Stichting IMEC Nederland Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160118991 | Oscillator Device - An oscillator device comprises an oscillation circuit configured to generate and provide an oscillating signal. A first biasing circuit is configured to derive a bias current signal in accordance with a control signal and apply the bias current signal to the oscillation circuit to control the amplitude level of the oscillating signal. A reference generating circuit is configured to generate a reference voltage signal and comprises a second biasing circuit configured to derive a reference bias current signal in accordance with the control signal. A comparison circuit is configured to determine an error signal by comparing a voltage signal at an output of the first biasing circuit with the reference voltage signal observed at an output of the second biasing circuit. A controller is configured to determine the control signal related to the error signal and provide the control signal to the first biasing circuit and the second biasing circuit. | 04-28-2016 |
20160087532 | Energy Harvesting Circuit and Method - An energy harvesting circuit is based on a switch mode inductive DC-DC converter circuit. The inductor current is sensed and a duration of an on-time is controlled in dependence on the sensed inductor current. A duration of an overall switching period of the converter circuit is controlled in dependence on an on-time set by a first timing control circuit and input and output voltages. This converter circuit enables independent control of the on-time and a full period of a converter cycle. Very rapid switching can be avoided which can give rise to very high energy consumption. The full cycle period can be set to achieve a desired constant value of an input resistance of the DC-DC converter, and thereby maximize power transfer. | 03-24-2016 |
20150309753 | Memory Control System for a Non-Volatile Memory and Control Method - A memory control system for controlling read and write operations of a non-volatile memory, wherein the memory control system comprises a memory controller that is adapted to implement a write operation for writing at least one block of data to the memory as a sequence of memory write and validation cycles for part of all of the data. In one example, the number of cycles is a function of the amount of successfully written data per cycle and is thus variable in dependence on the success of the data writing. The system also includes a power management unit, which is adapted to authorize or prevent the memory controller from conducting the write operation at the level of the write cycles thereby to control the timing of power consumption resulting from the cycles of the write operation. | 10-29-2015 |
20150222464 | System for direct conversion receivers - The present disclosure relates to a front-end system for a radio device. In one example, a front-end system comprises a converter, the converter comprising a mixer configured for down-converting a radio frequency signal into a baseband signal by using a local oscillator signal generated by a signal generator, and characterized in that, the converter further comprises a quantizer arranged for quantizing the baseband signal into a digital signal. Further, the signal generator may be configured for generating, based on the digital signal, the local oscillator signal such that it is synchronized with the radio frequency signal. | 08-06-2015 |
20150222419 | Circuit for Symbol Timing Synchronization - The present disclosure relates to a timing synchronization circuit for a digital receiver structure that includes a timing error detection module comprising a phase difference calculation unit arranged for calculating a phase difference between incoming samples of a digital data stream, and a timing error estimator arranged for determining a timing error estimate based on the calculated phase difference, and for generating, based on the determined timing error estimate, a signal indicative of timing error detection. The circuit also includes a timing error control module arranged for receiving the signal indicative of timing error detection, for evaluating the number of received signals indicative of timing error detection and for outputting, after comparison with a threshold value, a sampling adjustment command for adjusting the sampling instants applied for obtaining the digital data stream. | 08-06-2015 |
20150162878 | Harmonics Cancellation Circuit for a Power Amplifier - The present disclosure relates to a circuit that includes an input port for applying a sinusoidal input signal, and a first buffering means for converting the sinusoidal input signal into a square wave signal. A DC level of the square wave signal may be defined by an adjustable threshold voltage level. The circuit also includes an output port for outputting the square wave signal to a power amplifier. Further, the circuit includes a feedback loop having a low pass filtering means arranged for filtering the square wave signal and comparing means arranged for comparing a DC level of a filtered signal received from the low pass filtering means with a pre-set reference level. The reference level may be selected for cancelling a given harmonic component. The comparing means is further arranged for outputting to the first buffering means a correction signal for adjusting the threshold voltage level of the first buffering means. | 06-11-2015 |
20150137898 | Oscillator Buffer and Method for Calibrating the Same - A buffering circuit for buffering an oscillator signal. The buffering circuit includes a plurality of PMOS and NMOS transistor pairs connected in parallel, each pair having connected gate terminals and connected drain terminals forming an inverter circuit, each pair arranged for receiving via a direct coupling an oscillator signal at its gate terminal, and each pair further being connected with an additional PMOS and NMOS transistor. The buffering circuit also includes a control circuit arranged for receiving an output signal provided by the inverter circuits, for deriving information on the DC level of the output signal, and for adjusting a voltage transfer curve expressing a relationship between a voltage at the input and output of the buffering circuit, by switching on or off the additional PMOS and NMOS transistors based on the derived information | 05-21-2015 |
20150073720 | Device and Method for Automatically Normalizing the Physiological Signals of a Living Being - An example device includes: a data input module configured to receive information about a living being's physiological signals, coordinates, and motion intensity; an activity recognition module configured to calculate, from information received about the living being's motion intensity, a living being's activity; a location recognition module, configured to calculate, from information received about the living being's coordinates, a living being's location; a memory storage configured to store information about the living being's physiological signals and activity in association with the location; a normalization parameters estimator module configured to use a mathematical model to calculate a plurality of normalization parameters for a plurality of detected activities and locations; and a model selector module configured to determine, based on the plurality of normalization parameters and the living being's location, a set of location-specific normalization parameters used to further calculate normalized physiological signals for the living being. | 03-12-2015 |
