Abstract: An integrated circuit includes at least a first fuse and at least a first processor. Each fuse is in either a conductive state or a non-conductive state. The first processor is configured to operate at one of at least a first issue rate or a second issue rate responsive to the state of the first fuse. The first issue rate is lower than the second issue rate. In another embodiment, the first processor is configured to execute fewer instructions in a period of time responsive to a first state of the conductive state or the non-conductive state of the first fuse than the first processor is configured to execute in the period of time responsive to a second state of the first fuse. A method includes: (i) determining if an integrated circuit comprising at least one processor has a performance rating that exceeds a government-imposed export restriction; and (ii) in response to the performance rating exceeding the export restriction, blowing at least one fuse on the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A precision tunable VCO includes a bias transistor, a first inductor, a second inductor, a first input transistor, a second input transistor, a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a first precision tune capacitor circuit, and a second precision tune capacitor circuit. The bias transistor, the first and second inductors, the first and second input transistors, and the first and second capacitors are operably coupled to produce a differential output oscillation. The first precision tune capacitor circuit is operably coupled to the first leg of the differential output oscillation, wherein the first precision tune capacitor circuit provides a first precision capacitance value based on a calibration signal.

Abstract: An RFIC includes a baseband processing module, a digital to analog converter, an analog to digital converter, a radio module, and a border section. The border section is fabricated on the substrate, wherein the border section physically separates the radio module from the baseband processing module, the digital to analog converter, and the analog to digital converter, wherein the border section includes noise suppression circuitry operably coupled to convert outbound baseband signals into low noise outbound baseband signals and to convert low noise inbound baseband signals into inbound baseband signals.

Abstract: A content addressable memory cell (10) includes a circuit (20) operating from a predetermined supply voltage (VDD) for storing a first bit of data at a first point (35) and a second bit of complementary data at a second point (36). A first transistor (40) comprising a first gate (42) is switchable to first and second states in response to predetermined relationships between the first and second bits and third and fourth test bits transmitted on first and second lines (14 and 16). Second and third transistors (50, 60) comprise gates (52, 62) coupled to the first line (14) and second line (16) and comprise circuit paths (54, 56, 64, 66) coupling the first and second points to the first gate.

Abstract: A programmable gain amplifier with three stages uses fine steps, has a large gain range, and is monotonic. The first stage comprises several amplifiers, each including a resistive feedback loop. The feedback loop comprises a series of resistors, with each resistor acting as a tap. Since the number of resistors in the loop is unchanging, monotonicity and stability is guaranteed when resistance is increased using successive taps. A switch system connects two taps at a time to an interpolation stage. Each of these taps corresponds to a specific resistor level, and thus a gain level. The interpolation stage uses a plurality of current sources inside a feedback amplifier to control the interpolation, in order to provide fine gain steps.

Abstract: An analog open-loop voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) calibration circuit and method for selecting the frequency of the VCO for a phase locked loop (PLL). A frequency divider module produces a 50% duty cycle divided local oscillation and a 50% duty cycle divided reference signal, wherein the divided signals are substantially equal. A period-to-voltage conversion module converts the divided local oscillation signal and the divided reference signal to voltages proportional to the divided signals. A comparator module produces a frequency adjustment signal based on a comparison of the proportional voltages and couples the frequency adjustment signal to a logic module which produces a frequency compensation signal based on the frequency adjustment signal. The frequency compensation signal functions to adjust the configuration of switched capacitors in a capacitor bank, coupled to the VCO tuned circuit, until the divided local oscillation signal is substantially equal to the divided reference signal.

Abstract: A novel approach of repeated adaptation is provided that can be applied to either one or both of channel estimation and/or equalization. From an incoming data packet that includes data and a training sequence, a modified data packet is generated that includes the data, the training sequence, and at least one additional copy of the training sequence. From the format of this modified data packet, the same training sequence can be used over and over again a desired number of times to perform channel estimation and subsequent calculation of equalizer tap coefficients. Alternatively, the same training sequence can be used over and over again a desired number of times to converge the equalizer coefficient taps directly without doing any preliminary channel estimation. Generally, either of these approaches can be characterized as a cyclic adaptation operation that provides improved performance without incurring any reduction in throughput of the communication channel.

