Abstract: An optical device for characterizing flicker from an ambient light source is disclosed. The device comprises a radiation-sensitive device configured to vary a current in response to incident radiation, a second or higher-order modulator configured to output data corresponding to the current, and processing circuitry configured to provide a real-time characterization of flicker in the incident radiation based upon an analysis of changes in the data. Also disclosed is an associated method of characterizing flicker from an ambient light source.

Abstract: An I2C apparatus (100) comprising: a master device (102) and two slave devices connected through an I2C bus, whereby the two slave devices are programmed with the same default device address. A first slave device (108) is connected to the bus in a conventional configuration whereas a second slave device (110) is connected to the bus in a cross connected configuration such that a clock pin of the second slave is connected to the serial data line and the data pin of the second slave is connected to the serial clock line. In response to a detection that the data pin of the second slave is connected to the serial clock line, the second slave swaps the lines going from the clock and data pins to processing logic of the second slave; and modifies its default device address to ensure that each slave device has a unique device address.

Abstract: A method of proximity sensing which comprises emitting light from an emitter and detecting reflected light, applying an offset to the detected reflected light to provide an output signal indicative of proximity, determining an average signal of the output signal; determining whether drift has occurred by comparing the output signal to a first threshold and comparing the average signal to a different threshold, and adjusting the offset if drift is identified.

Abstract: An optical encoder system is disclosed comprising a movable target arranged to provide a varying reflectance dependent on a position of the target within the system. An emitter is positioned on a first side of the target to illuminate the target and a sensor is positioned on the first side of the target to sense a reflectance from the target, wherein the sensed reflectance is dependent on the position of the target within the system. Also disclosed are a target and a sensor module for use in such a system, a device comprising such a system and a method of determining the position of a moving target using such a system.

Abstract: An optical light sensing device includes a detector operable to detect a light wave. The optical light sensing device also includes an integration circuit that includes an operational amplifier that is operable to reduce or cancel dark currents generated at the detector.

Abstract: An I2C apparatus (100) comprising: a master device (102) and two slave devices connected through an I2C bus, whereby the two slave devices are programmed with the same default device address. A first slave device (108) is connected to the bus in a conventional configuration whereas a second slave device (110) is connected to the bus in a cross connected configuration such that a clock pin of the second slave is connected to the serial data line and the data pin of the second slave is connected to the serial clock line. In response to a detection that the data pin of the second slave is connected to the serial clock line, the second slave swaps the lines going from the clock and data pins to processing logic of the second slave; and modifies its default device address to ensure that each slave device has a unique device address.

Abstract: An optical light sensing device includes a detector operable to detect a light wave. The optical light sensing device also includes an integration circuit that includes an operational amplifier that is operable to reduce or cancel dark currents generated at the detector.

Abstract: An optical encoder system is disclosed comprising a movable target arranged to provide a varying reflectance dependent on a position of the target within the system. An emitter is positioned on a first side of the target to illuminate the target and a sensor is positioned on the first side of the target to sense a reflectance from the target, wherein the sensed reflectance is dependent on the position of the target within the system. Also disclosed are a target and a sensor module for use in such a system, a device comprising such a system and a method of determining the position of a moving target using such a system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell balancing module, particularly for voltage balancing of a stack of batteries. The cell balancing module comprises an interface (SPI, VrefH, VrefL) to input a coded reference voltage (Vref) and input nodes (In1, . . . , InN) for connecting a stack of energy storage cells (BAT1, . . . , BATn). A switching unit (SW) is connected to each of the input nodes (In1, . . . , InN) and a local balancing unit (loc) coupled to the switching unit (SW) and the interface (SPI, VrefH, VrefL). The local balancing unit (loc) is designed to compare the coded reference voltage (Vref) with cell voltages (VBAT1, . . . , VBATn) of the stack of energy storage cells (BAT1, . . . , BATn) to be connected and to charge balance the stack of energy storage cells (BAT1, . . . , BATn) to be connected depending on the comparison of coded reference voltage (Vref) and cell voltages (VBAT1, . . . , VBATn).

Abstract: The invention relates to a cell balancing module, particularly for voltage balancing of a stack of batteries. The cell balancing module comprises an interface (SPI, VrefH, VrefL) to input a coded reference voltage (Vref) and input nodes (In1, . . . , InN) for connecting a stack of energy storage cells (BAT1, . . . , BATn). A switching unit (SW) is connected to each of the input nodes (In1, . . . , InN) and a local balancing unit (loc) coupled to the switching unit (SW) and the interface (SPI, VrefH, VrefL). The local balancing unit (loc) is designed to compare the coded reference voltage (Vref) with cell voltages (VBAT1, . . . , VBATn) of the stack of energy storage cells (BAT1, . . . , BATn) to be connected and to charge balance the stack of energy storage cells (BAT1, . . . , BATn) to be connected depending on the comparison of coded reference voltage (Vref) and cell voltages (VBAT1, . . . , VBATn).