Abstract: A photovoltaic cell assembly positions lenses within a cell chamber lined with photovoltaic cells in an effort to foster multiple strikes of photons from a same beam of light onto different cells, thereby multiplying incidences of the photovoltaic effect and increasing the efficiency of power generation by the assembly.

Abstract: An energy-efficient implementation of a WiFi transceiver is proposed in this disclosure. The WiFi transceiver comprises a receive chain comprising a variable receive (Rx) filter circuit and a variable Rx analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The receive chain is configured to receive a receive signal during a receive mode of operation, having a receive bandwidth associated therewith and receive a transmit signal associated with a transmit chain of the transceiver during a transmit mode of operation, having a transmit bandwidth associated therewith. The WiFi transceiver further comprises a control circuit configured to dynamically adapt a bandwidth of the variable Rx filter and the variable Rx ADC in the receive chain to the receive bandwidth or to the transmit bandwidth, based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: Production process of a submarine optical amplifier (99) for optical telecommunication systems, and relative submarine optical amplifier (99), comprising: covering at least a central body (3) for making a central portion (6) of a layer of electrically insulating material (60) which covers a vessel (50); inserting an apparatus for optical amplification (5) at least partially in an housing cavity (4) of the vessel (50); assembling the vessel (50) by fixing at least a first end body (1) to the central body (3) for closing said housing cavity (4); completing the electrically insulating material (60) by at least partially covering the first end body (1) with the electrically insulating material for making a first portion (6?) of the layer of electrically insulating material (60), wherein a first thermally insulating element (7) is interposed between the central body (3) and the first portion (6?) of the layer of electrically insulating material (60).

Abstract: An optical communication system is disclosed. The optical communication system may include a first fiber pump laser system having a first single mode (SM) fiber output configured to output a first pump laser radiation, a second fiber pump laser system having a second SM fiber output configured to output a second pump laser radiation, at least one combiner-splitter element configured to combine the first pump laser radiation and the second pump laser radiation and to transmit N portions of pump laser radiation, and N doped fiber amplifiers, where N is at least four, each doped fiber amplifier configured to receive one portion of the N portions of pump laser radiation and an input optical signal to be amplified, amplify the input optical signal into an amplified optical signal, and to transmit the amplified optical signal.

Abstract: An energy-efficient implementation of a WiFi transceiver is proposed in this disclosure. The WiFi transceiver comprises a receive chain comprising a variable receive (Rx) filter circuit and a variable Rx analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The receive chain is configured to receive a receive signal during a receive mode of operation, having a receive bandwidth associated therewith and receive a transmit signal associated with a transmit chain of the transceiver during a transmit mode of operation, having a transmit bandwidth associated therewith. The WiFi transceiver further comprises a control circuit configured to dynamically adapt a bandwidth of the variable Rx filter and the variable Rx ADC in the receive chain to the receive bandwidth or to the transmit bandwidth, based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: An energy-efficient implementation of a WiFi transceiver is proposed in this disclosure. The WiFi transceiver comprises a receive chain comprising a variable receive (Rx) filter circuit and a variable Rx analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The receive chain is configured to receive a receive signal during a receive mode of operation, having a receive bandwidth associated therewith and receive a transmit signal associated with a transmit chain of the transceiver during a transmit mode of operation, having a transmit bandwidth associated therewith. The WiFi transceiver further comprises a control circuit configured to dynamically adapt a bandwidth of the variable Rx filter and the variable Rx ADC in the receive chain to the receive bandwidth or to the transmit bandwidth, based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide a submarine optical repeater in which a plurality of thermally conductive, electrically insulative, ceramic members form a hollow structure having an interior volume that is maintained at a relatively high first voltage when compared to a relatively low second voltage maintained external to the hollow structure. A conductive element at the first voltage disposed in the interior volume provides power to optical repeaters disposed on the interior surface of the hollow structure. Power flows radially outward from the conductive element to the optical repeaters to the surrounding environment about the submarine optical repeater. The thermally conductive ceramic members electrically isolate the optical repeaters from the second voltage while providing a thermally conductive pathway for the heat generated during the operation of the optical repeaters to dissipate into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein provide a submarine optical repeater in which a plurality of thermally conductive, electrically insulative, ceramic members form a hollow structure having an interior volume that is maintained at a relatively high first voltage when compared to a relatively low second voltage maintained external to the hollow structure. A conductive element at the first voltage disposed in the interior volume provides power to optical repeaters disposed on the interior surface of the hollow structure. Power flows radially outward from the conductive element to the optical repeaters to the surrounding environment about the submarine optical repeater. The thermally conductive ceramic members electrically isolate the optical repeaters from the second voltage while providing a thermally conductive pathway for the heat generated during the operation of the optical repeaters to dissipate into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An energy-efficient implementation of a WiFi transceiver is proposed in this disclosure. The WiFi transceiver comprises a receive chain comprising a variable receive (Rx) filter circuit and a variable Rx analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit. The receive chain is configured to receive a receive signal during a receive mode of operation, having a receive bandwidth associated therewith and receive a transmit signal associated with a transmit chain of the transceiver during a transmit mode of operation, having a transmit bandwidth associated therewith. The WiFi transceiver further comprises a control circuit configured to dynamically adapt a bandwidth of the variable Rx filter and the variable Rx ADC in the receive chain to the receive bandwidth or to the transmit bandwidth, based on the mode of operation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and circuitries for converting an analog voltage to a digital signal are provided. In one example a method to convert an analog voltage into a binary sequence that represents the voltage includes two modes. In the first mode, in each cycle, values for a next two or more of consecutive most significant bits (MSBs) in the sequence are determined using M comparators, wherein M is equal to or greater than 3. In a second mode, in each cycle, M redundant comparison results are determined using the M comparators. A value for the LSB is determined based on the M redundant values. At an end of conversion, the sequence of N bit values is generated based on the MSBs and the LSB.

