wireless node positioned to monitor a component of the vehicle and includes an antenna, a wakeup circuit, and a node transceiver. The wakeup circuit is connected to the antenna and configured to monitor for the wake signal, and the node transceiver is configured to perform wireless communication with the manager. The wakeup circuit is configured to power on the node transceiver upon receipt of the wake signal.

Abstract: A method and device for processing an agricultural product is provided. The device includes a chamber having an opening, and a heater operative to heat the contents of the chamber. A sensor having an output is coupled to the chamber, the sensor output being processed to provide information about at least one of: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of a material in the contents of the chamber. The method includes loading a quantity of the agricultural product in a chamber having an port and applying an elevated temperature to the chamber to increase a rate of decarboxylation. A property of a gas is measured at the port the measurement being processed to determine one of either: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of material in the sample.

Abstract: A battery system monitor includes cell measurement circuits (CMCs) that each measure a voltage at or current through a pair of terminals of a respective associated battery module from among a plurality of plurality of battery modules in a battery system. Wireless communication transceivers (WCTs), each associated with a different CMC, transmit voltage or current measurement information of the associated CMC across a wireless communication link. A controller receives the voltage or current measurement information from the wireless communication transceivers for monitoring the state of operation of the battery system. Battery system monitoring is improved through synchronization of clocks in different CMCs or WCTs to enable synchronous sampling of multiple battery modules, through systems for determining relative positions of battery modules in a series coupling of battery modules between terminals of the battery system, and through improvements to the reliability of wireless communication.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring components of a vehicle includes a manager and a wireless node. The manager is positioned on the vehicle and configured to wirelessly transmit a wake signal in response to an event. The wireless node positioned to monitor a component of the vehicle and includes an antenna, a wakeup circuit, and a node transceiver. The wakeup circuit is connected to the antenna and configured to monitor for the wake signal, and the node transceiver is configured to perform wireless communication with the manager. The wakeup circuit is configured to power on the node transceiver upon receipt of the wake signal.

Abstract: A battery system monitor includes cell measurement circuits (CMCs) that each measure a voltage at or current through a pair of terminals of a respective associated battery module from among a plurality of plurality of battery modules in a battery system. Wireless communication transceivers (WCTs), each associated with a different CMC, transmit voltage or current measurement information of the associated CMC across a wireless communication link. A controller receives the voltage or current measurement information from the wireless communication transceivers for monitoring the state of operation of the battery system. Battery system monitoring is improved through synchronization of clocks in different CMCs or WCTs to enable synchronous sampling of multiple battery modules, through systems for determining relative positions of battery modules in a series coupling of battery modules between terminals of the battery system, and through improvements to the reliability of wireless communication.

Abstract: A method and device for processing an agricultural product is provided. The device includes a chamber having an opening, and a heater operative to heat the contents of the chamber. A sensor having an output is coupled to the chamber, the sensor output being processed to provide information about at least one of: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of a material in the contents of the chamber. The method includes loading a quantity of the agricultural product in a chamber having an port and applying an elevated temperature to the chamber to increase a rate of decarboxylation. A property of a gas is measured at the port the measurement being processed to determine one of either: a state of decarboxylation, or a quantity of material in the sample.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring an irrigation system is provided. The device includes a flow sensor and an irrigation controller comprising at least two outputs. The irrigation monitor is coupled to the irrigation controller and the flow sensor and performs an action in response to detecting a fault condition. The method includes steps of measuring flow through an irrigation feed, determining an intended state of an irrigation valve, associating the measured flow with the intended valve state, and detecting a fault condition. In some examples the irrigation monitor and irrigation controller use a single processor.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring an irrigation system is provided. The device includes a flow sensor and an irrigation controller comprising at least two outputs. The irrigation monitor is coupled to the irrigation controller and the flow sensor and performs an action in response to detecting a fault condition. The method includes steps of measuring flow through an irrigation feed, determining an intended state of an irrigation valve, associating the measured flow with the intended valve state, and detecting a fault condition. In some examples the irrigation monitor and irrigation controller use a single processor.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring an irrigation system is provided. The device includes a flow sensor and an irrigation controller comprising at least two outputs. The irrigation monitor is coupled to the irrigation controller and the flow sensor and performs an action in response to detecting a fault condition. The method includes steps of measuring flow through an irrigation feed, determining an intended state of an irrigation valve, associating the measured flow with the intended valve state, and detecting a fault condition. In some examples the irrigation monitor and irrigation controller use a single processor.

