Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of photo-diodes that operate as optical pixels arranged in a plurality of columns on a single CMOS substrate. The outputs of the multiple pixel sensors, or photo-diodes, are examined to determine if a one pixel, or a region of pixels are in saturation. If so, then the pixel gain is adjusted to correct or compensate for the image distortion in the region. For example, the gain of the charging amplifier or operational amplifier can be adjusted to correct for saturation. This can be done in real-time since hardware is being tuned for the correction instead of software.

Abstract: A plurality of downstream channels enables communications between a CMTS and a plurality of legacy and non-legacy cable modems. A dispersion mechanism optimizes channel bonding, such that the downstream channels are interoperable with DOCSIS™-compliant, legacy cable modems. A program identifier field distinguishes between bonded and non-bonded flows. For bonded flows, a bonding group is defined to bond a set of downstream channels. The packets for each bonding group are classified into channel queues at or near a MPEG level or a packet level. To mitigate congestion and multiplexing inefficiencies, the dispersion mechanism collects real-time information to determine which channel receives the bonded packets. The dispersion mechanism includes a queue manager and a priority manager. The queue manager dynamically creates queues and allocates queue memory. The queue manager also directs the DOCSIS™ processing for each queue.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of determining a phase estimate for an input signal having pilot symbols. The method includes receiving a plurality of pilot symbols, and then multiplying two or more pilot symbol slots by corresponding correlator coefficients to correct a phase estimate of the input signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for performing authentication and decryption operations. A record including multiple encrypted blocks is received. An encrypted block in the record is extracted and decrypted first in order to obtain context information for performing authentication operations. Each remaining block is then decrypted and authenticated by using the available context information. Authentication operations can be performed without having to wait for the decryption of all of the blocks in the record.

Abstract: A communication system that includes a supervisory node (e.g., a headend) and one or more remote nodes (e.g., cable modems). Packets are transmitted between the supervisory node and the one or more remote nodes via RF channels. A plurality of the RF channels are bonded, such that packets may be transmitted via any one or more of the RF channels that are bonded. Bonding may include higher-layer bonding and/or lower-layer bonding. In higher-layer bonding, the communication system further includes a forwarder and a plurality of edge modulators. Each edge modulator is connected to a different RF channel or group of RF channels. The forwarder determines to which edge modulator one or more packets or flows are to be transmitted. In lower-layer bonding, a packet is split into pieces. The pieces are assigned to respective RF channels that are associated with an edge modulator for transmission to a remote node.

Abstract: A charge pump provides charge based on a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal. The relationship between the charge and the phase difference is referred to as the charge phase relationship. Charge pumps typically have a non-linear charge phase relationship. A non-linear portion of the charge phase relationship occurs about a point at which the charge and the phase difference are substantially zero. Points along charge phase relationship that represent the performance of charge pump are referred to as the charge phase characteristic of the charge pump. The charge pump includes an offset current circuit, which biases the charge pump to have a linear charge phase characteristic. For example, the charge pump is biased to have a charge phase characteristic that does not overlap with the non-linear portion of the charge phase relationship.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improved feedback processing in delta-sigma modulators, including single bit and multi-bit delta-sigma modulators, continuous-time and discrete-time delta-sigma modulators, and digital and/or analog feedback loops. One or more processes are performed in a pipeline having a higher throughput rate than a throughput rate of a delta-sigma modulator. Any of a variety of processes and combinations of processes can be performed in the pipeline including, without limitation, quantization, digital signal processing, and/or feedback digital-to-analog conversion.

Abstract: A fault tolerant method transforms physically contiguous data in-place on a disk by partitioning the physically contiguous data into an empty region physically adjacent to data regions including a first data region and a last data region, the first and last data regions at opposing ends of the physically contiguous data regions. The physically contiguous data are transformed in an order beginning with the first data region and ending with the last data region. The transforming step perform first locking and reading the first data region, second, transforming the first data region, third, writing and unlocking the transformed first data region to the empty region, and fourth, declaring the first data region as the empty region while declaring the empty region as the first region. The first through fourth steps are repeated for each data region, until completion, to transform the physically contiguous data in-place on the disk.

Abstract: A method for selectively controlling the flow of data through a network device is discussed. The network device has a plurality of ports, with each port of the plurality of ports having a plurality of priority queues. Congestion at one priority queue of the plurality of priority queues is detected and a virtual channel message is sent to other network devices connected to the network device causing data destined for the one priority queue to be halted. After the congestion at the one priority queue has abated, a virtual channel resume message is sent to the other network devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for programming a memory cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to a controlled application of current to a memory cell over a controlled time period. The invention utilizes a current mirror configuration having a first transistor and a second transistor, wherein the second transistor is coupled to the memory cell. Programming of the memory cell includes applying a voltage to the first transistor, whereby a first current is generated in the first transistor. A gate of the second transistor is coupled to the first transistor, whereby a second current is generated in the second transistor. The second current is proportional to the first current. The second current is provided to the memory cell, whereby the second current programs the memory cell.

