Abstract: A test circuit for measuring a gate delay as a function of stress is disclosed. The test circuit includes an oscillator, a reference gate chain, a test gate chain, and a counter. The counter measures the difference in propagation delay between the test chain and the reference chain in calibrated oscillator cycles. Differences in test gate delay as a function of applied stress may be measured within the calibration accuracy of the oscillator frequency. The use of the reference gate chain allows a simpler unipolar counter.

Abstract: A system and method for operating an electronic device used in light processing. A method comprises altering a spatial relationship between a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a light incident on the SLM, shifting light modulator states of a first portion of light modulators to a second portion of light modulators, and placing a third portion of light modulators in the SLM into a performance degradation-reducing mode. The amount of shifting performed is proportional to the amount of change in the spatial relationship. The method allows for a change in light modulators used to modulate the light, thereby preventing the overuse of some of the light modulators, which may help to prevent degradation of the light modulators. The performance degradation reducing mode may help to further reduce or even reverse the performance degradation of the light modulators.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a computer method of providing an electronic mask set for an integrated circuit (IC) layer. In the method, a first electronic mask is generated for the IC layer. The first electronic mask includes a first series of longitudinal segments from the IC layer, where the first series has fewer than all of the longitudinal segments in the IC layer. A second electronic mask is also generated for the IC layer. The second electronic mask includes a second series of longitudinal segments from the IC layer, where the second series has fewer than all of the longitudinal segments in the IC layer and differs from the first series. The first and second masks are generated so a coupling segment extends traverse to the first direction and couples one longitudinal segment on the IC layer to another longitudinal segment on the IC layer.

Abstract: A noise robust contrast-enhancement engine utilizes low-pass infinite-impulse-response filters for enhancing the contrast while preventing noise amplification in video/image signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a first transistor device (130) on or in a semiconductor substrate (115) and a second transistor device (132) on or in the substrate. The device further comprises an insulating trench (200) located between the first transistor device and the second transistor device. At least one upper corner (610) of the insulating trench is a rounded corner in a lateral plane (620) of the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated high voltage capacitor, a method of manufacture therefore, and an integrated circuit chip including the same. The integrated high voltage capacitor, among other features, includes a first capacitor plate (120) located over or in a semiconductor substrate (105), and an insulator (130) located over the first capacitor plate (120), at least a portion of the insulator (130) comprising an interlevel dielectric layer (135, 138, 143, or 148). The integrated high voltage capacitor further includes capacitance uniformity structures (910) located at least partially within the insulator (130) and a second capacitor plate (160) located over the insulator (130).

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for displaying stereoscopic digital motion picture images are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the method includes receiving at a digital video projector one or more frames of left-eye data and one or more frames of right-eye data, receiving at the digital video projector an input reference signal indicating whether each frame of data comprises left-eye data or right-eye data, receiving at the digital video projector a display reference signal indicating whether left-eye data or right-eye data should be projected at a particular time, and projecting the left-eye data and right eye data, as indicated by the display reference signal, separated by periods of dark time.

Abstract: One aspect of an LED package, which is covered by this disclosure, includes at least two LED emitters located on a substrate wherein each of the at least two LED emitters forms an emitting area. The emitting area is substantially equal to a reflective area of the LED package, and the LED package has an optical axis that is substantially non-parallel to an optical axis of each of the at least two LED emitters.

Abstract: Disclosed is an add-drop multiplexer that receives an optical signal having a plurality of channels. The multiplexer spatially separates the channels, and a spatial light modulator within the multiplexer, which in some embodiments is a switched blazed grating, routes the channels along first or second paths according to whether the particular channels are to be sent along as a part of an output communication signal or “dropped” into a dropped-channel optical communications signal. The add-drop multiplexer is also operable to receive optical channels to be added to an optical signal and to use a spatial light modulator to add those optical signals to that optical signal.

Abstract: Assessing open circuit and short circuit defect levels in circuits implemented in state of the art ICs is difficult when using conventional test circuits, which are designed to assess continuity and isolation performance of simple structures based on individual design rules. Including circuit blocks from ICs in test circuits provides a more accurate assessment of defect levels expected in ICs using the circuit blocks. Open circuit defect levels may be assessed using continuity chains formed by serially linking continuity paths in the circuit blocks. Short circuit defect levels may be assessed by using parallel isolation test structures formed by linking isolated conductive elements in parallel to buses. Forming isolation connections on a high metal level enables location of shorted elements using voltage contrast on partially deprocessed or partially fabricated test circuits.