20150021202 | Device and Method for Electrochemical Gas Sensing - The disclosure relates to a device for electrochemical gas sensing, comprising a plurality of different electrodes and a freestanding electrolyte film covering said electrodes, wherein at least two of those electrodes present a different distance from its top surface to the electrolyte film surface. The disclosure also relates to an electronic system and a method for electrochemical gas sensing. | 01-22-2015 |
20140323895 | 2DEG-BASED SENSOR AND DEVICE FOR ECG SENSING - The disclosed technology generally relates to sensors comprising a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), and more particularly to an AlGaN/GaN 2DEG-based sensor for sensing signals associated with electrocardiograms, and methods of using the same. In one aspect, a sensor comprises a substrate and a GaN/AlGaN hetero-junction structure formed on the substrate and configured to form a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) channel within the GaN/AlGaN hetero-junction structure. The sensor additionally comprises Ohmic contacts connected to electrical metallizations and to the 2DEG channel, wherein the GaN/AlGaN hetero-junction structure has a recess formed between the Ohmic contacts. The sensor further comprises a dielectric layer formed on a top surface of the sensor. | 10-30-2014 |
20140180033 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS LEVEL AND ENERGY EXPENDITURE OF A LIVING BEING - A device for monitoring the physical activity of a living being is disclosed. In one aspect, there is a data input module configured to receive information about the living being's heart beat rate value, motion intensity and anthropometric characteristics. Further, there is an activity recognition and storage module configured to detect, from information received about the living being's motion intensity, the living being's activity and to store information about the living being's heart beat rate value and the motion intensity associated with that detected activity. Further, there is a heart beat rate analysis module configured to determine, from a plurality of heart beat rate values associated with each detected activity, statistics of the distribution of heart beat rate values for each activity or a subset of activities. Further, there is a fitness estimation module configured to calculate, using the information from the heart beat rate analysis module and the anthropometric characteristics, a cardiorespiratory fitness level of the living being. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176199 | Active Diode Circuit - Various active diode circuits are described. In one example, there is provided an active diode circuit having an active diode and a control circuit. The active diode includes an anode terminal, a cathode terminal and a control terminal. The control circuit is configured to generate a control current of the active diode on the control terminal proportional to the diode current of the active diode. The control circuit is also configured to control the diode voltage of the active diode below a predetermined threshold. | 06-26-2014 |
20140176082 | Antenna Arrangement for Wireless Powering - An antenna arrangement for transmitting energy is described. The antenna arrangement includes a planar array of two or more rectangular loop antennas, adapted to transmit energy at low frequencies via non-radiative resonant coupling and at high frequencies via radiative coupling. The low frequencies correspond to a wavelength with half of the wavelength being larger than the longest rectangular loop antenna dimension and the high frequencies correspond to a wavelength with half of the wavelength being approximately equal the longest rectangular loop antenna dimension. The antenna arrangement also includes a feeding network connected to the planar array, which includes a phase shifting means for providing a phase difference between signals at the high frequencies to be transmitted by different rectangular loop antennas of the planar array, whereby the amount of phase difference is related to the distance of the rectangular loop antennas to a focal point in the near-field of the planar array. The antenna arrangement also includes means adapted for distributing the signals applied to the feeding network. | 06-26-2014 |
20140175516 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON GAS SENSOR AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING THE SENSOR - The disclosed technology generally relates to a sensor and methods for making and using the same, and more particularly relates to a sensor configured to sense the presence of at least one fluidum. In one aspect, a sensor for sensing a fluidum in a space adjoining the sensor comprises a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer stack. The sensor additionally comprises a gate lying adjacent to at least part of the 2DEG layer stack and configured to electrostatically control the electron density of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in the 2DEG layer stack. The sensor further comprises a source electrode contacting the 2DEG layer stack for electrically contacting the 2DEG. The 2DEG layer stack of the sensor comprises a contact surface contacting the space and provided to contact molecules of the fluidum which is desired to be detected, and the gate of the sensor comprises a doped semiconductor bottom layer of the 2DEG layer stack in electrical contact with at least one gate electrode, where the doped semiconductor bottom layer being located at a side of the 2DEG layer stack opposing the contact surface. | 06-26-2014 |
20140111061 | VIBRATION POWER GENERATOR - A vibration power generator comprises: a fixed substrate; a vibrating body having a surface opposed to the fixed substrate, the vibrating body being vibratable to the fixed substrate; electret electrodes aligned in a vibration direction on one of the surface of the fixed substrate and the surface of the vibrating body; and first fixed electrodes and second fixed electrodes alternately aligned in the vibration direction on the other thereof, wherein when the vibrating body is at a resting position, each of the electret electrodes overlaps with both electrodes of a corresponding fixed electrode pair, the corresponding fixed electrode pair being one of the first fixed electrodes and one of the second fixed electrodes that are opposed to the electret electrode, and when the vibrating body is not at a resting position, each of the electret electrodes always overlaps with at least one electrode of the corresponding fixed electrode pair. | 04-24-2014 |
20140071737 | LOCAL WRITE AND READ ASSIST CIRCUITRY FOR MEMORY DEVICE - A memory device having complementary global and local bit-lines, the complementary local bit-lines being connectable to the complementary global bit-lines by means of a local write receiver which is configured for creating a full voltage swing on the complementary local bit lines from a reduced voltage swing on the complementary global bit lines. The local write receiver comprises a connection mechanism for connecting the local to the global bit-lines and a pair of cross-coupled inverters directly connected to the complementary local bit lines for converting the reduced voltage swing to the full voltage swing on the complementary local bit lines. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070972 | Circuit For Digitizing A Sum Of Signals - A circuit for digitizing a sum of a first input signal and a plurality of second input signals has a passive adder that sums the second input signals and outputs a summation signal and a multi-bit quantizer circuit. The quanitzer circuit compares the summation signal at a first comparator input with a signal at a second comparator input, which is derived from the first input signal and has an appropriate polarity so that the difference between the summation signal and the signal at the second comparator input is indicative of the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The comparator also produces a comparator output signal based on the sum of the first input signal and the plurality of second input signals. The quantizer circuit also has a control logic block for determining a multi-bit representation of the sum from the comparator output signal. | 03-13-2014 |
