Abstract: A system for processing sample entities includes a chamber including a surface having an array of measurement regions, wherein at least one measurement region comprises a first set of one or more electrodes and a second set of one or more electrodes, wherein the first set of electrodes is configured to measure a first characteristic of a sample entity when the sample entity is traversing the first set of electrodes, and wherein the second set of electrodes is configured to selectively retain the sample entity in the at least one measurement region based at least in part on the measured first characteristic and/or measure a second characteristic of the sample entity.

Abstract: A regulator controller including terminals for coupling to a voltage source, an inductor and an output capacitor, and including a switching circuit and a switch control circuit. The switching circuit includes switches that toggle coupling of the inductor during switching cycles based on charge and discharge periods. The switch control sets a duration of the charging period based on the input voltage and sets duration of the discharging period based on a difference between the input and output voltages. Multiple output terminals allow coupling to different load types, in which the output terminals may be temporarily coupled together to handle bursted loads. Thus, an output store capacitor may be coupled to handle a bursted load, and then decoupled for charging. Comparator circuits enable/inhibit switching based on input and output conditions. The regulator controller maximizes utilization of weak power sources while sufficiently handling typical load profiles.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a high-speed power supply providing a first output, operating in conjunction with an externally supplied DC source or low frequency power supply which provides a second output. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the first and second outputs to generate a third output in order to drive a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit coupled to the combined, third output compares this combined, third output with a predetermined control signal and generates a control signal for controlling the high-speed power supply, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal. The feedback circuit does not control the DC source or the low frequency power supply, but controls only the high-speed power supply.

Abstract: An adaptive current limiter including a conversion network and an amplifier network developing an adaptive current limit signal for use by a switching regulator to limit peak current through an inductor of the switching regulator. The switching regulator develops a pulse control signal for controlling switching of current through the inductor to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The conversion network provides a limit value by applying a duty cycle of the pulse control signal to a reference value. The amplifier network is configured to develop the adaptive current limit signal based on the limit value. The conversion network may multiply the reference value by the duty cycle to develop the limit value. The amplifier network may include a current source providing a fixed reference current to an amplifier to establish a minimum level of the adaptive current limit signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier power controller in the power amplifier system monitors various operating conditions of the power amplifier, and controls the output transmit power of the power amplifier by coordinated control of both the input drive level to the power amplifier and the gain of the power amplifier. The power amplifier power controller controls the input drive level to the power amplifier so that the input drive level does not change substantially while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier to maximize the transmit power. The power amplifier power controller may also adjust the input drive level by some portion of the overall change required to the power of the power amplifier, while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier by the remaining portion of such overall change.

Abstract: A highly efficient, high control bandwidth and high-speed power supply with a linear driver and a switching regulator for regulating an output based on a control signal. The linear driver has a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input connected to the output for receiving negative feedback. The driver's output is controlled by its two inputs and has a capacitor connected in series with it to generate a capacitor voltage VC responsive to the DC and low frequency components in the driver's output. The switching regulator has a control input and a regulator output connected in a regulator feedback loop. The control input receives capacitor voltage VC and the regulator feedback loop minimizes capacitor voltage VC. Thus, switching regulator takes over the generation of DC and low frequency components, while the linear driver provides high frequency output current components.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a high-speed power supply providing a first output, operating in conjunction with an externally supplied DC source or low frequency power supply which provides a second output. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the first and second outputs to generate a third output in order to drive a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit coupled to the combined, third output compares this combined, third output with a predetermined control signal and generates a control signal for controlling the high-speed power supply, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal. The feedback circuit does not control the DC source or the low frequency power supply, but controls only the high-speed power supply.

Abstract: A regulator controller including terminals for coupling to a voltage source, an inductor and an output capacitor, and including a switching circuit and a switch control circuit. The switching circuit includes switches that toggle coupling of the inductor during switching cycles based on charge and discharge periods. The switch control sets a duration of the charging period based on the input voltage and sets duration of the discharging period based on a difference between the input and output voltages. Multiple output terminals allow coupling to different load types, in which the output terminals may be temporarily coupled together to handle bursted loads. Thus, an output store capacitor may be coupled to handle a bursted load, and then decoupled for charging. Comparator circuits enable/inhibit switching based on input and output conditions. The regulator controller maximizes utilization of weak power sources while sufficiently handling typical load profiles.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a high-speed power supply providing a first output, operating in conjunction with an externally supplied DC source or low frequency power supply which provides a second output. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the first and second outputs to generate a third output in order to drive a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit coupled to the combined, third output compares this combined, third output with a predetermined control signal and generates a control signal for controlling the high-speed power supply, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal. The feedback circuit does not control the DC source or the low frequency power supply, but controls only the high-speed power supply.

