Patents Assigned to Conexant System, Inc.
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Patent number: 6389135Abstract: A high voltage isolation barrier includes first and second capacitors, each having a first terminal connected to a system-side input signal source. A first diode is connected between second terminals of the first and second capacitors, and a second diode is connected to the second terminal of the first capacitor and to a first terminal of a third capacitor. Application of an alternating polarity squarewave across the first terminals of the first and second capacitors results in generation of a line side voltage on the third capacitor and in transfer of a clock signal at the squarewave frequency across the isolation barrier to the line side.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1998Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Raphael Rahamim, Thomas Grey Beutler
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Patent number: 6387770Abstract: An improved thin-film capacitor and methods for forming the same on a surface of a substrate are disclosed. The capacitor includes a bottom conducting plate formed by depositing conductive material within a trench of an insulating layer and planarizing the conducting and insulating layers. A dielectric film is then deposited on the substrate surface, such that at least a portion of the dielectric material remains over the bottom conducting plate. A second conductive layer is then deposited over the surface of the substrate, patterned and etched such that at least a portion of the second conducting material resides over at least a portion of the dielectric material.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Arjun Kar Roy
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Patent number: 6388523Abstract: A dual-drive coupling for an output stage of class AB amplifier is disclosed. A class AB amplifier comprises a PMOS output device and an NMOS output device coupled together. Two signal sources are used; one to drive the PMOS output device and one to drive the NMOS output device. The signal source driving the PMOS output device has a transconductance that is three times greater than the signal source driving the NMOS output device because the PMOS device is about three times bigger than the NMOS output device. A floating resistor network, comprised of an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor is coupled between the coupling of the signal sources with the output devices. A replica device can be added between the PMOS output device and its corresponding signal source to replicate the drain voltage of the signal source for the NMOS output device.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Michael S. Kappes
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Patent number: 6388543Abstract: A system for an eight-phase 45° polyphase filter with amplitude matching, where a full eight-phase 45° split may be achieved by tying together the inputs of two offset four-phase 90° phase splitters. Amplitude matching may be achieved by obtaining those inputs from an additional single four-phase 90° phase splitter. The additional phase splitter can distribute power evenly among the inputs of the two offset phase splitters so as to cancel out the occurrence of any uneven power distribution.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2000Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Alyosha C. Molnar, Rahul Magoon
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Patent number: 6389033Abstract: A system and method for performing signal acceleration on data packets communicated across an AC-link bus directly interconnecting a codec to a codec controller. The system positions an accelerator directly in the communication path between the codec and its respective codec controller, so that the accelerator is arranged to receive signals traveling through the AC-link bus. This arrangement allows data manipulation to be performed by the accelerator on the data packets communicated across the AC-link bus, where the processed data packets are output by the accelerator back onto the AC-link bus. The accelerator is arranged to have real-time access to the input and output data streams traveling through the AC-link bus, so that data manipulation can be performed without multiple communications to the codec controller or host computer CPU.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 1999Date of Patent: May 14, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Conrad A. Maxwell, David P. Braun, George C. Sneed
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Patent number: 6385756Abstract: A functionality selection system that selects the operation of a function within a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device is capable of performing a plurality of functions. The functions are already embedded in the semiconductor device and available for selection. The functionality selection system operates prior to encapsulation of the semiconductor device. The availability of performing the functionality selection just prior to encapsulation provides numerous advantages over conventional functionality selection systems. By performing the selection of the semiconductor device's functionality to just prior to encapsulation, the lag time between a customer's order and a shipment of the semiconductor device is shortened. The lag time can be shortened to only two weeks in contrast to many conventional selection systems that have lag times as long as three months. The invention is also a functionality identification system.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 1999Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: David P. Braun
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Patent number: 6385460Abstract: A power management system for a mobile unit wherein the frequency of scanning a neighboring cell may be controlled. A mobile unit consumes power in standby mode by periodically scanning the base station in each neighboring cell to determine which base stations are providing a usable signal. When the signal provided by the mobile unit's servicing base station diminishes, the mobile unit informs the cellular network of the base stations providing usable signals to assist in the handover. By detecting the rate of change of the signal strength received from a base station, the mobile unit may change the scanning rate of each neighboring cell. Alternatively, the mobile unit can estimate the relative speed it is traveling through a cell. If traveling slowly through the cell or if the signal strength is not changing over time, the need for a rapid handover diminishes. The mobile unit may also increase the scanning rate if traveling rapidly through the cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1998Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Yongbing Wan
