Abstract: An illumination device has a plurality of main illumination areas subdivided into at least a first and a second sub-illumination area, wherein a luminous element for outputting radiation is arranged on each sub-illumination area, and wherein a beam deflection unit is associated with each main illumination area, which is designed to deflect the radiation output by the luminous element of the first sub-illumination area into another direction than the radiation output by the luminous element of the second sub-illumination area.

Abstract: A composite data detector having first and second data detectors. The second detector of the invention starts in a known state and only runs as long as is necessary before being switched off and handing control back over to the smaller detector. Therefore, the composite data detector of the invention consumes less power than the known composite data detector and estimates bits with higher accuracy.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for converting input data produced by sampling a color image having pixels arranged in a first grid into output data resulting in a reproduction of the color image having pixels arranged in a second grid, each pixel of the input data and of the output data having a plurality of sub-pixels, each sub-pixel of a pixel being associated with a color component of the color image, produce a sub-pixel of a color component of the output data by filtering the sub-pixels of the corresponding color component of the input data using a filtering function locally related to this sub-pixel of the output data.

Abstract: A normally closed microvalve includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a deflectable closing element, which, in the closed state of the microvalve, is seated on a sealing lip, such that the fluid inlet is fluidically disconnected from the fluid outlet, and in the opened state of the microvalve, is spaced apart from the sealing lip, and a deflectable holding structure which is connected to the closing element such that, between the same, a space exists, which is in fluidic communication to the fluid outlet. An influence of a force onto the holding structure and the closing element in a first direction provides an opening-action to the microvalve, while an influence of a force onto the holding structure and the closing element in a second direction provides a closing-action. The fluid inlet and the closing element are arranged such that a pressure at the fluid inlet exerts a force in the second direction.

Abstract: A line driver circuit with an output impedance that is set to a value which is based at least in part on the impedance of one or more current sources of the driver circuit. The current source impedance varies depending on the desired output amplitude of the driver circuit. Once the current source impedance is determined, a resistor is selected to be placed in parallel connection with the current source so that the combination of the resistor and the current source impedance will produce a desired output impedance for the driver circuit. Preferably, the driver circuit includes a second current source and second resistor in parallel with each other and a source termination resistor, such that the combination of the current source impedance values and the resistor values produces a desired output impedance for the driver circuit.

Abstract: A reverse fill pattern is used in an integrated circuit (IC) that comprises a metal layer having slots formed therein in the shape of rhombuses. The distribution of rhombic slots ensures that electrical current is evenly distributed in the conductor, even at the edge regions of the conductor. This even distribution of rhombic slots ensures that electrical current is evenly distributed at least in the central region, and in most if not all cases, across the entire region of the conductor including the edge regions. Thus, the reverse fill pattern prevents current crowding. By preventing current crowding, more stringent metal distribution targets can be met without creating or exacerbating problems associated with IR drop and EM, and without having to add any extra metal to avoid such problems.

Abstract: A pseudo-random bit interleaver and de-interleaver comprising a source for generating pseudo-random numbers and transformation logic that transforms each pseudo-random number generated by the source into a plurality of different pseudo-random numbers. Each of the transformed pseudo-random numbers identifying a parity equation to which an incoming bit will be assigned for computing parity.

Abstract: A turbo decoder that calculates alpha, beta and gamma (branch metric) values does not normalize the branch metric but instead applies the normalization factor to the newly calculated extrinsic values before writing them to interleaving memory, resulting in use of less memory than in prior turbo decoders. A compensating factor is applied when the extrinsics are read from interleaving memory. The absence of normalization in the gamma calculation not only conserves memory but also enhances decoder sensitivity.

Abstract: Quantizing an information signal of a sequence of information values includes frequency-selective filtering the sequence of information values to obtain a sequence of filtered information values and quantizing the filtered information values to obtain a sequence of quantized information values by means of a quantizing step function which maps the filtered information values to the quantized information values and the course of which is steeper below a threshold information value than above the threshold information value.

Abstract: A switching regulator for generating a regulated output voltage comprises a charging switch, a network with a coil, a capacitor and a diode as well as a control to open and close the charging switch. On the output side, the network has a positive output rail and a negative output rail, wherein the output voltage to be regulated is applied between the positive output rail and the negative output rail. The control is formed to control a change-over switch to connect the control input of the charging switch either to the positive output rail or the negative output rail via a potential coupling means. Thus, for controlling the switch, no individual potential has to be generated, but the potential at the positive output rail or the negative output rail, which is anyway applied, is used for controlling the charging switch. Thereby, the inventive switching regulator can be structured in a simple way and, additionally, provides defined and fast startup without requiring additional startup circuits.

