Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamic tracking utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include configuring a transmitting angle of a plurality of leaky wave antennas in a wireless device at a desired starting angle. A RF signal strength may be measured at the sweeping transmitting angles for each of the leaky wave antennas, and a location of one or more objects may be tracked from the measured RF signal strength and a corresponding angle of reception of the LWAs. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. The LWAs may be situated along a plurality of axes in the wireless device. The LWAs may comprise microstrip or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity height of the LWAs is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. The LWAs may be integrated in integrated circuits, integrated circuit packages, and/or printed circuit boards.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, a memory cell in a semiconductor chip includes a non-volatile memory transistor, a control gate, and a floating gate. The control gate is capacitively coupled to the floating gate of the non-volatile memory transistor by a metal capacitor. The metal capacitor can be formed in one or more metal levels and in one embodiment is in a shape of a comb with multiple fingers. In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory transistor is an NMOS non-volatile memory transistor.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device is provided including processing a wafer having a target material; forming a first pattern over the target material; forming a protection layer over the first pattern; and forming a second pattern, over the target material and not over the protection layer, without an etching step between the forming the first pattern and the forming the second pattern.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for visual search in a video media player. There is provided a computing device for performing a visual search in video files comprising a display, a memory, a video media player application in the memory, and a processor configured to store into the memory search terms by allowing a user to visually select objects as search terms using a user interface on the display, initiate a search using the search terms, obtain search results comprising time offsets and play durations within the video files, each play duration containing at least one frame corresponding to the search terms, and display navigational controls in the user interface for presenting the search results, including selectable graphical thumbnail images or preview videos. A user can select objects via outlined, highlighted, or otherwise visually identified objects in a video frame, the selecting enabled by associated search metadata.

Abstract: Aspects of a system for improving efficiency over power control for linear and class AB power amplifiers may include a current source circuit that enables determination of a bias current level for a PA circuit within an IC die based on an amplitude of an input modulation signal. The PA circuit may enable generation of an output signal based on a differential input signal and the input modulation signal to the current source circuit. A generated bias voltage may be applied to a transformer external to the IC die, but internal to an IC package containing the IC die and/or a circuit board containing the IC package. One or more amplifier bias voltage levels may be applied to the PA circuit wherein the amplifier bias voltage levels may be derived from the generated bias voltage level and/or the determined bias current level.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high efficiency amplifier operable to substantially reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). The high efficiency amplifier comprises an output stage to provide a high powered signal to a load. The high efficiency amplifier further comprises an overlap protection circuit to produce a timing non-overlap in a control signal for the output stage, and an edge control circuit to reduce a transient portion of the high powered signal to substantially reduce the EMI. The overlap protection circuit and the edge control circuit may be implemented with resistive source degeneration. Also disclosed is a related method. In one embodiment, the high efficiency amplifier and the related method may be incorporated into a cellular telephone or a mobile audio device.

Abstract: Methods and systems for an on-chip and/or on-package T/R switch and antenna are disclosed and may include selectively coupling one or more low noise amplifiers (LNAs) and/or one or more power amplifiers (PAs) to one or more ports of a multi-port distributed antenna utilizing configurable transmit/receive (T/R) switches integrated on a chip with the LNAs and PAs. The LNAs and PAs may be impedance matched to the antenna by coupling them to a port based on a characteristic impedance at the port. The T/R switches may be integrated on a package to which the chip may be coupled. The signals transmitted and received by the antenna may be time division duplexed. The antenna, which may include a microstrip antenna, may be integrated on the chip or the package. The LNA and the PA may be coupled to different ports on the antenna via the T/R switches.

Abstract: A method for regulating power in a front-end circuit, the method includes determining, along a first communication path, an envelope of a baseband signal; generating at least one voltage control signal based on the determined envelope of the baseband signal; and adjusting one or both of power and/or gain of the front-end circuit using the generated at least one voltage control signal. The baseband signal is communicated to the front-end circuit using a second communication path. Signal delay along the second communication path is matched with signal delay along the first communication path. The at least one voltage control signal comprises a supply voltage signal and a bias voltage signal. The power of the front-end circuit may be adjusted using the supply voltage signal. The gain of the front-end circuit may be adjusted using the bias voltage signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a switching amplifier having an enhanced supply rejection. The switching amplifier comprises a digital modulator that provides a modulated signal. The switching amplifier further comprises a closed-loop analog driver that is coupled to the digital modulator. As disclosed, the closed-loop analog driver is configured to re-modulate a modulation signal that corresponds to the modulated signal. An output stage of the switching amplifier is driven by the re-modulated signal, thereby providing enhanced supply rejection. In one embodiment, the modulated signal is produced by a digital pulse-width modulator (PWM) circuit of a Class-D amplifier, and has a pulse rate substantially less than a clock rate of the digital PWM circuit. In one embodiment, the switching amplifier is implemented as an audio amplifier in a mobile communication device such as a cellular telephone.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for sharing a single antenna for frequency modulation (FM) transmission or FM reception, and near field communication (NFC) are presented. Aspects of a system may include at least one circuit that enables, via a single antenna, simultaneous transmission of an FM signal and transmission of an NFC signal or reception of an NFC signal.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed semiconductor package that includes a power semiconductor die having electrodes thereof electrically connected to the external surface mountable terminals of the package without the use of wirebonds.