Abstract: A single chip radio transceiver includes circuitry that enables received wideband RF signals to be down converted to base band frequencies and base band signals to be up converted to wideband RF signals prior to transmission without requiring conversion to an intermediate frequency. The circuitry includes a low noise amplifier, automatic frequency control circuitry for aligning the LO frequency with the frequency of the received RF signals, signal power measuring circuitry for measuring the signal to signal and power ratio and for adjusting frontal and rear amplification stages accordingly, and finally, filtering circuitry to filter high and low frequency interfering signals including DC offset.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for a linear regulator with high bandwidth, PSRR, and a wide range of output current are provided. A method for isolating voltages in a circuit may comprise applying a reference voltage to an isolation resistor based on a supply voltage. An internal voltage at a reference point may be determined based on the applied reference voltage, and a maximum and/or minimum voltage may be determined based on the internal voltage. A plurality of output transistor devices may be controlled based on either the maximum voltage or minimum voltage. The reference voltage may be modified based on controlling the plurality of output transistor devices. By turning ON and OFF the output transistor devices, a much wider operating range is facilitated.

Abstract: A wireless terminal implements location-based transaction authentication and includes a wireless interface, a user interface, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, and a processing unit. The wireless terminal receives a transaction request from the user, accesses a servicing network via the wireless interface, sends a transaction initiation request to the servicing network, receives an authentication challenge from the servicing network, and determines its current location via access of the GPS receiver. The wireless terminal prepares and transmits an authentication response based upon the received location. When the authentication response is accepted by the servicing network, the processing unit is able to service the transaction between the user and the servicing network. When the authentication response is rejected the transaction is not serviced. Relative location information and further user authentication may also be used.

Abstract: An electrostatic-discharge/impedance-matching circuit for use in radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits. The electrostatic-discharge/impedance-matching circuit includes at least one shunt circuit operable to shunt current related to an over-voltage condition and at least one series element operably coupled to the shunt element. The shunt element and series element in combination provide electrostatic discharge protection for the RF signal processing circuit elements on the integrated circuit and also provide a matched input impedance for an incoming RF signal. Various alternate embodiments of die electrostatic-discharge/impedance-matching circuit include first and second shunt elements and a series element operably connected in combination to provide optimal electrostatic discharge protection and impedance matching.

Abstract: A system for processing wireless data packets allows for processing packets allows consolidation of security processing. Security processing is performed in accordance with multiple security policies. This processing is done in a single front end processing block. Different security processes can be performed in parallel. Processing overhead is reduced by eliminating the need to redundantly check packet characteristics to assess the different security requirements imposed by security policies. Further, the present invention also substantially reduces the CPU cycles required to transport data back and forth from memory to a cryptographic coprocessor.

Abstract: A method and system for creating an ethernet-formatted packet from an upstream DOCSIS packet. The upstream packet is first received along with packet characteristic data that is contained in physical layer prepend data and in the packet header. A packet tag is then created, based on the packet characteristic data. The packet characteristic data includes identifiers for the transmitting remote device and the channel over which the transmission is sent. Packet characteristic data also includes information about the physical characteristics of the transmission signal, such as the power level and time offset. The packet characteristic data also includes administrative information, such as the minislot count at which the packet is received and whether the packet was received in contention. The packet tag is appended to the payload of the upstream packet. Also appended to the payload is an encapsulation tag, and source and destination address headers. The result is a packet in an ethernet format.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for detecting the amount of unknown offset present in a received data stream. The unknown phase offset may offset the phase of the transmitted data stream from the received data stream. A phase detector uses a soft-decision slicer to estimate the content of a modulation transmitted data stream. The soft-decision slicer generates an estimate of the transmitted data stream depending on the location of the received data stream in relation to a transfer function of the soft-decision slicer depending on the modulation scheme of the received data stream. The phase detector uses the estimate of the transmitted data stream to calculate the amount of the unknown phase offset.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for improved thermal performance and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding in integrated circuit (IC) packages is described. A die-up or die-down package includes a heat spreader cap defining a cavity, an IC die, and a leadframe. The leadframe includes a centrally located die attach pad, a plurality of leads, and a plurality of tie bars that couple the die attach pad to the leads. The IC die is mounted to the die attach pad. A planar rim portion of the cap that surrounds the cavity is coupled to the leadframe. The cap and the leadframe form an enclosure structure that substantially encloses the IC die, and shields EMI emanating from and radiating towards the IC die. The enclosure structure also dissipates heat generated by the IC die during operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for performing fractional B-spline interpolation. The fractional B-spline interpolation system includes an upsampling module and a fractional B-spline interpolation filter. The B-spline interpolation filter calculates a set of B-spline interpolation coefficients at a plurality of fine index points using the second derivative of the B-spline base function. The number of B-spline interpolation coefficients in the set is equal to the number of polynomial segments comprising the B-spline base function. For each fine index point, each coefficient in a set of B-spline interpolation coefficients is multiplied by a corresponding original sampling point to generate the value of the interpolated signal at the fine index point. The B-spline interpolation filter also includes a memory for storing a set of initial values needed by the B-spline interpolation filter to calculate the B-spline interpolation coefficients.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for encrypting/decrypting plain data/cipher text having lengths not equal to a multiple of a data chunk of a block cipher algorithm. The present invention enables plain data having a length that is greater than or less than one data chunk to be encrypted to produce an encrypted version of the plain data having the same length. Further, the present invention enables cipher text having a length that is greater than or less than one data chunk to be decrypted to produce a decrypted version of the cipher text having the same length. Decryption of cipher text having a length that is greater than one data chunk uses two rounds of decryption. A first round of decryption recovers an indirectly encrypted portion. A second round uses the indirectly encrypted portion to completely recover the original plain data.