Abstract: An integrated receiver with channel selection and image rejection substantially implemented on a single CMOS integrated circuit is described. A receiver front end provides programable attenuation and a programable gain low noise amplifier. Frequency conversion circuitry advantageously uses LC filters integrated onto the substrate in conjunction with image reject mixers to provide sufficient image frequency rejection. Filter tuning and inductor Q compensation over temperature are performed on chip. The filters utilize multi track spiral inductors. The filters are tuned using local oscillators to tune a substitute filter, and frequency scaling during filter component values to those of the filter being tuned. In conjunction with filtering, frequency planning provides additional image rejection. The advantageous choice of local oscillator signal generation methods on chip is by PLL out of band local oscillation and by direct synthesis for in band local oscillator.

Abstract: An addition circuit for producing a sum of four redundant binary numbers includes a 4:2 compression adder for receiving each of the operand fields of the four redundant binary numbers, and producing a first sum field and a first carry field therefrom. The addition circuit further includes a 4:3 compression adder for receiving each of the sparse carry-save fields of the four redundant binary numbers, and producing a second sum field therefrom. The addition circuit also includes a 3:2 compression adder for receiving the first sum field, the first carry field and the second sum field, and producing a third sum field and a second carry field therefrom. The third sum field and the second carry field are the final results from addition of the four redundant binary numbers.

Abstract: A network device for handling data and a method for handling data in a network device are disclosed. The network device includes at least one media port and at least one high speed docking station, communicating with the at least one media port. At least one master is provided in the network device, where the at least one master is connected to the at least one high speed docking station. The master is configured to handle and process data received by the at least one media port and passed to the master through the at least one high speed docking station. The network device is configured to handle media ports of different media types. Thus, the device can handle data received through different media ports that have different media types with the same master, making the network device easily configured to meet a customer's needs.

Abstract: Clock signals and digital data signals at a variable frequency are introduced to the input of a FIFO and are passed from the FIFO at a second (or intermediate) frequency controlled by a numerically controlled oscillator. To regulate the frequency of the signals from the numerically controlled oscillator, the phases of the clock signals at the variable frequency are compared in a phase detector with the phases of the signals from the numerically controlled oscillator to generate an error signal. The error signals and the signals at a fixed sampling frequency higher than the intermediate frequency regulate the frequency of the signals from the numerically controlled oscillator and thus the frequency of the digital data signals from the FIFO. The digital data signals from the FIFO are converted to a pair of signals at the second frequency.

Abstract: A diffusion replica delay circuit is included in a device with a device capacitance and operational characteristics. A diffusion replica capacitor, coupled to the device is capable of storing a predetermined replica charge representative of a selected device operational characteristic, and a diffusion replica transistor is coupled with the diffusion replica capacitor, and is coupled between the diffusion replica capacitor and a charge sink. The transistor is disposed to control the magnitude of the predetermined replica charge.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling delay relatively independent of process, supply-voltage, and/or temperature (“PVT”) variations include sensing an output signal after a number of inverters and activating different numbers of transistors and/or adjusting strength of transistors in a delay path to compensate for PVT variations.

Abstract: The present invention establishes a communications link between a central office (CO) modem and a customer premise equipment (CPE) modem. The CO modem then evaluates the performance of the communications link. Impairments on the communications link are identified based on the evaluation results. Next, adjustment parameters for improving the performance of the communications link are determined. The CPE modem is then modified in accordance with the determined adjustment parameters to establish an adjusted communications link between the CO modem and the CPE modem. In this way, impairments such as bridged taps and cross-talk can be avoided.

Abstract: A method of handling data packets in a network device and an apparatus for handling data packets in a network device are disclosed. The method includes receiving an incoming data packet and the incoming data packet is parsed to obtain a portion of the incoming data packet. That portion is compared with rules stored in a rule table, where each rule specifies a set of actions. A match between the portion and a particular rule of the rules is selected and a particular set of actions, specified by that particular rule is executed. Each rule includes a mask, a selection flag and a validity check that are used in the comparison of the portion with each rule. The rules may be compared with the packet portion serially or in a parallel fashion and if more than one rule matches the portion, the highest priority is selected as the matching rule.