Abstract: There is provided a device and a method for collecting information from a customer concerning a point of interest. The device comprises a memory including a unique location identifier associated with a point of interest and a processor, the processor configured to store in the memory a received unique customer identifier and received information concerning the point of interest from a customer. The device can transmit this stored data to a center via a network, where the center can aggregate the data. There is also provided a system for distributed collection of information from customers concerning points of interest, utilizing a plurality of devices and a center for aggregating data. The center can apply data analysis and mining to the aggregate data, allowing rapid and real-time reaction to feedback from customers, efficient turnaround for resolving customer service issues, and enabling efficient research of customer preferences and trends.

Abstract: Stations in standby mode periodically wake up to check for buffered data at the access points. Traditionally, the information is available by checking the periodic beacon frame for a traffic indication map (TIM). Unfortunately, the length of beacons has steadily increased with the progression of the various wireless standards requiring stations to wake up for longer periods to merely check for buffered data. Several approaches are disclosed which address this shortcoming, including the broadcast of TIM frames, the partial reception of beacon frames and the use of an embedded TIM frame within a beacon frame.

Abstract: Methods and systems for a flip chip configurable RF front end with an off-chip balun may include bonding a balun package to a single integrated circuit (IC) comprising an integrated transmitter and a receiver. The balun package may comprise one or more layers and may be electrically coupled to the IC. The balun package may comprise various devices such as, for example, inductors, capacitors, resistors, and/or switches, which may be on an exterior surface and/or inner layers of the balun package. Accordingly, the balun package and/or the IC may be configured for receiving RF signals and/or transmitting RF signals. The balun package and/or the IC may also be configured for single-ended RF input, single-ended RF output, differential RF input, and/or differential RF output. An off-chip amplifier may be used to amplify signals on the single transmit line in the single-ended RF output mode of operation.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for sharing RF filters in systems supporting WCDMA and GSM are provided. A receiver in a wireless device enables receiving WCDMA signals and GSM signals. The WCDMA signals may be received via at least one duplexer within the wireless device. A processing path for the received WCDMA signals or a processing path for the received GSM signals may be selected within the receiver. The processing paths may share bandpass filtering and signal amplification. A gain in the shared signal amplification may be adjusted after filtering the received signals. For received WCDMA signals, the gain adjustment may be based on a gain provided to the received WCDMA signals before applying the shared bandpass filtering. At least one signal may be generated for selecting the processing path and/or for adjusting the shared signal amplification gain.

Abstract: According to one disclosed embodiment, an integrated one-time programmable (OTP) semiconductor device pair includes a split-thickness dielectric under an electrode and over an isolation region formed in a doped semiconductor substrate, where a reduced-thickness center portion of the dielectric forms, in conjunction with the isolation region, programming regions of the OTP semiconductor device pair, and where the thicker, outer portions of the dielectric form dielectrics for transistor structures. In one embodiment, the split-thickness dielectric comprises a gate dielectric. In one embodiment, multiple OTP semiconductor device pairs are formed in an array that minimizes the number of connections required to program and sense states of specific OTP cells.

Abstract: A frequency modulation controller for use in controlling a switched mode power supply including an input terminal for receiving an input voltage and at least one switch selectively turned on and off to control the output voltage of the power supply in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an analog to digital converter operable to convert a feedback signal indicative of the present output voltage into digital data, a digital conditioning unit operable to provide an error signal based on the digital data from the digital to analog converter for use in generating the frequency modulation signal and a digital to analog converter operable to provide the frequency modulation signal based on the error signal, wherein the frequency modulation signal indicates a desired duty cycle of the at least one switch to maintain a desired output voltage such that the at least one switch of the switched mode power supply is turned on and off in accordance with the desired duty cycle.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for an extended range copper transceiver are provided. Reducing the communication rate provided by multi-rate physical (PHY) layer operations in an Ethernet transceiver may extend the range of the Ethernet transceiver over twisted-pair copper cabling from a standard connection length. The Ethernet transceiver may support up to 1 Gbps or up to 10 Gbps transmission rate over copper cabling. The multi-rate PHY layer architecture in the Ethernet transceiver may support signal-processing operations, such as echo cancellation and/or equalization, which may be applied to the reduced communication rate to enable range extension. The reduced communication rate may be achieved by reducing the symbol rate provided by the multi-rate PHY layer operations. Reducing the communication rate may also enable utilizing greater insertion loss cabling for a standard connection length.

Abstract: Disclosed is a false-link protection circuit comprising at least one native switch coupled between a communication terminal of a first differential switch and a communication terminal of a second differential switch. The at least one native switch is configured to provide an attenuation path for a pulse link signal received by either communication terminal when the first and second differential switches are in a powered down state. According to one embodiment, a method to attenuate a pulse link signal comprises activating a native switch of a false-link protection circuit by powering down first and second differential switches, receiving a pulse link signal at a communication terminal of one of the first and second differential switches, and attenuating the pulse link signal by diverting it through the false-link protection circuit when the first and second differential switches are in a powered down state.

Abstract: A method of speech encoding comprises generating a first synthesized speech signal from a first excitation signal, weighting the first synthesized speech signal using a first error weighting filter to generate a first weighted speech signal, generating a second synthesized speech signal from a second excitation signal, weighting the second synthesized speech signal using a second error weighting filter to generate a second weighted speech signal, and generating an error signal using the first weighted speech signal and the second weighted speech signal, wherein the first error weighting filter is different from the second error weighting filter. The method may further generate the error signal by weighting the speech signal using a third error weighting filter to generate a third weighted speech signal, and subtracting the first weighted speech signal and the second weighted speech signal from the third weighted speech signal to generate the error signal.