Ess Technology, Inc.

Siliconintervention Inc.

Capres A/s

Lionsgate Technologies, Inc.

Capres

Capres Aps

Christian Leth Petersen

A Martin Mallinson

Robert Lynn Blair

Peter Folmer Nielsen

Paul Christopher Scowen

Guy A Dumont

John Mark Ansermino

Francois Grey

Ulrich Joachim Quaade

Peter Bøggild

Shawn William Scarlett

Peter Boggild

Guy Dumont

Ulrich Quaade

A self-clocking (or self-oscillating) modulator in signal processing, similar to a &#x3a3;&#x394; modulator, with particular application in the design of neural networks based on such modulators is described. A system of multiple self-clocking modulators and supporting structures may be configured to perform a calculation similar to that of an analog computer, such as a neural network, at lower power and smaller size than a digital implementation. Such a system constructed using the present approach does not require a sequential solution, but rather converges on a solution in one step; unlike the typical prior art, it thus requires no clock and operates asynchronously in a manner similar to a conventional analog computer. The self-clocking modulator can function as a neuron in a neural network, receiving a sum-of-products signal and generating an output stream like that of a &#x3a3;&#x394; modulator that represents this sum-of-products, potentially also including an activation function and offset.

Self-clocking modulator as analog neuron

A multiport memory in which one of the ports is analog rather than digital is described. In one embodiment, the analog port functions as a read-only port and the digital port functions as a write only port. This allows the data in the core memory to be applied to an analog signal, while retaining a digital port having access to the core memory for rapid storage of data. One potential use of such a multiport memory is as a bridge between a digital computer and an analog computer; for example, this allows a digitally programmed two-port memory to derive a sum-of-products signal from a plurality of analog input signals, and a plurality of such multiport memories to be used in an analog neural network such as a programmable neural net implementing analog artificial intelligence (AI).

Multiport memory with analog port

A system and method for passively balancing electroacoustic transducers so that sounds other than the transducer's output can be detected. A transducer producing audio output based upon an input audio signal can operate in reverse to produce a signal in response to the impact of external sound upon the transducer from another source. This 'reverse' or 'microphone' signal represents the sound from the other source. Transducers are operated in monophonic mode, each in opposite polarity to the other thus canceling out and leaving only the microphone signal created by the transducers, i.e., a signal representing the external sound. The microphone signal can be amplified, and can be filtered and processed to identify and/or obtain various types of information about the sound received by the transducers.

Passive balancing of electroacoustic transducers for detection of external sound

An improved system and method for recognizing an audio signal due to physical activity and taking a predetermined action in response is disclosed. A 'reverse noise signal' created by the sound pressure wave of the physical activity acting on the earpiece transducer is obtained. In some embodiments, an ambient noise signal is inverted and fed back, and the inverted signal is added to the intended audio signal being sent to the earpiece so that the ambient noise is cancelled. In other embodiments, a processor receives the ambient noise signal and predicts the modification to the intended audio signal needed to counteract the ambient noise. In other embodiments, the reverse noise signal may represent a motor or biological activity of a user; the system may take different actions in response to different physical activities, such as a heart beat of the user, or a tap, footfall, or swallowing by the user.

Determination of effects of physical activity on electrical load devices

An improved system and method for reducing the ambient noise experienced by a user listening to an earpiece without the use of a microphone is disclosed. An 'ambient noise signal' created by the sound pressure wave of the ambient noise acting on the earpiece transducer is obtained. In some embodiments, the ambient noise signal is inverted and fed back, and the inverted signal is added to the intended audio signal being sent to the earpiece so that the ambient noise is cancelled. In other embodiments, a processor receives the ambient noise signal and predicts the modification to the intended audio signal needed to counteract the ambient noise. The ambient noise signal may be obtained by comparing the actual signal across the earpiece transducer to the intended audio signal, or by detecting variations in the current across the transducer from the current generated to drive the transducer.

