Abstract: A sensor arrangement for position sensing comprises a magnetic field source and a magnetoresistive element arranged in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source, which magnetoresistive element provides an output signal (R) dependent on a position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source. A feedback controller is configured to receive the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element and is configured to adjust one or more of the position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source and a strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source acting on the magnetoresistive element dependent on the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: A neuromorphic processing device has a device input, for receiving an input data signal, and an assemblage of neuron circuits. Each neuron circuit comprises a resistive memory cell which is arranged to store a neuron state, indicated by cell resistance, and to receive neuron input signals for programming cell resistance to vary the neuron state, and a neuron output circuit for supplying a neuron output signal in response to cell resistance traversing a threshold. The device includes an input signal generator, connected to the device input and the assemblage of neuron circuits, for generating neuron input signals for the assemblage in dependence on the input data signal. The device further includes a device output circuit, connected to neuron output circuits of the assemblage, for producing a device output signal dependent on neuron output signals of the assemblage, whereby the processing device exploits stochasticity of resistive memory cells of the assemblage.

Abstract: A resistive memory cell is connected in circuitry which has a first input terminal for applying neuron input signals including a read portion and a write portion. The circuitry includes a read circuit producing a read signal dependent on resistance of the memory cell, and an output terminal providing a neuron output signal, dependent on the read signal in a first state of the memory cell. The circuitry also includes a storage circuit storing a measurement signal dependent on the read signal, and a switch set operable to supply the read signal to the storage circuit during application of the read portion of each neuron input signal to the memory cell, and, after application of the read portion, to apply the measurement signal in the apparatus to enable resetting of the memory cell to a second state.

Abstract: A correlation detector comprises an input unit configured to receive a plurality of parallel data streams of discrete events. The correlation detector further comprises a memory array having a plurality of resistive memory elements. At least one resistive memory element is allocated to each of the parallel data streams. Furthermore, a programming array is provided comprising a plurality of programming elements. At least one programming element is allocated to each resistive memory element for applying a programming signal to the respective memory element. The correlation detector comprises further a control unit that is configured to control the programming signals as a function of a co-arrival characteristic of the discrete events. A correlation unit is configured to detect correlations between the received data streams based on resistance changes of the resistive memory elements.

Abstract: The invention is notably directed to a correlation detector comprising an input unit configured to receive a plurality of parallel data streams of discrete events. The correlation detector further comprises a memory array having a plurality of resistive memory elements. At least one resistive memory element is allocated to each of the parallel data streams. Furthermore, a programming array is provided comprising a plurality of programming elements. At least one programming element is allocated to each resistive memory element for applying a programming signal to the respective memory element. The correlation detector comprises further a control unit that is configured to control the programming signals as a function of a co-arrival characteristic of the discrete events. A correlation unit is configured to detect correlations between the received data streams based on resistance changes of the resistive memory elements. The invention further concerns a related method for detecting correlations.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for position sensing comprises a magnetic field source and a magnetoresistive element arranged in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source, which magnetoresistive element provides an output signal (R) dependent on a position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source. A feedback controller is configured to receive the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element and is configured to adjust one or more of the position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source and a strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source acting on the magnetoresistive element dependent on the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for position sensing comprises a magnetic field source and a magnetoresistive element arranged in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source, which magnetoresistive element provides an output signal (R) dependent on a position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source. A feedback controller is configured to receive the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element and is configured to adjust one or more of the position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source and a strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source acting on the magnetoresistive element dependent on the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: A neuromorphic synapse with a resistive memory cell connected in circuitry having first and second input terminals. The input terminals respectively receive pre-neuron and post-neuron action signals, each having a read portion and a write portion, in use. The circuitry includes an output terminal for providing a synaptic output signal which is dependent on resistance of the memory cell. The circuitry is configured such that the synaptic output signal is provided at the output terminal in response to application at the first input terminal of the read portion of the pre-neuron action signal, and such that a programming signal, for programming resistance of the memory cell, is applied to the cell in response to simultaneous application of the write portions of the pre-neuron and post-neuron action signals at the first and second input terminals respectively. The synapse can be adapted for operation with identical pre-neuron and post-neuron action signals.

Abstract: A control system for aligning a first element coupled to an actuator with a second element of a main system includes a position sensor that measures an absolute position of the first element relative to the main system as a sensor signal, a position error signal-based compensator that generates a second control signal as a function of a position error signal, wherein the position error signal indicates a relative position of the first element as a difference between the actual position of the first element and a target position of the first element relative to the second element, a sensor-based compensator that generates a first control signal as a function of the sensor signal and the second control signal, and an actuator that changes the position of the first element relative to the second element dependent on the first control signal to align the first element with the second element.

Abstract: A position sensor comprises a magneto-resistive element. The magneto-resistive element comprises a stack of layers including at least a conductive layer in between two magnetic layers. The layers have a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis and a lateral extension along a transverse axis. A magnet is provided comprising a magnetic dipole with a dipole axis orthogonal to a plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis. The electrical resistance of the conductive layer depends on a position of the magnet along the longitudinal axis. The position sensor provides for nano-scale sensing.