Abstract: Method and circuitry for performing a line loop back test includes a receiver, a deserializer, and a low speed parallel loop back data multiplexer selects either the low speed parallel data from the deserializer when in loop back mode or low speed parallel input data when in normal mode. The deserializer produces a low speed clock output signal that is fed to a low speed loop back reference clock multiplexer and also to a low speed loop back clock multiplexer. Both the loop back reference clock multiplexer and the loop back clock multiplexer select the low speed clock output signal from the deserializer when in line loop back mode. A clock multiplying unit converts the output of the low speed loop back reference clock multiplexer into a high speed clock signal. The serializer generates the high speed serial transmitter data in synchronization with the high speed clock signal received from a clock multiplying unit.

Abstract: A method can allow a system to selectively control increasing of a bias source in a reference buffer or decreasing impedance looking into a output of the reference buffer for a temporary or selective time period, which can result in an increased overall efficiency of the system. The method can include at least the following steps. A first input signal is received at an input of a reference buffer. A second input signal is received from a load at an output of the reference buffer. A value of a bias source coupled to the output of the reference buffer is modulated, such that a spike of a signal at the output of the reference buffer caused by the second input signal is maintained below a threshold value. Alternatively, an impedance looking into the output of the reference buffer is modulated, such that a spike of a signal at the output of the reference buffer caused by the second input signal is maintained below a threshold value.

Abstract: A method for designing multi-layer electronic circuits includes defining a plurality of circuit blocks in terms of physical boundaries, the plurality of circuit blocks including a first circuit block with at least one port for connecting to a portion of inter-block routing having conducting material external to the first circuit block. The method further provides protective routing for the at least one port of the first circuit block in a region between the block and the inter-block routing, wherein circuitry within the first circuit connected to the at least one port is not in-circuit with the conducting material of the inter-block routing during processing steps involving the conducting material. The protective routing is a conducting layer which is higher in the multi-layer structure than the highest conducting layer used for routing the net containing the at least one port for inter-block routing.

Abstract: A data switch for network communications includes a first data port interface which supports at least one data port which transmits and receives data. A second data port interface is also provided supporting at least one data port transmitting and receiving data. A CPU interface is provided, with the CPU interface configured to communicate with a CPU. A common memory is provided, and communicates with the first data port interface and the second data port interface. A memory management unit is provided, and communicates data from the first data port interface and the second data port interface and an common memory. A communication channel is provided, with the communication channel communicating data and messaging information between the first data port interface, the second data port interface, and the memory management unit.

Abstract: A receiver includes clock termination circuitry that is capable of applying either a terminating impedance or a high impedance to a transmission path that carries a clock signal. When multiple of these receivers are used to service data links that share a clock signal, one of the clock termination circuits applies the terminating impedance to the transmission path that carries the clock signal while the other clock termination circuit(s) applies a high impedance to the transmission path. The receiver also includes a plurality of high rate serial bit stream buffers and a clock signal buffer along with the clock termination circuitry. In other embodiments, the receiver includes a deserializer and may include a controller. The receiver may service a dual link Digital Visual Interface.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a core circuit and a buffer circuit. The buffer circuit includes a plurality of input buffers and a plurality of output buffers that service a plurality of voltage domains on a single set of input/output lines. These voltage domains are controllable to service multiple voltage levels, consistent with various interface standards. In one construction, the core circuit operates at 1.2 volts and the buffer circuit supports both a 1.2 volts interface standard and a 3.3 volts interface standard.

