Abstract: An active thermal management device and method, in which a phase change material unit, comprising at least one phase change material arranged in series or parallel, is connectable to a source of thermal energy, such as LEDs at a first operating condition. Thermal energy from the source of thermal energy is stored in the phase change material unit. The phase change material unit is connectable to a sink of thermal energy, such as second LEDs at a second operating condition. The thermal energy stored in the phase change material unit may be re-used. The first operating condition can include a 15V supply voltage, and the second operating condition can include either no supply voltage, or a lower 9V supply voltage of 9V, such that heat from the first LEDs, which may be over-temperature, can pre-heat the second LEDs, improving thermal and optical matching.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising: a substrate having: a first terminal region; a second terminal region; a first extension region that extends from the first terminal region towards the second terminal region; a second extension region that extends from the second terminal region towards the first terminal region; a channel region between the first and second extension regions; a gate conductor that overlies the channel region of the substrate, the gate conductor configured to control conduction in the channel region; a first control conductor that overlies at least a portion of the first extension region, the first control conductor configured to control conduction in the first extension region; and a second control conductor that overlies at least a portion of the second extension region, the second control conductor configured to control conduction in the second extension region, wherein the first and second control conductors are electrically isolated within the semiconductor device from the gate conduct

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, methods, and systems that include at least two regions of a first semiconductor material and at least two regions of second semiconductor material that are alternatively interleaved. Additionally, the apparatuses, methods, and systems include a first electrode and a second electrode that can operate both as a source and drain. The apparatuses, methods, and systems also include a first gate electrode having multiple portions on the first semiconductor material and a second gate electrode having multiple portions on the second semiconductor material that bidirectionally control current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A device is disclosed. The device includes a plurality of microphones to receive ultra-sound signals, wherein the ultra-sound signals include an encoded data. The device also includes a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of microphones. The microcontroller is configured to detect the ultra-sound signals through the plurality of microphones. The detection of the ultra-sound signals includes calculating an angle of arrival of the ultra-sound signals at a microphone in the plurality of microphones. The microcontroller is configured to perform a transaction based on the encoded data received via a microphone in the plurality of microphones.

Abstract: A light sensor device comprises a substrate (10) having a well (12) defined in one surface. At least one light sensor (14) is formed at the base of the well (12), and an optical light guide (18) in the form of a transparent tunnel (18) within an opaque body (20) extends from a top surface of the device down a sloped side wall of the well (12) to the location of the light sensor (14).

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising: a substrate having: a first terminal region; a second terminal region; a first extension region that extends from the first terminal region towards the second terminal region; a second extension region that extends from the second terminal region towards the first terminal region; a channel region between the first and second extension regions; a gate conductor that overlies the channel region of the substrate, the gate conductor configured to control conduction in the channel region; a first control conductor that overlies at least a portion of the first extension region, the first control conductor configured to control conduction in the first extension region; and a second control conductor that overlies at least a portion of the second extension region, the second control conductor configured to control conduction in the second extension region, wherein the first and second control conductors are electrically isolated within the semiconductor device from the gate conduct

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, methods, and systems that include at least two regions of a first semiconductor material and at least two regions of second semiconductor material that are alternatively interleaved. Additionally, the apparatuses, methods, and systems include a first electrode and a second electrode that can operate both as a source and drain. The apparatuses, methods, and systems also include a first gate electrode having multiple portions on the first semiconductor material and a second gate electrode having multiple portions on the second semiconductor material that bidirectionally control current flow between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting an LED failure in a series-connected string of LEDs using a parameter indicative of a voltage difference between a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively high current and a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively low current. The disclosure extends to controllers configured to detect an LED failure in a string of LEDs, to LED lighting units comprising such controllers, and to lighting subsystems, for instance automobile lighting subsystems.

Abstract: A display device comprises a substrate which carries an array of pixels. Each pixel comprises an array of apertures in the substrate, each aperture of the array having a maximum opening dimension less than the wavelength of the light to be transmitted through the aperture. The effective dielectric constant of the aperture and/or the dielectric constant of the substrate is varied, thereby to vary the light transmission characteristics of the pixel between transmission of at least one frequency in the visible spectrum and transmission of substantially no frequency in the visible spectrum.

Abstract: A method of determining the dominant output wavelength of an LED, includes determining an electrical characteristic of the LED which is dependent on the voltage-capacitance characteristics, and analyzing the characteristic to determine the dominant output wavelength.

Abstract: A method of providing a dielectric material (18) having regions (18?, 18?) with a varying thickness in an IC manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises forming a plurality of patterns in respective regions (20?, 20?) of the dielectric material (18), each pattern increasing the susceptibility of the dielectric material (18) to a dielectric material removal step by a predefined amount and exposing the dielectric material (18) to the dielectric material removal step.