Abstract: Analogue filter for filtering out a high-frequency switching noise in a pulse-width-modulated transmit signal, which is fed into a line by a line driver by means of a transformer, wherein at least one capacitor is connected in parallel to a secondary winding of the transformer and, together with a stray inductivity of the transformer, forms the analogue filter.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter includes a switching control circuit adapted to provide a control signal having a duty cycle. A switching regulator is adapted to receive both a supply voltage having the first voltage level and the control signal. The switching regulator is further adapted to provide an output signal at the second voltage level as a function of both the supply voltage and the control signal. In addition, a current sensing circuit is adapted to provide at least one alarm signal based the duty cycle of the time-varying signal. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A driver circuit for driving a transmit signal for a line includes a signal amplifier configured to deliver a transmit signal, present at a signal input of the signal amplifier, amplified with a gain to a signal output, a line interface circuit connected between the signal output of the signal amplifier and the line, and a hybrid circuit connected to the line interface circuit, the hybrid circuit configured to suppress the transmit signal and couple a received signal received via the line to a signal input of the signal amplifier to provide impedance synthesis.

Abstract: System for controlling the motion of an actuator of a hydraulic system that may be embodied as a circuit or device that, interposed between a pump and the actuator, controls the motion of the actuator, causing the actuator to follow the movement of the pump. The present invention relates both to a system and a device providing such result just on the basis of the measures of the fluid circulating within the hydraulic circuit or device. The system according to the present invention is suited both with opposing loads and dragging loads.

Abstract: Driver circuit for driving a transmit signal for a line comprising a signal amplifier which delivers a transmit signal, present at a signal input of the signal amplifier, amplified with a gain to a signal output, a line interface circuit which is connected between the signal output of the signal amplifier and the line, and comprising a hybrid circuit which is connected to the line interface circuit, wherein the hybrid circuit suppresses the transmit signal and couples a received signal received via the line to a signal input of the signal amplifier for the purpose of impedance synthesis.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter includes a switching control circuit adapted to provide a control signal having a duty cycle. A switching regulator is adapted to receive both a supply voltage having the first voltage level and the control signal. The switching regulator is further adapted to provide an output signal at the second voltage level as a function of both the supply voltage and the control signal. In addition, a current sensing circuit is adapted to provide at least one alarm signal based the duty cycle of the time-varying signal. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an external-cavity laser module comprising a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) including an upper carrier plate having an upper surface, said TEC being configured to stabilize the temperature of the upper surface at a substantially constant temperature. The laser module further comprises a laser assembly mounted on an optical bench, which is in thermal coupling with said upper surface, said laser assembly comprising a gain medium for emitting an optical beam into the external cavity and an end mirror.

Abstract: System for controlling the motion of an actuator of a hydraulic system that may be embodied as a circuit or device that, interposed between a pump and the actuator, controls the motion of the actuator, causing the actuator to follow the movement of the pump. The present invention relates both to a system and a device providing such result just on the basis of the measures of the fluid circulating within the hydraulic circuit or device. The system according to the present invention is suited both with opposing loads and dragging loads.

Abstract: A method and a device for amplifying a reception signal are provided, involving the adjustment of a gain by which the reception signal is amplified, in particular as a function of a signal level of the reception signal. For example, lowpass filtering with a variable cutoff frequency is used to filter out a gain-dependent frequency range of the reception signal, which may especially contain an undesirable echo signal. Such a method and such a device are suitable in particular for the reception of ADSL signals in a central office.

Abstract: A self-oscillating pulse-width modulator comprises an input, an output and a control loop. The control loop comprises a forward branch and a feedback loop. The forward branch is connected between the input and the output and comprises a comparator and a delay element. The feedback loop loops back to the input a feedback signal which depends on an output signal present at the output. The phase shift of the open control loop is 180° at the frequency of an oscillation to be generated by the modulator. At least a part of the phase shift is realized in the forward branch by means of the at least one delay element.