A frequency divider is provided that includes a plurality of latches for dividing an input clock according to an integer frequency divisor N of three or greater. Each latch is coupled to a corresponding pair of logic gates. For each latch, one of the logic gates in the corresponding pair controls a setting of the latch whereas a remaining one of the logic gates in the corresponding pair controls a resetting of the latch. Each latch outputs a pair of overlapping clock signals that are divided in frequency with respect to the input clock and have a 50% duty cycle. Each logic gate processes a pair of the overlapping clock signal and the input clock signal to provide a non-overlapping clock signal of the same frequency of the overlapping clock signals but have a (50/N) % duty cycle.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an architecture that uses hierarchical statistically multiplexed counters to extend counter life by orders of magnitude. Each level includes statistically multiplexed counters. The statistically multiplexed counters includes P base counters and S subcounters, wherein the S subcounters are dynamically concatenated with the P base counters. When a row overflow in a level occurs, counters in a next level above are used to extend counter life. The hierarchical statistically multiplexed counters can be used with an overflow FIFO to further extend counter life.

A PLL includes a controlled oscillator, a phase accumulator to measure the controlled oscillator output phase, a phase predictor to calculate the required output phase, and a phase subtractor to calculate the phase difference or phase error. The phase accumulator includes a fast counter and a low-power counter, and two sets of corresponding latches. The fast counter counts cycles of the controlled oscillator clock signal, and the low-power counter counts carry signals from the fast counter. The low-power counter represents one or more most significant bits of the integer part of the measured phase, and the fast counter represents the remaining bits. The phase accumulator may further include a delay line, second latches, and a delay line decoder to measure a fractional part of the phase. A calibration feedback loop may keep the number of delay line steps per output clock pulse known and stable.

A sensor interface circuit includes: an RF switch having a control node; a bias circuit electrically connected to the control node and applying, to the control node, a voltage at a first level or a second level corresponding to a linear region of a reflection characteristic; a first variable oscillation circuit electrically connectable to a first sensor; a second variable oscillation circuit electrically connectable to a second sensor; and a difference circuit electrically connected between the first variable oscillation circuit and the bias circuit, and between the second variable oscillation circuit and the bias circuit.

The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus and method capable of increasing a harmonic rejection ratio while suppressing an increase in power consumption. In one aspect of the present technology, two local signals having a 1/3 duty ratio and phases mutually shifted by a 1/2 period are mixed with each signal of a differential signal, and a difference between results of the mixing of the two local signals is calculated. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a signal processing apparatus, a transmission apparatus, a reception apparatus, a communication apparatus, an electronic apparatus having a transmission function, a reception function, or a communication function, or a computer that controls those apparatuses.

The present application relates to a circuit of a frequency divider arranged to divide a frequency of an input clock signal by odd integer N and a method of operating the circuit. A shift register comprises a number of N+1 clock gating cells, which are connected in series to each other, and a shift logic. An input clock signal is fed into clock signal inputs of each one of the number of N+1 clock gating cells. The shift logic is configured to receive enable signals from a set of the number of N+1 clock gating cells and to generate a feedback signal, which is supplied to a gate enable input of the first one of the number of N+1 clock gating cells. A multiplexer is configured to receive at input ports N+1 gated clock signals and to output a rotation clock signal, which has a frequency of 2/N of the frequency of the input clock signal. A frequency generator is configured to receive the rotation clock signal and to generate an output clock signal having a frequency of 1/N.

A band-pass filter is described comprising a first first-order filter stage comprising a first resistor characterized by a first impedance and connected to a first node, referred to as a filter input node, and, through a second node to a first reactive component connected to a third node, the first impedance being such that a first current therethrough is dependent on the difference between the voltages at the first and second nodes; and a second first-order filter stage comprising a second resistor characterized by a second impedance and connected to the second node, and, through a fourth node, to a second reactive component connected to a fifth node. The second impedance is such that a second current therethrough is dependent on the negative of the sum of the voltages at the second and fourth nodes. The band-pass filter further comprises summing means for summing the voltages at the second and fourth nodes to output a voltage at a sixth node.

A divider circuit and method for generating one or more digital signals is presented. The circuit has a first output section for generating a first digital signal. There is a first output section with an output node to output the first digital signal, and a plurality of switches with one or more control switches. The plurality of switches selectively couple the output node to a first voltage and/or to selectively couple the output node to a second voltage, thereby generating the first digital signal. The or each control switch is prevents at least one of (i) the output node being coupled to the first and second voltages simultaneously and (ii) the output node being decoupled from both the first and second voltages simultaneously.

A setting data output circuit (3) is configured to update setting data in synchronization with a frequency divided signal output from a dual modulus frequency divider on a last stage out of the dual modulus frequency dividers to which a non-significant reset signal is output from a reset circuit (6) which are included in a plurality of dual modulus frequency dividers (1-1 and 1-2) in a first frequency divider group (1). As a result, when a frequency dividing ratio of the dual modulus frequency divider on the last stage out of valid dual modulus frequency dividers contributing to frequency dividing operation is 3, it is possible to realize normal frequency dividing operation even in a case in which frequency dividing ratio setting data to decrease the number of valid dual modulus frequency dividers contributing to the frequency dividing operation is provided.

A back side illuminated image sensor may operate using the single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) concept in a Geiger mode of operation for single photon detection. The image sensor may be implemented using two layer stacking with a silicon on insulator (SOI) chip. The chip-to-chip electrical connections between the top level image sensing chip and the second level ASIC circuit chip may be realized at each pixel with a single bump connection per pixel. A light level signal may be obtained from pixels that have photon counting capabilities while a distance measurement signal for 3-dimensional imaging may be obtained from pixels that have time-of-flight (ToF) detection capabilities. Both types of pixels may be integrated within the same array and use the same SPAD structure placed on the top chip.