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Patent number: 6385573Abstract: A multi-rate speech codec supports a plurality of encoding bit rate modes by adaptively selecting encoding bit rate modes to match communication channel restrictions. In higher bit rate encoding modes, an accurate representation of speech through CELP (code excited linear prediction) and other associated modeling parameters are generated for higher quality decoding and reproduction. To achieve high quality in lower bit rate encoding modes, the speech encoder departs from the strict waveform matching criteria of regular CELP coders and strives to identify significant perceptual features of the input signal. To support lower bit rate encoding modes, a variety of techniques are applied many of which involve the classification of the input signal. For each bit rate mode selected, pluralities of fixed or innovation subcodebooks are selected for use in generating innovation vectors.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Yang Gao, Huan-Yu Su
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Patent number: 6383821Abstract: A process for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the formation of tungsten contact plugs suitable for very small geometry devices. As part of the process a tungsten barrier layer is deposited into vias and covering the walls of the vias by a process of ionized metal plasma deposition. The tungsten layer deposited in this manner provides a barrier layer, adhesion layer, and nucleation layer for the subsequent chemical vapor deposition of tungsten contact plug material. Together the two layers of tungsten form contact plugs having a low resistance even when used in the fabrication of very small geometry devices.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1999Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: David T. Young, Hadi Abdul-Ridha, Shao-Wen Hsia, Maureen R. Brongo
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Patent number: 6385468Abstract: An improved external connector of a portable communication device that is perpendicular to the backplate of the communication device. The external connector is a common interface connector with fourteen data connections and one radio frequency connector. The external connector is placed directly on a circuit board within the communication device and avoids the use of bent leads. This configuration allows removable modules, such as battery extension packs, battery rechargers or system connector packs, to be placed off the backplate of the device. The external connector on the communication device is a female-type connector adapted to receive a male-type connector on the front side of the removable module. The removable module may have a female-type connector on the back side for receiving the male-type connector of another removable module. Multiple removable modules may be stacked on the back of the communication device one on top of another.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1998Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Thomas A. Arnold
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Patent number: 6384478Abstract: A package is provided for surface mounting a semiconductor device to a board such that a first pad of the semiconductor device is operatively connected to a second pad on the board. The package includes a paddle having a front side and a back side with the front side being mated to the semiconductor device and at least partially enclosed in an encapsulant material and the backside being substantially exposed. In addition, the package has a region of the paddle that is at least partially isolated by the encapsulant material and aligned with the second pad an interconnect connected to the first pad of the semiconductor device and bonded to the region such that a conductive path is formed with the first pad, the region and the second pad when the backside is mated with the board.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1998Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Siamak Fazel Pour
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Patent number: 6381266Abstract: A technique for identifying the encoding law utilized by a central office codec may be implemented in a receive modem. The encoding law, which is typically dictated by the country in which the central office is located, is employed to generate a plurality of transmission levels during an initialization period associated with the modem system. The receive modem analyzes a number of these transmission levels to determine whether the levels have certain characteristics associated with the particular encoding law followed by the central office codec. When the receive modem detects the codec type, it may transmit a suitable identifier back to the transmit modem.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Xuming Zhang, Zhenyu Zhou
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Patent number: 6380078Abstract: Method for fabrication of damascene interconnects and related structures is disclosed. A sacrificial layer is formed over a low-k dielectric. Trenches are then etched inside the sacrificial layer and the low-k dielectric. The trenches are then filled with metal. During a first CMP process, excess metal over the sacrificial layer is removed. During a second CMP process, the sacrificial layer over the low-k dielectric and any remaining excess metal are removed. By the end of the second CMP process substantially all of the sacrificial layer and all of the excess metal are removed. In this manner, the trenches in the low-k dielectric are filled with metal where the metal surface is substantially flush with the surface of the low-k dielectric.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Q. Z. Liu, Lawrence E. Camilletti