Abstract: A power amplifier power controller in the power amplifier system monitors various operating conditions of the power amplifier, and controls the output transmit power of the power amplifier by coordinated control of both the input drive level to the power amplifier and the gain of the power amplifier. The power amplifier power controller controls the input drive level to the power amplifier so that the input drive level does not change substantially while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier to maximize the transmit power. The power amplifier power controller may also adjust the input drive level by some portion of the overall change required to the power of the power amplifier, while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier by the remaining portion of such overall change.

Abstract: An adaptive current limiter including a conversion network and an amplifier network developing an adaptive current limit signal for use by a switching regulator to limit peak current through an inductor of the switching regulator. The switching regulator develops a pulse control signal for controlling switching of current through the inductor to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The conversion network provides a limit value by applying a duty cycle of the pulse control signal to a reference value. The amplifier network is configured to develop the adaptive current limit signal based on the limit value. The conversion network may multiply the reference value by the duty cycle to develop the limit value. The amplifier network may include a current source providing a fixed reference current to an amplifier to establish a minimum level of the adaptive current limit signal.

Abstract: A power amplifier power controller in the power amplifier system monitors various operating conditions of the power amplifier, and controls the output transmit power of the power amplifier by coordinated control of both the input drive level to the power amplifier and the gain of the power amplifier. The power amplifier power controller controls the input drive level to the power amplifier so that the input drive level does not change substantially while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier to maximize the transmit power. The power amplifier power controller may also adjust the input drive level by some portion of the overall change required to the power of the power amplifier, while adjusting the gain of the power amplifier by the remaining portion of such overall change.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a high-speed power supply providing a first output, operating in conjunction with an externally supplied DC source or low frequency power supply which provides a second output. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the first and second outputs to generate a third output in order to drive a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit coupled to the combined, third output compares this combined, third output with a predetermined control signal and generates a control signal for controlling the high-speed power supply, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal. The feedback circuit does not control the DC source or the low frequency power supply, but controls only the high-speed power supply.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a high-speed power supply providing a first output, operating in conjunction with an externally supplied DC source or low frequency power supply which provides a second output. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the first and second outputs to generate a third output in order to drive a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit coupled to the combined, third output compares this combined, third output with a predetermined control signal and generates a control signal for controlling the high-speed power supply, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal. The feedback circuit does not control the DC source or the low frequency power supply, but controls only the high-speed power supply.

Abstract: A highly efficient, high control bandwidth and high-speed power supply with a linear driver and a switching regulator for regulating an output based on a control signal. The linear driver has a first input for receiving the control signal and a second input connected to the output for receiving negative feedback. The driver's output is controlled by its two inputs and has a capacitor connected in series with it to generate a capacitor voltage VC responsive to the DC and low frequency components in the driver's output. The switching regulator has a control input and a regulator output connected in a regulator feedback loop. The control input receives capacitor voltage VC and the regulator feedback loop minimizes capacitor voltage VC. Thus, switching regulator takes over the generation of DC and low frequency components, while the linear driver provides high frequency output current components.

Abstract: A power supply system includes a high-speed power supply providing a first output, operating in conjunction with an externally supplied DC source or low frequency power supply which provides a second output. A frequency blocking power combiner circuit combines the first and second outputs to generate a third output in order to drive a load, while providing frequency-selective isolation between the first and second outputs. A feedback circuit coupled to the combined, third output compares this combined, third output with a predetermined control signal and generates a control signal for controlling the high-speed power supply, based on a difference between the third output and the predetermined control signal. The feedback circuit does not control the DC source or the low frequency power supply, but controls only the high-speed power supply.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.

Abstract: A power supply system uses improved Class G amplifier architecture for high bandwidth operation with low distortion. The power supply system switches between multiple power supply rails, depending on the signal level handled by the power supply system. The lowest usable supply rail voltage is chosen to minimize power dissipation in the output driver, thus optimizing efficiency. Each supply rail has an associated driver capable of sourcing current to the amplifier output. When a supply rail is selected, its associated driver is enabled and other driver(s) not associated with the selected supply rail are disabled via separate disable control signals. The disabling of the deselected driver may be delayed until current above a predetermined threshold is sensed at the output of the enabled driver. In addition, the frequency of switching between the power rails may be limited via various means designed to limit distortion in the power supply system.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier system adjusts the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier (PA) adaptively, responsive to the measured or estimated power of the RF output signal of the PA. The RF PA system includes a power amplifier (PA) which receives and amplifies an RF input signal to generate an RF output signal at a level suitable for transmission to an antenna. A PA supply voltage controller generates a supply voltage control signal, which is used to control the supply voltage to the final stage of the PA. The supply voltage control signal is generated responsive to the measured or estimated power of the PA RF output signal, and also may be responsive to a parameter indicative of impedance mismatch experienced at the PA output. By controlling this supply voltage to the RF PA, the efficiency of the PA is improved.