Abstract: The present method and system enables receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal. The received RF signal is assigned to a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) module in an accelerated processing device (APD) for processing to extract network messages. The extracted network layer messages are further processed by the SIMD module to obtain data transmitted via the RF signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing multiple graphics processing capacity, while utilizing unused integrated graphics processing circuitry on a bridge circuit along with an external or discrete graphics processing unit is disclosed. In particular, a bridge circuit includes an integrated graphics processing circuit configured to process graphics jobs. The bridge circuit also includes an interface operable according to interface with a discrete graphics processing circuit. A controller is included with the bridge circuit and responsive whenever the discrete graphics processing circuit is coupled to the interface to cause the integrated graphics processing circuit to process a task of the graphics job in conjunction with operation of the discrete graphics processing circuit that is operable to process another task of the graphics job. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hierarchical memory request stream arbitration technique merges coherent memory request streams from multiple memory request sources and arbitrates the merged coherent memory request stream with requests from a non-coherent memory request stream. In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a merged memory request stream from a plurality of memory request streams includes merging coherent memory requests into a first serial memory request stream. The method includes selecting, by a memory controller circuit, a memory request for placement in the merged memory request stream from at least the first serial memory request stream and a merged non-coherent request stream. The merged non-coherent memory request stream is based on an indicator of a previous memory request selected for placement in the merged memory request stream.

Abstract: A routing layer for a semiconductor die is disclosed. The routing layer includes pads for attaching solder bumps; bond-pads bonded to bump-pads of a die having an integrated circuit, and traces interconnecting bond-pads to pads. The routing layer is formed on a layer of dielectric material. The routing layer includes conductive traces at least partially surrounding some pads so as to absorb stress from solder bumps attached to the pads. Parts of the traces that surround pads protect parts of the underlying dielectric material proximate the solder bumps, from the stress.

Abstract: A digital rights management system includes an authentication module and a decryption module. If desired, the modules can be implemented in separate integrated circuits. The authentication module retrieves authentication information for protected content and powers down after the authentication information is retrieved. The decryption module decrypts the protected content based on the authentication information while the authentication module is powered down.

Abstract: A device may generate a clock signal using spread-spectrum clocking. The spread-spectrum clocking may modulate a frequency of the clock signal to produce a plurality of frequencies for the clock signal during a modulation cycle. The device may receive an instruction to disable the spread-spectrum clocking, and may disable the spread spectrum clocking at the end of the modulation cycle.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor chip is disclosed. A die having a plurality of die-pads is attached to a substrate in a semiconductor package which includes a plurality of substrate-pads. The method involves forming conductive column bumps of differing volumes extending from the die-pads; attaching each of the column bumps to a corresponding substrate-pad to form a subassembly; and reflowing the subassembly so that the column bumps form robust electrical and mechanical connections between the die pads and the substrate pads.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) product includes a redistribution layer (RDL) having at least one conductive layer configured to distribute electrical information from one location to another location in the IC. The RDL also includes a plurality of wire bond pads and a plurality of solder pads. The plurality of solder pads each includes a solder wettable material that is in direct electrical communication with the RDL.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide for improving signal quality. The method includes receiving a first media signal, such as a video signal, in a first format, such as 1080p. The provided video signal is one that is created by upsampling a video signal recorded in a format having a lower sampling rate. The method also includes obtaining a second signal indicative of error within the first media signal. The second signal is in a second format, such as the format having a lower sampling rage in which the video signal was recorded. The signal is processed to place the second signal in the format of the first signal. Then, the estimated error signal is combined with the original signal to arrive at an error corrected output.

Abstract: Various semiconductor chips and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first opening in an insulating layer applied to a side of a semiconductor chip. The first opening does not extend through to the side. A second opening is formed in the insulating layer that exposes a portion of the side.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for improved measurement of transient thermal responses in electronic systems are described herein. Embodiments of the disclosure use the known thermal transfer function of an electronic system to generate an equivalent resistor-capacitor (RC) network having a dynamic response that is identical to a given power excitation as the actual electronic system would have to that power excitation. Using the analogy between thermal and electrical systems, a Foster RC network is constructed, comprising a plurality of RC stages in which resistors and capacitors are connected in parallel. Subsequently, the analog thermal RC network is converted into an infinite impulse response (IIR) digital filter, whose coefficients can be obtained the Z-transform of the analog thermal RC network. This IIR digital filter establishes the recursive relationship between temperature output at the current time step and measured power input at the previous time step.

