A semiconductor device may include: a variable delay circuit configured to delay a data strobe signal according to a delay control signal and output a delayed data strobe signal; a data sampler configured to compare a level of a reference voltage and a value of a data signal in synchronization with the delayed data strobe signal, and determine a logic level of the value of the data signal, the data signal having a training pattern; and a control circuit configured to determine a delay amount of the data strobe signal and generate the delay control signal and the reference voltage according to an output signal of the data sampler.

During operation, a supply voltage and the reference voltage power a novel multi-level pulse generator circuit. The multi-level pulse generator circuit generates voltage pulses of varying magnitude from a respective output port. For example, the multi-level pulse generator circuit produces respective pulses to have magnitudes that fall inside and outside of a range defined by the supply voltage and the reference voltage. Expansion of the pulse magnitudes to be outside of the range as defined by the supply voltage and the reference voltage increases noise immunity and therefore enables a respective transmitter to transmit data at higher bandwidth. The multi-level pulse generator circuit can be fabricated using a set of multiple transistors of only a single type in which each of the multiple transistors in the set has a corresponding oxide breakdown voltage that is substantially less than the respective magnitude that falls outside of the range.

During operation, a supply voltage and the reference voltage power a novel multi-level pulse generator circuit. The multi-level pulse generator circuit generates voltage pulses of varying magnitude from a respective output port. For example, the multi-level pulse generator circuit produces respective pulses to have magnitudes that fall inside and outside of a range defined by the supply voltage and the reference voltage. Expansion of the pulse magnitudes to be outside of the range as defined by the supply voltage and the reference voltage increases noise immunity and therefore enables a respective transmitter to transmit data at higher bandwidth. The multi-level pulse generator circuit can be fabricated using a set of multiple transistors of only a single type in which each of the multiple transistors in the set has a corresponding oxide breakdown voltage that is substantially less than the respective magnitude that falls outside of the range.

The invention relates to a sensor (1) comprising a pulse generator (2) and an electrode (3) connected to an output of the pulse generator (2). A detector (61) detects a change in the amplitude of the signal being present at the electrode, and a control unit (62) operatively connected to the output of the detector (61), detects the presence of a person interacting with the sensor based on the output signal of the detector (61). Furthermore, the electrode (3) is connected to the pulse generator (2) via an inductive circuit such that the sensor can detect the presence of a user but can also be used as a touch sensor.

In one embodiment, the pulse generator (2) via an inductive circuit is adapted to generate a pulse train with repetition rate equal to the resonance frequency of the inductive circuit or to an integer multiple of an octave of said resonance frequency.

An automatic faucet (100) using such sensor is further described.

The invention relates to a sensor (1) comprising a pulse generator (2) and an electrode (3) connected to an output of the pulse generator (2). A detector (61) detects a change in the amplitude of the signal being present at the electrode, and a control unit (62) operatively connected to the output of the detector (61), detects the presence of a person interacting with the sensor based on the output signal of the detector (61). Furthermore, the electrode (3) is connected to the pulse generator (2) via an inductive circuit such that the sensor can detect the presence of a user but can also be used as a touch sensor.

In one embodiment, the pulse generator (2) via an inductive circuit is adapted to generate a pulse train with repetition rate equal to the resonance frequency of the inductive circuit or to an integer multiple of an octave of said resonance frequency.

An automatic faucet (100) using such sensor is further described.

A system includes an inverter including: a first galvanic isolator separating a primary voltage area from a secondary voltage area; a second galvanic isolator separating the primary voltage area from the secondary voltage area; a first bias network in the secondary voltage area, and connected to the first galvanic isolator; a second bias network in the secondary voltage area, and connected to the second galvanic isolator; a first amplifier in the secondary voltage area, and connected to the first bias network; a second amplifier in the secondary voltage area, and connected to the second bias network; and an open connection detector in the secondary voltage area, the open connection detector connected to the first amplifier and connected to the second amplifier, wherein the open connection detector includes one or more voltage-to-current converters.

A low-loss current sensor for use with a circuit containing a capacitor to sense a current flowing into a node in the circuit is provided. The current sensor includes a differentiator circuit having an input connected to the circuit capacitor and adapted to generate an output which is proportional to the current flowing through the circuit capacitor. The novel use of a capacitive current divider allows the sensor to sense current with virtually no power dissipation.

A low-loss current sensor for use with a circuit containing a capacitor to sense a current flowing into a node in the circuit is provided. The current sensor includes a differentiator circuit having an input connected to the circuit capacitor and adapted to generate an output which is proportional to the current flowing through the circuit capacitor. The novel use of a capacitive current divider allows the sensor to sense current with virtually no power dissipation.

A method for operating a phase shifter chip RF self-test. The method includes outputting, by control hardware, a first signal from a phased locked loop to a pre-amplifier and an input peak detector, outputting, by the control hardware, a second signal from the pre-amplifier to a device under test, selecting, by the control hardware, a target level, and adjusting, by the control hardware, a pre-amplifier gain of the pre-amplifier to cause the input peak detector value to approximately match the target level. The input peak detector is configured to output an input peak detector value based on the first signal.

A method for operating a phase shifter chip RF self-test. The method includes outputting, by control hardware, a first signal from a phased locked loop to a pre-amplifier and an input peak detector, outputting, by the control hardware, a second signal from the pre-amplifier to a device under test, selecting, by the control hardware, a target level, and adjusting, by the control hardware, a pre-amplifier gain of the pre-amplifier to cause the input peak detector value to approximately match the target level. The input peak detector is configured to output an input peak detector value based on the first signal.