A stack of vertically-connected, horizontally-oriented integrated circuits (ICs) may have electrical connections from the front side of one IC to the back side of another IC. Electrical signals may be transferred from the back side of one IC to the front side of the same IC by means of through substrate vias (TSVs), which may include through silicon vias. Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to test and/or replace defective TSVs. Additional apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed.

Apparatus and methods for through substrate via test

Methods and apparatus for detecting a magnetic field include a semiconductor substrate (20), a coil (18) configured to provide a changing magnetic field in response to a changing current in the coil; and a magnetic field sensing element (16) supported by the substrate. The coil receives the changing current and, in response, generates a changing magnetic field. The magnetic field sensing element detects the presence of a magnetic target (12) by detecting changes to the magnetic field caused by the target and comparing them to an expected value.

Methods and apparatus for magnetic sensor producing a changing magnetic field

A magnetic field sensor has a plurality of magnetic field sensing elements and operates as a motion detector for sensing a rotation or other movement of a target object.

Magnetic field sensor providing a movement detector

A communication device, including: a near field communicator configured to perform near field communication with an information processing terminal; a display configured to display an image; and a controller configured to execute specific processing in which the controller obtains data from the information processing terminal utilizing the near field communication and executes process in accordance with the obtained data, wherein the controller is configured to determine, when an image is being displayed on the display, whether displayed-image-based processing that is processing in accordance with the image displayed on the display is the specific processing, and wherein the controller is configured to inactivate a communication function of the near field communicator if it is determined that the displayed-image-based processing is not the specific processing and to activate the communication function of the near field communicator if it is determined that the displayed-image-based processing is the specific processing.

Communication device and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program for controlling the communication device

A method of controlling an air conditioner includes a step of sensing the capacitance of condensed water through a plurality of electrode pads to sense the level of condensed water stored in a condensed water storage part during cooling, a step of comparing the sensed level of the condensed water with a drainage level stored in a memory, and a step of, upon determining that the sensed level of the condensed water is within an error range of the drainage level, operating a drainage pump. A water level detecting device of the air conditioner more accurately senses the level of condensed water based on the capacitance of the condensed water, thereby effectively controlling the drainage pump.

Method of controlling air conditioner and air conditioner controlled thereby

A ground fault detection system based on capacitive sensing suitable for use in detecting a ground fault condition in electronic equipment (such as a PCBA) with a circuit ground electrically isolated from an isolation ground (such as chassis ground). The capacitive sensing system includes a capacitive sensor capacitively coupled to the system isolation ground, and a capacitance/data converter that captures sensor capacitance measurements for conversion to sensor data representative of a ground short. In one embodiment, the capacitive sensor includes a sensor electrode capacitively coupled to the system isolation ground by one of projected capacitance and a floating capacitor (such as 33 pf), and the CDC unit further includes sensor excitation circuitry configured to drive the sensor electrode, such that a sensor capacitance (projected or floating capacitance) is representative of an electrical condition of the system isolation ground. For sensing by projected capacitance, the capacitive sensor can include a driven shield.

Ground fault detection based on capacitive sensing

Inductive position sensing uses inductance multiplication with series connected sensor coils. In one embodiment, a first sensing domain area is established in a first target plane using first and second sensor coils disposed on a longitudinal axis, on opposite sides of the first target plane and connected in series, so that a series-combined inductance is a multiple of a sum of the respective first and second coil inductances. Target position within the first sensing domain area of the first target plane is detected based on the series-combined inductance of the first and second coils, which changes as the target moves within the first sensing domain area of the first target plane. Further sensitivity can be achieved by additional coils, series connected on the same longitudinal axis, each coil pair defining a sensing area on a respective target plane intermediate the coils.

Inductive sensing including inductance multiplication with series connected coils

An arrangement for securing a touch sensor assembly within a mobile communication or other device with at least one touch button defined within a touch button area. The touch sensor assembly includes a touch sensor (such as a sense inductor coil), and multiple back-side spring clips attached at the back-side of the sensor assembly. A touch sensor pocket integral with the device case is disposed at an interior-side of the touch button area, the sensor pocket to position the sensor assembly relative to the associated touch button. The touch sensor assembly can be secured within the touch sensor pocket by the back-side spring clips, spring-urged toward the front-side of the sensor pocket, and spaced from the device case by spacer elements (which can be attached to the sensor assembly, or integrated into the device case). The touch sensor pocket can include back-side alignment elements for aligning the spring clips.

Securing a touch sensor assembly within a device

In described examples, capacitive liquid level measurement uses differential out-of-phase (OoP) channel drive to counteract human body capacitance. A container assembly (10) includes a capacitive sensor (20) with symmetrical CHx and CHy capacitor electrodes (21x, 21y), corresponding in height to a liquid level measurement range. A CHx driver provides a CHx excitation/drive to the CHx electrode (21x), and a CHy driver provides OoP CHy excitation/drive to the CHy electrode (21y) that is substantially 180 degrees out-of-phase with the CHx drive. Capacitance associated with the liquid level (13) is measured by acquiring capacitance measurements through the CHx channel (such as based on capacitive charge transfer), and converting the capacitance measurements to an analog voltage corresponding to liquid-level capacitance (which can then be converted to digital data). The capacitive sensor can be configured with SHLDx/SHLDy shields (23x, 23y) disposed behind, and driven in phase with, respective CHx/CHy electrodes (21x, 21y).

Capacitive liquid level measurement with differential out-of-phase channel drive to counteract human body capacitance

A rotational sensing system is adaptable to sensing motor rotation based on eddy current sensing. An axial target surface (20) is incorporated with the motor rotor (15), and includes one or more conductive target segment(s) (21A, 21B, 23A, 23B). An inductive sensor (30) is mounted adjacent the axial target surface (20), and includes one or more inductive sense coil(s) (31 A, 31B, 33A, 33B), such that rotor rotation rotates the target segment(s) (21 A, 21B, 23A, 23B) laterally under the sense coil(s) (31 A, 31B, 33A, 33B). An inductance-to -digital converter (IDC) (50) drives sensor excitation current to project a magnetic sensing field toward the rotating axial target surface (20). Sensor response is characterized by successive sensor phase cycles that cycle between LMIN in which a sense coil is aligned with a target segment, and LMAX in which the sense coil is misaligned. The number of sensor phase cycles in a rotor rotation cycle corresponds to the number of target segments (21A, 21B, 23A, 23B). The IDC (50) converts sensor response measurements from successive sensor phase cycles into rotational data.

Evgeny Fomin

Papers

Ground fault detection based on capacitive sensing

Inductive sensing including inductance multiplication with series connected coils

Securing a touch sensor assembly within a device

Capacitive liquid level measurement with differential out-of-phase channel drive to counteract human body capacitance

Rotational sensing with inductive sensor and rotating axial target surface