Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090210185 | System and method for measuring DC offset in a sensor output by modulating a signal-independent operating parameter of the sensor - A sensor circuit enables detection of DC offset in a sensor output signal. The sensor circuit includes a sensor that generates a sensor output signal corresponding to a physical signal coupled to an input of the sensor, and a modulator that generates a modulation signal, the modulator being coupled to the sensor to modulate a physical parameter of the sensor and to enable a DC offset to be separated from the sensor output signal. To enable the circuit to measure the DC offset even though the sensor output signal is inversely proportional to the output signal, the circuit includes a feedback circuit configured to generate a feedback signal. The feedback signal is coupled to the input of the sensor to enable the physical parameter of the sensor to be modulated without modulating a portion of the sensor output signal attributable to the physical signal being converted to an electrical signal by the sensor. | 08-20-2009 |
20090273499 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING LINEARITY OF ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS WITH MECHANICAL OSCILLATORS - A system converts an analog input signal to an output signal in a very linear manner using very low chip area and very low power consumption. The system includes a micro electromechanical oscillating signal source for generating a linearly varying oscillating signal, an analog signal generator coupled to the micro electromechanical oscillating signal source, the analog signal generator being configured to convert the linearly varying oscillating signal to an electrical analog signal, a minimum transistor circuit having an input for receiving an analog signal, a switch that selectively couples the electrical analog signal to the input of the minimum transistor circuit, the minimum transistor circuit being configured to process the electrical analog signal and generate digital output values, an error detection circuit coupled to the minimum transistor circuit to detect non-linearity errors in the digital output values, and a linearity correction circuit coupled to the error detection circuit, the linearity correction circuit being configured to compensate for the non-linearity errors detected by the error detection circuit. | 11-05-2009 |
20100090724 | System And Method For Removing Nonlinearities And Cancelling Offset Errors In Comparator Based/Zero Crossing Based Switched Capacitor Circuits - A method compensates for errors in an output signal of a comparator based/zero crossing based circuit. The method includes generating with a comparator based/zero crossing based switched capacitor circuit a first output signal with an input signal, generating with the comparator based/zero crossing based switched capacitor circuit a second output signal with the input signal of an opposite polarity, and subtracting the second output signal from the first output signal to generate a final output signal for the comparator based/zero crossing based switched capacitor circuit. | 04-15-2010 |
20100103012 | Multi-Stage Resettable Sigma-Delta Converters - A resettable multi-stage sigma-delta analog-to-digital (A/D) converter enables a sampled analog signal to be resolve with fewer cycles than a resettable single sigma-delta A/D converter. The resettable multi-stage converter includes a cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops having a total number of integrators and an allocation of delays, a digital decimation filter, the digital decimation filter being coupled to the at least two resettable sigma-delta loops and the digital decimation filter includes a cascade of integrators, a number of the integrators in the cascade of integrators for the decimation filter being equal to the total number of integrators in the cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops and an allocation of delays in the cascade of integrators being equal to the allocation of delays in the cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops, a plurality of A/D converters having a resolution that is less than a resolution of the resettable multi-stage sigma-delta A/D converter, a plurality of digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, the plurality of A/D converters and the plurality of D/A converters coupling the cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops to the digital decimation filter, and a reset line coupled to the integrators in the cascade of integrators for the at least two resettable sigma-delta loops and coupled to the integrators in the cascade of integrators for the digital decimation filter. | 04-29-2010 |
20100145657 | INTEGRATED SENSOR ARRAY WITH OFFSET REDUCTION - A method and system for providing increased accuracy in a CMOS sensor system in one embodiment includes a plurality of sensor elements having a first terminal and a second terminal on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor substrate, a first plurality of switches configured to selectively connect the first terminal to a power source and to selectively connect the first terminal to a readout circuit, and a second plurality of switches configured to selectively connect the second terminal to the power source and to selectively connect the second terminal to the readout circuit. | 06-10-2010 |
