Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.

Abstract: A method of modeling capacitance for all practical 2D on-chip wire structures including coplanar and microstrip structures. The method includes using a field lines approach (600) to obtain capacitance expressions for structure components, combining the expressions (704) for components of the subject structure and obtaining a capacitance expression (705) for the subject structure. The static capacitance matrix for the structure is calculated from the capacitance expression. The structure components can include components with parallel plate field lines, quarter circle field lines, singularity field lines, singularity field lines with restriction, double set of quarter circle field lines which are used as building blocks for the subject structure. The final capacitance expressions can be used for the modeling of critical on-chip wires and devices as well as inside a capacitance extraction tool.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for a reader transceiver circuit are described. The reader transceiver circuit incorporates a frequency generator, such as a surface acoustic wave (SAW) oscillator. A reader incorporating the reader transceiver circuit is configured to read a tag at very close range, including while being in contact with the tag. The transceiver can be coupled to various host devices in a variety of ways, including being located in a RFID reader (e.g., mobile or fixed position), a computing device, a barcode reader, etc. The transceiver can be located in an RFID module that is attachable to a host device, can be configured in the host device, or can be configured to communicate with the host device over a distance. The RFID module may include one or more antennas, such as a first antenna configured to receive a magnetic field component of an electromagnetic wave and a second antenna configured to receive an electric field component of an electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: An apparatus for interfacing a wireless local area network with a wide area, cellular or public switched telephone network including the function of a wireless LAN base station or access point, and a gateway. The interface may contain one or more different types of gateways, including a PSTN voice gateway, an analog modem gateway, and others. The apparatus may also include a well designed to receive the handset or mobile computer device to recharge the battery as well as to automatically transfer data when the phone or device is secured in the well.

Abstract: Optical motion detectors of the type used in a computer mouse are mounted on the bottom of a vehicle for detecting motion of the vehicle along a surface. Position of the vehicle can thereafter be computed by “dead reckoning.” In a preferred arrangement, optical markings on the surface can be used, or other arrangements can be used, to calibrate the system.

Abstract: A method and system of determining and correcting modulation and offset effects in a received signal. A signal [s(n)] is received subject to modulation effects A on pulse shape or peak [p(n)] and vertical offset B due to multipath where “n” is a pulse rate or samples of the signal. A template of length N incorporates a replica of the original signal [s(n)] without multipath or vertical offset. The template is normalized and generates either an extended template or a balanced template. The extended template is correlated with the received signal [s(n)] by shifting the extended template along the received signal to estimate modulation effects of A at a particular time, n. The average difference between the template and the modulated signal [p(n)] is calculated to determine the magnitude of the offset B for a particular time, n.

Abstract: Described is a method for determining an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition. A wireless coverage map of a wireless network is generated as a function of a location of at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network. The first signal data includes a first signal strength of a wireless signal communicated between the at least one access point and a wireless device. A second signal data is received. The second signal data includes a second signal strength of a further wireless signal communicated between one of the at least one access point and a further wireless device. The existence of the predetermined wireless network coverage condition is determined as a function of the second signal data and the wireless coverage map.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for timing synchronization of receivers in a wireless network to improve the accuracy of real time location tracking methods utilize time difference of arrival methods. The synchronization signals are provided over the wired network which connects the wireless receiver base stations. The timing signals may be transmitted on an unused pair of wires, or may be superimposed on a pair of wires which are used for Ethernet data signals or a pair of wires used for Ethernet DC power signals.

Abstract: A method of modeling capacitance for all practical 2D on-chip wire structures including coplanar and microstrip structures. The method includes using a field lines approach (600) to obtain capacitance expressions for structure components, combining the expressions (704) for components of the subject structure and obtaining a capacitance expression (705) for the subject structure. The static capacitance matrix for the structure is calculated from the capacitance expression. The structure components can include components with parallel plate field lines, quarter circle field lines, singularity field lines, singularity field lines with restriction, double set of quarter circle field lines which are used as building blocks for the subject structure. The final capacitance expressions can be used for the modeling of critical on-chip wires and devices as well as inside a capacitance extraction tool.

Abstract: Circuits and methods are provided for building integrated transformer-coupled amplifiers with on-chip transformers that are designed to resonate or otherwise tune parasitic capacitances to achieve frequency tuning of amplifiers at millimeter wave operating frequencies.

Abstract: Methods are provided for building integrated circuit transformer devices having compact and optimized architectures for use in MMW (millimeter-wave) applications. The integrated circuit transformer devices have universal and scalable architectures that can be used as templates or building blocks for constructing various types of on-chip devices for millimeter-wave applications.