Abstract: A graphics display system integrated circuit is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics display system processes analog video input, digital video input, and graphics input. The system incorporates a unified memory architecture that is shared by the graphics system, a CPU, and other peripherals. The unified memory architecture uses real time scheduling to service tasks. Critical instant analysis is used to find a schedule for memory usage that does not affect memory requirements of real time tasks while at the same time servicing non-real-time tasks as needed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for protecting integrated circuits (“ICs”) from power-on sequence currents, including methods and systems for biasing transistors in paths susceptible to power-on sequence damage such that these paths do not have substantial current flow unless the power supplies controlling the gate of the susceptible transistors are powered on. In an embodiment, the invention is applied to a circuit having a first and second IC terminals coupled to a first and second power supplies, respectively. The invention protects the circuit in the event that the first power supply is powered-on before the second power supply is powered-on. The method includes sensing voltage amplitudes from the first and second power supplies. When first power supply is powered-on before the second power supply is powered-on, the first IC terminal is coupled to the second IC terminal. The substantially prevents undesired power-on sequence currents from flowing between the first and second IC terminals.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sensing load conditions and for adjusting output current drive according to the sensed load conditions to maintain one or more signal characteristics within a desired range. Load conditions are sensed by monitoring one or more signal characteristics that are affected by load conditions, such as voltage changes with respect to time. Output current drive is then adjusted, as needed, to maintain the one or more desired signal characteristics. In an embodiment, rising and/or falling edge slopes are monitored. For example, a dV/dt may be monitored. The dV/dt can be monitored by coupling a capacitance to the output signal, generating a current with the capacitance, and generating a voltage from the current. The voltage is generally proportional to the dV/dt. Depending upon the load conditions, a supplemental current is generated and/or adjusted and added to the output signal to maintain the desired signal characteristics within a desired range.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sigma-delta digital to analog converted (DAC) including a digital-sigma delta modulator, a decimation filter, and a multi-bit DAC. The digital sigma-delta modulator receives a digital input signal and produces a quantized digital signal therefrom. The decimation filter receives the quantized digital signal and produces a decimated digital signal therefrom. The multi-bit DAC receives the decimated digital signal and produces an analog output signal therefrom. The analog output signal is representative of the digital input signal.

Abstract: Methods and systems for limiting power supply and ground bounce enables control of the output current drive dependent on the changes in supply (VDD and GND) levels. This is made possible by making the gate drive of the output driver PMOS and NMOS dependent on the VDD and GND swings. When the VDD or GND increases above normal operating levels, the gate drive of the output driver PMOS is reduced and when the GND or VDD reduces below normal operating levels, the gate drive of the output driver NMOS is reduced. This leads to reduced current flow between the supplies and the pad thereby reducing the VDD and GND bounce problem.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings is a transceiver with a receiver, a transmitter, a local oscillator (LO) generator, a controller, and a self-testing unit. All of these components can be packaged for integration into a single IC including components such as filters and inductors. The controller for adaptive programming and calibration of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. The self-testing unit generates is used to determine the gain, frequency characteristics, selectivity, noise floor, and distortion behavior of the receiver, transmitter and LO generator. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A signal sensing module senses an RF signal and produces one or more secondary signals representative of the RF signal. An impedance matching control module generates a control signal, based on the one or more secondary signals, which is indicative of an impedance mismatch between a load and a communications device. The control signal is then applied to at least one variable impedance device to adjust the impedance of an impedance matching network and thereby reduce the impedance mismatch between the load and the communications device. In an embodiment, the at least one variable impedance device is a barium strontium titanate, thin film, parallel plate capacitor. In other embodiments, other variable impedance devices such as other types of thin film capacitors or varactor diodes are be used to adjust the impedance of the impedance matching network.

Abstract: A constant impedance filter maintains a constant input impedance for frequencies that are both inside the filter passband and outside the filter passband. The constant input impedance appears as a pure resistance. The constant impedance filter includes a plurality of filter poles that are connected in series. Each of the filter poles include an inductor, a capacitor, and a resistor. The value of the inductor, the capacitor, and the resistor are selected to provide a constant input impedance over frequency for each pole of the filter, which produces a constant input impedance for the entire filter over frequency. The constant impedance filter can be implemented as a low pass filter, a high pass filter, or a bandpass filter. Furthermore, the constant impedance filter can be implemented in a single-ended configuration or a differential configuration.

Abstract: A graphics integrated circuit chip is used in a set-top box for controlling a television display. The graphics chip processes analog video input, digital video input, a graphics input and an audio input simultaneously. The chip includes a display engine that processes graphics images organized as windows. The system includes plurality of line buffers for receiving the graphics contents. The graphics contents are composited into each of the plurality of line buffers by blending the graphics contents with the existing contents of the line buffer until all of the graphics surfaces for the line have been composited.

Abstract: A K-bit information signal represented by a polynomial U(x) having a degree K−1 is received. The information signal is transformed to form a transformed information signal using a first transform represented by a polynomial G1(x) having a degree P. The transformed information signal is represented by a polynomial T(x) having a degree K+P−1. T(x) equals U(x)G1(x). An initial cyclic code represented by a polynomial R1(x) is generated for the transformed information signal using a second transform represented by a polynomial G2(x), where G2(x) has high-order leading-zero terms. R1(x) equals the remainder obtained by dividing T(x) by G2(x). The initial cyclic code is transformed to form a final cyclic code represented by a polynomial R2(x) using the first transform. R2(x) equals R1(x)/G1(x).

Abstract: Discrete multitone transmission assigns bits to tones for transmission. The bits are assigned using permutations of bits and tones that cycle through a sequence of permutations in successive frames.

Abstract: A bistable device has first and second complementary input terminals and first and second bistable states that are determined by the polarity of the signal applied to one of the input terminals. A source of an uninverted binary input signal, preferably an uninverted data stream, has a first value or a second value. A source of an inverted binary input signal, preferably an inverted data stream, has a first value or a second value in complementary relationship to the values of the uninverted input signal. A first source of a trigger signal has one polarity. A second source of a trigger signal has the other polarity. The first trigger signal is applied to the first input terminal and the second trigger signal is applied to the second input terminal to drive the bistable device into the first stable state when the input signal has the first value.