20100145660 | MEMS SENSOR WITH BUILT-IN SELF-TEST - A method and system for testing a MEMS sensor element during operation of a MEMS sensor system in one embodiment includes a test signal generator configured to generate a broad frequency band test signal, and a verification signal substantially identical to the test signal, a microelectrical-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor element operatively connected to the test signal generator for generating a sensor output in response to the test signal, a comparison component configured to generate an evaluation signal output based upon the verification signal and the test signal, and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the comparison component and configured to identify a mismatch between the verification signal and the sensor output based upon the evaluation signal. | 06-10-2010 |
20100219810 | VERTICAL HALL EFFECT SENSOR WITH CURRENT FOCUS - A complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor system in one embodiment includes a doped substrate, a doped central island extending downwardly within the doped substrate from an upper surface of the doped substrate, and a first doped outer island extending downwardly within the doped substrate from the upper surface of the doped substrate, the first outer island electrically isolated from the central island within an upper portion of the substrate, and electrically coupled to the central island within a lower portion of the substrate. | 09-02-2010 |
20100219821 | VERTICAL HALL EFFECT SENSOR - A complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor system in one embodiment includes a doped well extending along a first axis of a doped substrate, a first electrical contact positioned within the doped well, a second electrical contact positioned within the doped well and spaced apart from the first electrical contact along the first axis, a third electrical contact positioned within the doped well and located between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact along the first axis, and a fourth electrical contact electrically coupled to the doped well at a location of the doped well below the third electrical contact. | 09-02-2010 |
20110001515 | COMPARATOR WITH SELF-LIMITING POSITIVE FEEDBACK - A method and circuit for attenuating positive feedback in a comparator in one embodiment includes an amplifier configured to compare a first input signal with a second input signal and to provide an output based upon the comparison, a non-linear function with a first input operably connected to an output of the amplifier, and a feedback loop operably connected to the output of the non-linear function and to a second input of the non-linear function, the feedback loop including a feedback limiting circuit configured to attenuate a feedback signal to the second input of the non-linear function. | 01-06-2011 |
20110074617 | CHARGE-SHARING DIGITAL TO ANALOG CONVERTER AND SUCCESSIVE APPROXIMATION ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERTER - In one embodiment, an analog to digital converter includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, the first input being coupled to an analog signal, a successive approximation register having a serial input coupled to the output of the comparator, and being configured to generate a plurality of control signals and an N-bit digital value corresponding to the analog signal, and a digital to analog converter having an input coupled to the plurality of control signals, the digital to analog converter further comprising a first, a second, and a third capacitor and a plurality of switches controlled by the plurality of control signals and being configured to couple the first capacitor to the second capacitor and the third capacitor to the second capacitor mutually exclusively to share charge on the first capacitor and charge on the third capacitor with charge on the second capacitor and to generate an analog signal on the second capacitor, the second capacitor being coupled to the second input of the comparator. | 03-31-2011 |
20110091870 | MULTISITE BIOSENSOR AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A method of detecting a biomarker in one embodiment includes identifying a quantity of biomolecule types in a sample, exposing the sample to a plurality of test sites, wherein the number of test sites in the plurality of test sites is equal to or greater than the identified quantity of biomolecule types, establishing, for each of the plurality of test sites, a respective test environment, wherein the test environment for each of the plurality of test sites is different from the test environment for each of the other of the plurality of test sites, obtaining a detection signal associated with each of the plurality of test sites, and determining the concentration of one of the biomolecule types based upon the obtained detection signals. | 04-21-2011 |
20110177962 | SUCCESSIVE SAMPLING DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - A method of determining a number of a solution constituent includes introducing a first number of solution constituents to a first test location, establishing a first binding environment for the introduced first number of solution constituents, creating a first residual number of solution constituents by binding a first plurality of solution constituents, establishing a second binding environment for the first residual number of solution constituents, creating a second residual number of solution constituents by binding a second plurality of solution constituents from the first residual number of solution constituents, obtaining a first signal associated with the bound first plurality of solution constituents, obtaining a second signal associated with the bound second plurality of solution constituents, and determining a second number of a constituent of interest based upon the obtained first signal and the obtained second signal. | 07-21-2011 |
