Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises an optical element capable of motion in at least one degree of freedom wherein the motion in at least one degree of freedom is enabled by serpentine hinges configured to enable the optical element to move in at least one degree of freedom. The embodiment further includes driving elements configured to deflect the optical element in said at least one degree of freedom to controllably induce deflection in the optical element and a damping element to reduce magnitude of resonances. Another embodiment includes a MEMS optical apparatus comprising an optical element capable of motion in two degrees of freedom. The two degrees of freedom are enabled by two pairs of serpentine hinges. A first pair of serpentine hinges is configured to enable the optical element to move in one degree of freedom and a second pair of serpentine hinges is configured to enable the optical element to move in a second degree of freedom.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for calculating a CRC on a message or block of data that has been divided into portions, by calculating a partial CRC corresponding to each of the portions and then combining the partial CRCs. The device and method are operable for portions that may have different lengths, and which may be received out of order.

Abstract: A system for protocol processing in a computer network has a TCP/IP Offload Network Interface Device (TONID) associated with a host computer. The TONID provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most large multi-packet messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The TONID also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the TONID to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context is stored in the TONID as a communication control block (CCB) that can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The TONID contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: A network interface device has a fast-path ACK generating and transmitting mechanism. ACKs are generated using a finite state machine (FSM). The FSM retrieves a template header and fills in TCP and IP fields in the template. The FSM is not a stack, but rather fills in the TCP and IP fields without performing transport layer processing and network layer processing sequentially as separate tasks. The filled-in template is placed into a buffer and a pointer to the buffer is pushed onto a high-priority transmit queue. Pointers for ordinary data packets are pushed onto a low-priority transmit queue. A transmit sequencer outputs a packet by popping a transmit queue, obtaining a pointer, and causing information pointed to by the pointer to be output from the network interface device as a packet. The sequencer pops the high-priority queue in preference to the low-priority queue, thereby accelerating ACK generation and transmission.

Abstract: An intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) works with a host computer for data communication. The device provides a fast-path that avoids protocol processing for most messages, greatly accelerating data transfer and offloading time-intensive processing tasks from the host CPU. The host retains a fallback processing capability for messages that do not fit fast-path criteria, with the device providing assistance such as validation even for slow-path messages, and messages being selected for either fast-path or slow-path processing. A context for a connection is defined that allows the device to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The context can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The device contains specialized hardware circuits that are much faster at their specific tasks than a general purpose CPU.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and system for calibrating line drive currents in systems that generate data signals by varying line drive currents and that interpret the data signals by comparing them to one or more reference voltages. The calibration includes varying the line drive current at a transmitting component. At different line drive currents, a receiver reference voltage is varied while the transmitting component transmits data to a receiving component. At each line drive current, the system records the highest and lowest receiver reference voltages at which data errors do not occur. The system then examines the recorded high and low receiver reference voltages to determine a desirable line drive current.

Abstract: Error detection mechanisms for devices that have multilevel signal interfaces test multilevel signals of an interface with a binary test apparatus. The error detection mechanisms include converting between multilevel signals of the interface and binary signals of the test apparatus. The error detection mechanisms also include repeated transmission of multilevel signals stored in a memory of a device having a multilevel signal interface for detection by the test apparatus at different binary levels.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for extracting information from input data comprising mapping of the input data into a data object network. The method uses a semantic cognition network comprised of the data object network, a class object network and a processing object network. The semantic cognition network uses a set of algorithms to process the semantic units. The semantic cognition network defines a processing object in the processing object network by selecting a data domain in the data object network, a class domain in the class object network and an algorithm from the set of algorithms. The processing object comprises the data domain, the class domain and the algorithm. The processing object is used in the processing object network to process the semantic units.

Abstract: A high-speed serial-link driver transmits a differential data signal to a conventional differential receiver via a differential channel. The driver employs termination voltages that are high, relative to the supply voltage employed by the transmitter core logic, to support communication with legacy devices. Cascode amplifiers using an adaptive biasing scheme allow the driver to include voltage-sensitive, high-performance transistors despite the relatively high termination voltage.

Abstract: A receiving device supplies a remote start bit onto a single-wire communication bus. Open-drain interfaces couple the single-wire communication bus to the receiving device and to a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) in the transmitting device. After the UART detects the remote start bit, the UART supplies initial data bits and a stop bit onto the single-wire communication bus. The data bits, stop bit and remote start bit together form a 10-bit RS232 character. Data flow control is accomplished when the receiving device supplies a subsequent remote start bit only after accepting the initial data bits. After the UART detects the subsequent remote start bit on the single-wire communication bus, the UART supplies subsequent data bits onto the single-wire communication bus. The UART also determines a pulse duration of the remote start bit and supplies each of the data bits onto the single-wire communication bus for one pulse duration.

Abstract: An Improved Infrared Signal Communication System and Method Including Transmission Means Having Automatic Gain Control is disclosed. Also disclosed is system and method that adjusts signal transmission power in response to incident signal power amplitude. The preferred system includes a control signal loop within the signal receiving system, and the system further includes a signal transmitting system that is responsive to the control signal loop. The preferred system includes manual, semi-automatic and automatic modes of operation. Still further, the preferred method includes at least two Ir-enabled appliances “stepping” each other “down” in transmit power in response to directives issued by the other Ir-enabled appliance.