Abstract: A control system for aligning a first element coupled to an actuator with a second element of a main system includes a position sensor that measures an absolute position of the first element relative to the main system as a sensor signal, a position error signal-based compensator that generates a second control signal as a function of a position error signal, wherein the position error signal indicates a relative position of the first element as a difference between the actual position of the first element and a target position of the first element relative to the second element, a sensor-based compensator that generates a first control signal as a function of the sensor signal and the second control signal, and an actuator that changes the position of the first element relative to the second element dependent on the first control signal to align the first element with the second element.

Abstract: A method for converting a signal, including the steps of: providing a first representation of the signal in a first domain; converting the first representation of the signal into a second representation of the signal in a second domain, by applying a transform involving a Haar transform and a Hadamard transform, such that a basis of the second domain is maximally incoherent to a Haar basis. The signal is converted to a domain whose basis is maximally incoherent to a Haar basis. Yet, it is not required to convert the input vector representing the signal to a Haar basis first. This allows reducing the number of steps which increases conversion efficiency. Accordingly, obtaining the structure of the signal requires fewer samples.

Abstract: A method for determining a representation (y) of a signal (s) comprise selecting a predetermined number (m) of row vectors (v1, . . . , vm) from a predetermined measurement matrix (M). The predetermined measurement matrix (M) is predetermined dependent on a product of a predetermined Hadamard matrix or generalized Hadamard matrix (H) and a predetermined representation matrix(B). The predetermined representation matrix (B) represents a predetermined basis for the signal(s). The method further comprises determining a respective inner product of the signal (s) and each of the predetermined number (m) of selected row vectors (v1, . . . , vm) resulting in a predetermined number (m) of measurements (y1, . . . , ym) forming the representation (y) of the signal (s).

Abstract: A positioning device for scanning a surface includes a movable element; at least one spring-like element having a resilience element for providing a tunable resilience in at least one direction; wherein the spring-like element is configured to tune the resilience by applying a force onto the resilience element of the at least one spring-like element.

Abstract: A positioning device for scanning a surface includes a movable element; at least one spring-like element having a resilience element for providing a tunable resilience in at least one direction; wherein the spring-like element is configured to tune the resilience by applying a force onto the resilience element of the at least one spring-like element.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling a plant is provided. A reference signal is received at a signal transformation loop of a feedback controller. The signal transformation loop causes the reference signal to include a disturbance signal and a nominal signal. Also, the reference signal is received at a feed-forward controller, and the feed-forward controller recreates the disturbance signal that was caused by the signal transformation loop. The output of the feedback controller is input into a plant. The output of the feed-forward controller is input into the plant such that the disturbance signal is removed from the output of the feedback controller.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling a plant is provided. A reference signal is received at a signal transformation loop of a feedback controller. The signal transformation loop causes the reference signal to include a disturbance signal and a nominal signal. Also, the reference signal is received at a feed-forward controller, and the feed-forward controller recreates the disturbance signal that was caused by the signal transformation loop. The output of the feedback controller is input into a plant. The output of the feed-forward controller is input into the plant such that the disturbance signal is removed from the output of the feedback controller.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for gathering information from processors by using compressive sampling are presented. The invention can monitor multicore processor performance and schedule processor tasks to optimize processor performance. Using compressive sampling minimizes processor-memory bus usage by the performance monitoring function. An embodiment of the invention is a method of gathering information from a processor, the method comprising compressive sampling of information from at least one processor core. The compressive sampling produces compressed information. The processor comprises the at least one processor core, and the at least one processor core is operative to process data.

Abstract: A method for determining a representation (y) of a signal (s) comprise selecting a predetermined number (m) of row vectors (v1, . . . , vm) from a predetermined measurement matrix (M). The predetermined measurement matrix (M) is predetermined dependent on a product of a predetermined Hadamard matrix or generalized Hadamard matrix (H) and a predetermined representation matrix(B). The predetermined representation matrix (B) represents a predetermined basis for the signal(s). The method further comprises determining a respective inner product of the signal (s) and each of the predetermined number (m) of selected row vectors (v1, . . . , vm) resulting in a predetermined number (m) of measurements (y1, . . . , ym) forming the representation (y) of the signal (s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for converting a signal, including the steps of: providing a first representation of the signal in a first domain; converting the first representation of the signal into a second representation of the signal in a second domain, by applying a transform involving a Haar transform and a Hadamard transform, such that a basis of the second domain is maximally incoherent to a Haar basis. The signal is converted to a domain whose basis is maximally incoherent to a Haar basis. Yet, it is not required to convert the input vector representing the signal to a Haar basis first. This allows reducing the number of steps which increases conversion efficiency. Accordingly, obtaining the structure of the signal requires fewer samples.