20140062443 | DC-DC CONVERTER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A DC-DC converter and a method of controlling an inductor-based switching-mode DC-DC converter in a discontinuous conduction mode are disclosed. In one aspect the method includes providing a DC-DC converter having a first and second switching elements, and, in each conversion cycle, first, turning on a first switching element, while maintaining a second switching element in off state, thereby increasing the current through an inductor. The method also includes detecting when a voltage signal at one connection node of the inductor reaches a first threshold value for the first time after the start of the conversion cycle, and turning on the second switching element, while maintaining the first switching element in off state, thereby decreasing the inductor current. | 03-06-2014 |
20130300463 | Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Timing of Critical Paths - An apparatus for monitoring timing of a plurality of critical paths of a functional circuit includes a plurality of canary circuits, each configured to be coupled to a critical path of a functional circuit for detecting and outputting critical timing events. Each canary circuit includes an adjustable delay element and an analyser circuit for receiving a count of the critical timing event output from at least one of the plurality of canary circuits for a predetermined time interval for a plurality of delay values of the adjustable delay elements and for determining a probability distribution of critical timing events of the at least one of the plurality of critical paths for the predetermined time interval for the plurality of delay values. | 11-14-2013 |
20130143501 | COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH IMPROVED INTERFERENCE REJECTION AND A METHOD THEROF - A communication device is disclosed. The device may be in particular a radio transmitter and a receiver that can operate with low power consumption and with improved interference rejection, therefore particularly suitable for use in low-power communication systems, such as wireless sensor networks and wireless body area networks. In one aspect, multiple frequency tones (carriers) are used to carry information from the transmitter, such that a RF signal having multiple radio frequency components is produced and transmitted. In the receiver, an envelope detector is still the RF down-converter. After down-converting intermodulation components are extracted containing amplitude, phase and frequency information of the multiple radio frequency components. This allows the desired signal (the baseband information) to be distinguished from the carriers and unwanted interference. | 06-06-2013 |
20130114645 | Method and Apparatus for Start of Frame Delimiter Detection - The present disclosure is related to detecting a start frame delimiter. A received data packet is correlated with a known sequence, which provides a first correlation result. The received data packet is correlated with a predefined sequence, which yields at least a second correlation result. The data packet comprises at least a preamble portion and a header portion, whereby the preamble portion comprises the start frame delimiter. The predefined sequence is determined according to the preamble pattern. The method further comprises of comparing the first correlation result with the second correlation result and comparing the first correlation result with a given threshold. The process of correlating will be continued until two criteria are met: the first correlation result is larger than the threshold and larger than the at least second correlation result. Only then it is decided that the start of frame delimiter pattern has been detected. | 05-09-2013 |
20130111977 | Chemical Sensor - The application describes methods and apparatus for chemical sensing, e.g. gas sensing, which have high sensitivity but low power operation. A sensor is described having a flexible membrane comprising a III/N heterojunction structure configured so as to form a two dimensional electron gas within said structure. A sensing material is disposed on at least part of the flexible membrane, the sensing material being sensitive to one or more target chemicals so as to undergo a change in physical properties in the presence of said one or more target chemicals. The sensing material is coupled to said heterojunction structure such that said change in physical properties of the sensing material imparts a change in stress within the heterojunction structure which modulates the resistivity of the two dimensional electron gas. | 05-09-2013 |
20130024737 | TEST ACCESS ARCHITECTURE FOR TSV-BASED 3D STACKED ICS - A test access architecture is disclosed for 3D-SICs that allows for both pre-bond die testing and post-bond stack testing. The test access architecture is based on a modular test approach, in which the various dies, their embedded IP cores, the inter-die TSV-based interconnects, and the external I/Os can be tested as separate units to allow optimization of the 3D-SIC test flow. The architecture builds on and reuses existing design for test (DfT) hardware at the core, die, and product level. Test access is provided to an individual die stack via a test structure called a wrapper unit. | 01-24-2013 |
20120272721 | DEVICE COMPRISING A GAS SENSOR SENSITIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF A SPECIFIC GAS, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A GAS SENSOR SENSITIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF A SPECIFIC GAS FOR USE IN THE DEVICE AND USE OF THE DEVICE - A device including a gas sensor sensitive to the presence of a specific gas is disclosed. In one aspect, the gas sensor includes a first segment made of a dielectric material and a second segment made of a semiconducting material. The first segment has a first surface exposed to an environment of the gas sensor and is located between the environment and the second segment. The first segment has a first thickness and the second segment has a second thickness. The first thickness is selected such that upon diffusion of a gas molecule of the specific gas into the first segment, a dipole of the molecule of the specific gas detectably influences a bending of an energy-band structure of the semiconducting material of the second segment. The second thickness is in the order of, or smaller than, the Debye length of the semiconducting material. | 11-01-2012 |