Abstract: A direct conversion tuner down-converts television signals, cable signals, or other signals directly from an RF frequency to an IF frequency and/or baseband, without an intermediate up-conversion step for image rejection. The direct conversion tuner includes a pre-select filter, an amplifier, an image reject mixer, and a poly-phase filter. The pre-select filter, amplifier, and the image reject mixer can be calibrated to provide sufficient image rejection to meet the NTSC requirements for TV signals. The entire direct conversion tuner can be fabricated on a single semiconductor substrate without requiring any off-chip components. The tuner configuration described herein is not limited to processing TV signals, and can be utilized to down-convert other RF signals to an IF frequency or baseband.

Abstract: A system and method are used to allow for phase rotator control signals to be produced that rotate bits in the signals more than one step per clock cycle. This can be done through the following operation. First and second data signals that include a plurality of data bits are stored. Rotation of data bits in the first data signal and subsequently data bits in the second data signal is controlled based on a phase control signal during each clock cycle. The first and second controlled data signals are interleaved to form first and second interleaved data signals. One of the first and second interleaved data signals is selected based on a portion of the phase control signal during a second half of the clock cycle. Finally, the selected data signal is transmitted as the phase control signal.

Abstract: An internet protocol telephone includes a substrate having an input and an output that are capable of being connected to the internet protocol (IP) network. A relay is disposed on the substrate and is connected between the input and the output of the substrate. The relay includes first and second native FETs that have a threshold voltage of approximately zero volts. Therefore, the relay is nominally turned-on, even when little or no voltage (or power) is applied to the IP telephone substrate, as during the discovery mode of IP telephone operation. During discovery mode, The IP phone is configured to be responsive to extended link pulses and block data packets that are associated with legacy devices. Data packets have a higher signal duration and are more continuous than extended link pulses. The IP phone includes a switchable ground that is connected to the gates of the native devices, and is controlled by a rectifier and filter circuit that are connected to the substrate input.

Abstract: System and method for decoding variable-length codes. A variable-length decoder includes an address generator and a local memory unit. The local memory stores a variable-length code look-up table. The local memory can be programmed to include a look-up table supporting substantially any decoding algorithm. In one embodiment, a decoder memory unit and a system memory unit are employed together with the local memory to store a codeword look-up table. The shortest codes are stored in local memory, the next shortest in decoder memory, and the longest codes are stored in system memory. A multistage search algorithm is employed to search for the longest codes. The address generator generates the address of the code table to be searched by adding the value of the bits to be searched to a base address.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a phase locked loop (PLL) includes an open loop test and a closed loop test. The open loop test includes providing an optimal control input to a controlled oscillator (CO) of the PLL; determining rate of output oscillation of the CO based on the optimal control input; comparing the rate of the output oscillation with rate of an optimal output oscillation; and when the comparing the rate of the output oscillation with rate of the optimal output oscillation is unfavorable, adjusting an oscillation point of the CO until the comparing is favorable to produce an open-loop adjusted CO oscillation point.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for providing a programmable inverse discrete cosine transform, wherein the transform coefficients are loaded into a memory area of a core transform device and a variety of coding standards can thereby be handled by the same programmable core device. The core device is configured to process a certain sized data block, and the incoming source blocks are converted to conform to this size. After transformation, the proper sized result can be extracted from the transform device output. A switchable speed-up mode provides for 4-point transforms, rather than 8-point transforms. Alternatively, the invention also provides for dedicated transform hardware to be switchably used in conjunction with programmable transform hardware, depending upon the type of coding being used, and the speed of inverse transform desired.

Abstract: A peripheral bus switch includes a virtual peripheral bus, a plurality of bridges, and a configurable host bridge. A first bridge operably couples on a first side to the virtual peripheral bus and supports connection on a second side to a peripheral bus fabric. A second bridge operably couples on a first side to the virtual peripheral bus and supports connection on a second side to the peripheral bus fabric. The configurable host bridge operably couples to the virtual peripheral bus, supports a host mode of operation in which it serves as a host bridge, and supports a device mode of operation in which it operates as a device.