Abstract: A method for detemiining fringing capacitances on passive devices within an integrated circuit is disclosed. A fringing capacitance region on a passive device is initially divided into a group of fringing electric field areas. A set of fringing capacitance equations is then developed for the fringing electric field areas accordingly. A determination is made as to whether or not an accuracy of the fringing capacitance equations meets a predetermined threshold. If so, then the fringing capacitance equations are utilized in compact device models to determine fringing capacitance on the passive device; otherwise, the physically-based fringing capacitance equations are fitted to a set of extracted data to generate a refined set of physically-based fringing capacitance equations, and the refined set of physically-based fringing capacitance equations is utilized in compact device models to determine fringing capacitance on the passive device.

Abstract: The location of unmodified wireless assets in a wireless communication network may be identified using time differences of arrivals of a communication sequence at different network receivers. Time-stamping devices may include correlator circuits in parallel with signal decoders to time-stamp communication sequences. Cellular wireless networks may be frequency-multiplexed to increase spatial time-stamping density. Tags may be attached to passive assets to provide location identification information to network devices. Locations of assets broadcasting standard 802.11 radio frequency structures may be identified. Noise inherent in correlating a communication sequence may be reduced by using a selected correlation function.

Abstract: In a system 10 for designing an integrated circuit, a preliminary design of the integrated circuit is defined and critical interconnect lines in the preliminary design are identified. Further, any critical interconnect lines which are affected by crossing lines in the preliminary design are identified, and a transmission line model 35 is defined to represent each critical interconnect line. A layout design of the integrated circuit, comprising circuit components and parameters thereof, is then defined using the preliminary design and the transmission line model 35 for each critical interconnect line. Component parameters are then extracted from the layout design for simulation of the design using the extracted component parameters. During this design process, for each transmission line model 35 representing a critical interconnect line affected by a crossing line, an environment terminal 36 is provided.

Abstract: The location of unmodified wireless assets in a wireless communication network may be identified using time differences of arrivals of a communication sequence at different network receivers. Time-stamping devices may include correlator circuits in parallel with signal decoders to time-stamp communication sequences. Cellular wireless networks may be frequency-multiplexed to increase spatial time-stamping density. Tags may be attached to passive assets to provide location identification information to network devices. Locations of assets broadcasting standard 802.11 radio frequency structures may be identified. Noise inherent in correlating a communication sequence may be reduced by using a selected correlation function.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronizing internal clocks of receiving stations of a locating system are described. A beacon transmits reference data packets at a known position. A first arrival time is compared to a second arrival time to determine a correlated arrival time data. The first arrival time is a time of reception of the reference data packets by a first receiving station, and the second arrival time is a time of reception of the reference data packets by a second receiving station. A linear polynomial fit is computed as a function of the correlated arrival time data and the first and second arrival times. Times of arrival of data packets at the first and second receiving stations is synchronized as a function of the linear polynomial fit.

Abstract: An critical interconnect line (300) for an integrated circuit is provided in which the problem of dishing of copper is addressed. An interconnect line (300) is provided for an integrated circuit in the form of a critical interconnect line modelled as a transmission line. The interconnect line (300) is formed of a conductive material having a width (302) and a length (303). The interconnect line (300) comprises at least two fingers (304, 305, 306) extending the length (303) of the interconnect line (300), an elongate aperture (309) in the conductive material separating two adjacent fingers (304, 305, 306), and one or more bridges (308) joining the fingers (304, 305, 306) at intervals along the length (303) of the interconnect line (300). The fingers (303, 304, 305) are kept within a width for which the effect of dishing acceptable width whilst the bridges (307, 308) keep the fingers (304, 305, 306) at the same potential difference.

Abstract: A method for determining fringing capacitances on passive devices within an integrated circuit is disclosed. A fringing capacitance region on a passive device is initially divided into a group of fringing electric field areas. A set of fringing capacitance equations is then developed for the fringing electric field areas accordingly. A determination is made as to whether or not an accuracy of the fringing capacitance equations meets a predetermined threshold. If the accuracy of the fringing capacitance equations meets the predetermined threshold, then the fringing capacitance equations are utilized in compact device models to determine fringing capacitance on the passive device.

Abstract: A method for estimating a location of a wireless device in a wireless local network is provided. The method includes forming a first set comprised of the signal strength received from access points that the wireless device received a signal from and an indicator of no signal strength measured for access points that the wireless device did not receive a signal from. Next, a scan subset can be formed comprised of access points in the first set that has associated signal strength. Next, a cluster comprised of the calibration points can be formed based on the scan subset. A distance between the first set and each of the calibration point in the cluster can be calculated. Then, the smallest distance can be selected as the location estimate.

Abstract: Optical motion detectors of the type used in a computer mouse are mounted on the bottom of a vehicle for detecting motion of the vehicle along a surface. Position of the vehicle can thereafter be computed by “dead reckoning.” In a preferred arrangement, optical markings on the surface can be used, or other arrangements can be used, to calibrate the system.