20120255349 | MICRO-POWER SYSTEMS - A micro-power system and a tire pressure monitoring system that includes an energy harvesting module and a computing device are disclosed. In one aspect, the energy harvesting module comprises an energy harvesting unit having a combined vibration energy/RF energy harvester. A single sensing element is used for both vibration energy harvest and for RF communication including RF energy harvesting. Energy harvested is transmitted to power management module which powers components of the energy harvesting module. Data relating to sensor output from the single sensing element is transmitted to a microcontroller and transmitted to a microprocessor unit on the computing device. | 10-11-2012 |
20120247978 | ELECTROCHEMICAL ETHYLENE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ETHYLENE - An electrochemical ethylene sensor and method for ethylene sensing are disclosed. In one aspect, an electrochemical ethylene sensor includes a working electrode and a counter electrode on an electrically insulating substrate. An ionic liquid layer covers the working electrode and counter electrode. In one method, a voltage is applied to the working electrode which is equal to or lower than the voltage required for the onset of oxidation of the material of the working electrode, for example, in the range spanning 700 mV before the onset of oxidation of the material of the working electrode. | 10-04-2012 |
20120220471 | NANOANTENNA AND USES THEREOF FOR BIOSENSING - A metal nanoantenna for use in a biosensing device is disclosed. The metal nanoantenna is arranged to exhibit at least two particle plasmon resonances or surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). The nanoantenna is for use in a sensor and allows detection at low concentration of biological components. In one aspect, the nanoantenna can have an asymmetric structural configuration and spectrally separated resonances. In one aspect, there is a location in its structure providing local electromagnetic field enhancement at all of the SPRs. The metal nanoantenna can be used for background free measuring of a quantity of a biological component. | 08-30-2012 |
20120206156 | SENSOR AND METHOD FOR SENSING AT LEAST ONE ANALYTE USING SUCH SENSOR - A sensor is disclosed. In one aspect, the sensor includes at least one resistive switching sensing element which has a resistive switching layer that can be switched from a high resistance state to a low resistance state by creating a first electric field over the resistive switching layer and that can be switched from the low resistance state to the high resistance state by creating a second electric field over the resistive switching layer. | 08-16-2012 |
20120181185 | CONFIGURATION, A SENSING ELEMENT WITH SUCH CONFIGURATION, ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSOR COMPRISING SUCH SENSING ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSING USING SUCH ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSOR - A configuration is disclosed. In one aspect, the configuration includes a substantially planar electrode layer, in a first plane. The configuration further includes a substantially planar two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer electrically connected in series with the electrode layer. The 2DEG layer is provided in a second plane substantially parallel with the first plane and located at a predetermined distance, in a direction orthogonal to the first plane, from the first plane. The 2DEG layer and the electrode layer are patterned such that the electrode layer overlays a part of the 2DEG layer, wherein the predetermined distance between the first plane and the second plane is selected to be sufficiently small for allowing electrostatic interaction between the electrode layer and the 2DEG layer. | 07-19-2012 |
20120172676 | INTEGRATED MONITORING DEVICE ARRANGED FOR RECORDING AND PROCESSING BODY SOUNDS FROM MULTIPLE SENSORS - Integrated body sound monitoring system arranged for recording and processing body sounds such as respiratory sounds is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a number of microphones arranged for recording a body sound signal that represents a mixture of different body sounds, a processing block that is arranged for processing the body sound signal and comprises electronic components for locally storing, processing and analyzing the body sound signal prior to transmittal to an external device, and a radio arranged for transmitting data related to the body sound signal to the external device. | 07-05-2012 |
20120171836 | Method for Forming MEMS Variable Capacitors - A method for fabricating an out-of-plane variable overlap MEMS capacitor comprises: providing a substrate ( | 07-05-2012 |
20120151997 | METHOD OF MAKING AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE STRUCTURE, METHOD OF MAKING A GAS SENSOR, GAS SENSOR OBTAINED WITH THE METHOD AND USE OF THE GAS SENSOR FOR SENSING A GAS - A method of making an electrically conductive structure in a surface portion of a dielectric material is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes creating vacancies at at least part of an exposed surface of the dielectric material by removing atoms from a plurality of molecules of the dielectric material. | 06-21-2012 |
20120095361 | MULTI-CHANNEL BIOPOTENTIAL SIGNAL ACQUISITION SYSTEMS - A multi-channel biopotential signal acquisition system is disclosed. In the system, a plurality of biopotential channels is corrected for common-mode interference. In one aspect, each biopotential channel includes an electrode for providing a biopotential input signal and an associated amplifier for amplifying the biopotential input signal and providing a biopotential output signal. The output signal is processed in a processor. Each biopotential output signal is passed to a common-mode feedback system, which determines an average common-mode signal and feeds that signal back to each of the amplifiers in each of the biopotential channels to enhance common-mode rejection ratio of the system. | 04-19-2012 |
20120077019 | HUMIDITY BARRIER - A humidity barrier comprises a mixed matrix membrane, wherein the mixed matrix membrane comprises a polymer matrix with at least a hydrophobic surface, in which polymer matrix porous hydrophilic filler particles are dispersed. The hydrophobic surface may be formed either by hydrophobic polymer material itself or a hydrophobic coating may be provided on top of non-hydrophobic polymer material. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075634 | Sensor, Method for Detecting The Presence and/or Concentration of an Analyte Using the Sensor, and Use of the Method - Methods and sensors for detecting the presence and/or concentration of an analyte are disclosed. In one aspect, a sensing element for use in a sensor is disclosed. The sensing element comprises a resonant cavity device configured to emit optical radiation at an initial power level, a sensing layer exhibiting an initial refractive index, and a detector. The sensing layer is configured to absorb or adsorb an analyte and, in response to absorbing or adsorbing the analyte, exhibit a modified refractive index that differs from the initial refractive index. The resonant cavity device is further configured to, in response to the sensing layer absorbing or adsorbing the analyte, emit optical radiation at a modified power level based on the modified refractive index. The detector is configured to detect the modified power level. | 03-29-2012 |
