Abstract: An electricity consumption meter with piggy backed e-commerce is disclosed wherein a wide area network (WAN) and an application on a smartphone or the like can be used to retrieve a measured electricity consumption from an electricity consumption meter while accessing an e-commerce system. The application displays the retrieved electricity consumption together with at least one product, and further wherein the at least one product may be purchased from the e-commerce system using the application.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a compact broadband radio frequency (RF) receiver circuit includes a low noise amplifier which includes a first amplifier stage, a second amplifier stage, an inter-stage network including a higher order filter network, where the inter-stage network is coupled between the first amplifier stage and the second amplifier stage, and a double resonance transformer network coupled to an output of the second amplifier stage. The RF receiver circuit includes a low pass filter and a mixer circuit coupled between the low noise amplifier and the low pass filter.

Abstract: A water meter/e-commerce is disclosed wherein a wide area network (WAN) and an application on a smartphone or the like can be used to retrieve a measured water consumption from a water meter while accessing an e-commerce system. The application displays the retrieved water consumption together with at least one product, and further wherein the at least one product may be purchased from the e-commerce system using the application.

Abstract: A method and system for irrigating a field adjacent a watercourse is disclosed comprising a plurality of pumps along the watercourse and measuring from time to time at a plurality of measuring locations the salinity, the pH, the temperature and the turbidity of the water. The measuring locations are different from the pumping locations. A real time salinity, pH, temperature and turbidity at the pumping locations is predicted from the measured values and the pumps selectively disabled or enabled on the predicted salinity, pH, temperature and/or the turbidity. Additionally, there is disclosed an Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) method/system for irrigating a field using a pump comprising an outlet supplying water to the field and an inlet connected to a water source. The method/system comprises a sensor placed at a location in the field for sensing a water depth below a surface of the field and transmitting the water depth to a controller located remotely from the sensing location using a wireless connection.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes device, systems, techniques, and methods for amplifying a complex modulated signal with a mixed-signal power amplifier. A mixed-signal power amplifier may include an input network for splitting an input signal to multiple signals with corresponding phase and amplitude offsets, a main power amplification path including at least an analog power amplifier for amplifying a first signal, one or more auxiliary power amplification paths including at least one digitally controlled analog power amplifier in each path for amplifying a second signal, and an output network for combining the two amplified signals. The main power amplification path and the auxiliary power amplification paths can operate together to achieve load modulation to enhance the overall power amplifier efficiency at power back-off mode and the overall power amplifier linearity. The disclosed technology further includes transmission systems incorporating the mixed-signal power amplifier.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes device, systems, techniques, and methods for amplifying a complex modulated signal with a mixed-signal power amplifier. A mixed-signal power amplifier may include an input network for splitting an input signal to multiple signals with corresponding phase and amplitude offsets, a main power amplification path including at least an analog power amplifier for amplifying a first signal, one or more auxiliary power amplification paths including at least one digitally controlled analog power amplifier in each path for amplifying a second signal, and an output network for combining the two amplified signals. The main power amplification path and the auxiliary power amplification paths can operate together to achieve load modulation to enhance the overall power amplifier efficiency at power back-off mode and the overall power amplifier linearity. The disclosed technology further includes transmission systems incorporating the mixed-signal power amplifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for classifying a test object are provided. For each respective target object in a plurality of target objects, a first procedure is performed comprising (a) posing the test object against the respective target thereby obtaining an interaction between the test and target, and (b) scoring the interaction with a first classifier. Each such score across the plurality of targets forms a test vector that is inputted into a second classifier thereby obtaining an indication of a target object. The second classifier is trained on training vectors, each being the output from instances of the first classifier after inputting a corresponding training object in a plurality of training objects in accordance with the first procedure. Each object in one subset of the training objects is uniquely associated with one of the targets. Another subset of the training objects is not associated with the targets.

Abstract: A cloud based authentication method for determining the authenticity of a plurality of a typically counterfeited product each held in a sealed product packaging and for sale to a consumer. A unique identifier is created for each package, attached to the package and stored in the cloud. The identifier is subsequently acquired at different stages, compared with the identifier stored in the cloud and a change in status of the product associated with the identifier made.

Abstract: The disclosed technology includes device, systems, techniques, and methods for amplifying a complex modulated signal with a mixed-signal power amplifier. A mixed-signal power amplifier may include an input network for splitting an input signal to multiple signals with corresponding phase and amplitude offsets, a main power amplification path including at least an analog power amplifier for amplifying a first signal, one or more auxiliary power amplification paths including at least one digitally controlled analog power amplifier in each path for amplifying a second signal, and an output network for combining the two amplified signals. The main power amplification path and the auxiliary power amplification paths can operate together to achieve load modulation to enhance the overall power amplifier efficiency at power back-off mode and the overall power amplifier linearity. The disclosed technology further includes transmission systems incorporating the mixed-signal power amplifier.