Determination of environmental effects on electrical load devices

Described herein is an apparatus for the recovery of asynchronous data into a fixed clock domain. A phase-locked loop (PLL) of the known art is replaced by a modified quadrature resolver, and the output from the resolver re-creates the selected frequency component of the input asynchronous data. The zero-crossings of this re-created data clock are used to sample the input data stream. One advantage of this technique is that it operates as a state machine on a single clock, and no analog components such as phase detectors or VCOs are needed. In another embodiment, the samples from the input data stream are changed from pulses to Gaussians, allowing for conversion of the sample rate from one clock domain to another.

Asynchronous data recovery

Methods, systems and related apparatus are provided to enable an electronic device to operate an external sensor comprising one or more emitters for emitting electromagnetic radiation of two different wavelengths and a detector for generating a response signal based on received electromagnetic radiation of the two different wavelengths connectable to an audio interface by applying a harmonic driving signal to a first contact and a second contact of the audio interface for driving the emitters of the external sensor, receiving the response signal at a third contact of the audio interface, demodulating and demultiplexing the response signal into a first wavelength response signal and a second wavelength response signal, analyzing the first and second wavelength response signals to determine one or more vital signs, and outputting the determined one or more vital signs.

Systems and methods for determining physiological characteristics of a patient using pulse oximetry

A method for accurately determining the sheet resistance and leakage current density of a shallow implant in a semiconductor substrate surface includes making one or more four-point resistance measurements with an induced current below 100 &#x3bc;A on the semiconductor surface with a plurality of electrode spacing sets, at least one set defining an electrode separation distance less than 100 &#x3bc;m. The sheet resistance and implant leakage are determined through fitting the measured data to theoretical data to within a predetermined error margin.

Method for sheet resistance and leakage current density measurements on shallow semiconductor implants

A multi-point electrical probe for testing location-specific electrical properties on circuit boards. Four generally parallel, electrically conducting probe arms are produced preferably by wafer-based techniques, although any even number of probe arms between two and 64 may be used. The precision of wafer-based manufacturing techniques permits miniaturization beyond that which is conventionally obtained by assembling discrete components. The probe arms are generally flexible, and may be shaped suitably to accommodate a particular circuit geometry. The probe and/or the sample under test may be precisely located by suitable translation and/or rotation stages, which may optionally be placed under computer control. A suitable wiring diagram is provided, and preferable manufacturing techniques are discussed. In addition, the conducting probe arms benefit from active guarding, which reduces leakage resistance and increases the measuring accuracy of the probe, by the inclusion of electrically-isolated conducting regions located between the probe arms.

Multi-point probe

An electrical feedback detection system for detecting electrical contact between a multi-point probe and an electrically conducting material test sample surface. The electrical feedback detection system comprises an electrical detector unit connected to a multitude of electrodes in the multi-point probe, and optionally directly to the test sample surface. The detector unit provides an electrical signal to a multi-point testing apparatus, which can be used to determine if the multi-point probe is in electrical contact with the test sample surface. The detector unit comprises an electrical generator means for generating an electrical signal that is driven through a first multitude of electrodes of the multi-point probe, and a second multitude of switched impedance detection elements. The electrical potential across the impedance detection elements determines the electrical contact to the test sample surface.

Electrical feedback detection system for multi-point probes

The multi-point probe comprises a supporting body defining a first surface, a first multitude of conductive probe arms each of the probe arms defining a proximal end and a distal end being positioned in co-planar relationship with the first surface of the supporting body. The probe arms are connected to the supporting body at the proximal ends thereof and have the distal ends freely extending from the supporting body, giving individually flexible motion to the first multitude of probe arms. The probe arms originate from a process of producing the probe arms on a wafer body in facial contact with the wafer body and removal of a part of the wafer body providing the supporting body and providing the probe arms freely extending therefrom. The multi-point probe further comprises a third multitude of tip elements extending from the distal end of the first multitude of probe arms. The tip elements originate from a process of metallization of electron beam depositions on the probe arms at the distal ends thereof.

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Burnaby, Canada

Christian Leth Petersen