Abstract: A sensor architecture that uses fixed wavelength light and tunes a wavelength dependent response of a sensor may be used for detecting analytes in a wide range of applications. The sensor architecture is based on optical resonators or interferometers comprising optical waveguides. A resonance wavelength and/or transmission/reflection spectrum are affected by presence of an analyte adsorbed on a surface of the waveguide, and a setting of a phase modulator. The sensors include a sensor portion where part of the waveguide is exposed to a sample for sensing, and a phase modulator part. The phase modulator part may include a heater that is controlled to tune, or sweep, or modulate the resonant wavelength and/or spectrum of the sensor.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital circuit that digitizes an analog voltage. The analog-to-digital circuit includes plural comparators functionally connected to form a tree that has levels i, and each level i has branches j, and an encoder connected to the plural comparators and configured to generate a digitized value of an input analog voltage. Each comparator from a level i has first and second outputs, and each of the first and second outputs is electrically connected to an input of different comparators from a next level i+1 of the tree.

Abstract: A sensor architecture that uses fixed wavelength light and tunes a wavelength dependent response of a sensor may be used for detecting analytes in a wide range of applications. The sensor architecture is based on optical resonators or interferometers comprising optical waveguides. A resonance wavelength and/or transmission/reflection spectrum are affected by presence of an analyte adsorbed on a surface of the waveguide, and a setting of a phase modulator. The sensors include a sensor portion where part of the waveguide is exposed to a sample for sensing, and a phase modulator part. The phase modulator part may include a heater that is controlled to tune, or sweep, or modulate the resonant wavelength and/or spectrum of the sensor.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital circuit that digitizes an analog voltage. The analog-to-digital circuit includes plural comparators functionally connected to form a tree that has levels i, and each level i has branches j, and an encoder connected to the plural comparators and configured to generate a digitized value of an input analog voltage. Each comparator from a level i has first and second outputs, and each of the first and second outputs is electrically connected to an input of different comparators from a next level i+1 of the tree.