Abstract: An image sensor having a circuit to recover photo-generated charge and to apply it to reduce consumption of power from a power supply (e.g., an external battery). In one embodiment (e.g., FIG. 4), the image sensor has at least one light-sensing photoelement implemented in an integrated circuit and adapted to be powered by a power supply, other circuitry that consumes power during a standby operating mode for the image sensor, and a circuit configured to selectively connect the photoelement to the power-consuming circuitry. During the image sensor's standby mode, the photoelement is configured to supply at least a portion of the standby current to the power consuming circuitry. In another embodiment (e.g., FIG. 3), the image sensor has a storage device (e.g., a capacitor), and a circuit configured to selectively connect the storage device to the photoelement or to the power-consuming circuitry.

Abstract: A system for deriving multiple channels from four-wire residential telephone wiring. The invention provides two voice channels and two, or more, data channels on common residential telephone wiring. The voice channels occupy a normal telephone bandwidth, in the range of approximately zero Hz to 3500 Hz. With this channel placement, ordinary telephonic devices can use the channels, without a requirement of frequency-shifting. Above these voice-channel frequencies, data channels are provided, for internal communication within the residence.

Abstract: An integrated image sensor having a conditioned top silicon oxide layer and/or one or more additional insulating layers/structures to reduce optical and/or electrical noise. The image sensor has an array of one or more pixels, each pixel having a photoelement formed on a substrate and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to incident light, and associated circuitry formed on the substrate and configured to process the electrical signal generated in the photoelement. In one embodiment, a portion of a top insulating layer in the integrated image sensor corresponding to each photoelement has a thickness different from the thickness of a portion of the top insulating layer corresponding to its associated circuitry to inhibit the flow of light between the associated circuitry and the photoelement and/or between the pixel and an adjacent pixel in the array.

Abstract: An imaging system with built-in diagnostics and preferably implemented as an integrated system-on-a-chip (SOC) imaging system. According to one implementation of the present invention, the imaging system can be operated in two operating modes: a normal operating mode and a special diagnostic mode. While running in the diagnostic mode, the imaging system can be configured to detect manufacturing defects. The imaging system can be further configured to compensate for certain types of manufacturing defects. While running in the diagnostic mode, the imaging system (1) identifies pixels that function incorrectly and (2) creates a record of such pixels. In the normal operating mode, the imaging system can use the record to compensate for the missing or incorrect data from these defective pixels during real-time image processing. The present invention simplifies testing of imaging systems and/or image sensors. It also increases manufacturing yield and, therefore, results in lower per-unit manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the timing position of data bursts received in a data stream, where each data burst includes a number of bits comprising a training sequence in a fixed location. The receiver includes circuitry for estimating the timing position of the data bursts received in the data stream. For each of the first N received data bursts, the receiver estimates a plurality of timing locations of the training sequence, correlates the training sequence for each estimated timing location, and determines the timing location associated with the highest correlation value. The receiver then determines the average timing location of the highest correlation values for each of the first N data bursts. For the next M data bursts the receiver estimates the timing location of each data burst based on the average timing location for the first N data bursts.

Abstract: A general test application scheme is proposed for existing scan-based BIST architectures. The objective is to further improve the test quality without inserting additional logic to the Circuit Under Test (CUT). The proposed test scheme divides the entire test process into multiple test sessions. A different number of capture cycles is applied after scanning in a test pattern in each test session to maximize the fault detection for a distinct subset of faults. A procedure is presented to find the optimal number of capture cycles following each scan sequence for every fault. Based on this information, the number of test sessions and the number of capture cycles after each scan sequence are determined to maximize the random testability of the CUT.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for connecting various function modules located within a computer or communications system are proposed. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a port manager controller (PMC) has a direct interface to each of the function modules and to a host component such as a system memory or a CPU. The PMC replaces both the local bus and the arbitrator of prior art systems. All the requests by function modules to access the host component are first processed by the PMC. The PMC schedules the incoming requests in accordance with predefined parameters, such as priority, efficiency, and/or timing. The PMC is capable of handling more than one request at a time. The PMC is also capable of dynamically adapting to load conditions and rearranging the incoming requests to efficiently utilize the available bandwidth. Thus, the PMC reduces latency and improves the performance of the computer or communications system.

Abstract: A phase-modulated signal such as a quadrature phase-shift-keyed (QPSK) signal in a wireless communication system is demodulated by frequency demodulating the phase-modulated signal. The phase-modulated signal is separated into first and second copies, the first copy is phase demodulated to generate demodulated symbols, and the second copy is frequency demodulated to generate, e.g., a measure of the instantaneous frequency of the phase-modulated signal. The instantaneous frequency measure is processed to identify one or more symbol transitions, and the identified transitions are used to generate event signals having signature properties (signature events). These signature events are used in traditional Time Difference of Arrival tdoa algorithms to accurately determine position of a mobile unit in the wireless communication system.

Abstract: A duobinary modulator and a method of modulating an optical signal so as to be coded in a duobinary manner, using optical modulating specifically adapted for this purpose is provided. Two input electrical signals are respectively input to two binary encoders. The binary encoders encode the input electrical signals and generate a pair of encoded binary signals which are then input to an analog amplifier. The analog amplifier amplifies the encoded binary signals and generates a pair of duobinary signals. Then, the duobinary signals are input to a dual-electrode modulator which modulates a pair of optical beams with the duobinary signals to generate a pair of modulated optical duobinary signals. Both modulated optical duobinary signals are then combined to generate the desired high-speed modulated optical duobinary signal.

Abstract: Method for automatically determining whether a communication trunk is operating properly without having to take the trunk out of service and without the need of a craftsperson to initiate the testing of the communication trunk. The communication trunk is tested for continuity and integrity on a periodic or aperiodic basis.

Abstract: An image sensor has a light-shielding layer with openings corresponding to an array of light-sensing elements formed below on a substrate. Light-reflecting material is applied to form (e.g., vertical) via walls between each opening in the light-shielding layer and the corresponding light-sensing element. Light having a non-normal angle of incidence will reflect off the vertical light-reflecting via structures towards the light-sensing elements. As such, substantially all of the light that passes through an opening in the light-shielding layer will reach the light-sensing element, even light incident at relatively low angles, thereby reducing the problem of pixel vignetting associated with prior art image sensors. As a result, the image sensor has a greater and more uniform sensitivity across the entire sensor array.

Abstract: An image (or other light) sensor has a reflective element under each light-sensing element. The reflective element is positioned to reflect incident light that passes through the light-sensing element without being absorbed, back towards the light-sensing element for a second chance at being absorbed. The present invention increases the effective quantum efficiency of each light-sensing element without having to increase the thickness of the absorption region within the light-sensing element. In one embodiment, each reflective element is a discrete mirror that is positioned within the sensor packaging adjacent to (e.g., below) the integrated image sensor. In another embodiment, each reflective element is an integral part of the integrated circuit that contains the image sensor, such as a light-reflecting region formed within the substrate below the corresponding light-sensing element.

Abstract: A method for locating a mobile unit without synchronizing base-stations is provided. A triangulation scheme where distances between a plurality of base-stations and a mobile unit (herein termed mobile) are calculated by measuring at least three round-trip-delay-values wherein each round-trip-delay-value corresponds to transmission of a downlink signal from each base-station to the mobile unit and transmission of an uplink signal, in response to the downlink signal, from the mobile unit to each base-station is described. It is a low-cost solution without requiring the participating base-stations to be accurately synchronized in time and with the added advantages of utilizing a known downlink signal and a known uplink signal in determining the position of the mobile.