A sensor, including at least one transducer for emitting signals and for receiving reflected echo signals, the transducer being set up to output an analog measuring signal, an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog measuring signal into a digital measuring signal, an evaluation unit for evaluating the digital measuring signal, and a communication unit for transmitting a measuring result of the evaluation via a digital communication interface. The communication unit is equipped to receive a request for diagnostic data via the digital communication interface, and is also equipped to switch the sensor to diagnostic operation and to transmit requested diagnostic data via the digital communication interface. The communication unit is set up to communicate with at least two different data rates via the digital communication interface, a higher data rate being used for transmitting the diagnostic data than for transmitting the measuring result during normal operation of the sensor.

A system and methods of computer security are provided wherein a first mobile computing device drives an acoustic transducer to emit an acoustic signal encoding a time-based, one time password (TOTP) code, and a second mobile computing device measures output of a MEMS gyroscope that senses the emitted acoustic signal. The second mobile computing device decodes the TOTP code from the gyroscope output, validates the TOTP code and responsively permits a user to access a secure application.

A system and methods of computer security are provided wherein a first mobile computing device drives an acoustic transducer to emit an acoustic signal encoding a time-based, one time password (TOTP) code, and a second mobile computing device measures output of a MEMS gyroscope that senses the emitted acoustic signal. The second mobile computing device decodes the TOTP code from the gyroscope output, validates the TOTP code and responsively permits a user to access a secure application.

A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.

A method of transmitting data comprises modulating data symbols for transmission onto a sonic carrier signal and transmitting the modulated data using an electroacoustic transducer. The modulated data is transmitted by transmitting a portion of the modulated data for a first duration; pausing transmission for a second duration; and repeating the transmitting and pausing with further portions of the modulated data.

A master data acquisitions system is provided. A trigger emits a sync signal to be sensed by each of a plurality of data acquisition systems. A controller is communicatively coupled with each of the plurality of data acquisition systems. The controller receives data from each of the data acquisition systems. The data for each of the plurality of data acquisition systems include the sensed sync signal. The controller synchronizes the data from each of the plurality of data acquisition systems by aligning the sensed sync signal for each of the plurality of data acquisition systems.

An embodiment communication system includes: one or more slave stations, each of the slave stations including a sensor configured to detect a sensor signal, a controller configured to generate a first electrical signal at a predetermined frequency using the sensor signal, and a sound wave transmitter configured to convert the first electrical signal into a sound wave signal and to emit the sound wave signal; and a master station including a sound wave receiver configured to receive the sound wave signal and to convert the sound wave signal into a second electrical signal, and a controller configured to detect that the sensor of one of the slave stations has detected the sensor signal based on the second electrical signal.

An embodiment communication system includes: one or more slave stations, each of the slave stations including a sensor configured to detect a sensor signal, a controller configured to generate a first electrical signal at a predetermined frequency using the sensor signal, and a sound wave transmitter configured to convert the first electrical signal into a sound wave signal and to emit the sound wave signal; and a master station including a sound wave receiver configured to receive the sound wave signal and to convert the sound wave signal into a second electrical signal, and a controller configured to detect that the sensor of one of the slave stations has detected the sensor signal based on the second electrical signal.

Organism monitoring systems and devices and associated monitoring methods are described. According to one aspect, an organism monitoring device configured to be associated with an organism to be monitored includes a housing, a battery coupled with the housing, wherein the battery is configured to store electrical energy, a transmitter coupled with the housing and the battery, wherein the transmitter is configured to emit a wireless signal externally of the organism monitoring device and the organism being monitored, sensor circuitry coupled with the housing and the battery, wherein the sensor circuitry is configured to monitor an environment of the organism monitoring device, and control circuitry coupled with the housing, the sensor circuitry and the battery, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust an operation of the organism monitoring device as a result of monitoring of the environment of the organism monitoring device by the sensor circuitry.

Organism monitoring systems and devices and associated monitoring methods are described. According to one aspect, an organism monitoring device configured to be associated with an organism to be monitored includes a housing, a battery coupled with the housing, wherein the battery is configured to store electrical energy, a transmitter coupled with the housing and the battery, wherein the transmitter is configured to emit a wireless signal externally of the organism monitoring device and the organism being monitored, sensor circuitry coupled with the housing and the battery, wherein the sensor circuitry is configured to monitor an environment of the organism monitoring device, and control circuitry coupled with the housing, the sensor circuitry and the battery, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to adjust an operation of the organism monitoring device as a result of monitoring of the environment of the organism monitoring device by the sensor circuitry.