Abstract: A method includes transmitting, by a touch screen device, signals on electrodes. The method further includes detecting, by a pen, a signal of the signals via an electrode of the electrodes. The method further includes creating, by the pen, a representation of the signal and transmitting the representation of the signal in accordance with a pen recognition signal format. The method further includes detecting, by the touch screen device, a change in the electrical characteristic of the electrode that is caused by the representation of the signal. The method further includes determining, by the touch screen device, that the pen is causing the change to the electrical characteristic of the electrode based on the pen recognition signal format.

Abstract: A device operative to transfer power and communicate wirelessly includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s). The DSC generates a drive signal based on a reference signal and provides the drive signal to a first coil via a single line and via a resonating capacitor, and simultaneously senses the drive signal via the single line, to facilitate electromagnetic coupling to a second coil to transfer power wirelessly to another device. The DSC also detects electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal including whether a communication signal is transmitted from another device and generates a digital signal representative thereof.

Abstract: A test system includes a test container array including a plurality of test containers and a plurality of electrodes integrated into the test container array. The test system further includes a plurality of drive-sense circuits coupled to the plurality of electrodes, where, when enabled, the plurality of drive-sense circuits detect changes in electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes. The test system further includes a processing module operably coupled to receive, from the drive-sense circuits, changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes, and interpret the changes in the electrical characteristics of the plurality of electrodes as impedance values representative of electrical characteristics of biological material present in the test container. The test system further includes a communication module operably coupled to communicate the electrical characteristics of the biological material.

Abstract: A channel driver circuit includes a differential module and a driver module. In some examples, the channel driver circuit also includes a sigma-delta module. The differential module receives, via a single node of a load, a channel driving signal that is provided to the load at the single node (e.g., that is based on an electrical characteristic of the load) and generates an analog error signal that is based on the channel driving signal and a reference signal. The driver module is coupled to the differential module and generates the channel driving signal based on the analog error signal or a digital error signal corresponding to the analog error signal and transmits the channel driving signal via the single node to the load. The channel driver circuit simultaneously transmits the channel driving signal to the load at the single node and senses the channel driving signal at the single node.

Abstract: A method includes providing, by a signal source circuit of a sensing circuit, a signal to a sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal. The signal includes at least one of: a direct current (DC) component and an oscillating component. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The method further includes comparing, by a transient circuit of the sensing circuit, the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, supplying, by the transient circuit, a compensation signal to the conductor. A level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.

Abstract: A system and method for blockchains with serial proof of work includes a memory storing a blockchain, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to receive a miner identifier, receive a block of data for inclusion in a new block of the blockchain, determine an initial nonce based on the miner identifier, hash a combination of the block of data and the initial nonce to create a hashed value, iteratively determine an updated nonce based on the hashed value and update the hashed value by hashing the updated nonce until the updated hashed value satisfies a proof of work criteria, create the new block based on the block of data, the miner identifier, and the updated hashed value that satisfies the proof of work criteria, and share the new block with one or more other computing devices hosting the blockchain.

Abstract: A pen for use with a touch screen includes a first AC coupling circuit, a second AC coupling circuit, a sense-regulation circuit, and a response circuit. The first AC coupling circuit receives a sense signal from the touch screen. The sense-regulation circuit compares the sense signal to a reference signal to produce a comparison signal. In addition, the sense-regulation circuit generates a regulation signal based on the comparison signal, which regulates receiving of the sense signal. The response circuit generates a transmit signal based on the comparison signal and data. The second AC coupling circuit transmits the transmit signal to the touch screen.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) that is configured to service a photo-diode includes a capacitor and a self-referenced latched comparator. The capacitor produces a photo-diode voltage based on charging by a photo-diode current associated with the photo-diode and a digital to analog converter (DAC) source current and/or a DAC sink current. The self-referenced latched comparator generates a first digital signal that is based on a difference between the photo-diode voltage and a threshold voltage associated with the self-referenced latched comparator. Also, one or more processing modules executes operational instructions to process the first digital signal to generate a second digital signal and/or a third digital signal. An N-bit DAC generates the DAC source current based on the second digital signal, and an M-bit DAC generates the DAC sink current based on the third digital signal. The DAC source current and/or the DAC sink current tracks the photo-diode current.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) senses an analog signal (e.g., a load current) to generate a digital signal. The ADC operates based on a load voltage produced based on charging of an element (e.g., a capacitor) by a load current and a digital to analog converter (DAC) output current (e.g., from a N-bit DAC). The ADC generates a digital output signal representative of a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. This digital output signal is used directly, or after digital signal processing, to operate an N-bit DAC to generate a DAC output current that tracks the load current. The digital output signal provided to the N-bit DAC is an inverse function of the load current. The ADC is operative to sense very low currents (e.g., currents as low as is of pico-amps) and consume very little power (e.g., less than 2 ?W).

Abstract: A high resolution analog to digital converter (ADC) with improved bandwidth senses an analog signal (e.g., a load current) to generate a digital signal. The ADC operates based on a load voltage produced based on charging of an element (e.g., a capacitor) by a load current and a digital to analog converter (DAC) output current (e.g., from a N-bit DAC). The ADC generates a digital output signal representative of a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. This digital output signal is used directly, or after digital signal processing, to operate an N-bit DAC to generate a DAC output current that tracks the load current. In addition, quantization noise is subtracted from the digital output signal thereby extending the operational bandwidth of the ADC. In certain examples, the operational bandwidth of the ADC extends up to 100 s of kHz (e.g., 200-300 kHz), or even higher.

