Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a system that implements an up-conversion mixer. This system includes a regulator-based linearized transconductance (gm) stage, which converts a differential intermediate frequency (IF) voltage signal into a corresponding pair of IF currents. It also includes a pair of current mirrors, which duplicates the pair of IF currents into sources of a set of switching transistors. The set of switching transistors uses a differential local oscillator (LO) signal to gate the duplicated pair of IF currents to produce a differential radio frequency (RF) output signal. Finally, a combination of capacitors and/or inductors is coupled to common source nodes of the set of switching transistors to suppress higher order harmonics in an associated common source node voltage signal.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a system that implements a coupling balance scheme for differential signals. The system includes a set of 2N signal lines carrying N differential signal pairs, wherein the set of 2N signal lines runs parallel to each other in a planar layout. The set of 2N signal lines is organized into a set of consecutive sequences, wherein each sequence includes a pattern of twists that switch signal positions for each differential pair to cancel coupling effects with respect to other signal lines. Moreover, the positions of differential signal pairs are exchanged between consecutive sequences, so that the set of consecutive sequences includes a sequence for each possible ordering of the N differential signal pairs.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of covalently crosslinking DNA strands. In certain aspects, the method comprises incubating a hybridized, double-stranded DNA polynucleotide (dsDNA), comprising a probe strand that comprises an abasic (Ap) residue and an at least partially complementary target strand that comprises a 2?-deoxyadenosine (dA) residue, wherein incubation occurs under conditions that allow for a covalent crosslinking reaction to occur between the Ap residue in the probe strand and the dA residue in the target strand.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a high-speed frequency doubler circuit. During operation, the circuit uses a transformer-based balun to convert a single-ended input signal into a differential signal, wherein the transformer-based balun includes a transformer with a primary coil, which receives the single-ended input signal, and a secondary coil, which produces the differential signal. The transformer also includes a central compensation capacitor coupled between a center tap of the secondary coil and ground, wherein the central compensation capacitor acts to suppress common-mode components in the differential signal. Next, the circuit uses a pseudo-differential amplifier to convert the differential signal into a single-ended output signal, which has double the frequency of the single-ended input signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved oligonucleotide detection method based on the nanopore technology with a probe containing a complementary sequence to the target oligonucleotide and a terminal extension at the probe's 3? terminus, 5? terminus, or both termini. The improved nanopore sensor with the probe enables sensitive, selective, and direct detection, differentiation and quantification of target oligonucleotides such as miRNAs. The inventive detection method may also be employed as a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic method for cancer detection based on miRNA levels in the patient's blood sample.

Abstract: An error-feedback transmitter includes an input that receives an input signal, and an output that produces an output signal. It also includes an amplifier, located on a main path that carries a main signal between the input and the output. The transmitter includes a feedback path that carries a feedback signal from the output to the input, and a feedback-signal combiner, located on the main path between the input and the amplifier. The feedback-signal combiner negatively combines the feedback signal with the input signal to improve linearity in the output signal. The transmitter includes a feedforward path that carries a feedforward signal from the input toward the output, and a feedforward-signal combiner, located on the feedback path between the output and the feedback-signal combiner. The feedforward-signal combiner negatively combines the feedforward signal with the feedback signal to suppress components of the main signal in the feedback signal.

Abstract: A method of ultra-low rate video encoding, including capturing a frame within a video stream, capturing a global position of the frame, capturing a heading of the frame, linking the global position and the heading to the frame, determining a foreground of the frame based on the global position of the frame and the heading of the frame, determining an at least one region of interest within the foreground, analyzing the at least one region of interest, removing a background from the frame based on the global position and the heading, wherein the background is complementary to the foreground and encoding the foreground, the global position, the heading and the at least one region of interest.

