Abstract: A receiver for a light detection and ranging system includes detecting elements, each configured to convert light into an analog detection signal. The receiver includes a first converting element configured to provide a first digital detection signal in response to a first analog detection signal. The first converting element is configured to use a first number of bits to represent the first analog detection signal. The receiver includes a second converting element configured to provide a second digital detection signal. The second converting element is configured to use a second number of bits to represent the second analog detection signal. The second number of bits is greater than the first number of bits. The receiver comprises a processing module configured to determine a first parameter of an object using the first digital detection signal and a second parameter of the object using the second digital detection signal.

Abstract: A method for determining malfunction is provided. The method includes receiving a 1D or 2D luminance image of a scene from a time-of-flight based 3D-camera. The luminance image includes one or more pixels representing intensities of background light received by an image sensor of the 3D-camera. The method further includes receiving a 2D optical image of the scene from an optical 2D-camera and comparing the luminance image to the optical image. If the luminance image does not match the optical image, the method additionally includes determining malfunction of one of the 3D-camera and the 2D-camera.

Abstract: A time-of-flight light detection system includes: a plurality of circuits arranged sequentially along a signal path that comprises a plurality of signal channels, the plurality of circuits including a first circuit and a second circuit arranged downstream from the first circuit; a reference signal source configured to generate a plurality of reference signals, where each of the plurality of signal channels at the first circuit receives at least one of the plurality of reference signals; and an evaluation circuit coupled to the plurality of signal channels to receive a processed reference signal from the signal path, the evaluation circuit further configured to compare the processed reference signal to a first expected result to generate a first comparison result.

Abstract: Embodiments of communications devices and methods for operating a communications device are described. In an embodiment, a communications device includes a complex multiplier configured to multiply a first input complex signal with a second input complex signal to generate an output complex signal, an amplifier configured to amplify an imaginary part of the output complex signal to generate an amplification result, a delay element configured to delay a rotation angle signal that is related to the second input complex signal, and a subtractor configured to subtract the amplification result from the delayed rotation angle signal to generate the rotation angle signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for operating a communications device that communicates via inductive coupling are described. In an embodiment, a method for operating a communications device that communicates via inductive coupling involves detecting a falling signal edge corresponding to a received signal at the communications device based on a falling signal edge threshold, detecting a rising signal edge corresponding to the received signal based on a rising signal edge threshold, where the rising signal edge threshold is independent from the falling signal edge threshold, and decoding the received signal based on the detected falling signal edge and the detected rising signal edge. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for gain control in a communications device are described. In an embodiment, a method for gain control in a communications device involves detecting a change in an amplification gain that is applied to an analog signal in the communications device and compensating for the change in the amplification gain by manipulating an amplitude of a digital signal that is converted from the analog signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A contactless communication device includes a near field communication (NFC) module for generating an electromagnetic carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal according to data to be transmitted, and an antenna coupled to and driven by said NFC module with the modulated carrier signal. The device includes an RF front end coupled between said NFC module and said antenna and further includes a detection module coupled to said NFC module for detecting an end of a PauseA of an incoming RF signal by monitoring an amplitude of a digital output signal derived from the incoming RF signal. The detection module detects the PauseA in said digital output signal by comparing the amplitude of said output digital signal to a first level. The detection module further detects the end of the PauseA in said digital output signal by comparing the amplitude of said digital output signal to a second level.

Abstract: A method for determining malfunction is provided. The method includes receiving a 1D or 2D luminance image of a scene from a time-of-flight based 3D-camera. The luminance image includes one or more pixels representing intensities of background light received by an image sensor of the 3D-camera. The method further includes receiving a 2D optical image of the scene from an optical 2D-camera and comparing the luminance image to the optical image. If the luminance image does not match the optical image, the method additionally includes determining malfunction of one of the 3D-camera and the 2D-camera.

Abstract: A contactless communication device includes a near field communication (NFC) module for generating an electromagnetic carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal according to data to be transmitted, and an antenna circuit coupled to and driven by said NFC module with the modulated carrier signal. The device includes an RF front end coupled between said NFC module and said antenna circuit and further includes a protocol detection circuit for detecting a protocol mode in response to an incoming signal received by the device. The protocol detection circuit includes a plurality of filters being adapted to generate an envelope of the incoming signal; a plurality of decoders being adapted to generate an output in response to a respective envelope generated by a corresponding one of the plurality of filters; and a decision unit being adapted to detect a protocol mode based on the output from each of the plurality of decoders.

Abstract: A receiver for a light detection and ranging system includes detecting elements, each configured to convert light into an analog detection signal. The receiver includes a first converting element configured to provide a first digital detection signal in response to a first analog detection signal. The first converting element is configured to use a first number of bits to represent the first analog detection signal. The receiver includes a second converting element configured to provide a second digital detection signal. The second converting element is configured to use a second number of bits to represent the second analog detection signal. The second number of bits is greater than the first number of bits. The receiver comprises a processing module configured to determine a first parameter of an object using the first digital detection signal and a second parameter of the object using the second digital detection signal.