Abstract: A device for rapidly instituting an active mode of a digital-television enabled system, the system including a first, volatile memory configured to load and store software instructions, includes: an input configured to receive first digital audio and video information; a first output configured to convey second audio and information toward a display regarding the first audio and video information; at least one second output configured to convey commands to, and receive information from, the first memory; and a processor configured to perform functions in accordance with software instructions stored in first and second memories and to cause the first memory to load software instructions for provision to the processor such that first instructions for processing at least one of the first audio information and the first video information are loaded and stored by the first memory with a higher priority than second instructions for performing other functionality.

Abstract: A wide gamut RGB digital display, such as an LCD display, digital television, printer, or any other suitable display, includes wide color gamut configuration message control logic that is operative to indicate, to an image source provider, wide gamut RGB indication information and wide color gamut format definition information that indicates that wide gamut RGB color data is to be received by the wide gamut RGB digital display. The wide gamut configuration message control logic is also operatively responsive to wide gamut confirmation information that is received from the image source provider. The wide gamut RGB digital display also includes logic that is operative to display received wide gamut RGB color data that was received in response to the wide gamut RGB indication information and the wide color gamut format definition information.

Abstract: Systems and methods and computer program products are disclosed to determine the source data rate even in cases where the sink device is not directly coupled to the source device. A method includes, forming a logical channel from a source device to a sink device where the logical channel is configured to carry the source data stream and one or more rate parameters. The rate parameters relate a data rate of the source data stream to a data rate of the logical channel. Another method includes, detecting a logical channel in a received data stream where the logical channel includes the source data stream, recovering one or more rate parameters from the received data stream, determining a data rate of the logical channel, and determining the data rate of the source data stream based on the data rate of the logical channel and the one or more rate parameters.

Abstract: A device having a voltage mode driver with tunable amplitude and resistance that supports a predetermined output resistance and output amplitude is described herein. The voltage mode driver includes multiple configurable drivers. The voltage mode driver is controlled by a control module. Resistance tuning is controlled by the number of active configurable drivers and amplitude tuning is controlled by setting the high or low drive state of each active configurable driver. The slew rate of the device is controlled by delaying the setting of the high or low drive state of an active configurable driver by a predetermined interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus configures an integrated circuit by determining a multi-bit configuration value on a single node. The multi-bit configuration value is determined by using at least a voltage level at the single node and also by detecting a time to reach a voltage threshold level at the single node, based on a voltage ramp generation circuit. The method and apparatus also includes configuring an operation mode of a circuit in the integrated circuit based on the determined multi-bit configuration value from the single node. Multi-bit configuration values may be obtained on multiple single nodes in an integrated circuit. In one example, a voltage level is employed in addition to a time to reach a voltage threshold level whereas in another example a current level on a single node is utilized in combination with detection of a time to reach a voltage threshold level.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for matching voltages between two or more circuits within an integrated circuit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a comparator circuit, comparing supply voltages to first and second circuits. The comparator outputs a variable error voltage based on the comparison, the error voltage related to the difference in voltages. The error voltage is supplied to a variable current control circuit that variably sinks one of the supply voltages to a common potential in order to increase the IR drop in the circuit supplying voltage to one of the first and second circuits, thereby affording voltage adjustment in order to match the first and second circuits. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an printed circuit board on which an integrated circuit die is mounted, an array of plated through holes (PTHs) are formed which include conductive power and ground PTH structures which are connected to provide power and ground reference voltages to the integrated circuit die, and isolated current sensing PTH structures which are formed within sensing proximity to the conductive power and ground PTH structures for sensing current switching activity in the conductive power and ground PTH structures by inductively converting dynamic current changes in the conductive power and ground PTH structures into a measurable voltage signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing is provided that includes providing a semiconductor chip with an insulating layer. The insulating layer includes a trench. A second semiconductor chip is stacked on the first semiconductor chip to leave a gap. A polymeric filler is placed in the gap wherein a portion of the polymeric filler is drawn into the trench.

Abstract: A device and method for providing computer operation diagnostics. The method includes coupling a mobile device (such as a mobile smartphone) to the computer via a diagnostic port. The smartphone has a diagnostic program (application) thereon that is initiated so as to be able to communicate with a diagnostic module within the computer to request and receive information from the computer.