Abstract: An error-feedback transmitter includes an input that receives an input signal, and an output that produces an output signal. It also includes an amplifier, located on a main path that carries a main signal between the input and the output. The transmitter includes a feedback path that carries a feedback signal from the output to the input, and a feedback-signal combiner, located on the main path between the input and the amplifier. The feedback-signal combiner negatively combines the feedback signal with the input signal to improve linearity in the output signal. The transmitter includes a feedforward path that carries a feedforward signal from the input toward the output, and a feedforward-signal combiner, located on the feedback path between the output and the feedback-signal combiner. The feedforward-signal combiner negatively combines the feedforward signal with the feedback signal to suppress components of the main signal in the feedback signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring a phase noise level in an input signal are disclosed. An input signal can be delayed to generate a delayed version of the input signal. Next, a phase difference can be detected between the input signal and the delayed version of the input signal. A phase noise level in the input signal can then be determined based on the detected phase difference. The measured phase noise level can then be used to suppress phase noise in the input signal.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a system that implements a coupling balance scheme for differential signals. The system includes a set of 2N signal lines carrying N differential signal pairs, wherein the set of N signal lines runs parallel to each other in a planar layout. The set of 2N signal lines is organized into a set of consecutive sequences, wherein each sequence includes a pattern of twists that switch signal positions for each differential pair to cancel coupling effects with respect to other signal lines. Moreover, the positions of differential signal pairs are exchanged between consecutive sequences, so that the set of consecutive sequences includes a sequence for each possible ordering of the N differential signal pairs.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the design of a high-speed frequency doubler circuit. During operation, the circuit uses a transformer-based balun to convert a single-ended input signal into a differential signal, wherein the transformer-based balun includes a transformer with a primary coil, which receives the single-ended input signal, and a secondary coil, which produces the differential signal. The transformer also includes a central compensation capacitor coupled between a center tap of the secondary coil and ground, wherein the central compensation capacitor acts to suppress common-mode components in the differential signal. Next, the circuit uses a pseudo-differential amplifier to convert the differential signal into a single-ended output signal, which has double the frequency of the single-ended input signal.

Abstract: An interconnect is described that comprises an interconnect channel, and two channel couplers coupled to the two ends of the interconnect channel through respective stoppers that provide a gap between the channel couplers and the interconnect channel. Each channel coupler can comprise a coplanar waveguide, a microstrip line, and a patch-antenna based coupler. The interconnect can enable communication between integrated circuits using signal waves having a frequency between 100 GHz and 3 THz.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved multiplexed oligonucleotide detection method based on the nanopore technology with one or more probes containing a sequence with complementarity to the target oligonucleotide, a terminal extension at the probe's 3? terminus, 5? terminus, or both termini and a label attached to the terminus. The improved probes and probe sets enable sensitive, selective, and direct multiplex detection, differentiation and quantification of distinct target oligonucleotides such as miRNAs. The inventive detection method may also be employed as a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic method based on miRNA levels in the patient's tissue sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring a phase noise level in an input signal are disclosed. An input signal can be delayed to generate a delayed version of the input signal. Next, a phase difference can be detected between the input signal and the delayed version of the input signal. A phase noise level in the input signal can then be determined based on the detected phase difference. The measured phase noise level can then be used to suppress phase noise in the input signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved multiplexed oligonucleotide detection method based on the nanopore technology with one or more probes containing a sequence with complementarity to the target oligonucleotide, a terminal extension at the probe's 3? terminus, 5? terminus, or both termini and a label attached to the terminus. The improved probes and probe sets enable sensitive, selective, and direct multiplex detection, differentiation and quantification of distinct target oligonucleotides such as miRNAs. The inventive detection method may also be employed as a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic method based on miRNA levels in the patient's tissue sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for measuring a phase noise level in an input signal are disclosed. An input signal can be delayed to generate a delayed version of the input signal. Next, a phase difference can be detected between the input signal and the delayed version of the input signal. A phase noise level in the input signal can then be determined based on the detected phase difference. The measured phase noise level can then be used to suppress phase noise in the input signal.

Abstract: A switch comprising a plurality of inductors and a plurality of shunt transistors is described. Each inductor can be electrically coupled between adjacent shunt transistors to form a distributed switch structure. At least two inductors in the plurality of inductors can be inductively coupled with each other. The plurality of inductors can correspond to portions of a coupling inductor, wherein the coupling inductor can have an irregular octagonal shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved oligonucleotide detection method based on the nanopore technology with a probe containing a complementary sequence to the target oligonucleotide and a terminal extension at the probe's 3? terminus, 5? terminus, or both termini. The improved nanopore sensor with the probe enables sensitive, selective, and direct detection, differentiation and quantification of target oligonucleotides such as miRNAs. The inventive detection method may also be employed as a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic method for cancer detection based on miRNA levels in the patient's blood sample.

Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved oligonucleotide detection method based on the nanopore technology with a probe containing a complementary sequence to the target oligonucleotide and a terminal extension at the probe's 3? terminus, 5? terminus, or both termini. The improved nanopore sensor with the probe enables sensitive, selective, and direct detection, differentiation and quantification of target oligonucleotides such as miRNAs. The inventive detection method may also be employed as a non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic method for cancer detection based on miRNA levels in the patient's blood sample.