20120071730 | Adaptive Processing of Ambulatory Electrocardiogram Signals - Disclosed are methods and systems for adaptive processing of ambulatory electrocardiogram signals. In one embodiment, the method comprises acquiring a plurality of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and transforming the ECG signals to a component space, thereby producing a set of components representing the ECG signals in the component space. The method further includes evaluating the set of components, adaptively selecting from the set of components a subset of components, and processing the subset of components to identify at least one property of the ECG signals. In some embodiments, the method further includes acquiring non-ECG signals, and adaptively selecting the subset of components comprises adaptively selecting the subset of components based on at least the non-ECG signals. | 03-22-2012 |
20120063252 | VARIABILITY RESILIENT SENSE AMPLIFIER WITH REDUCED ENERGY CONSUMPTION - An ultra low power sense amplifier circuit for amplifying a low swing input signal to a full swing output signal is disclosed. In one aspect, the amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier stage for pre-amplifying the input signal to an intermediate signal on its internal nodes, a second amplifier stage for amplifying the intermediate signal to the output signal, and a control circuit for sequentially activating the first and second amplifier. The first amplifier has a capacitor for limiting energy consumption and two upsized PMOS transistors without NMOS transistors. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063211 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING WRITABILITY OF SRAM MEMORY - A method for improving writability of an SRAM cell is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes applying a first voltage higher than the global ground voltage and a third voltage higher than the global supply voltage to the ground supply nodes of the invertors of the SRAM cell, pre-charging one of the complementary bitlines to the global ground voltage, and applying a second voltage higher than the global supply voltage to the access transistors during a write operation to the SRAM cell. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062244 | READOUT SYSTEM FOR MEMS-BASED CAPACITIVE ACCELEROMETERS AND STRAIN SENSORS, AND METHOD FOR READING - A method and an electronic readout circuit for measuring a capacitance of a MEMS sensor are disclosed. In one aspect, the readout circuit includes: an input stage for receiving a first signal from the sensor and for presenting a second signal; a charge amplifier stage for amplifying and integrating the second signal; and a control logic for controlling the readout circuit according to a predefined timing relation synchronized to actuation voltages applied to the sensor for generating the first signal. The readout circuit may further includes a first switching unit for applying a first reference voltage to the sensor and a second switching unit for applying the second signal to the charge amplifier stage, wherein the first and the second switching units are controlled according to the predefined timing relation such that a plurality of the second signals are accumulated. | 03-15-2012 |
20120030486 | POWER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS AUTONOMOUS TRANSDUCER SOLUTIONS - An autonomous transducer system is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes an energy scavenging module, energy storage module, a load circuit having at least one functional block providing a given functionality, and a power management module arranged for providing power supplied by the energy scavenging module to the load circuit or for exchanging power with the energy storage module. The power management module may further include a tuning module configured to tune the at least one functional block of the load circuit according to a given configuration scheme. | 02-02-2012 |
20120007469 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VIBRATION HARVESTING VIA GASFLOW - A method and device for gasflow, e.g. airflow, energy harvesting is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a cavity resonator such as a Helmholtz resonator which has a membrane for converting gasflow in vibration. The device may further include a vibrational energy harvester for converting the converted vibration into electrical energy. The device for gasflow energy harvesting is adapted such that the movement of the vibrational energy harvester is decoupled from the movement of the membrane. This allows to obtain a good output power of e.g. more than about 10 μW. | 01-12-2012 |
20110316386 | MICRORESONATOR, RESONATOR SENSOR WITH SUCH MICRORESONATOR, AND SENSOR ARRAY COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO SUCH MICRORESONATORS - A microresonator for use as a resonator in a detector is disclosed. In one aspect, the microresonator has a first predetermined resonance mode. The microresonator has an integrated electronic transducer for measuring deformation of the microresonator in the first predetermined resonance mode of the microresonator. The transducer is located at a local deformation of the predetermined resonance mode to measure the deformation of the microresonator at such location. The first predetermined resonance mode may be one of higher order resonance modes. | 12-29-2011 |
20110305099 | HIERARCHICAL BUFFERED SEGMENTED BIT-LINES BASED SRAM - A semiconductor memory device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes memory blocks with memory cells connected to a local bit-line, each local bit-line being connectable to a global bit-line for memory readout. There are also pre-charging circuitry for pre-charging the bit-lines and a read buffer for discharging the global bit-line during a read operation. The local bit-lines are pre-charged to a predetermined first voltage substantially lower than the supply voltage (VDD) of the memory device. A segment buffer is provided between each local bit-line and an input node of the respective read buffer. The segment buffer activates the read buffer during the read operation upon occurrence of a discharge on the connected local bit-line. | 12-15-2011 |
20110285568 | ASYNCHRONOUS DIGITAL SLOPE ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention is related to an analog to digital converter circuit. The circuit comprises at least one input node for applying an analog input voltage signal (V | 11-24-2011 |
20110263036 | AMORPHOUS THIN FILM FOR SENSING - An apparatus and method for low-power sensing, for example, sensing of chemical or biochemical analytes in a gas or liquid phase are disclosed. One aspect relates to the use of a thin continuous film without grain boundaries as a sensing layer in devices for sensing a predetermined analyte and to low power devices having such sensing layer. The sensing layer has a surface exposed to the analyte. The electrical impedance of the sensing layer changes upon adsorption of the predetermined analyte on the exposed surface of the sensing layer. The sensing layer may have a thickness in the range between about 1 nm and 100 nm, such as between about 1 nm and 30 nm. The sensing layer may be an amorphous layer. | 10-27-2011 |
