Abstract: A DMT system for a half-duplex two-way link carries Internet protocol encoded video stream on a coaxial cable that also carries a baseband rendition of the same video stream. A plurality of downlink symbols modulated on a subband of subcarriers in a downlink signal are decoded. The symbols may carry data encoded on a subband using a constellation of QAM symbols assigned to the subband. Other subbands may be associated with different QAM constellations. Lower-order constellations of QAM symbols may be assigned to subbands that include higher-frequency subcarriers and higher-order constellations of QAM symbols may be assigned to subbands that include lower-frequency subcarriers. A block error correction decoder may be synchronized based on an identification of the first constellation of QAM symbols and information identifying boundaries between the plurality of downlink symbols.

Abstract: A configurable photo detector circuit comprises a photo detector array including a plurality of photo detectors coupled to a plurality of amplifiers. A method for programming a detection pattern of the configurable photo detector circuit comprises selecting a first detection pattern for the photo detector array, generating first signals to create the first selected detection pattern, and applying the first generated signals to the photo detector circuit to implement the first selected detection pattern.

Abstract: A voltage converter includes an output circuit having a high side device and a low side device which can be formed on a single die (i.e. a “PowerDie”) and connected to each other through a semiconductor substrate. Both the high side device and the low side device can include lateral diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistors. Because both output transistors include the same type of transistors, the two devices can be formed simultaneously, thereby reducing the number of photomasks over other voltage converter designs. The voltage converter can further include a controller circuit on a different die which can be electrically coupled to, and co-packaged with, the PowerDie.

Abstract: An isolated epitaxial modulation device comprises a substrate; a barrier structure formed on the substrate; an isolated epitaxial region formed above the substrate and electrically isolated from the substrate by the barrier structure; a semiconductor device, the semiconductor device located in the isolated epitaxial region; and a modulation network formed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the semiconductor device. The device also comprises a bond pad and a ground pad. The isolated epitaxial region is electrically coupled to at least one of the bond pad and the ground pad. The semiconductor device and the epitaxial modulation network are configured to modulate an input voltage.

Abstract: A method and structure for a semiconductor device, the device including a handle wafer, a diamond layer formed directly on a front side of the handle wafer, and a thick oxide layer formed directly on a back side of the handle wafer, the oxide of a thickness to counteract tensile stresses of the diamond layer. Nitride layers are formed on the outer surfaces of the diamond layer and thick oxide layer and a polysilicon is formed on outer surfaces of the nitride layers. A device wafer is bonded to the handle wafer to form the semiconductor device.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems that provide automatic compensation for frequency attenuation of a video signal transmitted over a cable. In accordance with an embodiment, a system includes an equalizer and a compensation controller. The equalizer receives a video signal that was transmitted over a cable, provides compensation for frequency attenuation that occurred during the transmission over the cable, and outputs a compensated video signal. The compensation controller automatically adjusts the compensation provided by the equalizer based on comparisons of one or more portions of the compensated video signal to one or more reference voltage levels.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a top metal layer, a bond pad formed on the top metal layer, a conductor formed below the top metal layer, and an insulation layer separating the conductor from the top metal layer. The top metal layer includes a sub-layer of relatively stiff material compared to the remaining portion of the top metal layer. The sub-layer of relatively stiff material is configured to distribute stresses over the insulation layer to reduce cracking in the insulation layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an unknown QPSK or QAM constellation from a set of possible received constellations are described. One method utilizes a histogram of the power of the signal after inter-symbol-interference has been minimized with a modified constant modulus algorithm equalizer. The constellation may be determined before carrier frequency and phase has been fully recovered. An unknown QPSK or QAM constellation may be identified before or after equalization using disclosed methods for analyzing an output power histogram.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to circuits, systems and methods that can be used to detect light beam misalignment, so that compensation for such misalignment can be performed. In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a photo-detector (PD) having a plurality of electrically isolated PD segments. Additionally, the circuit has circuitry, including switches, configured to control how currents indicative of light detected by the plurality of electrically isolated PD segments are arithmetically combined. When the switches are in a first configuration, a signal produced by the circuitry is indicative of vertical light beam alignment. When the switches are in a second configuration, the signal produced by the circuitry is indicative of horizontal light beam alignment. The signals indicative of vertical light beam alignment and horizontal light beam alignment can be used detect light beam misalignment, so that compensation for such misalignment can be performed.

Abstract: A method and system control the adding or dropping of phases in a multiphase voltage regulator. The regulator has an efficiency and this efficiency of the regulator is calculated for a given number of phases being activated from an output voltage, input voltage, output current, and duty cycle of the regulator. The efficiency of the regulator is also calculated if a phase is added using the derivative of the duty cycle as a function of the output current. The efficiency of the regulator is further calculated if a phase is dropped using the derivative of the duty cycle as a function of the output current. From these operations of calculating, a phase is either added, dropped, or the phase is maintained at its current value to thereby optimize the efficiency of the regulator.