Abstract: A circuit including a die and an integrated passive device. The die includes a first substrate and at least one active device. The integrated passive device includes a first layer, a second substrate, a second layer and an inductance. The inductance includes vias, where the vias are implemented in the second substrate. The inductance is implemented on the first layer, the second substrate, and the second layer. A resistivity per unit area of the second substrate is greater than a resistivity per unit area of the first substrate. The third layer is disposed between the die and the integrated passive device. The third layer includes pillars, where the pillars respectively connect ends of the inductance to the at least one active device. The die, the integrated passive device and the third layer are disposed relative to each other to form a stack.

Abstract: A directional coupler for a wireless communication device includes a first input port, a first output port, a second input port, a second output port, and a coupled port. The first input port and the first output port are respectively configured to receive and provide a first signal to be transmitted from the wireless communication device. The second input port and the second output port are respectively configured to receive and provide a second signal to be transmitted from the wireless communication device. A coupled port is configured to selectively provide a coupled signal corresponding to each of, in respective modes, the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit for a wireless communication device includes: a first node that receives a first impedance; a second node that is connected to an antenna having a second impedance; a first variable capacitor that is connected between the first node and a third node; a second variable capacitor that is connected between the third node and a reference potential; a first inductive element that is connected in parallel with the second variable capacitor between the third node and the reference potential; and a third variable capacitor and a second inductive element that are connected in series between the third node and the second node.

Abstract: A terahertz detection device comprises at least one terahertz antenna, a detection microbridge suspended above a substrate comprising a resistive load coupled to the antenna and a resistive bolometric element coupled to the resistive load, a bias circuit for biasing the bolometric element. The device further comprises a skimming microbridge suspended above the substrate, comprising a resistive bolometric element, and substantially identical to the detection microbridge, a reflective metal layer opposite to the skimming microbridge to obtain a destructive interference at the level of the skimming microbridge for a terahertz wavelength, a bias circuit to electrically bias the bolometric element of the skimming microbridge and a read circuit for measuring a difference between the electric signals of the microbridges.

Abstract: A circuit including: a die a first substrate and at least one active device; an integrated passive device including a first layer, a second substrate, a second layer and an inductance; and a third layer. The inductance includes vias and is an electrostatic discharge inductance. The vias are implemented in the second substrate. The inductance is implemented on the first layer, the second substrate, and the second layer. A resistivity per unit area of the second substrate is greater than a resistivity per unit area of the first substrate. The third layer is disposed between the die and the integrated passive device. The third layer includes pillars. The pillars respectively connect ends of the inductance to the at least one active device. The die, the integrated passive device and the third layer are disposed relative to each other to form a stack.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit for a wireless communication device includes: a first node that receives a first impedance; a second node that is connected to an antenna having a second impedance; a first variable capacitor that is connected between the first node and a third node; a second variable capacitor that is connected between the third node and a reference potential; a first inductive element that is connected in parallel with the second variable capacitor between the third node and the reference potential; and a third variable capacitor and a second inductive element that are connected in series between the third node and the second node.

Abstract: A circuit including a die and an integrated passive device. The die includes a first substrate and at least one active device. The integrated passive device includes a first layer, a second substrate, a second layer and an inductance. The inductance includes vias, where the vias are implemented in the second substrate. The inductance is implemented on the first layer, the second substrate, and the second layer. A resistivity per unit area of the second substrate is greater than a resistivity per unit area of the first substrate. The third layer is disposed between the die and the integrated passive device. The third layer includes pillars, where the pillars respectively connect ends of the inductance to the at least one active device. The die, the integrated passive device and the third layer are disposed relative to each other to form a stack.

Abstract: A system for distributing content to at least one client device is disclosed. A content host has a processor and a content store, a client device has a processor and a content cache and a permissions store has a computer storage device configured to store permissions data corresponding to a recipient of content. The content host processor is configured to receive a content identifier corresponding to a recipient request for permission to cache an item of content. The content host processor will then parse the permissions data to determine if the recipient has available permissions to cache the requested content. If the user has available permissions, the content host processor modifies the permissions data to include permission to cache the content. The recipient may additionally request for permission to cache a given item of content to be removed in order to increase an amount of permissions available to the recipient.