20110195853 | Array with Extended Dynamic Range and Associated Method - A system and method of quantitating the concentration of a molecule of interest in one embodiment includes establishing a plurality of test environments at a plurality of test sites, each of the plurality of test environments associated with one of a plurality of response curves, each of the plurality of response curves different from the other of the plurality of response curves, storing a combined response curve resulting from a summation of the plurality of response curves, exposing the plurality of test sites to a sample having a concentration of a molecule of interest, obtaining a plurality of quantitation signals, each of the plurality of quantitation signals associated with one of the plurality of test sites, associating a summation of the plurality of quantitation signals with the stored combined response curve, and generating a signal related to the concentration of the molecule of interest based upon the association. | 08-11-2011 |
20110199078 | LINEAR-WITH-MAGNETIC FIELD MAGNETORESISTANCE DEVICE - A magnetic field measuring system is disclosed. The magnetic field measuring system includes a substrate, a conductive well formed in the substrate, the well having a first side with a first length, a first contact electrically coupled to the conductive well at a first location of the first side, a second contact electrically coupled to the conductive well at a second location of the first side, wherein the distance between the first location and the second location is less than the first length, a stimulus circuit coupled to the first contact and the second contact, and a sensor for identifying a property indicative of the length of a current path from the first location to the second location through the conductive well. | 08-18-2011 |
20110260900 | SECOND ORDER DYNAMIC ELEMENT ROTATION SCHEME - A sensor system for generating sample analog signals for processing by a signal processing circuit that utilizes non-constant weights includes a plurality of signal generating elements and a switching network having a plurality of switches operably coupled to the plurality of signal generating elements. The switching network is configured to switch the plurality of signal generating elements between a plurality of different configurations. The system includes a dynamic element matching (DEM) control system for controlling the switch network to implement a second order DEM rotation scheme in which the plurality of signal generating elements are switched to each configuration in the plurality of configurations in a first sequence and then switched to each configuration in the plurality in a second sequence, the second sequence being the reverse of the first sequence. | 10-27-2011 |
20110278258 | Device and Method for Indirect Modulation of Detection Environment - A system and method of indirectly modifying an environmental condition at a test site in one embodiment includes providing a test site on a substrate, providing a first activatable stimulant at the test site, providing an actuator configured to activate the first activatable stimulant at the test site, controlling the actuator to activate the first activatable stimulant, and modifying the local chemical environment at the test site with the first activated stimulant. | 11-17-2011 |
20120079897 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SELF-REFERENCED CONFIDENCE TEST - A system and method of providing a confidence test in one embodiment includes determining a first quality metric based upon a first and a second test environment wherein the second test environment is different from the first test environment, exposing a sample to a plurality of test sites, establishing the first test environment at a first of the plurality of test sites, establishing the second test environment at a second test site, obtaining a first detection signal associated with the first of the plurality of test sites exposed to the sample and at the first test environment, obtaining a second detection signal associated with the second of the plurality of test sites exposed to the sample and at the second test environment, determining a second quality metric based upon the first detection signal and the second detection signal, and comparing the second quality metric with the first quality metric. | 04-05-2012 |
20120115236 | Device and Method For Indirect Electronic Condition Control in Biomolecule Detection Platforms - A system and method of indirectly modifying an environmental condition at a test site in one embodiment includes providing a test site on a substrate, providing a hydrogel composition loaded with a chemical factor at the test site, providing an actuator configured to activate the hydrogel composition to release a chemical factor at the test site, controlling the actuator to activate the hydrogel composition to release a chemical factor at the test site, and modifying the local chemical environment at the test site with the chemical factor. | 05-10-2012 |
20120186345 | SELF-TEST FOR YAW RATE SENSORS - A yaw rate sensor ( | 07-26-2012 |
20120197534 | BIOMARKER MONITORING DEVICE AND METHOD - A biomarker monitoring method and system in one embodiment includes a communications network, a portable wellness device configured to form a communication link with the communications network, the portable wellness device including a detector configured to detect at least one biomarker in a biologic sample, a first memory, a plurality of program instructions stored in the first memory, and a processing circuit operably connected to the first memory and configured to execute the program instructions to generate wellness data based upon detection of the at least one biomarker in the biologic sample, and a remote user interface operably connected to the communications network and configured to render the wellness data. | 08-02-2012 |