Abstract: A blended reality user interface and gesture control system includes one or more sensors, a head-mounted display, and a blending engine. The blending engine is configured to receive a live reality and virtual reality feeds, track movement of a user using the sensors, detect a command based on the tracked movement, blend the live and virtual reality feeds into a blended view based on the detected command, and display the blended view on the head-mounted display. In some embodiments, the blending engine is further configured to detect an amount of head tilt of the user and adjust a blending factor controlling an amount of transparency of the live reality feed within the blended view based on the amount of head tilt. In some embodiments, the blending engine is further configured to detect manipulation of a controller by the user and adjust the blending factor based on the detected manipulation.

Abstract: A channel driver circuit includes a differential module and a driver module. In some examples, the channel driver circuit also includes a sigma-delta module. The differential module receives, via a single node of a load, a channel driving signal that is provided to the load at the single node (e.g., that is based on an electrical characteristic of the load) and generates an analog error signal that is based on the channel driving signal and a reference signal. The driver module is coupled to the differential module and generates the channel driving signal based on the analog error signal or a digital error signal corresponding to the analog error signal and transmits the channel driving signal via the single node to the load. The channel driver circuit simultaneously transmits the channel driving signal to the load at the single node and senses the channel driving signal at the single node.

Abstract: A channel driver circuit includes a differential module and a driver module. In some examples, the channel driver circuit also includes a sigma-delta module. The differential module receives, via a single node of a load, a channel driving signal that is provided to the load at the single node (e.g., that is based on an electrical characteristic of the load) and generates an analog error signal that is based on the channel driving signal and a reference signal. The driver module is coupled to the differential module and generates the channel driving signal based on the analog error signal or a digital error signal corresponding to the analog error signal and transmits the channel driving signal via the single node to the load. The channel driver circuit simultaneously transmits the channel driving signal to the load at the single node and senses the channel driving signal at the single node.

Abstract: A sensing circuit includes a signal source circuit and a transient circuit. The signal source circuit provides a signal to the sensor via a conductor. When the sensor is exposed to a condition and is receiving the signal, an electrical characteristic of the sensor affects the signal, which is interpreted by the signal source circuit. When the sensing circuit is in a noisy environment, transient noise couples with the signal to produce a noisy signal. The transient circuit compares the noisy signal with a representation of the noisy signal. When the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal, the transient circuit supplies a compensation signal to the conductor. The level of the compensation signal corresponds to a level at which the noisy signal compares unfavorably with the representation of the noisy signal.

Abstract: A pen for use with a touch screen includes a first AC coupling circuit, a second AC coupling circuit, a sense-regulation circuit, and a response circuit. The first AC coupling circuit receives a sense signal from the touch screen. The sense-regulation circuit compares the sense signal to a reference signal to produce a comparison signal. In addition, the sense-regulation circuit generates a regulation signal based on the comparison signal, which regulates receiving of the sense signal. The response circuit generates a transmit signal based on the comparison signal and data. The second AC coupling circuit transmits the transmit signal to the touch screen.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting, by a touch screen device, signals on electrodes. The method further includes detecting, by a pen, a signal of the signals via an electrode of the electrodes. The method further includes creating, by the pen, a representation of the signal and transmitting the representation of the signal in accordance with a pen recognition signal format. The method further includes detecting, by the touch screen device, a change in the electrical characteristic of the electrode that is caused by the representation of the signal. The method further includes determining, by the touch screen device, that the pen is causing the change to the electrical characteristic of the electrode based on the pen recognition signal format.

Abstract: An analog to digital converter (ADC) senses an analog signal (e.g., a load current) to generate a digital signal. The ADC operates based on a load voltage produced based on charging of an element (e.g., a capacitor) by a load current and a digital to analog converter (DAC) output current (e.g., from a N-bit DAC). The ADC generates a digital output signal representative of a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. This digital output signal is used directly, or after digital signal processing, to operate an N-bit DAC to generate a DAC output current that tracks the load current. The digital output signal provided to the N-bit DAC is an inverse function of the load current. The ADC is operative to sense very low currents (e.g., currents as low as is of pico-amps) and consume very little power (e.g., less than 2 ?W).

Abstract: A device operative to transfer power wirelessly includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s). The DSC generates a drive signal based on a reference signal and provides the drive signal to a first coil via a single line and via a resonating capacitor, and simultaneously senses the drive signal via the single line, to facilitate electromagnetic coupling to a second coil to transfer power wirelessly to another device. The DSC also detects electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal. The processing module(s) generates the reference signal and processes the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal. In some examples, the processing module(s) adapts the reference signal based on detection of the other device (e.g., based on interpreting the electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal).

Abstract: A device operative to transfer power wirelessly includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s). The DSC generates a drive signal based on a reference signal and provides the drive signal to a first coil via a single line and via a resonating capacitor, and simultaneously senses the drive signal via the single line, to facilitate electromagnetic coupling to a second coil to transfer power wirelessly to another device. The DSC also detects electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal. The processing module(s) generates the reference signal and processes the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal. In some examples, the processing module(s) adapts the reference signal based on detection of the other device (e.g., based on interpreting the electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal).

Abstract: A device operative to transfer power wirelessly includes a drive-sense circuit (DSC), memory that stores operational instructions, and processing module(s). The DSC generates a drive signal based on a reference signal and provides the drive signal to a first coil via a single line and via a resonating capacitor, and simultaneously senses the drive signal via the single line, to facilitate electromagnetic coupling to a second coil to transfer power wirelessly to another device. The DSC also detects electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal. The processing module(s) generates the reference signal and processes the digital signal to determine the electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal. In some examples, the processing module(s) adapts the reference signal based on detection of the other device (e.g., based on interpreting the electrical characteristic(s) of the drive signal).