Abstract: Galvanic isolators are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a galvanic isolator comprises a generally planar electrically insulating substrate comprising opposing first and second surfaces, the substrate comprising an electrically insulating, low dielectric loss material and having a transmitter coil disposed on the first surface and a receiving coil disposed on the second surface. A transmitter circuit is operably connected to the transmitter coil. The transmitter circuit comprises a first detector that detects a rising edge of an input signal; a first pulse generator that generates a plurality of first pulses upon detection of the rising edge; a second detector that detects a falling edge of the input signal; and a second pulse generator that generates a plurality of second pulses upon detection of the falling edge. A receiver circuit is operably connected to the second receiving coil.

Abstract: An imaging pixel array and associated method and system are disclosed in which the array contains first pixels each having a first photo-conversion device, and second pixels each having a first photo-conversion device and a second photo-conversion device. The first photo-conversion devices are configured to acquire an image during a first integration period. The second photo-conversion devices are configured to acquire a plurality of images during the first integration period. A circuit uses the plurality of image signals and determines from them relative motion between the array and an image during a portion of the first integration period and provides a signal representing the motion which is used for image stabilization.

Abstract: In an opto-isolator, a common mode pulse compensation circuit is provided that senses when a common mode pulse event occurs and that adds current to the LED drive current to compensate for a decrease in the LED drive current caused by the occurrence of the event. The common mode pulse compensation circuit is capable of operating effectively over a very wide range of common mode pulse slopes by automatically adjusting the amount of current that is added to the LED drive current based at least in part on the slope of the sensed common mode pulse. In addition, the common mode pulse compensation circuit is capable of being implemented with LEDs that operate at very low drive currents, which allows the power consumption requirements of the opto-isolator to be reduced.

Abstract: Various embodiments of means and methods for reducing the pick-up of electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) by coil transducers are described and shown that are configured to provide high voltage isolation and high voltage breakdown performance characteristics in small packages. In some embodiments, the lengths, heights, and horizontal distances between wires electrically connecting transmitter circuits and receiver circuits to coil transducers are minimized and optimized respecting one another.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a coil transducer isolator package comprising at least one lead frame, at least two integrated circuits (ICs) and a flex circuit comprising at least a first coil transducer. The first coil transducer comprises at least one metal coil. The coil transducer isolator package is fabricated such that no portion of the lead frame is physically located within a spatial volume extending substantially perpendicular to the at least one metal coil. The boundaries of the spatial volume are defined by a periphery of the at least one metal coil. At least one of the two ICs is at least partially located within the spatial volume extending substantially perpendicular to the at least one metal coil.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention provides a coil transducer isolator package comprising at least one lead frame, at least two integrated circuits (ICs) and a flex circuit comprising at least a first coil transducer. The first coil transducer comprises at least one metal coil. The coil transducer isolator package is fabricated such that no portion of the lead frame is physically located within a spatial volume extending substantially perpendicular to the at least one metal coil. The boundaries of the spatial volume are defined by a periphery of the at least one metal coil. At least one of the two ICs is at least partially located within the spatial volume extending substantially perpendicular to the at least one metal coil.

Abstract: In an opto-isolator, common mode pulses that occur are compensated for by either adding current to the electrical-to-optical converter (EOC) drive current to compensate for a decrease in the EOC drive current caused by the occurrence of a common mode pulse or by pulling some of the drive current away from the EOC to compensate for an increase in the EOC drive current caused by the occurrence of a common mode pulse.

Abstract: In an opto-isolator, a common mode pulse compensation circuit is provided that senses when a common mode pulse event occurs and that adds current to the LED drive current to compensate for a decrease in the LED drive current caused by the occurrence of the event. The common mode pulse compensation circuit is capable of operating effectively over a very wide range of common mode pulse slopes by automatically adjusting the amount of current that is added to the LED drive current based at least in part on the slope of the sensed common mode pulse. In addition, the common mode pulse compensation circuit is capable of being implemented with LEDs that operate at very low drive currents, which allows the power consumption requirements of the opto-isolator to be reduced.

Abstract: Galvanic isolators are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a galvanic isolator comprises a generally planar electrically insulating substrate comprising opposing first and second surfaces, the substrate comprising an electrically insulating, low dielectric loss material and having a transmitter coil disposed on the first surface and a receiving coil disposed on the second surface. A transmitter circuit is operably connected to the transmitter coil. The transmitter circuit comprises a first detector that detects a rising edge of an input signal; a first pulse generator that generates a plurality of first pulses upon detection of the rising edge; a second detector that detects a falling edge of the input signal; and a second pulse generator that generates a plurality of second pulses upon detection of the falling edge. A receiver circuit is operably connected to the second receiving coil.

Abstract: A method and circuit is provided for reducing power consumption in a power transformer, typically incorporated into an electrical or electronic device such as a consumer device. In an embodiment, a detection/isolation circuit is coupled to an input of a power transformer/rectifier via a switching device. The switching device can be, for example, a solid state relay. The detection/isolation circuit is configured to sense the occurrence of no-load conditions in the power transformer and responsively disengage the power transformer from a coupled source of power (e.g., wall outlet) via the coupled switching device.

Abstract: An imaging pixel array and associated method and system are disclosed in which the array contains first pixels each having a first photo-conversion device, and second pixels each having a first photo-conversion device and a second photo-conversion device. The first photo-conversion devices are configured to acquire an image during a first integration period. The second photo-conversion devices are configured to acquire a plurality of images during the first integration period. A circuit uses the plurality of image signals and determines from them relative motion between the array and an image during a portion of the first integration period and provides a signal representing the motion which is used for image stabilization.