Abstract: A network interface device connected to a host provides hardware and processing mechanisms for accelerating data transfers between the host and a network. Some data transfers are processed using a dedicated fast-path whereby the protocol stack of the host performs no network layer or transport layer processing. Other data transfers are, however, handled in a slow-path by the host protocol stack. In one embodiment, the host protocol stack has an ISCSI layer, but a response to a solicited ISCSI read request command is nevertheless processed by the network interface device in fast-path. In another embodiment, an initial portion of a response to a solicited command is handled using the dedicated fast-path and then after an error condidtion occurs a subsequent portion of the response is handled using the the slow-path. The interface device uses a command status message to communicate status to the host.

Abstract: A system for programming a remote control device incorporates a battery-powered radio frequency identification (RFID) reader into the remote control device. A passive RFID transponder is embedded into the electronic consumer device, or is otherwise provided to the consumer. The RFID transponder stores codeset data usable to control the electronic consumer device. In one example, the codeset data is an entire codeset. In another example, the codeset data is a designation of a codeset. The remote control device is placed in proximity to the RFID transponder, and a program key is pressed on the remote thereby causing the RFID reader in the remote control device to read the codeset data out of the RFID transponder and into the remote control device. In one embodiment, the codeset data is read from the RFID transponder using absorption modulation. The codeset data enables the remote control device to control the electronic consumer device.

Abstract: In an auto baud system and method, the baud rates between two communicating devices are synchronized by timing the transmission of a plurality of bits by counting the cycles of a reference clock. The number of cycles counted is then divided by the number of bits counted over and any remaining cycles are distributed evenly across the data being transmitted or received. The interface of the circuit is preferably implemented as a single pin, open drain interface which can be connected to an RS-232 communications link using external hardware.

Abstract: An inspection system includes a stage, a light source, and a light collection subsystem is disclosed. The stage supports an article for inspection, the article having a surface. The light source provides light impinging on and scattering from an illumination area of the surface. The light collection system includes a plurality of collectors arranged generally in a semi-spherical layout such that each collector collects at least a portion of the scattering light at a collection polar angle and a collection azimuthal angle that are unique relative to collection polar angle and collection azimuthal angle of other collectors. The collectors are arranged in three rings of collectors. The inspection system includes a plurality of channels where each collector of the light collection subsystem is associated with a channel. The inspection system includes a processor connected to the channels. The processor is adapted to process information from the channels.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for removing stubborn contaminants, aluminum fluoride and aluminum chloride in particular, from components of semiconductor-processing equipment. One embodiment forces steam through small holes in a gas distribution plate to remove build up on the interior walls of the holes. A cleaning fixture disposed between the steam source and the gas distribution plate delivers the steam at increased pressures. The gas distribution plate can be immersed in water during cleaning to capture the exiting steam.

Abstract: A method for programming a universal remote control comprises receiving a signal from a source remote control, determining characteristic information based on the signal, comparing the characteristic information to a database, determining a matching code set for the source remote control based on the comparing, and configuring the universal remote control to mimic control features of the source remote control based on the matching code set. Still other aspects and other features are also described herein.

Abstract: An on-chip oscillator generates a substantially temperature-independent clock signal by compensating for temperature-induced changes in its RC time constant and in a range between trigger voltages. A resistor with a positive temperature coefficient determines the range between trigger voltages, which increases with increasing temperature. A comparator response time is part of a delay period that occurs after a trigger voltage is passed and before the charging or discharging of a capacitor is reversed. After the delay period, a remainder period elapses before the other trigger voltage is passed. As temperature increases, the oscillator increases current supplied to a comparator to decrease the response time. Moreover, as temperature increases, the oscillator increases a charge/discharge current so that the capacitor charges and discharges faster as the range between trigger voltages increases.

Abstract: A pseudo-differential signaling system uses a plurality of signal lines and a single, common reference voltage. Signal line voltages are interpreted only in comparison to the reference line voltage. Within a receiving circuit, the reference line is buffered prior to its distribution to multiple comparators. The system utilizes an active buffer having a bandwidth that is significantly greater than the resonant input frequency of the receiving circuit. In an alternative embodiment, the signal lines are also buffered. In this embodiment, the buffers are implemented with transistor-based source-followers. The buffer associated with the reference line has a larger current capacity than the buffers associated with the signal lines. In yet another embodiment, a comparator produces a correction signal that is equal to the noise present on the signal lines. This noise is then subtracted from the signal voltages.

Abstract: Described are methods and systems for distributing low-skew, predictably timed clock signals. A clock distribution network includes a plurality of dynamically adjustable clock buffers. A control circuit connected to each clock buffer controls the delays through the clock buffers in response to process, voltage, and temperature variations, and consequently maintains a relatively constant signal-propagation delay through the network. In one embodiment, each clock buffer includes skew-offset circuitry that adds to or subtracts from the PVT compensated delay values provided by the PVT control circuit to simplify clock skew minimization.