20110228832 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING SELECTED FREQUENCY CHANNELS - A device and method for selecting a frequency channel of given bandwidth in a cognitive radio application is disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes evaluating, at one of a plurality of frequency bins, a function indicative of the frequency occupancy. If the evaluation result indicates free spectrum at the considered frequency bin, the previous step is repeated for a frequency bin adjacent to the considered frequency bin until the free frequency bins constitute a frequency channel of the given bandwidth. Otherwise, the method moves to select a next frequency bin to be considered. It is selected by calculating a measure of the left and right derivative of the function at the considered frequency bin, taking the measure of the left or right derivative as gradient approximation, and determining the next frequency bin by shifting the considered frequency bin over a frequency shift inversely proportional to the gradient approximation. | 09-22-2011 |
20110222066 | Assembly With Absorbing Sensor Layer - The invention relates to an assembly for detecting the presence of a target based on a detection of a resonance associated to surface polaritons, such as long-range surface exciton polaritons (LRSEP). The invention relates to an assembly to be used in connection with a bio-sensor. The assembly comprising a carrier substrate ( | 09-15-2011 |
20110205543 | Gas Sensor, Method for Optically Measuring the Presence of a Gas Using the Gas Sensor, and Gas Sensing System - The present disclosure relates to a gas sensor including a first layer and a second layer superimposed on each other along an interface between the two layers. The first layer includes an array of nanoparticles along the interface, the nanoparticles provided so as to allow, upon illumination with electromagnetic radiation, long range diffractive coupling of surface plasmon resonances resulting in a surface lattice resonance condition. The second layer includes a material that, when exposed to at least one predetermined gas, detectably affects the surface lattice resonance condition. The material of the second layer preferably has a porosity of at least 10%. | 08-25-2011 |
20110192720 | MICROFABRICATED LIQUID-JUNCTION REFERENCE ELECTRODE - Micromachined reference electrodes for use in miniaturized electrochemical sensors, and methods for fabricating such reference electrodes and electrochemical sensors, for example, as a part of a microfluidic system, are disclosed. Electrochemical measurements allow for inexpensive detection of a wide variety of (bio-)chemical compounds in solution. The reference electrode is one of the main parts of an electrochemical cell. The reference electrode, from which no current is drawn, has a stable, constant potential. | 08-11-2011 |
20110170103 | NANOANTENNA AND USES THEREOF FOR BIOSENSING - A metal nanoantenna for use in a biosensing device is disclosed. The metal nanoantenna is arranged to exhibit at least two particle plasmon resonances or surface plasmon resonances (SPRs). The nanoantenna is for use in a sensor and allows detection at low concentration of biological components. In one aspect, the nanoantenna can have an asymmetric structural configuration and spectrally separated resonances. In one aspect, there is a location in its structure providing local electromagnetic field enhancement at all of the SPRs. The metal nanoantenna can be used for background free measuring of a quantity of a biological component. | 07-14-2011 |
20110154558 | Method for Manufacturing a Thermoelectric Generator, a Wearable Thermoelectric Generator and a Garment Comprising the Same - The invention relates to method for manufacturing a thermoelectric generator, comprising the steps of replicating a structure into a flexible substrate ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110152701 | Heart Pulse Rate Monitor - Disclosed herein are methods and devices for monitoring a heartbeat. In one embodiment, the device may comprise a sensor package mountable over a pulse location of a user. The sensor package may include a first sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a first output signal comprising a heart pulse signal and a first set of noise artefacts, a second sensor element configured to sense at least one signal at the pulse location and to provide a second output signal indicative of a second set of noise artefacts, and a mechanically isolating material located between the first sensor element and the second sensor element. The device may further comprise processing circuitry connected to the sensor package and configured to extract the heart pulse signal from the first output signal based on the first output signal and the second output signal. | 06-23-2011 |
20110150044 | Methods for Fast and Low-Power UWB IR Baseband Receiver Synchronization - The invention relates to methods for synchronising a device to a signal containing a train of pulses representing a programmable number of repetitions of a predetermined code. Pulse position and code phase are searched for. In a first aspect, a programmable number of samples is taken per pulse frame in function of the available number of repetitions of said predetermined code. In a second aspect, the method comprises a signal detection stage from which, after performing a confirmation stage, information can be kept for a subsequent stage. In a third aspect, only a limited number of rotated versions of the predetermined code are checked, using a presumed code phase which is kept from a preceding stage. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148527 | Dual-Loop Feedback Amplifying Circuit - An amplifying circuit arranged for converting an input signal into an amplified output signal comprising: an input node ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110122925 | Method for Selecting Transmission Signal Power Level and Transmitter Device Implementing Same - Disclosed is a method for generating a pulsed transmission signal. The method includes the steps of generating a plurality of transmission bursts by encoding data with a predetermined spreading code, each of the bursts including a train of pulses defining a burst length of the burst; and sizing the transmission bursts to a peak power level within a predetermined limit, thereby forming the transmission signal. The sizing of the transmission bursts includes the step of modifying the amplitude of the pulses of the burst on the basis of a predetermined relationship between the burst length and the peak/average transmission power level. Also disclosed is a transmitter device implementing the method. | 05-26-2011 |
20110092834 | ANALOGUE SIGNAL PROCESSORS - An analogue signal processor (ASP) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is disclosed. The ACIS can be used for remotely monitoring ECG signals of a subject that has reduced power consumption. In one aspect, the ASIC performs the functions of: ECG signal extraction with high resolution using ECG readout channel, feature extraction using a band-power extraction channel, adaptive sampling the ECG signals using an adaptive sampling analogue-to-digital converter, and impedance monitoring for signal integrity using an impedance monitoring channel. These functions enable the development of wireless ECG monitoring systems that have significantly lower power consumption but are more efficient that predecessor systems. In one embodiment, the ASP ASIC consumes 30 μW from a 2V supply with compression provided by adaptive sampling providing large reductions in power consumption of a wireless ECG monitoring system of which the ASP ASIC forms a part. | 04-21-2011 |
