Abstract:
A system is provided in which a set of modules each have a substrate on which is mounted a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and/or an RF receiver coupled to a near field communication (NFC) coupler located on the substrate. Each module has a housing that surrounds and encloses the substrate. The housing has a port region on a surface of the housing. Each module has a field confiner located between the NFC coupler and the port region on the housing configured to guide electromagnetic energy emanated from the NFC coupler through the port region to a port region of an adjacent module. An artificial magnetic conductor surface is positioned adjacent the backside of each NFC coupler to reflect back side electromagnetic energy with a phase shift of approximately zero degrees.
Abstract:
In described examples, an integrated circuit includes a modulator configured to modulate a driving signal for an optical transmitter with a narrow band modulation signal in which the driving signal with a fixed duration is transmitted to the optical transmitter periodically. The integrated circuit also includes a demodulator configured to receive a signal from an optical receiver that is configured to receive a reflection of light transmitted by the optical transmitter off an object, the demodulator configured to discriminate the narrow band modulation signal and estimate a distance of the object using the narrow band modulation signal.
Abstract:
A resonant line driver for driving capacitive-loads includes a driver series-coupled to an energy transfer inductor L1, driving signal energy at a signal frequency through L1. A switch array is controlled to switch L1 between multiple electrodes according to a switching sequence, each electrode characterized by a load capacitance CL. L1 and CL form a resonator circuit in which signal energy cycles between L1 and CL at the signal frequency. The switch array switches L1 between a current electrode and a next electrode at a zero_crossing when signal energy in the energy transfer inductor is at a maximum and signal energy in the load capacitance of the current electrode is at a minimum. An amplitude control loop controls signal energy delivered to the L1CL resonator circuit, and a frequency control loop controls signal frequency/phase. In an example application, the resonant driver provides line drive for a mutual capacitance touch screen.
Abstract:
An architecture for testing a plurality of circuits on an integrated circuit is described. The architecture includes a TAP Linking Module located between test pins on the integrated circuit and 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAP) of the plurality of circuits to be tested. The TAP Linking Module operates in response to 1149.1 scan operations from a tester connected to the test pins to selectively switch between 1149.1 TAPs to enable test access between the tester and plurality of circuits. The TAP Linking Module's 1149.1 TAP switching operation is based upon augmenting 1149.1 instruction patterns to affix an additional bit or bits of information which is used by the TAP Linking Module for performing the TAP switching operation.
Abstract:
An architecture for testing a plurality of circuits on an integrated circuit is described. The architecture includes a TAP Linking Module located between test pins on the integrated circuit and 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAP) of the plurality of circuits to be tested. The TAP Linking Module operates in response to 1149.1 scan operations from a tester connected to the test pins to selectively switch between 1149.1 TAPs to enable test access between the tester and plurality of circuits. The TAP Linking Module's 1149.1 TAP switching operation is based upon augmenting 1149.1 instruction patterns to affix an additional bit or bits of information which is used by the TAP Linking Module for performing the TAP switching operation.
Abstract:
IEEE 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAPs) may be utilized at both IC and intellectual property core design levels. TAPs serve as serial communication ports for accessing a variety of embedded circuitry within ICs and cores including; IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan circuitry, built in test circuitry, internal scan circuitry, IEEE 1149.4 mixed signal test circuitry, IEEE P5001 in-circuit emulation circuitry, and IEEE P1532 in-system programming circuitry. Selectable access to TAPs within ICs is desirable since in many instances being able to access only the desired TAP(s) leads to improvements in the way testing, emulation, and programming may be performed within an IC. A TAP linking module is described that allows TAPs embedded within an IC to be selectively accessed using 1149.1 instruction scan operations.
Abstract:
A method includes forming, on a dielectric layer of an integrated circuit, a first layer of a first material, forming, on the first layer, a second layer of a second material, and patterning the second layer to expose the first layer. Via the patterned second layer, the exposed first layer is etched to form protrusion structures of the first layer and the second layer and grooves between adjacent ones of the protrusion structures. The method also includes forming a graphitic carbon layer on at least part of the second layer of the protrusion structures, and depositing carbon nanotubes into the grooves between the adjacent ones of the protrusion structures.
Abstract:
Radar systems are provided for transmitting radar signals using one or more flexible dielectric waveguides (DWGs), each having a core member surrounded by a cladding, in which the core and cladding have different dielectric constants. A single radar circuit may be used to generate radar signals that are distributed, via the DWGs, to multiple launch structures placed at various locations on a vehicle. In an example, a launch structure, coupled to a port of the radar circuit, has an outer surface that is configured to couple to an inner surface of a body part of an external structure to emit a radar signal through the outer surface in a path that extends through the body part, in which the body part is non-transparent to light and does not have an opening in the path of the radar signal.
Abstract:
In described examples, a system (e.g., a security system or a vehicle operator assistance system) is configured to configure a phased spatial light modulator (SLM) to generate a diffraction pattern. A coherent light source is optically coupled to direct coherent light upon the SLM. The SLM is configured to project diffracted coherent light toward a region of interest. An optical element is configured to focus the diffracted coherent light toward the at least one region of interest.
Abstract:
This disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for testing TSVs within a semiconductor device. According to embodiments illustrated and described in the disclosure, a TSV may be tested by stimulating and measuring a response from a first end of a TSV while the second end of the TSV held at ground potential. Multiple TSVs within the semiconductor device may be tested in parallel to reduce the TSV testing time according to the disclosure.