Abstract: A contactless communication device includes a near field communication (NFC) module for generating an electromagnetic carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal according to data to be transmitted, and an antenna coupled to and driven by said NFC module with the modulated carrier signal. The device includes an RF front end coupled between said NFC module and said antenna and further includes a detection module coupled to said NFC module for detecting an end of a PauseA of an incoming RF signal by monitoring an amplitude of a digital output signal derived from the incoming RF signal. The detection module detects the PauseA in said digital output signal by comparing the amplitude of said output digital signal to a first level. The detection module further detects the end of the PauseA in said digital output signal by comparing the amplitude of said digital output signal to a second level.

Abstract: A time-of-flight light detection system includes: a plurality of circuits arranged sequentially along a signal path that comprises a plurality of signal channels, the plurality of circuits including a first circuit and a second circuit arranged downstream from the first circuit; a reference signal source configured to generate a plurality of reference signals, where each of the plurality of signal channels at the first circuit receives at least one of the plurality of reference signals; and an evaluation circuit coupled to the plurality of signal channels to receive a processed reference signal from the signal path, the evaluation circuit further configured to compare the processed reference signal to a first expected result to generate a first comparison result.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for a method of operating a receiver system, the receiver system comprising one or more channels, the method comprising: monitoring a residual DC (direct current) offset in a present channel by sampling an output of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the present channel; adjusting a DCO (direct current offset) correction signal that corresponds to the residual DC offset in response to an absolute value of the residual DC offset exceeding a programmable DCO threshold; and subtracting the DCO correction signal from an analog signal provided to the ADC to reduce the residual DC offset below the programmable DCO threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of communications devices and methods for operating a communications device are described. In an embodiment, a communications device includes a complex multiplier configured to multiply a first input complex signal with a second input complex signal to generate an output complex signal, an amplifier configured to amplify an imaginary part of the output complex signal to generate an amplification result, a delay element configured to delay a rotation angle signal that is related to the second input complex signal, and a subtractor configured to subtract the amplification result from the delayed rotation angle signal to generate the rotation angle signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for gain control in a communications device are described. In an embodiment, a method for gain control in a communications device involves detecting a change in an amplification gain that is applied to an analog signal in the communications device and compensating for the change in the amplification gain by manipulating an amplitude of a digital signal that is converted from the analog signal. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems for operating a communications device that communicates via inductive coupling are described. In an embodiment, a method for operating a communications device that communicates via inductive coupling involves detecting a falling signal edge corresponding to a received signal at the communications device based on a falling signal edge threshold, detecting a rising signal edge corresponding to the received signal based on a rising signal edge threshold, where the rising signal edge threshold is independent from the falling signal edge threshold, and decoding the received signal based on the detected falling signal edge and the detected rising signal edge. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A contactless communication device includes a near field communication (NFC) module for generating an electromagnetic carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal according to data to be transmitted, and an antenna circuit coupled to and driven by said NFC module with the modulated carrier signal. The device includes an RF front end coupled between said NFC module and said antenna circuit and further includes a protocol detection circuit for detecting a protocol mode in response to an incoming signal received by the device. The protocol detection circuit includes a plurality of filters being adapted to generate an envelope of the incoming signal; a plurality of decoders being adapted to generate an output in response to a respective envelope generated by a corresponding one of the plurality of filters; and a decision unit being adapted to detect a protocol mode based on the output from each of the plurality of decoders.

Abstract: Methods and system for On/Off Key (OOK) communication are described. In one embodiment, a method for OOK communication involves detecting an average symbol energy of an OOK modulated sequence and performing bit synchronization for the OOK modulated sequence in response to the detected average symbol energy. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A device includes a near field communication (NFC) module for generating an electromagnetic carrier signal and modulating the carrier signal according to data to be transmitted, and an antenna coupled to and driven by the NFC module with the modulated carrier signal. The device includes an analog front end coupled between the NFC module and the antenna. The device further includes a digital gain control (DGC) block for controlling gains in a first and second baseband amplifiers (BBAs). The DGC block includes a first clipping detector for correlating in-phase input signals with a subcarrier pattern and a second clipping detector for correlating quadrature input signals with the subcarrier pattern, and further includes a signal energy correction block adapted to output a number of correction ticks for a numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) based on a number of gain updates performed for the first or the second BBAs.

Abstract: Methods and system for On/Off Key (OOK) communication are described. In one embodiment, a method for OOK communication involves detecting an average symbol energy of an OOK modulated sequence and performing bit synchronization for the OOK modulated sequence in response to the detected average symbol energy. Other embodiments are also described.