20110074247 | Systems and Methods for Resonance Frequency Tuning of Micromachined Structures - A microstructure according to embodiments of the present invention comprises a substrate, and a resonant structure having a resonance frequency and comprising a seismic mass and suspension elements for suspending the seismic mass at two opposite sides onto the substrate. The substrate is adapted for functioning as a tuning actuator adapted for applying stress onto the suspension elements, thus changing the stiffness of the suspension elements. This way, the resonance frequency of the microstructure may be adapted to input vibration frequencies which may vary over time or may initially be unknown. By adapting the resonance frequency of the resonant structure, a suitable power may be generated, even in circumstances of variable input frequencies. | 03-31-2011 |
20110063934 | MEMORY CIRCUIT WITH MULTI-SIZED SENSE AMPLIFIER REDUNDANCY - A memory circuit with multi-sized sense amplifier redundancy is disclosed. In one aspect, the circuit includes sense amplifiers connected to differential bit-lines and configured to amplify a voltage difference sensed on the differential bit-lines. The sense amplifiers include a first set of smaller sense amplifiers and a second set of larger sense amplifiers redundantly arranged to the first set to form redundant groups which each contain one smaller sense amplifiers and one larger sense amplifiers. The larger sense amplifiers have a failure rate lower than the smaller sense amplifiers. The circuit also includes calibration circuitry connected to enable and disable nodes of each of the sense amplifiers and configured to select for each redundant group either the smaller sense amplifier of the first set or, if the smaller sense amplifier fails, the larger sense amplifier of the second set. | 03-17-2011 |
20110057823 | Asynchronous SAR ADC - An asynchronous analog to digital convertor for converting an analog input signal into a digital output is presented. According to an embodiment, the analog to digital convertor comprises a clock input operable to receive an external clock signal having a clock period, a comparator operable to compare the analog input signal to a reference signal, a digital to analog converter operable to generate the reference signal corresponding to a state of a successive approximation register, and a control block connected to the comparator and to the digital to analog converter. The control block is operable to generate and receive a sequence of control signals according to a successive approximation algorithm, to perform a plurality of comparisons, and to update the state of the successive approximation register thereby generating the digital output. | 03-10-2011 |
20110021160 | RF TRANSMITTER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A radio frequency (RF) transmitter device arranged for supplying RF energy is disclosed. In one aspect, the RF transmitter device has a reception unit for receiving information on detected living beings. The RF transmitter device is arranged for adapting its transmit power according to the received information. A method for adapting the transmit power of the RF transmitter device while it is supplying energy to a sensor network is also disclosed. | 01-27-2011 |
20100264333 | Gas Sensing Device - The present invention relates to a gas sensing device comprising a nanoparticle layer ( | 10-21-2010 |
20100211594 | METHOD OF AND SYSTEM FOR SENSOR SIGNAL DATA ANALYSIS - A method and system for sensor signal data analysis are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes acquiring sensor signal data from a plurality of sensors. Signal processing is performed on the sensor signal data to extract one or more features of the sensor signal data. The features are signal extracts that are distinguishable among and reproducible along the sensor signal data. With at least one of the features, a plurality of information attributes is associated, and information evaluation is performed on the plurality of information attributes. | 08-19-2010 |
20100195601 | ACCESS METHOD AND DATA FRAME STRUCTURE FOR USE IN BODY AREA NETWORKS - A method for performing, for a plurality of applications, data communication on a wireless medium accessible for a plurality of nodes used by the applications is disclosed. Each application is assigned to one of a plurality of application classes. In one aspect, the method includes sending, at one of the plurality of nodes, a resource request for an application via a control channel dedicated to the application class which the application is assigned to, wherein the resource request is sent employing an access method available for the application class. The method also includes taking a decision on allocating resource on the wireless medium for the application. The method also includes performing data communication for the application via a conflict-free data channel, the data channel being separated in time from the dedicated control channel. | 08-05-2010 |
20100187835 | Electromagnetic Energy Scavenger Based on Moving Permanent Magnets - An electromagnetic energy scavenger ( | 07-29-2010 |
20100176822 | NANOWIRE SENSOR - An analyte sensing device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes at least one sensing module on a substrate. The sensing module has at least one nanowire including a bottom, an intermediate part and a top, the bottom being closer to the substrate than the top. The module has a surrounding electrode surrounding the bottom and at least part of the intermediate part of each nanowire in height direction and being electrically isolated from the nanowire. There is a gap between each nanowire and the corresponding surrounding electrode allowing penetration of an analyte to be detected between the nanowire and the surrounding electrode. A measurement circuitry is electrically connected to each nanowire and the surrounding electrode for detecting a change in an electrical property as a result of the penetration of the analyte into the gap. | 07-15-2010 |
20100000292 | SENSING DEVICE - A sensing device for detecting an analyte is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes at least one geometrical structure and at least two clamps provided for clamping the at least one geometrical structure on at least two ends of the geometrical structure. The at least one geometrical structure has at least one chemical responsive layer being absorbent or adsorbent for the analyte, and a support structure provided for at least partly supporting the at least one chemical responsive layer. The at least one chemical responsive layer has a varying effective spring constant which changes upon absorption or adsorption of the analyte. | 01-07-2010 |
20090293929 | Hybrid Energy Scavenger Comprising Thermopile Unit and Photovoltaic Cells - A hybrid energy scavenger comprising a thermopile unit and photovoltaic cells is provided, wherein the hybrid energy scavenger may generate a good output power when operating in conditions of small temperature difference between a heat source and a heat sink, and/or either receiving the heat from a heat source with high thermal resistance or dissipating it into a heat sink with high thermal resistance such as a human body or a body of any other endotherm, or a fluid such as air, and wherein the photovoltaic cells are part of a heat dissipating structure for connection to the heat sink. | 12-03-2009 |
20090292335 | Thermoelectric Generator for Implants and Embedded Devices - The present invention provides a TEG device comprising a first unit comprising a thermopile unit and a second unit comprising a cold plate and/or a radiator. One of the first and second units is adapted for being embedded or implanted into a body, while the other of the first and second units is adapted for being placed at the outer surface of the body, i.e. in a fluid. The first and second units are adapted for being thermally connected to each other through the surface between the body and the fluid when in use. | 11-26-2009 |