Abstract: In an opto-isolator, common mode pulses that occur are compensated for by either adding current to the electrical-to-optical converter (EOC) drive current to compensate for a decrease in the EOC drive current caused by the occurrence of a common mode pulse or by pulling some of the drive current away from the EOC to compensate for an increase in the EOC drive current caused by the occurrence of a common mode pulse.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a circuit measures picoampere current levels. The circuit comprises: an operational-amplifier that has differential inputs and differential outputs; a switching structure that switchably couples an input line to one of the differential inputs in response signals from a timing circuit; a first integrating capacitor coupled to one of the differential inputs and to one of the differential outputs; a second integrating capacitor coupled to the other of the differential inputs; and a charge injection compensation structure that selectively injects charge into the input line and removes charge from the input line in response to signals from the timing circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a spread spectrum measurement device with which a desired condition can be measured. In use, the spread spectrum measurement device is used to direct a spread spectrum signal into medium (e.g., a patient's body), detect a parameter that corresponds to the signal directed into the medium, generate a measured parameter signal from the detected parameter, and analyze the measured parameter signal to determine the desired condition. In one arrangement, a spread spectrum current signal is transmitted into the medium and a voltage signal is detected. From this voltage signal, an impedance signal is generated with which electrode contact impedance, patient heart rate, and/or patient respiration rate can be measured.

Abstract: A method for transferring signals from a photoreceiver array to computational circuitry in which parallel transfer amplifiers receive periodic offset correction. In a first embodiment, each transfer amplifier has a differential circuit that can be switched from a reset mode to a readout mode. In the readout mode, the voltage state at the output is responsive to first and second inputs, with the second input being connected to a source of a reference voltage. In the reset mode, the inputs are both connected to the reference voltage and the output is temporarily connected to a source of a fixed reset voltage. An offset adjustment signal is generated in response to detection of a voltage difference between the reset voltage and the actual voltage state at the output after the output has been disconnected from the source of the reset voltage. A single offset circuit is used to periodically and sequentially refresh the various transfer amplifiers.

Abstract: Circuitry and circuitry layout are provided to achieve a high percentage of photoreceiver area to total area and to stabilize the voltage at the base node of a phototransistor. Voltage stabilization is achieved by a servo circuit in which a negative feedback loop from the base node to an emitter node maintains a bias point, so that photocurrent is efficiently delivered to charge transfer circuitry. In the preferred embodiment, the base node is connected to a gate of a first transistor having a drain that is connected to a source of constant current and to a gate of a second transistor that functions as a source follower. The source of the second transistor is connected to the emitter node of a phototransistor. As photocurrent is generated by the reception of light, an integration capacitor is charged.

Abstract: An analog, fully integrated, partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) read channel utilizing a high-performance analog delay line, an analog adaptive equalizer and an analog Viterbi detector is provided, resulting in saved space, performance gains, and lower power consumption. For signal detection and reconstruction used in read operations, the partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) read channel includes a variable gain amplifier coupled to a lowpass filter for input to an adaptive analog equalizer. The adaptive analog equalizer comprises an analog delay line and an analog feedforward equalizer (FFE). An analog Viterbi detector employs maximum-likelihood sequence estimation (MLSE) techniques to performs the signal detection function. A decoder/descrambler produces a final reconstructed signal. The analog implementation of a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) read channel also includes a scrambler/encoder coupled to a write precompensation circuit for output to a separate write head.

Abstract: A method and device for tracking relative movement between the device and a region of interest include correlating a reference frame of signals with a subsequently acquired sample frame of signals, with the correlating including generating a correlation output for each of a number of nearest-neighbor shifts of signals of one of the frames. Preferably, the frames are comprised of a two-dimensional array of pixels and the signals are pixel values. The pixels of a frame are operatively associated with photoelements in a two-dimensional array of photoelements, with the pixel values being indicative of light energy received at the photoelements. By correlating the reference frame and the sample frame using the nearest-neighbor approach, it is possible to determine the movement of an imaged feature during the time period between acquisition of the reference frame and acquisition of the sample frame.

Abstract: Circuitry and method for transferring signals from a photoreceiver array to computational circuitry includes parallel transfer amplifiers that receive periodic offset correction and includes DC removal amplifiers. In a first embodiment, each transfer amplifier has a differential circuit that can be switched from a reset mode to a readout mode. In the readout mode, the voltage state at the output is responsive to first and second inputs, with the second input being connected to a source of a reference voltage. In the reset mode, the inputs are both connected to the reference voltage and the output is temporarily connected to a source of a fixed reset voltage. An offset adjustment signal is generated in response to detection of a voltage difference between the reset voltage and the actual voltage state at the output after the output has been disconnected from the source of the reset voltage. A single offset circuit is used to periodically and sequentially refresh the various transfer amplifiers.

Abstract: A mixed analog and digital integrated circuit with features which are especially useful for application as a front end for physiological signal instrumentation such as electrocardiographs, electromyographs, and electroencephalographs. The integrated circuit has 5 signal channels, each with analog amplification and analog to digital conversion. The channels can be configured for various combinations of input signal amplification, input signal summation, analog output driving, and AC impedance measurement. The integrated circuit has 2 digital serial input lines and 2 digital serial output lines, all designed for direct connection to optical couplers. Channel configuration, gain, and other parameters are externally controllable by a serial digital input signal. Up to 6 compatible devices can be serially connected in a chain.