Abstract: A lighting system for exterior lights of an automobile comprises a first lighting unit (10,12,14,16) primarily for outputting a first automotive light signal and a failure detection system (26) for detecting a failure of the first lighting unit (10,12,14,16). A second lighting unit is primarily for outputting a second automotive light signal. The second lighting unit comprises an LED light unit. A controller (30) is adapted to determine if there is failure of the first lighting unit, and if there is failure of the first lighting unit, to use the second lighting unit to generate the first automotive light signal. This is in response to an output request from the first lighting unit (10,12,14,16).

Abstract: A method is disclosed of controlling a LED, comprising driving the LED with a DC current for a first time, interrupting the DC current for a second time such that the first time and the second time sum to a period, determining at least one characteristic of the LED while the DC current is interrupted, and controlling the DC current during a subsequent period in dependence on the at least one characteristic. The invention thus benefits from the simplicity of DC operation. By operating at the LED in a DC mode, rather than say in a PWM mode, the requirement to be able to adjust the duty cycle is avoided. By including interruptions to the DC current, it is possible to utilize the LED itself to act as a sensor in order to determine a characteristic of the LED. The need for additional sensors is thereby avoided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting an LED failure in a series-connected string of LEDs using a parameter indicative of a voltage difference between a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively high current and a voltage across the string at a predetermined relatively low current. The disclosure extends to controllers configured to detect an LED failure in a string of LEDs, to LED lighting units comprising such controllers, and to lighting subsystems, for instance automobile lighting subsystems.

Abstract: A method of estimating the junction temperature of a light emitting diode comprises driving a forward bias current through the diode, the current comprising a square wave which toggles between high and low current values (Ihigh, llow), the high current value (lhigh) comprising an LED operation current, and the low current value (ILOW) comprising a non-zero measurement current. The forward bias voltage drop (Vf) is sampled and the forward bias voltage drop (Vflow) is determined at the measurement current (ILOW)—The temperature is derived from the determined forward bias voltage drop.

Abstract: A method of estimating the output light flux of a light emitting diode, comprises applying a drive current waveform to the LED over a period of time comprising a testing period. The forward voltage across the LED is monitored during the testing period, and the output light flux is estimated as a function of changes in the forward voltage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a FinFET with separate gates and to a method for fabricating the same. A dielectric gate-separation layer between first and second gate electrodes has an extension in a direction pointing from a first to a second gate layer that is smaller than a lateral extension of the fin between its opposite lateral faces. This structure corresponds with a processing method that starts from a covered basic FinFET structure with a continuous first gate layer, and proceeds to remove parts of the first gate layer and of a first gate-isolation layer through a contact opening to the gate layer. Subsequently, a replacement gate-isolation layer that at the same time forms the gate separation layer fabricated, followed by filling the tunnel with a replacement gate layer and a metal filling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a luminescent component (30) and a manufacturing method thereof. The luminescent component (30) comprises a first transparent carrier (18), a second transparent carrier (24), a substrate (10) sandwiched between said transparent carriers (18; 24), the substrate (10) comprising a conduit from the first transparent layer (18) to the second transparent carrier (24), the conduit being filled with a luminescent solution (20). This facilitates the use of colloidal solutions of quantum dots in such a luminescent component (30). Preferably, the substrate (10) is direct bonded to the transparent carriers (18, 24) using direct wafer bonding techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of an integrated circuit (IC) comprising a substrate (10) comprising a pixelated element (12) and a light path (38) to the pixelated element (12). The IC comprises a first dielectric layer (14) covering the substrate (10) but not the pixilated element (12), a first metal layer (16) covering a part of the first dielectric layer (14), a second dielectric layer (18) covering a further part of first dielectric layer (14), a second metal layer (20) covering a part of the second dielectric layer (18) and extending over the pixelated element (12) and a part of the first metal layer (16), the first metal layer (16) and the second metal layer (20) forming an air-filled light path (38) to the pixelated element (12).

Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one measuring cell (10) is disclosed. The measuring cell comprises a first cavity (16 and a second cavity (18) perpendicular to the first cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity comprising an overlap at first respective ends and a reflective surface (20) at the opposite respective ends. A beam splitter (15) is located in the overlap and an electromagnetic radiation source (12) is arranged to project a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto the beam splitter (15) such that the beam is projected into each of the cavities. A phase detector (22) for detecting a phase difference between the respective electromagnetic radiation reflected by the first and second cavity (16; 18) is also provided. In addition, the apparatus has a fluid channel (26), at least a part of which runs parallel to the first cavity (16) such that the electromagnetic radiation projected into the first cavity extends into said part of the fluid channel.