20090284102 | System and Method for Resonance Frequency Tuning of Resonant Devices - Tunable vibration energy scavengers and methods of operating the same are disclosed. The disclosed energy scavengers comprise a beam with a main body, wherein the beam comprises at least one flap and means for changing a shape of the at least one flap, wherein the at least one flap is physically attached to the main body along a longitudinal side of the main body. The disclosed methods comprise tuning the shape of the at least one flap, thereby tuning the stiffness of the structure. | 11-19-2009 |
20090259421 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING RUN-TIME OF AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS BY INDIRECT MEASUREMENT - A system and method for estimating remaining run-time of an autonomous system by indirect measure is disclosed. In one aspect, the system includes a load circuit, an energy storage system (ESS) and an energy storage management system (ESM). The load circuit includes functional blocks. The ESS stores electric energy and is connected to the load circuit and configured to supply the varying electric current to the load circuit. The ESM is configured to estimate a remaining run-time of the autonomous system. The ESM includes an input connected to one of the functional blocks of the load circuit from which a first parameter being an indirect measure for the varying electric current supplied from the energy storage system to the load circuit is received. The ESM determines the remaining run-time from this first parameter. | 10-15-2009 |
20090140443 | Microstructure with Enlarged Mass and Electrode Area for Kinetic to Electrical Energy Conversion - A microstructure has a substrate, a fixed electrode having a plurality of fixed fingers fixed to the substrate, a movable electrode having a body ( | 06-04-2009 |
20090129952 | Microfluidic Device - A microfluidic device is described. The microfluidic device comprises at least one transport channel and at least one working chamber, wherein the at least one transport channel and the at least one working chamber are separated from each other by a common deformable wall. The at least one transport channel is for containing a transport fluid and the at least one working chamber is for containing a working fluid. The microfluidic device comprises at least one pair of electrodes for changing the pressure on the working fluid such that when the pressure on the working fluid is changed, the deformable wall deforms, resulting in a change of the cross-section of the at least one transport channel. The working chamber comprises a flexible wall different from the common deformable wall and at least one electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes is provided on the flexible wall. | 05-21-2009 |
20090128386 | ANALOGUE-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME - The present disclosure is related to an analogue-to-digital (A/D) converter ( | 05-21-2009 |
20090085071 | SENSOR DEVICE COMPRISING ELONGATED NANOSTRUCTURES - A sensor device is provided for determining the presence and/or amount of at least one component in a fluid. The sensor device comprises at least one sensor unit, the at least one sensor unit comprising at least one elongated nanostructure and a dielectric material surrounding the at least one elongated nanostructure. The dielectric material is such that it is selectively permeable for one of the at least one component and is capable of sensing the component permeated through the dielectric material. The sensor device according to preferred embodiments shows good sensitivity and good mechanical strength. The present invention furthermore provides a method for manufacturing such a sensor device and a method for determining the presence and/or amount of at least one component in a fluid using such a sensor device. | 04-02-2009 |
20090049319 | Electronic Power Conversion Circuit - An electronic power conversion circuit is presented for converting an input power to an output power. The circuit comprises at least one conversion block and a clock generator. Each conversion block comprises an input, an output and a plurality of charge storage elements and switches between the input and output. Each block is alternately switchable between a first state in which electric charge is loaded from the input and a second state in which electric charge is supplied as converted power to the output. The clock generator generates clock signals for controlling the switches and thereby switches between the first and second states. The circuit is characterized in that the clock generator comprises at least one input node for receiving at least one input parameter and in that the clock generator is provided for varying the frequency of the clock signals in relation to the at least one input parameter. | 02-19-2009 |
20080314429 | Method for Thermal Matching of a Thermoelectric Generator with a Heat Source Having High Thermal Resistance and Thermoelectric Generator thus Obtained - The present disclosure relates to thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and more specifically to TEGs operated with a heat source having a high thermal resistance, more specifically to TEGs operated under conditions of non-constant heat flow and non-constant temperature difference between a hot plate and a cold plate. A thermoelectric generator for connection between a heat source and a heat sink comprises a thermopile unit, the thermopile unit comprising at least one thermopile stage, each thermopile stage comprising a number of thermocouples each having a couple of thermocouple legs, the thermocouple legs being provided in between a hot junction plane and a cold junction plane. The number of thermocouples in the thermoelectric generator is such that the thermal resistance (R | 12-25-2008 |
20080271772 | Method for Manufacturing a Thermopile on a Membrane and a Membrane-less Thermopile, the Thermopile thus Obtained and a Thermoelectric Generator Comprising Such Thermopiles - A method for manufacturing thermopile carrier chips comprises forming first type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs on a first surface of a substrate and afterwards removing part of the substrate form a second surface opposite to the first surface, thereby forming a carrier frame from the substrate and at least partially releasing the thermocouple legs from the substrate, wherein the thermocouple legs are attached between parts of the carrier frame. First type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple lets may be formed on the same substrate or on a separate substrate. In the latter approach both types of thermocouple legs may be optimised independently. The thermocouple legs may be self-supporting or they may be supported by a thin membrane layer. After mounting the thermopile carrier chips in a thermopile unit or in a thermoelectric generator, the sides of the carrier frame to which no thermocouple legs are attached are removed. A thermoelectric generator according to the present disclosure may be used for generating electrical power, for example for powering an electrical device such as a watch. It may be used with a heat source and/or heat sink with high thermal resistance, such as a human body. | 11-06-2008 |