20130022462 | ENERGY-EFFICIENT WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SCHEME FOR WIND TURBINES - A method of operating a wind turbine includes providing a wind turbine having a plurality of blades. A respective sensor is attached to each of the blades. First measurements of a structural characteristic of each of the blades are repeatedly taken by use of the sensors. A tolerance band is established for the measurements. Signals indicative of the first measurements are wirelessly transmitted only if the first measurements are outside of the tolerance band. The transmitted signals are received at a controller. An actuator signal is sent from the controller to at least one actuator associated with the blades. The sending is in response to the receiving of the transmitted signals. At least one of the blades is actuated dependent upon the actuator signal. The actuating is performed by the at least one actuator. Second measurements of the structural characteristic of each of the blades are repeatedly taken by use of the sensors after the actuating step. The wirelessly transmitting, receiving, sending and actuating steps are repeated for the second measurements. | 01-24-2013 |
20130170981 | METHOD FOR ROBUST WIRELESS WIND TURBINE CONDITION MONITORING - A wind turbine condition monitoring system and method are disclosed where the wind turbines include a tower, a gearbox coupled to the tower, and turbine blades coupled to the gearbox. The monitoring system includes blade sensors coupled to the blades, a hub node coupled to the gearbox and a controller. The controller is in communication with the hub node and blade sensors, and determines blade positions based on blade sensor readings. The blade sensors and hub node can include multi-axis accelerometers. The controller can wirelessly communicate with the blade sensors directly or through the hub node. Using position information, shadowing areas with obstructed communication can be avoided, node separation can be accounted for to reduce power requirements and/or interference from multiple transmitters can be avoided during node communications. | 07-04-2013 |
20130293306 | Comparator with Self-Limiting Positive Feedback - A method and circuit for attenuating positive feedback in a comparator in one embodiment includes an amplifier configured to compare a first input signal with a second input signal and to provide an output based upon the comparison, a non-linear function with a first input operably connected to an output of the amplifier, and a feedback loop operably connected to the output of the non-linear function and to a second input of the non-linear function, the feedback loop including a feedback limiting circuit configured to attenuate a feedback signal to the second input of the non-linear function. | 11-07-2013 |
20140102194 | TRI-AXIS ACCELEROMETER HAVING A SINGLE PROOF MASS AND FULLY DIFFERENTIAL OUTPUT SIGNALS - A tri-axis accelerometer includes a proof mass, at least four anchor points arranged in at least two opposite pairs, a first pair of anchor points being arranged opposite one another along a first axis, a second pair of anchor points being arranged opposite one another along a second axis, the first axis and the second axis being perpendicular to one another, and at least four spring units to connect the proof mass to the at least four anchor points, the spring units each including a pair of identical springs, each spring including a sensing unit. | 04-17-2014 |
20140200157 | Array with Extended Dynamic Range and Associated Method - A system and method of quantitating the concentration of a molecule of interest in one embodiment includes establishing a plurality of test environments at a plurality of test sites, each of the plurality of test environments associated with one of a plurality of response curves, each of the plurality of response curves different from the other of the plurality of response curves, storing a combined response curve resulting from a summation of the plurality of response curves, exposing the plurality of test sites to a sample having a concentration of a molecule of interest, obtaining a plurality of quantitation signals, each of the plurality of quantitation signals associated with one of the plurality of test sites, associating a summation of the plurality of quantitation signals with the stored combined response curve, and generating a signal related to the concentration of the molecule of interest based upon the association. | 07-17-2014 |
20140232450 | Circuit For Canceling Errors Caused By Parasitic And Device-Intrinsic Resistances In Temperature Dependent Integrated Circuits - In one embodiment, a circuit includes at least one transistor with a base and collector being electrically connected to a ground, and at least one current source being configured to apply four different currents (A, B, C, and D) to the emitter. A sum of the currents A and C are substantially equivalent to a sum of the currents B and D, or a sum of the currents A and D are substantially equivalent to a sum of the currents B and C. The circuit outputs first, second, third, and fourth voltage potentials between the emitter and the base during application of the currents A, B, C, and D, respectively. | 08-21-2014 |
20140242735 | Method for Aligning a Biochip - A method of aligning a semiconductor chip includes forming a semiconductor chip with a light-activated circuit including at least one photosite, positioning the semiconductor chip relative to a device, and illuminating the positioned semiconductor chip. The method further includes generating an RF signal with an RF circuit based upon illumination of the at least one photosite, and determining the position of the photosite with respect to the device based upon the generated RF signal. | 08-28-2014 |
20140274754 | GENERATION OF pH/TEMPERATURE/IONIC GRADIENTS ON A LATERAL FLOW PLATFORM FOR MODULATING PROTEIN INTERACTIONS - Lateral flow assay devices for determining the concentration of a biomolecular analyte in a sample and methods for measuring analyte concentration in sample using such lateral flow assay devices. | 09-18-2014 |