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Patent number: 6377117Abstract: A method and system for efficiently transmitting RF energy from a RF device is disclosed. The method and system comprises a multi-stage power amplifier having a plurality of power amplifier stages arranged in parallel with associated switches for selectively switching on or off the plurality of power amplifier stages to produce a desired power level. By selectively switching on or off each individual power amplifier's associated switches at predetermined operating point's produces the desired power level for maximum efficiency. Additionally, more than one connected multi-stage power amplifiers each having a plurality of power amplifier stages arranged in parallel with associated switches for selectively switching on or off the plurality of power amplifier stages may be used to produce a desired power level.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 1999Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Mark Oskowsky, Darioush Agahi-Kesheh
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Patent number: 6377129Abstract: An oscillator has a slope-fixing circuit that generates a control signal and fixes the slope of the control signal, a swing-fixing circuit that fixes the swing of the control signal, and a switching block that generates an output signal having a frequency derived from the swing and the slope of the control signal. The slope-fixing circuit comprises a fixed timing capacitor C1 in parallel with a plurality of switchable timing capacitors C2 . . . CN to provide an effective capacitance C. The slope of the control signal is determined by the ratio of a control current I to the effective capacitance C. The swing-fixing circuit comprises a replica cell that accepts a programmable reference voltage VREF and provides a fixed voltage swing VSW=VDD−VREF across a pair of load transistors. The switching block comprises a pair of switching transistors that alternate between “on” and “off” states depending on the value of the control signal to produce an oscillating output signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1999Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Woogeun Rhee, Akbar Ali
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Patent number: 6377464Abstract: A multiple chip module (MCM) for use with baseband, RF, or IF applications includes a number of active circuit chips having a plurality of different functions. The active circuit chips are mounted on a substrate that is configured to provide an integrated subsystem in a single MCM package. The MCM includes a number of features that enable it to meet electrical performance, high-volume manufacturing, and low-cost requirements. The MCM may incorporate split ground planes to achieve electronic shielding and isolation, vias configured as both thermal sinks and grounding connections, and specifically configured die attach pads and exposed ground conductor pads.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1999Date of Patent: April 23, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Hassan Hashemi, Shiaw Chang, Roger Forse, Evan McCarthy, Trang Trinh, Thuy Tran
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Patent number: 6373377Abstract: A power supply provides digital data coupling for power-line networking. The power supply includes a power supply side digital interface to transmit and receive a digital data passed through a digital coupler to and from a power-line network access circuitry side digital interface of power-line network access circuitry. The power supply further includes a digital-to-analog converter to process digital data into a high-frequency analog data carrier to provide to a power line of a power-line network. An analog-to-digital converter of the power supply converts a high-frequency analog data carrier from the power line into digital data for the power-line network access circuitry. A power-line analog front end of the power supply transmits and receives the high-frequency analog data carrier to and from the power line. Digital data exchanged between the power supply and the network access circuitry may include control signals for a control circuitry of the power supply.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Frank Sacca, Alberto Mantovani
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Patent number: 6370239Abstract: A store and forward facsimile function is incorporated into a standalone telephone answering machine. The facsimile function automatically interfaces with all PC facsimile application software to retrieve data representing fixed graphic material, the facsimile messages, stored in the memory of the telephone answering machine. Flash memory storage of the telephone answering machine is used to store the received facsimile messages. A facsimile LED on the unit blinks to indicate the number of facsimile messages that are stored in memory. A FAX upload button on the machine initiates uploading of the stored facsimile messages to the user's PC through a DTE/DCE interface. The processor in the telephone answering machine sends a simulated ring signal to the facsimile application software in the PC to activate it into uploading the facsimile messages stored in memory, according to FAX CLASS 2 protocol.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Diep H. Le, Sirisak Adulratananuwat, Stanton Christopher Renna
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Patent number: 6369653Abstract: A class AB amplifier biasing circuit is provided for controlling the quiescent state of a pull-up output device and a complimentary pull-down output device. The biasing circuit includes first and second current sources, each having a floating resistor configured to supply current to the pull-up and pull-down devices, respectively. The biasing circuit also includes gate control circuits for controlling the gate voltages of the first and second floating resistors. A device replica transistor is connected to a voltage node associated with the gate of the either the pull-up device or the pull-down device.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventor: Michael S. Kappes
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Patent number: 6370372Abstract: A subharmonic mixer that has two switching stages is used to improved mixer gain in a direct downconversion receiver. The first switching stage mixes a received RF signal to an intermediate frequency that is one-half the received RF signal frequency. The second switching stage mixes the intermediate frequency to baseband. By connecting the two switching stages in series, current is reused and harmonic content from the first stage is fed into the second stage thereby improving the mixer gain.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2000Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Conexant Systems, Inc.Inventors: Alyosha C. Molnar, Rahul Magoon