Abstract: Methods for gamut mapping and boosting a color saturation of a color signal having multiple colors and a color value for each color. An example method includes mapping each color from a first to a second color space, adjusting each color in the mapped color signal including boosting a color saturation; determining a maximum color value of the color signal; and, in response to a determining that the maximum color value exceeds a maximum displayable color value, setting the color value of the color having the maximum color value to be equal to the maximum displayable color value and scaling color values of colors not having the maximum color value.

Abstract: A system and method for determining high frequency content in an analog image source. A method comprises creating a histogram of the image, and selecting a portion of the image based on the histogram. The histogram comprises a first number of horizontal bins and a second number of vertical bins, with each bin having an associated counter for maintaining a count of pixel differences of pixels in a portion of the image corresponding to the bin that exceed a threshold. The portion of the image selected corresponds to a portion of the histogram having a high pixel difference count relative to other portions of the histogram.

Abstract: A method and structure for uncovering captive devices in a bonded wafer assembly comprising a top wafer and a bottom wafer. One embodiment method includes forming a plurality of cuts in the top wafer and removing a segment of the top wafer defined by the plurality of cuts. The bottom wafer remains unsingulated after the removal of the segment.

Abstract: An optical device includes an array of optical elements located over a package substrate. A controller is also located over the package substrate. The controller is operable to control an operational state of the array in response to an optical signal detected by an optical receiver.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a display device includes a movably suspended diffuser screen, and a voice-coil mechanism coupled to the diffuser screen. A signal-processing device, such as a microprocessor, is coupled to a driver circuit to produce a drive signal at an output terminal for the voice coil in response to a voltage sensed across the voice coil. The driver circuit includes shutdown control to drive its output terminal to a high-impedance state to accommodate sensing voltage across the voice coil. Thus, the signal for the voice coil is produced by the signal-processing device in a closed-loop feedback arrangement without the need for separate position-sensing elements. In a preferred arrangement, a second voice coil is coupled to the diffuser screen and to the signal-processing circuitry to produce a second signal for the second voice coil to accommodate generating a circular motion for the diffuser screen without stationary points.

Abstract: A MEMS device, a printer and a method of printing is presented including providing a light source producing a modulated beam of light, positioning a mirror with a reflective surface to intercept the modulated beam of light. Allowing the mirror to rotate on a single-axis hinge structure such that the resultant reflected beam is swept in a scan plane and creating an image at an intersection of the scan plane and an image plane. Causing the mirror to rotate about the single-axis hinge structure and to oscillate at a tilt about the single-axis hinge structure, wherein the resultant reflected beam of light forms a lemniscate pattern along the image plane, and wherein the lemniscate pattern has an inner angle between a left sweep segment and a right sweep segment of the image.

Abstract: In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method for displaying an image are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a data stream representing a frame of an image. The data stream may indicate a first color pixel cluster corresponding to a first color and a second color pixel cluster corresponding to a second color. The first color pixel cluster and the second color pixel cluster may be displayed. The first color pixel cluster may be different from the second color pixel cluster.

Abstract: Video signals in a video stream are encoded by inserting reference signals in the video stream such that the encoded video stream carry both reference signals and video signals being coded. In the decoding stage, reference images generated from the reference signals are detected and used for identifying the encoded video signals based upon the profiles of the detected reference images. An imaging architecture capable of using the coding scheme comprises a shutter that can be implemented as a dual-processor configuration.

Abstract: Methods for removing contaminants from a semiconductor device that includes a plurality of aluminum-comprising bond pads on a semiconductor surface of a substrate. A plurality of aluminum-including bond pads are formed on the semiconductor surface of the substrate. A patterned passivation layer is then formed on the semiconductor surface, wherein the patterned passivation layer provides an exposed area for the plurality of bond pads. Wet etching with a basic etch solution is used to etch a surface of the exposed area of the aluminum-including bond pads, wherein the wet etching removes at least 100 Angstroms from the surface of the bond pads to form a cleaned surface.

Abstract: A system comprises two or more light sources comprising a first light source and a second light source, each light source of the two or more light sources configured to provide light of a particular wavelength, wherein a first wavelength of a first light provided by the first light source differs from a second wavelength of a second light provided by the second light source, and wherein the first light has a first radiant energy that experiences roll-off. The system further comprises a controller configured to modulate an attribute of each light source to compensate for the roll-off, the modulation comprising modulating an attribute of the first light source, and the modulation further comprising modulating an attribute of the second light source, the modulation of the second attribute being different from the modulation of the first attribute.