Abstract: If an adaptive prediction algorithm controllable by a speed coefficient is started from to operate with a first adaption speed and a first adaption precision and an accompanying first prediction precision in the case that the speed coefficient has a first value and to operate with a second, compared to the first one, lower adaption speed and a second, but compared to the first one, higher precision in the case that the speed parameter has a second value, the adaption durations occurring after the reset times where the prediction errors are at first increased due to the, not yet, adapted prediction coefficients may be decreased by at first setting the speed parameter to the first value and, after a while, to a second value. After the speed parameter has again been set to the second value after a predetermined duration after the reset times, the prediction errors and thus the residuals to be transmitted are more optimized or smaller than would be possible with the first speed parameter value.

Abstract: A pre-distorter that compensates for amplitude and phase distortion created by an amplifier. During a training session, the amplifier is stimulated with input signals of pre-selected amplitude and phase at various temperatures and the amplifier output is captured and converted into data sets. Polynomials are then fitted to the data sets and inverses of the polynomials are determined. The coefficients of the inverse polynomials are then saved for each temperature. During operation, the amplifier temperature is predicted based on the amplifier input signal and the coefficients associated with the predicted temperature are selected to be applied to the input signal to compensate for amplitude and phase distortion caused by the amplifier.

Abstract: A directional signal processing system for beamforming information signals. The system includes an oversampled filterbank, which has an analysis filterbank for transforming the information signals in time domain into channel signals in transform domain, a synthesis filterbank and a signal processor. The signal processor processes the outputs of the analysis filterbank for beamforming the information signals. The synthesis filterbank transforms the outputs of the signal processor to a single information signal in time domain.

Abstract: A digital filtering apparatus and method for digitally filtering out undesirable or invalid data from data signal lines. The digital filtering apparatus includes a digital delay element having one or more outputs, a comparator connected to the outputs of the digital delay element, and a final stage connected to the output of the comparator and the outputs of the digital delay element. The digital filtering apparatus recognizes and filters out invalid data from data received by the digital delay element, and allows valid data to pass through the filter. Data is considered invalid data if its logical data state transition has a duration less than the clock setting of the digital filtering apparatus. The clock setting can be established by the number of active delay components in the digital delay element. The inventive digital filtering apparatus represents an improvement over conventional analog filters, e.g., in manufacturing efficiency and filtering performance.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a multi-channel signal includes a means for determining a similarity between a first one of two channels and a second one of the two channels. Furthermore, a means for performing a prediction filtering of the spectral coefficients is provided, which is formed to perform a prediction filtering with only a single prediction filter for both channels in case of high similarity between the first and the second channel, and to perform a prediction filtering with two separate prediction filters in case of a dissimilarity between the first and the second channel. With this, an introduction of stereo artifacts and a deterioration of the coding gain in stereo coding techniques are avoided.

Abstract: Reliability testing circuitry is built into the wafer or IC package in the form of one or more individual testers that use small-area transistors as DUTs. Stress can be applied to the DUTs in parallel and information about breakdown, wearout or failure can be obtained from the individual testers. Only a few pads are needed to test hundreds and even thousands of the DUTs of the individual testers. Testing of many DUTs may be performed using a simple power supply and a few probes.

Abstract: A method and a device for providing cards for processing first cause a drawing of a card from at least one card magazine. The cards are arranged in a plurality of card magazines and may be drawn from the same, and information regarding their card type is further associated with the cards. After drawing the card, it is output for subsequent processing together with the information regarding the card type associated with the card to allow control of the subsequent processing based on the forwarded information. Cards of a known card type are arranged in a card magazine and the information regarding the card type is associated with the card magazine, wherein the information associated with the card magazine is forwarded when drawing a card from a card magazine.

Abstract: A switch device includes a switch to be tested with a first terminal and a second terminal as well as a control terminal for controlling a resistance between the first terminal and the second terminal. Furthermore, the switch device includes a resistor as well as means for providing a measuring current across the resistor into the first terminal of the switch to be tested, wherein the control terminal and the first terminal of the switch to be tested are coupled in electrically conductive manner. Furthermore, the switch device includes means for sensing a voltage present due to the measuring current between the control terminal and the second terminal of the switch to be tested, wherein the voltage refers to an operability of the switch to be tested. With the switch device, in particular a greater number of potentially occurring errors of the switch to be tested can be detected as opposed to conventional switch devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method for orienting an optical waveguide in relation to an optical unit arranged in or on an optical module. The optical module has a reference geometry which defines a first axis of symmetry. An offset between the optical axis of the optical unit and the axis of symmetry of the reference geometry is determined. A coupling element such as a sleeve is provided that serves to receive an optical waveguide that is to be oriented in relation to the optical unit. The sleeve has a hole defined by an internal contour thereof that defines a second axis of symmetry. The coupling element is arranged in relation to the optical module in such a way that the second axis of symmetry coincides with the optical axis of the optical unit.