Abstract: A system for synchronizing nodes in a wireless network comprises a first node and a second node. The first node comprising a transmitter, a receiver, and a first time keeper. The second node comprising a transmitter, a receiver, a second time keeper, a timing error measurer for making a timing error measurement between the first time keeper and the second time keeper. The second timekeeper is adjusted to target minimizing the timing error measurement.

Abstract: A precision temperature sensing system includes a heater and a sensing element disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A power source drives the heater on a periodic basis according to a received clock signal. The sensing element senses the heat emitted by the heater and diffused through the semiconductor substrate. Processing circuitry coupled to the sensing element adjusts a phase of the periodic heater driving signal based on the heat sensed by the sensing element. The processing circuitry determines a temperature based on a thermal diffusivity (TD) of the semiconductor substrate, the adjusted value of the phase, and a known distance between the heater and the sensing element. A second temperature sensor can be disposed on the same substrate as the precision temperature sensing system, and calibrated based on temperature measurements obtained while applying a reference frequency signal to the precision sensing system.

Abstract: A frequency converting element includes a mixer and a charge pump. The mixer has first and second input nodes and an output node, and an input code of the charge pump is coupled to the output node of the mixer. The charge pump receives a mixer output signal at the input node of the charge pump, and outputs an amplified version of the mixer output signal.

Abstract: A baseband signal-conditioning architecture applicable to radio receivers uses switched-capacitor techniques to provide high-performance signal conditioning in low-voltage, deep-submicron processes (e.g., 65 nm and below). In the architecture, a first mixer is coupled to an antenna receiving the signal, and outputs a first mixer output signal based on the signal received by the antenna. A buffer coupled to an output of the first mixer outputs a buffer signal based on the first mixer output signal. A first charge pump is coupled to an output of the buffer, and produces a first charge pump output signal based on the buffer signal. In some examples, a second charge pump is coupled to the output of the first mixer and produces a second charge pump output signal based on the first mixer output signal, and the buffer input is coupled to an output of the second charge pump.

Abstract: A method and device for receiving a wireless signal is provided. The device includes a passive mixer having a first input node, a second input node, and at least one output node. An oscillator is coupled to the first input node of the mixer. The output of a buffer is coupled to the second input node of the mixer. An antenna is operatively coupled to the input node of the buffer. The buffer is configured to provide isolation from the mixer.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer directly generates phase modulated radio-frequency (RF) signals. The frequency synthesizer includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) producing a synthesized frequency signal having a frequency controlled based on a signal received at an input of the VCO. A digitally adjustable frequency divider produces a reduced frequency signal from the synthesized frequency signal. A phase digital-to-analog converter (DAC) produces a delayed version of a timing signal (e.g., the reduced frequency signal, or a reference clock signal) that is delayed according to a digital control signal. A phase detector (PD) produces a phase control signal from the reduced frequency signal and/or the delayed timing signal. A digital signal converter controls the digitally adjustable frequency divider and the phase DAC so as to cause a phase or frequency of the synthesized frequency signal output by the VCO to track a desired phase or frequency trajectory encoded in a digital signal.

Abstract: A method and device for receiving a wireless signal is provided. The device includes a passive mixer having a first input node, a second input node, and at least one output node. An oscillator is coupled to the first input node of the mixer. The output of a buffer is coupled to the second input node of the mixer. An antenna is operatively coupled to the input node of the buffer. The buffer is configured to provide isolation from the mixer.