Analog Devices,inc.

Thomas W Kelly

Howard R Samuels

Mark Schirmer

James M Lee

Timothy J Denison

John Memishian

Ekin Yagmur Gonen

Circuits and techniques are described for reducing the impact of environmental noise and interference on the output signal of a capacitive sensor. The output signal is sampled randomly in some situations by generating a random sampling instant within a fixed clock period. The sampling is performed by a sampling or demodulation circuit. The demodulation circuit may be part of a larger circuit with various components that operate based on a fixed period clock signal.

Suppression of electromagnetic interference in sensor signals

A electronics control unit is in contemporaneous wireless power communication and wireless data communication with a network of sealed, sensors over a shared bidirectional power antenna. Sensors and sensor networks described below enable the development of networks that are secure and robust, and yet are lighter-weight and lower-cost than, for example, conventional automotive sensor networks.

Single-wire sensor bus

An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory provides one-time-programmable memory having one or more memory locations for storing data and corresponding programming circuitry for each memory location. In addition, each programming circuitry has a circuit element configured to permanently change state to store the data in the memory. The method also reads each memory location to verify that the memory location is unprogrammed and activates the programming circuitry for each memory location, which applies a test current to the programming circuitry. The test current is less than a threshold current needed to permanently change the state of the circuit element. The method then determines whether the programming circuitry is functioning properly.

Built-in self test for one-time-programmable memory

An apparatus and method of testing one-time-programmable memory limits current through a one-time-programmable memory to less than a threshold amplitude, where the memory has a fuse configured to blow upon receipt of a signal having the threshold amplitude. The method also uses blow signal assertion circuitry to attempt to assert a blow signal to the fuse. When not defective, blow signal assertion circuitry is configured to permit the low amplitude signal to flow through the fuse when the fuse is not blown and the blow signal is asserted. The method then produces an output signal having a success value if the limited current flows through the fuse, and a failure value if the current does not flow through the fuse.

Apparatus and method for testing one-time-programmable memory

A method of producing an electronic device electrically and mechanically couples an integrated circuit to a leadframe to produce an intermediate assembly. At least a portion of the intermediate assembly then is encapsulated with a molten encapsulating material. After it is encapsulated, the method permits the molten encapsulating material to substantially solidify. A method of detecting the orientation of a sensor as mounted to an external object also is disclosed.

Motion detector and method of producing the same

A motion detector capable of sensing motion of an object includes a motion sensor secured to one of a plurality of surfaces of a fastener. The fastener is directly coupleable with the object.

Integrated fastener and motion detector

A micromachined variable capacitor structure is used as a modulation mechanism for a differential parametric amplifier. The capacitance of the capacitor structure is modulated by a control signal while a differential signal is applied to the capacitor structure. Modulation of the capacitance produces a signal representative of the input differential voltage. This signal is provided to an amplifier. Once the signal is amplified, a demodulator demodulates the amplified signal to provide an amplified version of the differential signal. The variable capacitor structure also allows for internal feedback, which permits the parametric amplifier to be used as a galvanically isolated differential measurement amplifier. A number of techniques are used to remove common mode and other errors from the modulated difference signal, thereby eliminating them from the amplified output.

Differential parametric amplifier with physically-coupled electrically-isolated micromachined structures

In a circuit for use with a micromachined device having a movable mass that forms an inner electrode of a differential capacitor, oppositely phased square waves are applied to two outer electrodes of the differential capacitor. A reset voltage is applied to the inner electrode synchronously with the square waves to stabilize and control the potential on the inner electrode. The signal on the inner electrode is demodulated by sampling during a first half of the square wave and a second half of the square wave between applications of the reset pulse to obtain a voltage that does not contain noise due to the reset switch.

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North Andover, MA, United States of America

Thomas W Kelly